A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

Themes

1) The Roles of Women

The positions of women in the The positions of women in the society are highlighted society are highlighted particularly by the character of particularly by the character of Nora Helmer.Nora Helmer.

Dialogue is well used to show Dialogue is well used to show that the ways that men view that the ways that men view women, are sometimes the same women, are sometimes the same and sometimes different to how and sometimes different to how women view themselves.women view themselves.

Attitudes to women are cleverly Attitudes to women are cleverly illustrated in relation to their illustrated in relation to their sacrifices, financial dependence, sacrifices, financial dependence, marriage and treatment as marriage and treatment as possessions.possessions.

1.2. Sacrifice1.2. Sacrifice Nora makes a financial loan and risky Nora makes a financial loan and risky

agreement in order to save Torvald’s life, agreement in order to save Torvald’s life, yet she must keep them as secret. yet she must keep them as secret.

Mrs Linde sacrifices her true love, in order Mrs Linde sacrifices her true love, in order to marry rich man and support her family.to marry rich man and support her family.

The nanny abandons her own child to The nanny abandons her own child to support herself.support herself.

1.3. Financial dependence1.3. Financial dependence Women could not conduct business or Women could not conduct business or

control their own money.control their own money. Torvald establishes himself as the Torvald establishes himself as the

controller and Nora as the “spendthrift”.controller and Nora as the “spendthrift”.

1.4. Marriage Single women vs Married womenSingle women vs Married women All women are aspired to be marriedAll women are aspired to be married Once married, there is no getting a divorceOnce married, there is no getting a divorce.

1.5. Women as possessions (as dolls) Torvald calls her more by his many pet names than Torvald calls her more by his many pet names than

her actual name.her actual name. Dolls are to be dressed up and twirled around for Dolls are to be dressed up and twirled around for

show. In Act I, Nora says to Torvald, “I will do show. In Act I, Nora says to Torvald, “I will do everything I can to please you, Torvald!—I will sing for everything I can to please you, Torvald!—I will sing for you, dance for you”.you, dance for you”.

The idea of Nora as an object to be admired and not The idea of Nora as an object to be admired and not someone to have a serious conversation with.someone to have a serious conversation with.

2) Money

Torvald’s ability to control and make Torvald’s ability to control and make money enable him to control other’s money enable him to control other’s lives.lives.

- Torvald decides either Krogstad or Mrs Linde - Torvald decides either Krogstad or Mrs Linde

should be allowed a job.should be allowed a job.

- Torvald puts dominance over Nora and - Torvald puts dominance over Nora and controls theircontrols their

relationship.relationship.

Behave in certain way in return of Behave in certain way in return of money.money.

- between Nora and Torvald- between Nora and Torvald

- between Nora and Dr Rank- between Nora and Dr Rank

3) The individual and society & Morality

Torvald defines his life by what society finds acceptable and respectable.

He is more concerned about what society thinks of his wife and marriage than his wife’s happiness.

Nora’s sacrifice to save her husband’s life, becomes an unforgivable crime in the eyes of society.

Much of Krogstad’s life has been affected by society’s moral standard.

4) Inheritance

A Doll's House contains several references to the idea that both physical disease and moral traits are passed down through generations.

Torvald rejects Nora, forbids her from bringing up their children as he thinks she will taint them morally. She herself is already convinced of this and has begun to distance herself from them.

Torvald believes that Krogstad's children will be poisoned by their father's moral crimes.

Dr Rank inherits the disease from his father.

5) Appearance and reality

Things are not always as they appear.

• Nora• Torvald• The helmer marriage• Krogstad• Mrs linde• Dr rank

Symbolism and Allegory

The symbols Henrik Ibsen uses in this play, often been called the beginning of modern drama, are more subtle than what one usually thinks of as symbolism The play "A Doll's House" has a very symbolic title

Nora the main character in the play, is the doll living in the dollhouse

She is not capable of doing things on her own just like a doll cannot do things on its own

• Christmas and New Year’s• Christmas Tree• Nora’s fancy dress costume•The Tarantella• Skylark• Macaroons• Stockings• Black Hats• Light

Christmas and New Year’s

• Christmas and New Year's are both associated with rebirth and renewal

• Both Nora and Torvald have a spiritual awakening, which could be seen as a rebirth

• Krogstad and Christine are reborn as well - view their renewed love affair as a chance for salvation

Christmas tree• The tree is an object of charm The tree is an object of charm and pleasure, and its only real and pleasure, and its only real purpose is as something to look purpose is as something to look atat

• parallel to Nora’s role in the parallel to Nora’s role in the house and to mimic Nora's house and to mimic Nora's psychological statepsychological state

Nora's fancy dress costume• Symbolizes Nora’s pretending to Symbolizes Nora’s pretending to enjoy her life.enjoy her life.• Symbolic of the flawed state of her Symbolic of the flawed state of her marriage marriage The Tarantella• Symbolizes Nora’s agitation at her Symbolizes Nora’s agitation at her struggle with Krogstad and with her struggle with Krogstad and with her husband. husband.

Light

• Symbolize Nora's state of Symbolize Nora's state of awarenessawareness

Skylark• Symbolizes the way that Torvald treats Nora like a child.

Macaroons • Symbolize Nora’s deceit to her Symbolize Nora’s deceit to her husband. husband.

Stockings • Symbolize Nora’s temptationSymbolize Nora’s temptation

Black hat• Symbolizes death

A Doll’s House.Sparknotes .Retrieved on March 2, 2011 from http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dollhouse/themes.html

A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen. Retrieved on 2 March, 2011 fromhttp://summarycentral.tripod.com/adollshouse.htm

Symbols in A Doll’s House . Retrieved on 2 March, 2011 from http://www.helium.com/items/1143100-a-look-at-symbolism-in-ibsens-a-doll-house

Bibliography