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A Doll's House Research Paper

1162 Words5 Pages

Influence of the Victorian Era In Hendrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, readers get a glimpse in one family’s life as the strict, demanding rules of the husband are merely influenced by society in the Victorian Era. In the late 1800s’, society viewed men as the head of the household. Strict rules were enforced however there are many different aspects in the story proving that Nora caused many of the problems as well. Even when Torvald becomes verbally abusive, Nora’s actions seem to be influenced by her genuine love and care for him. Though Nora continues to put herself through the difficult situations because of the societal views during the Victorian Era, her actions prove that she genuinely cares for her family. In “A Doll’s House”, strict limitations made by Torvald are displayed in different acts throughout the story. One example where this becomes clear is when Torvald demands Nora to get rid of the macaroons because they are not healthy. Torvald imagines Nora as …show more content…

Throughout the story, Nora tries to hide the fact that she forged her deceased father’s name in order to get help for Torvald. In many scenes she tries to distract him in hopes to postpone him from finding out. In one part of the book, in act III, Nora tries to distract Torvald with her Tarantella, or her dance. While this works temporarily, his attention almost instantaneously turns back to the letter that he has received. In the letter, Torvald reads of the illegal acts demonstrated by Nora. He automatically freaks out on her, and accuses her of being a liar and a hypocrite...“What a horrible awakening! All these eight years-she who was my joy and pride-a hypocrite, a liar-worse, worse- a criminal!” (Ibsen 973). After saying all of these harsh words, Torvald says her father’s actions and principles have come out into her. He tells her to be quiet, to let him talk, and respectfully, she does

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Nora is a married woman and has children to take care of. She really has little freedom because of the way Torvald treats her. She is not even I feel as if deep down she knows she is not free and wants something more in her life then to be a entertaining puppet for Torvald. She realizes at the end of the story that Torvald is not good to her because of the way he acted when she told him about forging the signature. When Torvald called her a criminal and other harsh words she realized that she had no true love from Torvald and wanted to be free from him.

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Nora’s defiance may have resulted in criticism from society, but Ibsen importantly commented on the terrible treatment of woman in relationships and the world. Ibsen created A Doll’s House in a time where women were treated unjustly and poorly. While the play might seem slightly irrelevant now, it still has a place in the world today. Women can borrow money and leave their husbands; however, society still puts tremendous pressure on women to fulfill sacred vows. The expectation to assure her husband’s happiness and to prioritize everyone else before herself is still an issue that many woman face today.

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Torvald and Nora 's relationship in Henrik Ibsen 's "A Doll 's House" is untypical of the ones found in today 's standards and society. Firstly, there is usually an understanding of equality found within a relationship, whereas Torvald views Nora as his possession, someone he owns. Torvald talks to Nora as if she was a child and tells her what to do. The word "little" is constantly said before he calls Nora by her pet names; "little lark" and "little featherbrain" are a few of them. This indicates that Torvald sees her as a child and emphasizes that he does not see her as an equal.

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1436 Words | 6 Pages

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Throughout Denmark during the late nineteenth-century, the typical marriage was represented with the male dominance because women were looked down upon with no rights or thoughts for themselves. Torvald, the father figure in the play, represents the male dominant figure during the nineteenth-century. Throughout the play, the patriarchal symbolism that Ibsen emphasizes throughout the marriage of Nora and Torvald gives the reader a better understanding as to why Ibsen would put certain symbols to represent a typical marriage. In A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen portrays male-controlled symbolism throughout the play in order to emphasize the standard family structure of the late nineteenth-century. A Doll 's House is a play in the eyes of social

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1329 Words | 6 Pages

I can 't dance to-morrow if I don 't rehearse with you first! Let me rehearse at once. We have time before dinner. Oh, do sit down and play for me, Torvald dear; direct me and put me right, as you used to do (Ibsen 30 & 31). Nora was able to prevent Torvald from seeing the letters for a bit of time by using the tarantella to her benefit.

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759 Words | 4 Pages

During act III, Nora asked to speak to Torvald after her performance of the tarantella dance. The following conversation demonstrated her quest for autonomy and freedom, as well as Torvald’s inadequate responses to her arguments and demands; it also showed how deeply connected her unhappy situation is with society’s regulation of the relationship between the sexes. She asserts that she is “...first and foremost a human being”, and her strong conviction that her womanhood, and the expectations associated with it, are secondary, strengthens her resolve to make a radical choice: A break with both husband and, with necessity due to her legal position, her children (Ibsen, 184). During her conversation with Torvald, she proclaims, “I have other sacred duties... The duties to myself (Ibsen, 184).”

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1567 Words | 7 Pages

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1384 Words | 6 Pages

Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is a play set in 19th century Norway, when women’s rights were restricted and social appearance was more important than equality and true identity. In A Doll’s House, Nora represents 19th century women entrapped by society to fulfill wifely and motherly obligations, unable to articulate or express their own feelings and desires. Ibsen uses Nora’s characterization, developed through her interactions with others as well as her personal deliberations and independent actions, language and structure in order to portray Nora’s movement from dependence to independence, gaining sovereignty from the control of her selfish husband, deceitful marriage and the strict social guidelines of morality in 19th century Norway. Initially, Nora appears to be a dependent, naïve, and childlike character; yet, as the play unfolds, she appears to be a strong, independent woman who is willing to make sacrifices for those she cares about as well as herself.

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958 Words | 4 Pages

This unhappy secret must be disclosed; they must have a couple understanding between them, which is impossible with all this concealment and falsehood going on,” (Ibsen 52). Mrs. Linde is well aware of Nora’s secret and the consequences that would follow if Torvald found out. When Torvald finds out about the letter, he is only worried about his reputation and his appearance. Torvald says, “From this moment happiness is not the question; all that concerns us it to save the remains, the

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