Analysis of Nora Helmer - A dolls House
Sometimes, characters in a novel or play go through a great dynamic change only to find their true self and to remove the fraudulent perception of themselves in the eyes of others. Such a change leads the character to become fully aware of their life as well as finally understand what a hypocritical life they have mistakenly led. At the beginning of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, Nora Helmer is shown as a childish and naive housewife with a knack for spending money. This opinion is transferred mostly through Nora's "parent - child" dialogue with her husband, Torvald. Torvald's usual characterization of Nora as an "expensive little person" (p14) with a skill of melting his money in her hands clearly illustrates Nora's relation with her husband as being strikingly similar to that of a spoiled child and his wealthy parents. However, during the course of the play, as Ibsen takes the reader through the climax of Nora's pre-liberated life, he shows how Nora develops into a wiser, more determined woman who learns to respect herself. Nora's development is highlighted and guided with her growing courage, her direct attempts to become more equal with her husband, and her increasingly realistic attitude
This innate desire to be like a man, to have responsibilities, to earn money and have work to look forward to shows Nora's unhappiness with her life. The reader can then see that Nora is a very astute and precocious woman. A second, more direct example of Nora's intent to become more significant and influential in the family occurs after Krogstad's threat to tell Torvald about their matter. Nora approaches Torvald and is ready to talk to him about the loan she had procured to save his life, but is turned off by his idiosyncratic reply what would it seem if "the new manager changed his mind at this wife's bidding" (p41). Through Nora's unsuccessful attempts to change Torvald's mind about firing Krogstad, Ibsen shows the controversial truth that in the late 1800's it was common and expectant of women to become influenced and controlled by the men in their lives. Alas, to the end Torvald maintains his superior position over Nora, which is most accurately presented in the quote "Playtime shall be over, and lesson-time shall begin." (p68) He so strongly believes that "no man would sacrifice his honor for the one he loves"(p71) that there is no wonder why Torvald acted so selfishly vain and harsh when he received Krogstad's letter. Mrs. Helmer has so long awaited its arrival, for if her husband acted indifferent to it and even took the guilt upon himself, that would show he truly cared for Nora and was not just an arrogant, selfish demagogue. As Nora realizes that Torvald is not the noble man she perceived him to be, she leaves, because now understands that she shall only be treated as a doll in Torvald's house. Such action demonstrates Nora's necessity to be understood and respected, for it is better to love oneself through lonely agony than to be loved by others through glorious deceit. Doubtless, Nora's realization that her life has been full of unintentional deceit through her relations with Torvald, is what drives her to develop into a more realistic, reasonable and self-respecting woman. Her opinions and thoughts are almost fully repressed at the beginning of the play, when Nora is shown to cower in fear after eating some sweets, an action her husband dislikes. Ibsen carefully initiates the change by allowing the leader to learn that Nora has committed what seemed like a "cr
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Approximate Word count = 1546
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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