Henrik Ibsen's Norwegian play A Doll’s House illustrates the story of Nora Helmer, a quintessential nineteenth century housewife, as she keeps the secret of her debt while balancing the care of her banker husband, Torvald Helmer, and household. When the play was first performed, it was controversial because in the end, Nora leaves her family once she realizes Torvald would not have stepped up and defended her in spite of her debt. The play caused such controversy that an alternative ending to the play was made, in which, Nora sees her children and realizes she can not leave them behind. Nora was not justified in leaving because her children did not deserve to be left with Torvald. Nora was being abused awfully, which in today’s Western society …show more content…
She clearly lived in a different society than today’s, in one scene, Nora said "Still it was tremendous fun sitting there working and earning money. It was almost like being a man" (1) Working and earning money was almost exclusive to men. Christine did find work as a woman and widower, but, in the end, she wanted someone to help care for her, “Two on the same piece of wreckage would stand a better chance than each on their own” and did not want to be alone “I want to be a mother to someone, and your children need a mother. We two need each other. Nils, I have faith in your real character-- I can dare anything together with you” (). After years alone, Christine realized that there is much more to life than working for oneself, “There is not the least pleasure in working for one’s self. Ils, give me someone and something to work for” (). Nora would have made this same realization when she did not have her children to look forward to seeing everyday. Nora’s relationship with her children, as previously compared to A Thousand Splendid Suns’ Mariam and Laila’s relationship with Laila’s children, was not close, but she did love her children despite their relationship being closer to one of a friend, “Come in! Come in! (Stops and kisses them.) Oh, you sweet blessings! Look at them Christine! Aren’t they