Interpersonal Theory In A Doll's House

Harry Sullivan’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations in Characterizing Nora’s Personality in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll's House
Dr. Abdullah H. Kurraz
Department of English
Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Al-Azhar University – Gaza. Palestine e-mail: [e-mail]

Abstract
This paper sheds light on the psychological aspects of the character of Nora in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll's House in the light of Harry Sullivan’s theory of interpersonal relations, which focuses on human relationships and their role in the formation of human personality through its interactions with others. The paper’s approach examines and interprets the different layers of Nora’s personality and relationships and their significant impacts on her human psyche. Eventually, the

Its approach draws on three main personality-based notions: interpersonal relationships, dynamisms, and reactive anxiety and tension. Human Personality is manifested in interpersonal situations in which such a personality is a “relatively enduring pattern of interpersonal situations which characterize a human life” (Sullivan 110–111). Thus, Sullivan stresses the significance of the interpersonal relations and interactions to analyze human personality. Relevantly, Nora's behavior is controlled by personal subconscious drives and conflicting impulses. The Iranian scholar Noorbakhsh Hooti points out that “in 19th century, the most pivotal role of a woman was to stay at home, raise her children, and attend to her husband” (1109). Thus, Nora is the one who intimately plays these roles and pays the price. Again, this paper scrutinizes Nora’s personality as a dynamic character through the idea of self-dynamics and the mental images of the self and other people. However, despite her interpersonal relationships and strong will, Nora cannot overstep Helmer’s male power, as she is “deprived of her identity and dignity and has to be conformable to her husband’s ideology” (Yuehua 81). As can be noted, interpersonal relationships control human personalities and guide them to certain ends. Nora is aware of power and need

Nora’s personality is evolved through her distinct interactions with other close characters such as Linde, Krogstad, Rank and Helmer, the husband. Nora tries to sustain her submissive role in her relationship with Helmer in order to achieve “a harmonious balance in her domestic life and a perfect control of her realm” (Yuehua 85). Seemingly, Nora's submissiveness is another dynamic trait of her personality. However, Nora’s personality has certain positive qualities such as being loving, caring and loyal to her husband. In this regard, the American critic Joan Templeton argues that “anyone who claims that in Nora Ibsen had in mind a silly, hysterical, or selfish woman is either ignoring or misrepresenting the plain truth that Ibsen admired, even adored, Nora” (124). Ibsen’s Nora is a theoretical preferable and realistic character whose personality guides, forms, and controls her own intentions, desires, and