Untitled Essay, Research Paper

By: Emily Campbell

During the time in which the play took place society frowned upon women asserting

themselves. Women were supposed to play a role in which they supported their

husbands, took care of their children, and made sure everything was perfect

around the house. Work, politics, and decisions were left to the males. Nora’s

first secession from society was when she broke the law and decided to borrow

money to pay for her husbands treatment. By doing this, she not only broke

the law but she stepped away from the role society had placed on her of being

totally dependent on her husband. She proved herself not to be helpless like

Torvald implied: “you poor helpless little creature!”

Nora’s second secession from society was shown by her decision to leave Torvald

and her children. Society demanded that she take a place under her husband.

This is shown in the way Torvald spoke down to her saying things like: “worries

that you couldn’t possibly help me with,” and “Nora, Nora, just like a woman.”

She is almost considered to be property of his: “Mayn’t I look at my dearest

treasure? At all the beauty that belongs to no one but me -that’s all my

very own?” By walking out she takes a position equal to her husband and brakes

society’s expectations. Nora also brakes society’s expectations of staying

in a marriage since divorce was frowned upon during that era. Her decision

was a secession from all expectations put on a woman and a wife by society.

Nora secessions are very deliberate and thought out. She knows what society

expects of her and continues to do what she feels is right despite them.

Her secessions are used by Ibsen to show faults of society. In the first

secession Ibsen illustrates that despite Nora doing the right thing it is

deemed wrong and not allowed by society because she is a woman. While the

forgery can be considered wrong, Ibsen is critical of the fact that Nora

is forced to forge. Ibsen is also critical of society’s expectations of a

marriage. He illustrates this by showing how Nora is forced to play a role

than be herself and the eventual deterioration of the marriage. Throughout

the play Nora is looked down upon and treated as a possession by her husband.

She is something to please him and used for show. He is looked upon as the

provider and the decision maker. Society would have deemed it a perfect marriage.

Ibsen is critical of the fact that a marriage lacked love and understanding,

as shown by Torvald becoming angry with Nora for taking the loan and saving

him, would be consider as perfect.

A Doll’s House’s central theme of secession from society was made to be critical

of society’s view on women and marriage. Ibsen used Nora’s secessions as

an example to illustrate that society’s expectations of a woman’s role in

society and marriage were incorrect. Her decision to leave was the exclamation

point on his critical view of society.