Henrik Ibsen's "a Doll's House"

"A Doll House"

Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House" centers on a woman protagonist, Nora, throughout the course of the play, struggles with a conflict that will jeopardize her marriage. She is also dealing with an internal conflict on her own, finding her own individuality, as well as understanding the stature of her marriage. The theme is not women's right, but rather "the need of every individual to find out the kind of person he or she really is and to strive to become that person".

One of her major roles, hence to play's title, is that of a doll wife. She has been living under this pretense throughout her whole life and marriage, first as her father's "doll-child" and then as Torvald's "doll-wife." According to Nora in her climactic confrontation with her husband in the final act, she has been "greatly wronged" by both men, claiming that instead of formulating her own opinions, she has based them on theirs. Everything in their marriage has been arranged "according to [Torvald's] tastes" and she has pretended to like them well.

This notion of being a "doll" is further evidenced by Torvald's many pet names for her that signify his view of her as being fragile, such as "skylark," "squirrel," and "spindrift," all in indicating his role as the dominant husband. Nora is his doll, who must be cares for and protects, which is further illustrated after their confrontation in which he calls her his "frightened little song-bird," whom he will shelter with his "broad wings." In addition, Nora placed herself in the role of treating her children like toys as well. She plays hide and seek in which she runs from them and then hides putting her in a diminutive role as an object rather than a person, thereby losing respect and dignity. Furthermore, although social standards gave women the responsibility of raising their children, she technically didn't. It was her nurse Anne who takes on that obligation, clarified in the beginning of the play when they return from their walk; it is made clear that they weren't usually present around Nora and her husband.

Torvald demonstrates his ignorance of her feelings in the final confrontation. It is lashes out in anger at her committing the crime; however he was more concerned about what people would think, instead of trying to resolve it the right way, and accused her of the irresponsibility passed down from her father. Furthermore, he strips her of her right to bring up their children, saying that she is "unfit". After the debt is forgiven by Krogstad he apologizes to her and expects everything to be okay, as if "nothing had happened." However the damage has already been done and Nora finally sees her husband truly is, that he neither thinks