A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen - 7379 Words

Ma. Jennifer S. Yap Dr. Sherwin Perlas World Literature January 14, 2012 A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen Translated by Rolf Fjelde I. Introduction During the late nineteenth century, women were enslaved in their gender roles and certain restrictions were enforced on them by a male dominant culture. Every woman was raised believing that they had neither self-control nor self-government but that they must yield to the control of a stronger gender. John Stuart Mill wrote in his essay, â€Å"The Subjection of Women†, that women were, â€Å"wholly under the role of men and each private being under the obligation of disobedience to the man with whom she has associated her destiny†. This issue of gender roles in the society propelled to the production of†¦show more content†¦It was first published in Copenhagen on December 4, 1879. According to Ibsen’s biographer, C. D. Merriman, A Doll House was based on the life of Laura Kieler. She is a good friend of Ibsen. Much of what happened between Nora and Torvald happened to Laura and her husband, Victor, with the exception of being forged the s ignature that was the basis of Nora’s loan. He turned this life situation into an aesthetically shaped successful drama. The author’s ingenuity and precise description of social problems have been adored by various critics; let me cite some of them: The critic Erik Bogh admired Ibsen’s originality and technical mastery: â€Å"not a single declamatory phrase, no high dramatics, no drop of blood, not even a tear† ( qtd. in Bradford). Georg Brandes, a contemporary critic, said of Ibsen that: â€Å" His progress from one work to the other is not due to a rich variety of themes and ideas, but on the contrary to perpetual scrutiny of the same general questions, regarded from different points of view† (qtd. in Bradford). Furthermore, the play stunned audiences for it criticizes the traditional roles of men and women in nineteenth-century society. To many nineteenth-century Europeans this was scandalous (Bradford). Although the play was stormed with iss ues, Ibsinite drama influenced other playwrights of his time including GeorgeShow MoreRelatedA Doll House By Henrik Ibsen901 Words   |  4 PagesA Doll House showcases the harsh reality and truth of someone being something that they are not, and it shows the journey that Nora Helmer has to take to realize what she wants in life to find the real her. Throughout the play A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen, we learn about the main character and her qualities. Nora Helmer is the wife of Torvald Helmer, who became very unhealthy. By trying to help her husband’s health, Nora begins going into debt and commits a criminal offense, forgery; she does allRead MoreA Doll House by Henrik Ibsen1712 Words   |  7 PagesIn Henrik Ibsen’s play, A Doll House, Nora Helmer represents many feministic ideals of the late eighteen hundreds. 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In Act 2 the stage directions describeRead MoreA Doll House By Henrik Ibsen Essay1787 Words   |  8 Pagesthe importance of divine or supernatural matters. Humanism is often mistaken for feminism which is one of the major controversies of A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen. The idea of humanism becomes apparent through Nora’s interactions with Torvald, Torvald’s interactions with Nora, and Torvald’s interactions with other characters in the play. Many argue that A Doll House, is a feminist play due to its portrayal of the characters which emphasized many values of feminism, but in actuality the play addressesRead MoreA Doll House By Henrik Ibsen850 Words   |  4 PagesA Doll House was written by Henrik Ibsen in 1879. There are two woman in the play, Nora and Mrs. Linde who have some differences, but also share some similarities. Nora is married to Torvald Helm er, they have three children together. Miss. Linde is a widow an took care of her younger siblings and her now deceased mother. Nora and Mrs. Linde are different in the way they have lived the past couple of years and how at the end of act three they are changing their lifestyles by either going from independentRead MoreA Doll House By Henrik Ibsen1194 Words   |  5 Pagesas around the world, in the late 1870’s. Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 play, â€Å"A Doll House,† demonstrates how women wore a faà §ade in society when dealing with men, through the main character Nora. In the play â€Å"A Doll House†, the reader can have an idea on how some men in the late 1870s in Norway act towards women. After the people of Norway read and viewed the play, there was a lot of controversy over â€Å"A Doll House†, because of the main character Nora decisions. Ibsen himself stated that â€Å"for him the issue wasRead MoreA Doll House By Henrik Ibsen932 Words   |  4 PagesIn Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House, a drama play, which takes place in Elmer’s house. It takes place during winter which begins when Nora enters through the door. In A Doll House, I believe the inciting incident is Torvalds promotion at the bank. They never have to worry about money again. Nora’s old friend, Mrs. Christine Linde, who is in need of help comes to visit Nora and ask for help. Torvald gives her a job. You also have Dr.Rank , who is a family friend who is slowly dying of tuberculosis. ThingsRead MoreA Doll House by Henrik Ibsen564 Words   |  2 Pagesâ€Å"Forgery. Do you have any idea what that means† (1745), Torvald questions his wife Nora in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House (1879). In this play, Henrik Ibsen features individuals struggling for an authentic identity. The story focuses on an unspoken matter. Nora Helmer secretly borrowed a large sum of money for the sake of her husband’s, Torvald Helmer’s, life. Nora has never revealed the loan to Torvald and has been privately paying it off with her household allowance. When Torvald is appointed as bankRead MoreThe Doll House by Henrik Ibsen1215 Words   |  5 PagesTHE DOLL HOUSE The Society above Individual Freedom or The Suppression of the Woman The author Henrik Ibsen used the play to elaborate on the irony of the 19th century culture of restriction of individual freedom and excessive adherence to ‘societal norm’ at all cost without paying attention or having recourse to the core values and norms that brings about individual happiness and freedom. Torvald Helmer tried to elucidate the abnormality of seeking individual freedom instead of societal norm whenRead MoreA Doll House By Henrik Ibsen Essay1557 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"A Doll House† In the play â€Å"A Doll House† by Henrik Ibsen the story focuses on the gender differences between a man and woman. One way Ibsen display feminism in A Doll House is through the relationship of the two main characters Torvald and his wife Nora. Nora and Torvald to have the perfect life, however behind closed doors it isn’t as it seems. The play begins with a happily married couple and ends with a woman wanting to be her own human being. Nora has been treated like child throughout the