A Doll's House

A detailed Summary of A Doll's House


The play, A Doll House, written by Henrik Ibsen in 1879, is considered a

landmark in drama for its portrayal of realistic people, places, and situations. Ibsen

confines his story to the middle class. He writes of a society that is limited not only by its means of livelihood but also its outlook. Ibsen portrays his characters

as preoccupied with work and money, showing a reduction of values in and that lack of quality persons with morals. Ibsen takes this realistic story and invests it with

universal significance. Wrapped up in the technique of this well constructed play, Ibsen is masterful in his presentation of not only realism, but he holds a mirror up

to the society of his day by using the male figures as catalysts for Nora's ultimate

knowledge of self-actualization. He accomplishes this with such precision

that the audience might not be aware all the subtleties that are creating their

In A Doll House, Nora forges the name of her father and risks damaging her

husband's good name. Henrik Ibsen offers remarkable insight into the nineteenth

century preoccupation with the family and the role of the father, and what role is projected upon those who are subjugated to him. This play tak


the entire patriarchal system that passed her like a child from her father's

the men in her life. This ultimately identifies the relevant thematic elements

invoke the symbolic law/father. Nora attempts to connect the father's

fatally preoccupied with its own masculine image while trapping those who would believe in the myth. A Doll House utilizes the father as a complex metaphor

lacked those paternal qualities of uprightness, morality, and strength that

Through the visit of friend Mrs. Linde, we discover that Nora had to save a

very sick Torvald by borrowing money and by working two exclusively masculine

her to borrow money and save her sick husband. Although she publicly tries to build up Torvald's image as a banker, a husband, and a man, she comes to a point where she cannot can not reinstate in him the mythological authority that he has always lacked and she (at one time) never questioned.

self-actualization and rising freedom can be found within her relationships with



Some common words found in the essay are:
Henrik Ibsen, Dr Rank, Torvald Nora, Nora Helmer, III209 Nora, Torvald Doctor, Unconsciously Torvald, Doll House, Torvald's Nora, House Nora, father's name, name father, doll house, father figure, nora realizes, dr rank, role father, save sick, nora discovers, doll house nora, female protagonist, rank family friend, dr rank family, save sick husband, role father figure,

Approximate Word count = 2365
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)

join now Save Paper



Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

Newest Essays

Testimonials

  • "Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
    Jack M.
  • "With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
    Brian P.
  • "I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
    Sara J.
  • "I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
    Rachel W.
  • "I love this site!!!"
    Marie N.