‘’Ibsen’S Play ‘a Doll’S House’ Offers a Challenging View of the Ideas of Love and Marriage ‘’ Discuss This Statement with Reference to the Text.
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- Category: English: Plays
- Date Submitted: 10/24/2011 10:02 AM
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It is completely fair to say that Henrik Ibsen uses A Doll’s House to challenge the ideas of love and marriage. In the play, the two main characters, Nora and Torvald ,are going through a marital struggle. Ibsen uses their relationship to distinguish between true love and marriage.
At the start of the play, the Helmers appear to be very happy in their marriage. They portray the perfect marriage when we are first introduced. They have it all; a lovely home, are financially stable and have 3 beautiful children. They are a couple to be envious of. Both Nora and Torvald believe they really are in true love and that their marriage is completely legitimate. Not only do they believe that they are perfect, they are also aware of their apparent perfectness to other people. ‘’So you are quite alone. How dreadfully sad that must be. I have three lovely children.’’
Nora willingly acts to maintain the status quo of her marriage. Like Torvald, she wants her marriage to appear perfect to others. For Torvald's benefit, she acts merry, speaks in baby doll talk ‘’May we be a wee bit more reckless now, mayn’t we? Just a tiny wee bit!’’ , uses pretty mannerisms, and above all, keeps any distasteful matter (household finances, raising children) from him.
However, as the play progresses, it is revealed that their marriage is extremely flawed. It is a meaningless marriage, as Nora and Torvald have no real feelings of love between them. Ibsen has used their marriage to challenge true love in marriages, as their marriage is just an illusion of love which was built only on appearances. Both Nora and Torvald pretend they are in love throughout the story. They love the idea of being in a happy loved-up marriage more than they love each other. In reality, Torvald has no feelings of true love towards Nora. Torvald is so obsessed with Nora being perfect, that he really is not in love with her. For example, he forbids Nora from eating sweets because he does not want her teeth to become...
At the start of the play, the Helmers appear to be very happy in their marriage. They portray the perfect marriage when we are first introduced. They have it all; a lovely home, are financially stable and have 3 beautiful children. They are a couple to be envious of. Both Nora and Torvald believe they really are in true love and that their marriage is completely legitimate. Not only do they believe that they are perfect, they are also aware of their apparent perfectness to other people. ‘’So you are quite alone. How dreadfully sad that must be. I have three lovely children.’’
Nora willingly acts to maintain the status quo of her marriage. Like Torvald, she wants her marriage to appear perfect to others. For Torvald's benefit, she acts merry, speaks in baby doll talk ‘’May we be a wee bit more reckless now, mayn’t we? Just a tiny wee bit!’’ , uses pretty mannerisms, and above all, keeps any distasteful matter (household finances, raising children) from him.
However, as the play progresses, it is revealed that their marriage is extremely flawed. It is a meaningless marriage, as Nora and Torvald have no real feelings of love between them. Ibsen has used their marriage to challenge true love in marriages, as their marriage is just an illusion of love which was built only on appearances. Both Nora and Torvald pretend they are in love throughout the story. They love the idea of being in a happy loved-up marriage more than they love each other. In reality, Torvald has no feelings of true love towards Nora. Torvald is so obsessed with Nora being perfect, that he really is not in love with her. For example, he forbids Nora from eating sweets because he does not want her teeth to become...