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Doll's House, A - Interpretation And Analysis Of Ibsen's Play

    "A Doll's House" is classified under the "second phase" of Henrik
Ibsen's career. It was during this period which he made the transition
from mythical and historical dramas to plays dealing with social
problems. It was the first in a series investigating the tensions of
family life. Written during the Victorian era, the controversial play
featuring a female protagonist seeking individuality stirred up more
controversy than any of his other works. In contrast to many dramas of
Scandinavia in that time which depicted the role of women as the
comforter, helper, and supporter of man, "A Doll's House" introduced
woman as having her own purposes and goals. The heroine, Nora Helmer,
progresses during the course of the play eventually to realize that
she must discontinue the role of a doll and seek out her
individuality.

    David Thomas describes the initial image of Nora as that of a
doll wife who revels in the thought of luxuries that can now be
afforded, who is become with flirtation, and engages in childlike acts
of disobedience (259). This inferior role from which Nora progressed
is extremely important. Ibsen in his "A Doll's House" depicts the role
of women as subordinate in order to emphasize the need to reform their
role in society.

    Definite characteristics of the women's subordinate role in a
relationship are emphasized through Nora's contradicting actions. Her
infatuation with luxuries such as expensive Christmas gifts  
contradicts her resourcefulness in scrounging and buying cheap
clothing; her defiance of Torvald by eating forbidden Macaroons
contradicts the submission of her opinions, including the decision of
which dance outfit to wear, to her husband; and Nora's flirtatious
nature contradicts her devotion to her husband. These occurrences
emphasize the facets of a relationship in which women play a dependent
role: finance, power, and love. Ibsen attracts our attention to these
examples to...