The Psychology of Nora
Many have called Ibsen's A Doll House a promotion of women's rights or a work of romanticism. It is much more than that. Nora's psychological makeup is a result of an oppressive, emotionally depriving and possibly abusive father, and an absent mother. Her flighty actions are the ones of a child, because as a child, that is probably the only way she got attention, and she was never taught any other way. The concept, and reality, of an independent woman in the late nineteenth century was non-existent, making the dramatic decision of the main character that much more significant. How does a woman, in a completely confining society, evolve to a point where she must go so completely against societal convention that her very life could be jeopardized? And was this her only option? Through the examination of her relationship with her husband as well as her relationships with others in her life, we will see that Nora had only two options: bury her emotional misgivings and stay where s!he was, or break free and save herself emotionally. Probably the most important feature in discussing the root of Nora's psychology is the revelations she made regarding her father (1186). While addressing her husband, she reveals
cret to Mrs. Linde. Over the course of the play, Mrs. Linde becomes Nora's savior by trying to get Krogstad's secret revealing letter to Torvald back. Mrs. Linde has felt all along that Nora should confess to her husband, but still she acted on behalf of Nora by approaching Krogstad to retrieve the letter. Nora comes to rely on her friend's help, still sure that things will turn out for the better. Once again, Nora is disappointed. In the end, Mrs. Linde betrays her by telling him not to take the letter back. e can see Nora's struggle to break free of her caged prison. In the beginning of the play, she is first weak and childlike. She then gains some strength to stand up to Mrs. Linde, even going as far as helping her, and to push off Krogstad. She finally, after Torvald boldly reveals his true character, breaks free of her cage and does what birds do best-Fly. Mrs. Linde shows up at Nora's doorstep at the beginning of her troubles. In her attempt to break free, she finds Mrs. Linde a refuge. Whenever Torvald is not around Nora, we glimpse her efforts to break free. For example, Nora shows her strength in the mere fact that she saved her husband's life. Although this took place before the play started, in revealing her secret to Mrs. Linde she attempts to gain independence. When Mrs. Linde comes to visit Nora, we see Nora's power slowly emerging through the cracks. For instance, in explaining her hardships, Mrs. Linde says, "You know so little about the troubles and hardships of life." Nora's answer is of strength, "I? So little." One can hear the sarcasm within Nora's words. Mrs. Linde continues on to say, "You're only a baby, Nora!" In a strong voice Nora answers, "You don't have to act so superior." This emergence of strength is classical to Nora as long as Torvald is not around. It is during this conversation Nora reveals her se! Nora went straight from the influences of her father to those of her husband. According to Nora, this was not an improvement. (1186) The way Torvald treats Nora in the very first scene is telltale of Nora's mental problems. She lies to her husband about eating macaroons. (1145) Although wives were considerably more submissive to their husbands' desires in this era, I certainly doubt that most of them would have accepted being treated like a child with rules regarding whether they could
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Approximate Word count = 1577
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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