Doll`s House Essay, Research Paper

Ibsen is a writer that uses literature to channel entertainment and express

himself throughout the play, ?A Doll?s House?. He wrote the play during

the transition from mythical and historical dramas to plays dealing with social

problems. At the time that Ibsen wrote ?A Doll?s House?, the later

1800?s, society has created a niche for the woman as a housewife and social

partner, lacking emphasis on love. This controversial play features a female

protagonist seeking her individuality through realizations and challenging her

comfort zone. Isben, through Nora and her personality, depicts the role of women

not as the usual comforter, helper, and supporter of man, but introduced woman

as having her own purposes and goals. The heroine, Nora, progresses during the

course of the play eventually to realize that she must discontinue the role of a

doll and seek out her individuality. Definite characteristics of woman?s

subordinate role in a relationship are emphasized through Nora’s contradicting

actions. As a person, she enjoys making Torvald happy, but will not follow his

guidelines. Her infatuation with luxuries like expensive Christmas gifts

contradicts her resourcefulness in scrounging and buying cheap clothing. Also,

her defiance of Torvald by eating forbidden Macaroons contradicts the submission

of her opinions, including the decision of which dance outfit to wear, to her

husband; and Nora’s flirtatious nature contradicts her devotion to her husband.

This sheds light to the characteristics of a dependent woman. It seems at this

time women marry for tradition, money, safety, and love. Ibsen attracts the

reader?s attention to these examples to show the general subordinate role that

a woman plays compared to that of her husband. . It can be suggested that women

have the power to choose which rules to follow at home, but not in the business

world, thus again indicating her willingness to be subservient. Nora does not at

first realize that the rules outside the household apply to her. This is evident

in Nora’s meeting with Krogstad regarding her borrowed money. In her opinion it

was no crime for a woman to do everything possible to save her husband’s life.

She also believes that her act will be overlooked because she is used to dealing

with a flexible and predictable Torvald, rather than the law. She doesn?t see

that the law does not take into account the motivation behind her forgery. Ibsen

uses Nora?s traits to bluntly portray the women in society as in a position of

needed change. Her first encounter with rules outside of her "doll’s

house" results in the realization of her inexperience with the real world

due to her subordinate role in society and Ibsen sparks the thought of change.

"A Doll’s House" is also a prediction of change from this subordinate

roll. Ibsen foreshadows as well as promotes the change women will eventually

make to progress and understand their position. She needs to be more of a

rolemodel for her children. It was seen that Nora didn?t think she was fit to

mother them. From this point, when Torvald is making a speech about the effects

of a deceitful mother, until the final scene, Nora progressively confronts the

realities of the real world and realizes her subordinate position. From this

point, progressively understanding this position, she still clings to the hope

that her husband will come to her protection and defend her from the outside

world once her crime is out in the open. After she reveals the "dastardly

deed" to her husband, he becomes understandably agitated; in his

frustration he shares the outside world with her, the ignorance of the serious

business world, and destroys her innocence and self-esteem. This disillusion

marks the final destructive blow to her doll’s house. Their ideal home including

their marriage and parenting has been a product of society. Nora’s decision to

leave this false life behind and discover for herself what is real is directly

symbolic of woman’s ultimate realization. Although she becomes aware of her

supposed way of being subservient is not because of this that she has the desire

to take action. Nora is utterly confused and anxious as seen in, ?She is

groping sadly in a maze of confused feeling toward a way of life and a destiny

of which she is most uncertain (256)." The one thing she is aware of is her

ignorance, and her desire to go out into the world is not to "prove

herself" but to discover and educate herself. Isben wants her to strive to

find her individuality. This gives her more struggles to face and over come to

gain wisdom. Ibsen, through this controversial play, has an impact upon

society’s view of the subordinate position of women. By describing this role of

woman, discussing its effects, and predicting a change in contemporary views, he

stressed the importance of woman’s realization of this believed inferiority.

Woman should no longer be seen as the shadow of man, but a person in herself,

with her own triumphs and tragedies. The exploration of Nora reveals that she is

dependant upon her husband and displays no independent standing. Her progression

of understanding suggests woman’s future ability to comprehend their plight. Her

state of shocked awareness at the end of the play is like the awakening of

society to the changing view of the role of woman. Through, "A Doll’s

House" Isben magnificently illustrates the need for and a prediction of

this change.