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Name: Bessie Weisman

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Biographical information about the author: Henrik Ibsen was

² A Doll¶s House born in Norway in 1828. Ibsen¶s father was a

prosperous merchant whose financial failure caused the
c

Henrik Ibsen family to come to face with disgrace and subsequently

have to move to a farmhouse in Venstop. He got



1879
married in 1858 and had one child. Ibsen wrote several
unsuccessful works and therefore decided to move


abroad in 1864. He traveled for the next 27 years to


Realistic, Modern Prose Drama
places like Rome, Munich and Dresden, where he wrote

some of his most famous works. He returned to Norway

Historical information about the period of publication: in 1891 after writing works like ÷

 1890)
During the Victorian Era in the 19th century, the social and  

 
 1882). The last years of
classes of England were changing in composition. Since his life were accompanied by mental illness until he had
this time period is characterized by prosperity, many a stroke in 1900.
prosperous and educated individuals were considered a
part of the upper class, despite the class that his/her
family came from. Also, much scientific progress Characteristics of the genre: Modern drama is the Western
occurred during this time, ranging from Darwin¶s development of drama beginning in the late 19th century,
Theory of Evolution and Sigmund Freud¶s theories. most famously with the plays of Henrik Ibsen himself. The
Additionally, the Victorian Era is noted for the role of the play became one of both illumination and
restricted role that it placed on women. Women seemed examination, one that was often critical of unbending
merely to have a role in the home and to exist solely for morality and traditional society. With its extension into film
the needs and desires of men. and television media, modern drama presents a wide array of
historical and fictional perspectives.
Plot summary:

÷
 is the story of a woman named Nora Helmer who secretly borrows a large
sum of money in order to treat her husband¶s illness. By doing this, she saves her husband¶s life but
commits a crime in the process. In order to obtain the money, Nora needed to forge her father¶s
signature because women did not have the authorization to borrow money independently during this
time. A time after she forges the signature, her husband, Torvald Helmer, receives a job promotion at
the bank. When he takes the new job position, Torvald sees it necessary to fire Nils Krogstad, the
man who lent the money to Nora. Krogstad, who also committed forgery and is therefore looked
down upon by society, threatens to reveal Nora¶s secret unless she could convince her husband to
spare his job. Despite her attempts to convince Torvald not to fire Krogstad, he will not change his
mind because he feels physically ill to work around such an immoral individual. In the end, Krogstad
writes a letter to Mr. Helmer to express Nora¶s crime. Torvald reads the letter, subsequently becomes
enraged, and calls Nora a hypocrite and a liar. He soon forgives her after Krogstad returns the forged
contract back to the Helmers, which would save the Helmers¶ reputation. Torvald quickly forgives
his wife and apologizes for his previous insults. However, Nora has a revelation as she realizes that
she never truly knew and understood her husband and he never really understood her. She then leaves
her husband and asserts her own independence after she recognizes that she has been living a
sheltered and unfulfilling life.
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Describe the author¶s style: Ibsen writes in such a
way that captures the natural speech of each
individual character in relation to who they are
interacting with. This helps the realism that
accompanies his genre of writing.
Ì
 




An example that demonstrates the style:
Mr. Helmer states ³Is that my little lark
twittering out there?´ 5). This line
illustrates the natural, yet condescending
way that Torvald speaks to his wife.


³One day I might, yes. Many years
from now, when I¶ve lost my looks a
little. Don¶t laugh. I mean, of course,
a time will come when Torvald is not
as devoted to me, not quite so happy
when I dance for him, and dress for
him, and play with him.´
³Free. To be free, absolutely free. To
spend time playing with the children.
To have a clean, beautiful house, the
way Torvald likes it.´
³Something glorious is going to
happen.´
³From now on, forget happiness.
Now it¶s just about saving the
remains, the wreckage, the
appearance.´
³I have been performing tricks for
you, Torvald. That¶s how I¶ve
survived. You wanted it like that.
You and Papa have done me a great
wrong. It¶s because of you I¶ve made
nothing of my life.´


This quote is a representation of Nora¶s true understanding of
her marriage with Torvald. Here, she expresses that, when
she becomes older and less attractive, she may consider
telling Torvald of her crime. In this way, she would use her
crime as a method of keeping Torvald devoted to her because
the exposure of her crime would ruin the Helmers¶
reputation. She acknowledges that there is no substance to
their marriage; rather, it is a façade that is put on to uphold
their standing in society.
In this quote, Nora is expressing the freedom she will have
after she pays off her debt to Krogstad. However, as the play
progresses, she realizes that the actions she once perceived as
expressions of freedom were actually those actions that
restrain her as a woman in the Victorian society.
Here, Nora is describing what she thinks will occur when
Torvald finds out about her forgery. She believes that
Torvald will take the blame for her crime; however, when he
does not, she will come to understand her relationship with
Torvald is not as authentic as it seems.
Torvald makes this statement after he finds out about Nora¶s
crime. Instead of taking the blame for the crime and
sacrificing himself for Nora, he is more concerned with his
appearance to others. This characterizes Torvald as a very
shallow man who is only concerned with his reputation and
not the value of the relationship he shares with his wife.
This quote is a confirmation of Nora¶s understanding of her
relationship with Torvald. She has finally figured out the role
she plays as Torvald¶s wife and she knows that she must
break free from that unsatisfying position.
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A wife in a restrained She is the protagonist who Strong, rebellious
Nora Helmer role carved out by eventually comes to realize her self-

society and her worth and breaks away from her

husband¶s family.

expectations.




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Nora¶s husband He restrains Nora and treats her like Shallow,

a child. His actions cause her to condescending

leave her home to start anew.




&

Lends Nora money By blackmailing Nora, Krogstad Desperate, conniving

and blackmails her sets up a situation that forces her to

realize the shallow and uncaring

manner of her husband


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Nora¶s childhood She underscores Nora¶s childlike Sensible, practical

friend mannerisms and adds some realistic

commentary into the situation.



He serves as a contrast to Helmer, Unconcerned,

'
"
Torvald¶s best friend who cares deeply about accepting

appearances. Dr. Rank is very

uncaring of what others think of

him and very acceptant of his

imminent death.


()
#)

The Helmer children They are in the play to highlight Young, innocent
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Nora¶s reaction to her restraining

situation. Even though she seems to

be a caring mother, she feels as if

she needs to abandon her family to

find herself.





She transports the letters from
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The Helmers¶ maid Krogstad to Mr. Helmer and Practical, sacrificial

perpetuates the events that lead up

to the climax of the play.


















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The story is set in the Victorian era in the late 1870s.
The events of the play take place in the Helmers¶
apartment. This limited and restrained setting is a
representation of the lifestyle that Nora has lived.
Also, Helmer¶s study and the ballroom are mentioned
in the play, but no substantive action occurs in these
rooms.






In the opening scene, Torvald is speaking to
Nora as if she is a child. He is very
condescending and very controlling of the
money in the family. He calls her a
³spendthrift´ and an ³extravagant little person.´
Also, in this scene, Torvald interrogates Nora
about eating macaroons. These negative
interactions set up an idea in the reader¶s mind
about the conflictions that will come about later
on in the play.

#

There are several symbols within the play. The first
symbol is the macaroons which represent Nora¶s
deceitful ways as well as the restraint that her
husband attempts to place on her. The black hat and
black cross that Dr. Rank is associated with denotes
ideas of death. This could be related to the symbolic
death of Nora¶s marriage and her old way of life. The
Christmas tree symbolizes Nora herself because it is
dressed up and pleasing to the eye, just as she is only
visually pleasing to Torvald and nothing else. New



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In this scene, Torvald becomes very upset and
agitated that his reputation is in jeopardy. He
makes harmful comments to Nora and then
takes them back when he finds out his
appearance would no longer be compromised.
Nora then decides to leave Torvald and her
children because of the feigned love that
Torvald has had for her throughout their whole
marriage. She also gives her ring back to
Torvald and tells him never to contact her. This
way, she could completely sever the ties that she
made with this unsatisfying life and move on to
become a more independent and free woman.
Year¶s Day is also a symbol for renewal and the .
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rebirth of Nora¶s life. 1971, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1985, 2005, 2009


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1. The role of women in Victorian society.

2. Parental obligations.

3. Appearances versus the reality of a situation.

4. Establishing one¶s own identity.