"A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen shocked the world when it was first published. From the beginning of the play until the final act, the plot line was controversial. "A Doll's House" was contrasting to its times. As the play continues, it becomes prevalent that many ideas, themes, and characters contrast each other. Ibsen uses these contrasting ideas to portray a shocking and controversial effect. Using textual evidence discuss and show how two ideas, themes, or characters contrast each other and also enhance the play.
In A Doll's House, Nora and Torvald contrast the typical idea of a married couple. Nora keeps many secrets from Torvald and the acquiring of a loan deepens her deception and secretive nature which would never have been thought of or acted upon by a proper Victorian lady. Nora contrasts her husband because he believes Nora should listen to him and abide by his rules even though she manipulates him by using his nicknames of "little lark" and "my song bird" to get more money and simple little macaroons. Torvald values his status as the dominate figure in the house but his dominance falls as Nora finds herself and decides she must get out in order to save her soul. Though the end leaves the reader to think Nora will not spend too much time away before she returns to her economic and emotional support, it is quite controversial for a writer to even think about a woman in that time wanting to break free from her husband's control.
ReplyDelete"A Doll's House," by Henrk Ibsen presents many controversial topics criticizing the Victorian marriage and time period. The most powerful message is the independence of the sexes breaking from their traditional Victorian roles. Nora's quest for independence, the prominent controversial message, overshadows another controversial topic. During the Victorian era, men were the dominant figure in the marriage. Torvald represents the typical man during this time in the relationship by showing his possession over Nora calling her pet names and treating her as a child, "My little sweet tooth really didn't make a little detour through the confectioner's? (1717)" He clearly idealizes the Victorian fantasy of a wife that Nora seems to fulfill until the end when she demands her independence. The contrasting character to Torvald, Krogstad, appears to be the antagonist in the play. However, in Act III we learn he is just the opposite because he embodies the modern example
ReplyDeleteof a loving man who wants to marry the woman he loves, not influenced by society. After his chat with Mrs. Linde, Krogstad's demeanor changes dramatically and when he realizes they could be a couple he, "can't believe it," and goes as far to say he has, "never been so happy. (1750)" This show of pure emotion towards Mrs. Linde provides Ibsen's belief that a man should be love his wife and not the idea of a wife, a modernist viewpoint critical of Victorian society.
Hey guys let's try to deviate from Nora and Torvald being the main examples here. Refer to Mrs. Maurno's powerpoint to see other contrasting topics. Also think about other minor characters as well as prevalent themes and such. Thanks
ReplyDeleteOn the surface, Nora Helmer appears to be the ideal wife her husband desires. Torvald sees a woman who is under his control; he defines her every behavior and establishes rules that govern everything from what she eats to what she buys. The reality is that Nora has been maintaining a secret life for seven years, and that Torvald and Nora maintain a marriage that is a fiction of suitability and trust. Deception is an important theme in A Doll's House because it motivates Nora's behavior, and through her, the behavior of every other character in the play. Because Nora lied when she borrowed money from Krogstad, she must continue lying to repay the money. “Your squirrel would run about and do all her tricks if you would be nice, and do as she wants ... Your skylark would chirp about in every room, with her song rising and falling”. But, Nora thinks she must also lie to protect Torvald. Her deception makes her vulnerable to Krogstad's blackmail and casts him in the role of villain. And although Nora does not he to Mrs, Linde, it is Mrs. Linde who forces Nora to confront her deceptions. Dr. Rank has been deceiving both Nora and Torvald for years about the depth of his feelings for Nora. Only when she attempts to seek his help does Nora finally see beneath the surface to the doctor's real feelings. Torvald, who has been deceived throughout most of the play, is finally revealed in the final act to have been the one guiltiest of deception, since he has deceived Nora into believing that he loved and cherished her, while all the while he had regarded her as little more than his property. Torvald has a public persona to maintain and he views his marriage as an element of that public need. When the fiction is stripped away at the play's conclusion, both partners must confront the reality of their marriage.
ReplyDeleteIn "A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen, Nora is the epitome of the perfect housewife who slowly reveals a big secret over the course of the play. She does so through her conversations with her friends, especially her old friend Kristine Linde. Kristine is quite the opposite of Nora at the beginning of the play. Kristine is a widow with no children or dependents who seems to be very independent, both mentally and financially. She criticizes Nora's childish mannerisms as she complains about her, "Small household cares and that sort of thing," especially since Kristine has had to face reality and the working world to make it on her own (Locations 239-45). Even though Kristine is in check with the real world, there is a side of her that wishes to be the simple housewife once again.
ReplyDeleteEven though Nora's ideas of freedom at the beginning of the play include being "free from care" and being "able to romp and play with the children" and keeping "the household [beautiful]...just as Torvald likes it," Nora, like Kristine has a change in thoughts (Locations 326-33).
By the end of the play, both Nora and Kristine are completely different woman. Nora has departed from her act as a brainwashed housewife to an independent thinker as she stands up to Torvald and tells him the truth; that she has been inferior to him for far too long and has never had a voice of her own. Nora realizes that she has "duties to [her]self" and must be independent to fulfill the rest of her life (Locations 1672-77).
Kristine on the other hand decides that the independent lifestyle was not for her. Kristine returns to her ex-lover Krogstad with hopes to re-kindle the flame that once burned between them. Krogstad, who, unlike Torvald, treats women with respect and as human beings, is extremely excited as he tells her that "he has never had such an amazing piece of good fortune before" (Locations 1334-41).
Overall, Nora Helmer and Kristine Linde are very different charactes, especially towards the end of the play as Kristine gives up her independence to be happy with the man she loves while Nora takes a stand and embraces independence as she leaves Torvald to discover her true life purpose.
*My textbook is missing the first few scenes of Act I so I went ahead and cited my Kindle.
In "A Doll's House" Ibsen takes a modern approach by veerying away from Victorian ideals. One idea that he uses to lean more toward modern ideas is how he portrays his characters. He reverses the traditional role for many of the characters. While Nora and Torvald present the situation of reversed roles of a married couple, Dr. Rank and Mrs. Linde represent a new idea: imperfect characters. Ibsen presents the idea of realistic characters not perfect idealistic characters seen in many traditional plays. While this idea is contracdicting to Victorian society's demands, the characters are contradicting themselves. Dr. Rank, in traditional plays, could've been the sterotype of a "wise old man". However Ibsen gives him the characteristics of being sickly from his father's recklessness, some lack of morals when he covents Nora, and mentally unsure of himself. "Rank: Wretched as I am, I'll gladly prolong my torment indefinitely," (1723). Dr. Rank is so sickly he believes he is sitting on death's door, which shows his unsettling mental thinking. "Helmer: There's a black cross over the name see?...He could almost be announcing his own death," (1754). This is quite different from the traditional role of a confident, pure, and knowledgable old man. Mrs. Linde contradicts not only Victorican standards, but also Dr. Rank. In "A Doll's House" she is the one with the strength and knowledge. A woman is the character who has had to work for her family and deal with life's intensitites unlike a male doctor who is sickly. She contradicts Victorian standards because she is the dominant figure of her household there is a lack of a superior male character. "Mrs. Linde: I had to scrape up a living with a little shop and a little teaching and whatever else I could find. The last three years have been like endless worday without a rest for me," (1719). Ibsen presents Mrs. Linde and Dr. Rank as the exact opposite of each other, and also the opposite of how society would have portrayed them.
ReplyDeleteWe have discussed thoroughly A Doll’s House’ controversy and how it does not fit in with the ideals of Victorian society. Instead Ibsen strays from the norm and produces a play with a woman, Nora, as the main character. Not only does he have a woman as the main character but he also portrayed her as the more intelligent and even more mature individual between her and Helmer. Ibsen’s play is not only controversial to its time period but it also contains many contrasting individuals, adding to the plot line of the story.
ReplyDeleteTwo individuals that contrasts include Torvald and Dr. Rank. As we all know, Torvald is the husband of Nora and they seem to live an ideal life with a nice house, money, and three healthy children. We soon find out, however, that this is not necessarily the case. The second character I chose is Dr. Rank, a doctor who quite trouble and sickly but extremely kind and compassionate, as a friend (to Torvald) and a lover (to Nora although she is “taken”). Although not the obvious two to contrast because they are not completely opposite I chose them because they both have what the other doesn’t. Torvald seems charming and hardworking but treats Nora like a child and doesn’t really take time to really listen to her, “We’ve been married now eight years. Doesn’t it occur to you that this is the first time we two, you and I , man and wife, have ever talked seriously together” (1757). Dr. Rank, however, does not seem like the most charming or handsome of men but Nora is attracted to his willingness to listen and sympathize with her, unlike Torvald, he treats her like and equal, “…with Dr. Rank I talk about a lot about such things, because he like hearing about them” (1734). This contrast brings out what she wishes Torvald could be as a perfect husband.
One very controversial idea in A Doll’s House is the idea that Ibsen presents of the woman caring for the man. In a time period where the man always took care of the female, and was presented as a much stronger, dominant figure, Ibsen suddenly switches that dynamic around completely. Nora reveals to Mrs. Linde at the beginning of the play that Torvald was very ill, saying, “He took all kinds of extra work that kept him going morning and night. It wore him down, and then he fell deathly ill. The doctors said it was essential for him to travel south” (1718). Now, this in and of itself, does not seem like too much of a contradiction to society. However, the next lines reveal a true contradiction to Ibsen’s society. Nora reveals that she came up with “Four thousand, eight hundred crowns” by herself (1719). This is in conflict with Ibsen’s time period because it presents Nora as the more dominant figure. However, this idea conflicts with the idea that Torvald is still seen as the more dominant figure on the surface, and to the rest of society. Torvald calls Nora names such as “skylark” and his “little squirrel rummaging around” throughout the play. This shows a sense of ownership over Nora, even though the prior example would suggest that Nora had some power of Torvald. Torvald is also still the ‘bread-winner’ of the family. It is almost as if in areas that are open to societal judgment, the couple holds firm to traditional roles. However, behind the scenes, Nora is the real dominant figure. By presenting the proper way society expects the relationship, and the contradicting that idea with the idea of Nora taking care of Torvald, Ibsen creates the perfect contradiction that stirs controversy about his play.
ReplyDeleteHenrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House" is a work made up almost entirely of contrasts. One such contrast is Nora Helmer vs. Kristine Linde.
ReplyDeleteNora is a woman who dreams of being a socialite. In reality, she is the upper middle class wife of Torvald Helmer. She spends her days doing nothing except for catering to her husband's whims and devising new ways of acquiring the things she wants. She is infantile, impulsive, and sheltered. She frequently says the first thing that comes to mind and these things are mildly offensive or, for lack of a better term, stupid. She outright asks Kristine, if she truly "didn't love" her husband, and if so, why she married him (1719).
In contrast, Kristine is a widow who works as a bookkeeper at the same bank as Torvald. She is a little bit older than Nora, so naturally she is a little more keen to the ways of the world. She is mildly condescending, asking Nora if she's "sensible yet" (1718). Furthermore, her relationship with Krogstad, is based on intellectual conversation as opposed to being cute.
"A Doll's House" is a study in contrasts. While the whole play, a fairly contemporary work, contrasts with the ideals of the Victorian era, the characters themselves are contrasts and foils to each other.
Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House" was an extremely radical work for its time period. The idea of liberation from Victorian society that is prevalent throughout the play was extremely racy making the play controversial. This liberation is portrayed through. Not only does Nora contradict the traditional view of everything that is expected of a woman, but she refuses to accept Victorian society's strict expectations when she denies the existence of religion and decides to leave her family and husband because she believes that "there has to be absolute freedom for both of us" (1761). Leaving her family was an unheard of idea during this time. Nora also shows her refuses to accept Victorian ideology when stating that she refuses to believe things simply because she is told to, "I can't go along with believing what the majority says, or what's written in books. I have to think these things over to understand them" (1759). Not only did society find it insulting that Nora went against the grain through various aspects of her life, but the fact that she challenged all that was believed in set her apart from other radicals of the 1800's. Nora's muddling in finances and departure for her family show her independence, setting her apart and ultimately cutting her ties with the society which she was placed in.
ReplyDeleteHenrik Ibsen's A Doll House is filled to the brim with contrasting characters. An obvious choice for contrasting characters is Nora and Torvald, however i believe that Nora and Dr. Rank are contrasting characters as well. To me, Nora epitomizes the strong and independent woman. Although she does not initially seem to be that kind of woman, she reveals her true self toward the end of the play. At the beginning she seems to be the subservient wife, typical of the Victorian era. However, as the play progresses you see Nora take her life into her own hands and cease living the life that Torvald has laid out for her. This can be seen through Nora getting a loan behind her husband's back as well as her decision to leave Torvald and the children. When she decides to take out a loan behind Torvald's back, she takes charge and does what she thinks is the right thing to do. This shows that she makes independent decisions instead of simply doing what her husband tells her to do. She is also strong enough to stand up to Torvald and leave the comfort of her family to live an uncertain life of independence.
ReplyDeleteDr. Rank however, is in complete contrast with Nora's fierce independence. Dr. Rank is weak with sickness and always seems to be very fragile. Although is sickness is physical and does not directly affect his personality, he never seems to take on the strong manly persona that is expected of a Victorian man. This contrast helps to accentuate the the way that Nora and Dr. Rank have really flipped roles. As a woman, Nora should be weak and subservient, but she is very strong and independent. Dr. Rank should be a very powerful manly man, but he is weak and sickly. These contrasts help to reveal how controversial this play was during its time period.
Ibsen's "A Doll House" contains many topics that were very controversial during the time it was published. Ibsen obviously did this either to criticize Victorian soceity or promote the expression of a certain person, characteristic, or social being. This is greatly expressed through the characters of Nora and Mrs. Linde. These women are foils of each other, which is evident thoughout the story. Nora is a snooty upper class Victorian housewife who is more concerned with her material life than her personal one. In contrast, Nora's close friend Mrs. Kristine Linde is widowed and not as well off, but even through her suffering and challenges, she seems to be pleased with what she has. It is surprising that an author would have two polar opposite people be best friends, but Ibsen obviously has a purpose in creating their relationship. In the first couple paged of their conversation, Mrs. Linde and Nora are discussing their lives:
ReplyDeleteNora: I feel so light and happy! won't it be lovely to have stacks of money and not a care in the world?
Mrs. Linde: Well, anyway, it would be lovely to have enough for the necessities.
Nora: No, not just for the necessities, but stacks and stacks of money! (1718).
Through Nora's character, Ibsen seems to be criticizing the selfish nature of the upper class members of Victorian society, especially the women. He provides much sympathy for Mrs. Linde due to her sad experiences, making Nora seem very selfish and cold toward her. By using contrast of characters and their persoanlities, Ibsen creates conflist within the story while vividly enhancing the plotline to his audience.
Dark against light defines Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House.” A work composed mainly of contrasts; it vividly mocks the Victorian time period in order to reveal the flaws within such a high-standard society. A major contrast that is present within this work is the relationship and standing of Nora and her husband, Torvald. In the beginning Nora is very immature and assumes an inferior role to her dominating husband, but gradually there is a noted shift in dominance and role reversal. Nora begins to assume the dominant role, but in an underlying way. Unlike her husband that barked the rules and gave her regulations, she manipulates him as she matures by outwardly giving in to his superficial dominance, while scheming to deceive on the inside.
ReplyDeleteHelmer: I see. But tell me now, my little prodigal, what have you thought of for yourself?
Nora: For myself? Oh, I don’t want anything at all.
Not only does she physiologically plays games with her husband to make him feel like he is in charge, when in fact she is actually assuming the dominant position, but she has the capacity to simply up and leave her glorified housewife position in order to pursue personal pleasures. As Torvald finds himself helpless and hopeless without his wife, he becomes inferior to her.
Quote (1715)
ReplyDeleteThroughout A Doll’s House the points of view the reader has on the characters changes as the play progresses and we discover more about Nora’s secret and the people involved. Nora, for example, seems to be a happy, normal Victorian wife and mother. But soon we discover that she is “guilty of an indiscretion (27).” If that wasn’t scandalous enough for the time, we also learn the secret concerns money (something a woman should know nothing about), she has been working (also extremely scandalous), and on top of it all she has hidden all this from her husband (which was absolutely unheard of). By the end of the play we discover that Nora is actually quite crafty and determined, and she will do what it takes to get what she wants. Torvold, in the beginning, seems to be a kind and generous husband and father. He seems to be completely in love with Nora and will do anything to please her. By the end we discover that he is a spineless coward and a selfish little boy when he will agree to anything Krogstad demands so that his precious image will not be tainted by this secret he describes as “unutterable ugliness (73).” Mrs. Linde, in the beginning, seems to be a devoted and loving friend to Nora. Nora begs Mrs. Linde to help her hide her secret from her husband and Mrs. Linde turns her back on Nora saying she “must tell [her] husband all about it (65).” Dr. Rank at first seems to be a very sick man, emotionally hardened by his disease. To our surprise he suddenly confesses his love to Nora because he was “determined [Nora] should know before [he] went away (47).” He is a well-meaning, sweet man. He does not mean to be brash with Nora; he just wants his feelings to be known so hopefully he will be remembered. He fears that he is easily replaceable and the sad thing is, he was to the Helmers. They mourned his death for only a moment before resuming their fantasy, doll house life. This changing of first impressions of the characters was quite controversial. The first impressions were what the society of the time expected the characters to be, but as the play progressed it revealed the characters’ true natures and desires. The society of the time was living behind their façade just like the characters in the play were. When Ibsen tore off the characters’ masks they put on for society, it was as if he had torn off his society’s masks and revealed their own true identities.
ReplyDeleteSorry its late
Nora continues her seclusion from her family. She moves to a differnt city and opens a buisness based upon her needlework. She is swimming in debt due to her continued free spending. But she does ask Torvald for help in anyway, but she does write to Kristine in order to keep a part of her old life. Nora's actions reveal the Freudian concept of obsessive compulsive disorder. Nora is obsessed with spending money and therfore is contantly in debt. Nora never really gains the freedom that she so desperatley wanted from men because she always owes them debt. Thus was the story of Nora Helmer.
ReplyDelete@haley- I really like how you said the marriage of Torvald and Nora contrasted that of your typical marriage. It is very apparant in the story that their marriage situation is out of the ordinary.
ReplyDelete@emily- I like your ideas about deception in the play. The quotes you chose very well supported your opiniion and ideas.
@Dan- I really liked how you used Kristine in your ideas about contrast. I agree that Nora and Kristine contrast greatly in character.
@lindsay- I agree completely that the use of the reversal of traditional roles is a common theme throughout. The whole situation involving Nora leaving her family is a significant example of this.
@Brooks- I liked how you said that Nora was the real dominant figure behind the scenes. I strongly agree that this idea conflicts with the idea that Torvald is still seen as the more dominant figure on the surface, and to the rest of society.
@Ciara- I found your opinion to be very interesting. The contrast between dark against light describes Ibsen's work perfectly in that there is a great amount of contrast. Your quote is a great example of contrast.
@ Virginia- I liked your contrast of first impressions and how you thought they were controversial and I agree.