Deceit In A Doll House By Henrik Ibsen

In Henrik Ibsen’s groundbreaking play “A Doll’s House” the physical doll house itself can be seen as the object that presents the meaning of the work. The theme of Nora Helmer’s deceitful nature is strengthened by the symbolism provided by the significant doll house. The reader is further introduced to many deceptive aspects of the Helmer’s lives that stem from the essential symbol and its corresponding theme. The physical doll house represents the manipulation and filial degradation of Nora through Torvald’s self-absorbed actions. Nora was indirectly forced by her husband to basically perform a false act as a “doll” for him throughout their life together. She claims “I should not think of going against your wishes” (Ibsen 1.65). She is controlled

At the beginning of the play, Nora appears to be a dutifully obedient and honest wife, however it is quickly revealed that she is hiding a serious secret from him—the fact that she borrowed money from Krogstad to finance a trip to Italy that she claims saved Torvald’s life (Metzger). This renders all of her statements about never disobeying him or hiding anything from him deceitful. When she reveals her dishonesty to Mrs. Linde, she insists that she ought to confess to Torvald immediately, insisting that a marriage cannot succeed when husband and wife are not completely honest with each other (Metzger). A literary “foil” occurs between Nora and Krogstad when it is revealed that both committed the same crime. Their acts of deception spark the unravelling of both their lives. With that being said, Nora’s deceptive personality and actions have negatively affected the people around her family. Krogstad’s reputation is now ruined, and Nora is forced to re-evaluate everything about herself and the society around her, eventually leading to her decision to leave her husband and family at the end of the play (Burt). Deceit is presented as a corrupting force in the lives of the people she loves and cherishes; however, in Nora’s case, it is clear that the motivation for her dishonesty was love. She lied in order to save her husband’s life. Furthermore, her actions wouldn't have had to be deceitful if it weren’t for societal law dictating that women were not allowed to handle financial matters independently. Therefore, Nora’s deceit was not the result of a personal flaw, but rather the only means necessary of overcoming restrictions in order to commit a noble