Key Themes in A Doll's House

The Victorian era conventions and roles for men and women were rigid, constraining, and often imposed by men on women in a way that limited their development. We see such a case in the marriage between Nora and Torvald Helmer. Nora was first babied and bullied by her father and then experienced the same treatment in her marriage. In the society in which she lives, NoraÆs roll as a doll living in a doll house is one that has been forced on her by patriarchal social conventions and the men in her life. As she tells her husband, ôI lived by doing tricks for you, Torvald. But thatÆs the way you wanted it. You and Daddy did me a great wrong. ItÆs your fault that IÆve never made anything of my lifeö (Ibsen, 1879, p. 819).

The theme of male patriarchy and dominance over women and the theme of social conventions that limit the development of women are pervasive in the play. Nora begs, steals, lies, and plays games for Torvald to please him. When she realizes all of her sacrifices are in vain, for her hu

. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
DollÆs House, Helmer Nora, Body Victorian, Conclusion Judine, Introduction Nora, ibsen 1879, dollÆs house, York Longman, ibsen 1879 819, 1879 819, Poetry Drama, Doubleday Templeton, theme liberation, social conventions, human emotions, tells torvald, Company Meyer, social conditions, Stubbs Eds, ground social conditions, roles women, rigid roles, destinies ground social, human emotions human, emotions human destinies,
Approximate Word count = 1079
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Key Themes in A Doll House