Many of our choices and the things one does in a lifetime can be directly based on what society perceives to be proper. The choices one makes based on society's views, may sometimes have no logic to support them. These choices are sometimes chosen because society would look down upon the person making the "wrong" decision. The values and morals upheld by a society may directly affect how one acts. This is held true for the character Nora in Henrik Ibsen's play "A Doll House". Nora is the 19th century middle class wife of Torvald Helmer. She is a woman who is devoted to her husband and family. Nora minds her husband Torvald as a child would a father, and Torvald in return treats her as a child, or as his "doll". At the end of the play, Nora makes an epiphany realizing the way she acts and how Torvald really feels towards her. The causes for Nora's behavior can be attributed to her upbringing, society's views on what a woman's role should be, and also Torvald, who also helps Nora in her epiphany.

The primary cause that affected Nora's behavior as an adult, was Nora's upbringing. Nora's father treated her as his "doll-child" (1186, "A Doll House"; all page references refe

The treatment of Nora's father may have been a result from how society viewed women in the 19th century, which is the second cause for Nora's behavior. Women were viewed as property of their husbands or fathers. This is a reason why the treatment of Nora as a "doll" by her father was not an issue. Nora was property of her father, and expected to mind him, as a proper young lady should. Women didn't have any rights that were equal to a man's. According to Ibsen, "...in practical life the woman is judged by man's law, as though she were not a woman but a man" (1191, "Notes for A Doll House"). Men thought that since a woman does not think or act like a man, then they are a lower being. Ibsen states, "A woman cannot be herself in the society of the present day, which is an exclusively masculine society, with laws framed by men and with a judicial system that judges feminine conduct from a masculine point of view" (1191, "Notes for A Doll House"). A man did not treat women's views as being of any worth. A woman in the 19th century is "obligated to her husband-to follow my (a man's) wishes in everything and to strictly obey my orders" (1194, "A Nineteenth-Century Husband's Letter to His Wife"). Also as a woman, one was subservient to men for financial reasons. A woman making her way on her on was a hard road to take. There were very few jobs and society viewed these women as delinquent and crazy.

Each of the events in Nora's life were direct causes to her behavior, and finally to her epiphany. One thing led to another. First her father treated her as a "doll", then Torvald treated her this way. Society's view of a woman's role in the 19th century caused this treatment by Nora's father and Torvald. Nora's minding of Torvald and her father is caused by her treatment. This epiphany Nora has is the best thing that could have happened to her. Everything that happened in her life was a stepping stone or a direct cause to her epiphany. She may have not

way her father treated her, as a "doll". She takes on the standard role of a 19th century woman. Nora doesn't think for herself. She minds Torvald as if he was her father. Torvald doesn't want her to eat any sweets, like macaroons. He expresses this when he says to Nora, "Surely my sweet tooth hasn't been running a riot in town today, has she?" (1145, "A Doll House"). Nora tells him, "No Torvald, I assure your, really-" (1145, "A Doll House"). Nora tells her husband that she hasn't been eating macaroons w

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Approximate Word count = 1678
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)