A doll house (0)

Professor Kavanaugh
1 December 2011
Word Count : 968
Essay Topic #7: Ibsen ’s A Doll House
A doll house is a visually appealing home for an equally perfect doll to live in. In
Ibsen’s “A Doll House” the values of society were related only to the visual appearance
of one’s home and family. Social acceptance dictated Torvald and Nora ’s lives, including
their relationship . Torvald can be assumed as not only the owner of this “doll house” but
of Nora, his “doll”, as well. Their marriage had the constant pressures of the image of
perfection, and it is this tension that corrupts their relationship. It also forces Nora to
realize the self-centered nature of her husband . Nora ultimately changes her resemblance
of Torvald’s “doll” and becomes an independent and confrontational woman, creating a
great contrast with the title of this play.
The standards on social acceptance in 1879 were harsh, and Torvald let it
consume every every aspect of his life. His dependence on perfection harmed his
marriage and himself as he tried to retain this “doll house” image . When Nora borrowed
the bank loan from Krogstad to save Torvald’s life, his reaction was instantly directed
towards how he would look in society’s eyes. He had previously said “when it counts, I
have strength and courage enough as a man to take on the whole weight” (Ibsen 1129) of
anything that would cause Nora harm. This is ironic because he fully intends to lay the
blame on Nora, when she acted solely out of love. Also, when it came to firing Krogstad,
Nora’s opinion was not even consulted by Torvald as he was afraid of being judged by
his co- workers for being “swayed by all kinds of outside pressure ” (1129). Nora was only
the wife , and her duties did not include input on any decisions .
As Torvald was the owner of the home, and Nora was simply the doll, she was
expected to be perfect and submissive to him. There are many references to Nora as his
sky- lark or squirrel, that give the feeling that Nora is another child in this home. Her
reaction to these names are not rejection, but acceptance, as she clearly believed she
“can’t get anywhere without (his) help” (1137). Nora even receives an allowance that she
spends as a child would, and Torvald even goes as far as choosing her clothes for the
masquerade ball, like dressing a doll. During the first act, Nora seems to have little
substance to her character as she does exactly what she is told , even when Torvald tells
her not to eat macaroons. Nora follows her husbands orders out of fear of running her
“beautiful happy home” (1113) and disrupting life “the way Torvald likes it” (1114).
In contrast, during the third act Nora’s resemblance to a doll begins to differ as
she realizes the true, selfish intentions of her husband. Throughout the play Torvald
claims he will protect Nora from whatever comes their way, yet at the moment he
discovers her debt to Krogstad he has no intention of taking the blame and hurting his
own image “to the outside world”(1147). He instead calls Nora “a hypocrite, a liar”
(1147) and “a criminal ” (1147), instead of defending her. Nora has the realization that her
marriage is not a priority if Torvald’s social status is at stake , and she finally decides to
stand up for herself . She discovers that she and Torvald do not understand each other , and
she was only his “doll-child”(1149). Nora becomes very self-assured as she decides to
leave her home and be free of Torvald’s oppression. She boldy states that Torvald “ never
loved (her)” (1149) and that she was leaving him and the children at once. This statement
makes a mockery of Torvald’s claim that he’d “often wished that (she) could be threatened
by some imminent danger so that (he) could risk everything (he) had - even (his) own life
itself” (1146) in order to keep her safe . Ultimately, their relationship will be over and Nora
will be free of the pressure to be his doll.
The terms of having a “perfect” life are far too steep if society’s perception is held
more important than family and a marriage. Torvald and Nora’s relationship was doomed to
fail as Torvald embraced being accepted in his community more so than keeping his wife
safe. Nora would inevitably have the realization that her marriage was flawed , and her true,
strong nature was revealed as she left her superficial life for the unknown. Her change of
character contrasts with her initial character and the title of the play, which both resembled
perfection and happiness . Nonetheless, as Torvald had said, “an exit should always be
effective”(1142).
Work Cited
Ibsen, Henrik. “A Doll House” Literature : Approaches to Fiction , Poetry, and Drama .
2nd ed. Robert DiYanni. New York . McGraw- Hill , 2008: 91-96. Print . p.1113,
1114, 1129,1142, 1146, 1147, 1149