Shelby Ducote
English II
Ms. Julie Humble
March 29, 2018
A Doll’s House Essay
Being a woman back in the Victorian Era was anything but a privilege. Women back in this time period were controlled by men and oppressed by society. Women were seen as incapable of making their own decisions or able to do anything for themselves. In A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen examines conventional roles of men and women in the nineteenth century. In the play, Nora exemplifies the conventional feminine standard of the period. She seems to be powerless and confines herself through patriarchal expectations, which signify a woman’s social role at that time, that is, of a wife and mother. In turn, the masculine perspective measures feminine conduct during that period. Finally, Nora makes a decision to break up with her family in order to become independent. She does this also in order to gain and assert her personality through social identity. However, her deed is rather a manifestation of her selfishness than her rebellious spirit. This means that none of the gender parties in this play can be considered as completely just or unjust. So, the paper considers various manifestations of justice and injustice in the relationships between the main characters and considers the social background of their decisions and deeds.
The protagonist of A Doll’s House is a woman named Nora Helmer. Ibsen shows how Nora’s design of perfect life gradually transforms when her secret unravels. Promotion of Nora’s husband to a bank manager in the town bank makes her convinced that she will live a worry free and careless life ahead. Conversely, Nora’s notion of a magnificent life totally changes as her long-kept secret is exposed. The play begins at Christmas time and a larger income begins after the New Year. The beginning of a new life makes Nora excited. However, the ideal life starts to change when Mrs. Linde, an old friend, visits Nora’s home. Mrs. Linde is searching for a job and has come to Helmer’s house for help via Nora’s husband. Torvald gladly offers Mrs. Linde a job, yet Nora is ignorant that this is a step closer to the revealing of her secret. Nora realizes her husband’s ability to offer Mrs. Linde a novel job as the story continues. She sees the benefits of assisting Mrs. Linde get a job, as Mr. Krogstand, who holds her secret, misses an employment opportunity.“Do as you please. But let me tell you this- If I lose my position a second time, you shall lose yours with me” (688). During this instance, Mr. Krogstand exploits the influence he has on Nora in order to secure his job. Mr. Krogstand tells Nora that in case he loses his job at the bank to Mrs. Linde, he shall inform Nora’s family about her secret. Nora begs Torvald to get Mr. Krogstand a position in the bank; this is to guarantee the wonderful life before the New Year. Nevertheless, Torvald decides not to give the position to Mr. Krogstand and Mrs. Linde. The play has various illustrations of justice through the econo...
