Analysis Of A Doll's House

Submitted By Middlebrooks1
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Pages: 3
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In this play, Ibsen focuses on Nora’s realization that she is living in a male dominated world, or she is to be subservient to her husband. The title 'A Doll's House' aides to the fact that during this time males were the domineering members of society. This stereotype has become engrained even in modern times, and the title, in my opinion, weakens what should be thought of how a woman should act in a marriage. This play affirms the differences between men and women but it represents these differences as a bit extrinsic. The title makes us think of how women, as wives and mothers, are treated within their families. The only solution, as the play shows, is the ability for Nora to free herself from her subservient lifestyle. I feel that this is an important part of the play because it is the defining moment where Nora owns up to what she did and decides to do what she thinks is best for not only her marriage, but for her as well.
One thing that struck me while reading this play was the conversation between Nora and Mrs. Linde. They have been friends since childhood but it had been many years since they had seen each other. Mrs. Linde spent most of her childhood without a father and as an adult married a rich man that she did not truly love to help support her mother and brothers. She feels disdain towards Nora because of her somewhat charmed life and argues that "a wife can’t borrow without her husband's consent." (Ibsen, 2011, Act 1, p. 590) During this time, it was considered illegal for women to do this, but Nora, in an effort to save her husband’s life, borrowed the money from Mr. Krogstad, also Mrs. Linde’s former fiancé, and forged her father’s signature to take a trip to Italy. Mr. Krogstad is portrayed as “a father desperately trying to raise his children to redeem himself. Nevertheless, he has also committed the crime of forgery, and instead of taking his punishment, he has covered up the crime. According to Torvald, this crime renders him a pollutant. Although he is less than reputable in his opinions, he does voice the social opinions of his times. Again, fatherhood is connected with a moral disease that will infect and destroy the lives of the children. ” (Rosefeldt, 2003) When Nora decides to leave her husband, she has ulterior motives. Before Torvold has a chance to approach her about the letter, she thinks that Torvald should take his own life. She believes that her husband is willing to die for her, but she soon learns that Torvold has no intentions of taking his own life. Torvald tells Nora that she has destroyed his life, and in the end, Nora decides to leave Torvald. She cannot bear the fact of being a trophy any longer and must be able to find herself as a woman but is
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