Ibsen, A Doll’s House
1. The relationship between Helmer and Nora has often been understood as one of power versus influence. Explain.
The relationship between Torvald and Nora is the classic husband/wife dynamic. Nora is the textbook wife and mother in 19th century Europe. She does all of the cooking and cleaning around the house. Her role is that of the standard housewife at the time. Torvald is the archetypal male. He works at a bank and he is largely distant at the house. Torvald held the most power in the relationship. However, Nora holds some influence over her husband. She uses her influence to derive meaning and autonomy in her life. She uses her power to influence her husband’s bank policy. He takes her ideas and implements some of them. Ultimately, she decides to exercise her power sparingly, because she sees that it could become insult to her husband.
2. The play is understood by many to embody the epitome of the nineteenth-century middle class. Explain.
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All of the elements are there: A cold and distant provider, a depressed wife who takes care of the children and the housework, and some inciting incident that causes distress for the family. Torvald is the standard middle class husband and father. He characterized by his complacency in social norms of the time. He is the epitome of everything that is expected from a middle class man at the time. On the other hand, Nora is not as complacent in the social norms. She does everything that is required from her by society, but under protest. Her conscience is against the gender role she has been put into. Nora longs for meaning and fulfillment for her life, a common sentiment at the