Henrik Ibsen
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Henrik Ibsen's 1879 play A Doll's House is almost certainly not as shocking to those who read it today as it was when it was first published. In many ways, general public attitudes have caught up with Ibsen's own so that his play now appears to express what many people feel. And yet this must not blind us to the fact that his play was very much ahead of his time in so many ways - especially, of course - in the way in which women are depicted. Ibsen uses the gap between appearances and what is real to make us question why reality is the way it is and what we might do to change aspects of the world that we do not like. He asks us to ask ourselves why it is that a woman should be treated like a doll rather than an independent human being who can think for herself.The 1879 play tells the story of Nora Helmer. She is sheltered and petted and expected to act like a sweet but unintelligent pet first by her father and then by her husband. Nora commits forgery to get money to save her husband's life and he discovers this fact after she has repaid the sum. His behavior towards her when he discovers what she has done - and it is important to remember that she has acted only out of concern for his welfare and has shown both courage and initiative in doing so - is patronizing and unkind. She acts entirely out of love for him, but his response to her actions make her realize that he has never actually seen her as a real human being on her own but rather as a pretty doll.
. . .
oll, a nonentity (http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Goldman/Writings/Drama/doll.html).
The minor characters in the play help to provide Nora with the conviction that there are choices in life. Krogstad, for example, provides an example of how one must take responsibility for one's own actions - even years later - and how one must be willing to set moral standards for oneself:
Krogstad. The matter never came into court; but every way seemed to be closed to me after that. So I took to the business that you know of. I had to do something; and, honestly, I don't think I've been one of the worst. But now I must cut myself free from all that. My sons are growing up; for their sake I must try and win back as much respect as I can in the town. This post in the Bank was like the first step up for me-- and now your husband is going to kick me downstairs again into the mud (Act I).
The nurse helps Nora to come to a deeper understanding of her marriage and helps her to acquire the strength that she needs to leave it by her assurances that her children can be alright without her - allowing us to see that Nora can be both a good mother, a good person, and yet also an independent agent, as Saari (p. 50) suggests.
Nurse. Oh well, young children e
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1297
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)
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