Ibsen’s A Doll House vs. Today’s Society
Dillon Yang 11I
25/09/2012
Ibsen’s a Doll’s vs Today’s society
Is there anything more degrading for a woman than marrying a stranger and bearing children with him? “A Doll house” by Henrick Ibsen is a play which was written in the 1878 during when men were more dominant than women. “A Doll house” talks about a woman who faced this problem head on as she stands up for her on rights, and starts her journey in finding herself.
“A Doll House” begins with a happy family scene, it was Christmas Eve and the whole family was decorating the house preparing for Christmas. This seems like a big happy family but within it lies deceit, this is revealed when Nora (the wife) told Ms.Linde (her friend) that she had borrow money from another man to treat her husband’s disease. This treachery which occurred reveals Nora’s true interpretation of her marriage. This is shown in a quote from Act I, Nora says “One 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.” From this quote, it expresses that Nora already knows that her marriage is based around her looks, and Nora couldn’t trust Torvald with the truth because she’s afraid of the consequences which would befallen her if she did. In contrast to today’s marriages, a good relationship builds on trust and support from each other especially during when times are tough.
An indication of Nora’s life being a social conception of duty is in a quotation during the conversation with Ms.Linde in Act I. ‘Free. To be free, absolutely free. To spend time playing with the children. To have a clean, beautiful house, the way Torvald likes it.’ This quote defines Nora’s fake freedom, this is the socially acceptable freedom which society sees a wife should have, but this is not true freedom. True freedom is when Nora can disobey her duties, do what she want
25/09/2012
Ibsen’s a Doll’s vs Today’s society
Is there anything more degrading for a woman than marrying a stranger and bearing children with him? “A Doll house” by Henrick Ibsen is a play which was written in the 1878 during when men were more dominant than women. “A Doll house” talks about a woman who faced this problem head on as she stands up for her on rights, and starts her journey in finding herself.
“A Doll House” begins with a happy family scene, it was Christmas Eve and the whole family was decorating the house preparing for Christmas. This seems like a big happy family but within it lies deceit, this is revealed when Nora (the wife) told Ms.Linde (her friend) that she had borrow money from another man to treat her husband’s disease. This treachery which occurred reveals Nora’s true interpretation of her marriage. This is shown in a quote from Act I, Nora says “One 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.” From this quote, it expresses that Nora already knows that her marriage is based around her looks, and Nora couldn’t trust Torvald with the truth because she’s afraid of the consequences which would befallen her if she did. In contrast to today’s marriages, a good relationship builds on trust and support from each other especially during when times are tough.
An indication of Nora’s life being a social conception of duty is in a quotation during the conversation with Ms.Linde in Act I. ‘Free. To be free, absolutely free. To spend time playing with the children. To have a clean, beautiful house, the way Torvald likes it.’ This quote defines Nora’s fake freedom, this is the socially acceptable freedom which society sees a wife should have, but this is not true freedom. True freedom is when Nora can disobey her duties, do what she want