Interpretation Of Ibsen

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Interpretation Of Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” Essay, Research Paper

Interpretation of Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House”

“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

highlight the overall subordinate role that a woman plays compared to that of

her husband. The two sides of Nora contrast each other greatly and accentuate

the fact that she is lacking in independence of will.

The mere fact that Nora’s well-intentioned action is considered illegal

reflects woman’s subordinate position in society; but it is her actions that

provide the insight to this position. It can be suggested that women have the

power to choose which rules to follow at home, but not in the business world,

thus again indicating her subordinateness. Nora does not at first realize that

the rules outside the household apply to her. This is evident in Nora’s meeting

with Krogstad regarding her borrowed money. In her opinion it was no crime for

a woman to do everything possible to save her husband’s life. She also believes

that her act will be overlooked because of her desperate situation. She fails

to see that the law does not take into account the motivation behind her forgery.

Marianne Sturman submits that this meeting with Krogstad was her first

confrontation with the reality of a “lawful society” and she deals with it by

attempting to distract herself with her Christmas decorations (16). Thus her

first encounter with rules outside of her “doll’s house” results in the

realization of her naivety and inexperience with the real world due to her

subordinate role in society.

The character of Nora is not only important in describing to role of

women, but also in emphasizing the impact of this role on a woman. Nora’s child-

like manner, evident through her minor acts of disobedience and lack of

responsibility compiled with her lack of sophistication further emphasize the

subordinate role of woman. By the end of the play this is evident as she

eventually sees herself as an ignorant person, and unfit mother, and essentially

her husband’s wife. Edmond Gosse highlights the point that “Her insipidity, her

dollishness, come from the incessant repression of her family life (721).” Nora

has been spoonfed everything she has needed in life. Never having to think has

caused her to become dependent on others. This dependency has given way to

subordinateness, one that has grown into a social standing. Not only a position

in society, but a state of mind is created. When circumstances suddenly place

Nora in a responsible position, and demand from her a moral judgment, she has

none to give. She cannot possibly comprehend the severity of her decision to

borrow money illegally. Their supposed inferiority has created a class of

ignorant women who cannot take action let alone accept the consequences of their

actions.

“A Doll’s House” is also a prediction of change from this subordinate

roll. According to Ibsen in his play, women will eventually progress and

understand her position. Bernard Shaw notes that when Nora’s husband

inadvertently deems her unfit in her role as a mother, she begins to realize

that her actions consisting of playing with her children happily or dressing

them nicely does not necessarily make her a suitable parent (226). She needs to

be more to her children than an empty figurehead. From this point, when Torvald

is making a speech about the effects of a deceitful mother, until the final

scene, Nora progressively confronts the realities of the real world and realizes

her subordinate position. Although she is progressively understanding this

position, she still clings to the hope that her husband will come to her

protection and defend her from the outside world once her crime is out in the

open. After she reveals the “dastardly deed” to her husband, he becomes

understandably agitated; in his frustration he shares the outside world with her,

the ignorance of the serious business world, and destroys her innocence and

self-esteem. This disillusion marks the final destructive blow to her doll’s

house. Their ideal home including their marriage and parenting has been a

fabrication for the sake of society. Nora’s decision to leave this false life

behind and discover for herself what is real is directly symbolic of woman’s

ultimate realization. Although she becomes aware of her supposed

subordinateness, it is not because of this that she has the desire to take

action. Nora is utterly confused, as suggested by Harold Clurman, “She is

groping sadly in a maze of confused feeling toward a way of life and a destiny

of which she is most uncertain (256).” The one thing she is aware of is her

ignorance, and her desire to go out into the world is not to “prove herself” but

to discover and educate herself. She must strive to find her individuality.

That the perception of woman is inaccurate is also supported by the role

of Torvald. Woman is believed to be subordinate to the domineering husband.

Instead of being the strong supporter and protector of his family, Nora’s

husband is a mean and cowardly man. Worried about his reputation he cares

little about his wife’s feelings and fails to notice many of her needs. The

popular impression of man is discarded in favor of a more realistic view, thus

illustrating society’s distorted views.

Ibsen, through this controversial play, has an impact upon society’s

view of the subordinate position of women. By describing this role of woman,

discussing its effects, and predicting a change in contemporary views, he

stressed the importance of woman’s realization of this believed inferiority.

Woman should no longer be seen as the shadow of man, but a person in herself,

with her own triumphs and tragedies. The exploration of Nora reveals that she

is dependant upon her husband and displays no independent standing. Her

progression of understanding suggests woman’s future ability to comprehend their

plight. Her state of shocked awareness at the end of the play is representative

of the awakening of society to the changing view of the role of woman. “A

Doll’s House” magnificently illustrates the need for and a prediction of this

change.

–rhmmmm, that’s a paddlin’

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