FREE ESSAY ON AN ESSAY ON IBSEN'S A DOLL HOUSE

AN ESSAY ON IBSEN'S A DOLL HOUSE

Henrick Ibsen is a writer that uses literature to channel entertainment and express
himself throughout the play, "A Doll's House". He wrote the play during the transition
from mythical and historical dramas to plays dealing with social problems. At the time
that Ibsen wrote "A Doll's House", the later 1800's, society has created a niche for the
woman as a housewife and social partner, lacking emphasis on love. This controversial
play features a female protagonist seeking her individuality through realizations and
challenging her comfort zone. Isben, through Nora and her personality, depicts the role
of women not as the usual comforter, helper, and supporter of man, but introduced woman
as having her own purposes and goals. The heroine, Nora, progresses during the course of
the play eventually to realize that she must discontinue the role of a doll and seek out
her individuality.
Definite characteristics of woman's subordinate role in a relationship are emphasized
through Nora's contradicting actions. As a person, she enjoys making Torvald happy, but
will not follow his guidelines. Her infatuation with luxuries like expensive Christmas
gifts contradicts her resourcefulness in scrounging and buying cheap clothing. Also, her
defiance of Torvald by eating forbidden Macaroons contradicts the submission of her
opinions, including the decision of which dance outfit to wear, to her husband; and
Nora's flirtatious nature contradicts her devotion to her husband. This sheds light to
the characteristics of a dependent woman. It seems at this time women marry for
tradition, money, safety, and love. Ibsen attracts the reader's attention to these
examples to show the general subordinate role that a woman plays compared to that of her
husband. . It can be suggested that women have the power to choose which rules to follow
at home, but not in the business world, thus again indicating her willingness to be
subservient. Nora does not at first realize that the rules outside the household apply to
her. This is evident in Nora's meeting with Krogstad regarding her borrowed money. In her
opinion it was no crime for a woman to do everything possible to save her husband's life.
She also believes that her act will be overlooked because she is used to dealing with a
flexible and predictable Torvald, rather than the law. She doesn't see that the law does
not take into account the motivation behind her forgery. Ibsen uses Nora's traits to
bluntly portray the women in society as in a position of needed change. Her first
encounter with rules outside of her doll's house results in the realization of her
inexperience with the real world due to her subordinate role in society and Ibsen sparks
the thought of change. 
A Doll's House is also a prediction of change from this subordinate roll. Ibsen
foreshadows as well as promotes the change women will eventually make to progress and
understand their position. She needs to be more of a rolemodel for her children. It was
seen that Nora didn't think she was fit to mother them. From this point, when Torvald is
making a speech about the effects of a deceitful mother, until the final scene, Nora
progressively confronts the realities of the real world and realizes her subordinate
position. From this point, progressively understanding this position, she still clings to
the hope that her husband will come to her protection and defend her from the outside
world once her crime is out in the open. After she reveals the dastardly deed to her
husband, he becomes understandably agitated; in his frustration he shares the outside
world with her, the ignorance of the serious business world, and destroys her innocence
and self-esteem. This disillusion marks the final destructive blow to her doll's house.
Their ideal home including their marriage and parenting has been a product of society.
Nora's decision to leave this false life behind and discover for herself what is real is
directly symbolic of woman's ultimate realization. Although she becomes aware of her
supposed way of being subservient is not because of this that she has the desire to take
action. Nora is utterly confused and anxious as seen in, "She is groping sadly in a maze
of confused feeling toward a way of life and a destiny of which she is most uncertain
(256). The one thing she is aware of is her ignorance, and her desire to go out into the
world is not to prove herself but to discover and educate herself. Isben wants her to
strive to find her individuality. This gives her more struggles to face and over come to
gain wisdom.
Ibsen, through this controversial play, has an impact upon society's view of the
subordinate position of women. By describing this role of woman, discussing its effects,
and predicting a change in contemporary views, he stressed the importance of woman's
realization of this believed inferiority. Woman should no longer be seen as the shadow of
man, but a person in herself, with her own triumphs and tragedies. The exploration of
Nora reveals that she is dependant upon her husband and displays no independent standing.
Her progression of understanding suggests woman's future ability to comprehend their
plight. Her state of shocked awareness at the end of the play is like the awakening of
society to the changing view of the role of woman. Through, A Doll's House Isben
magnificently illustrates the need for and a prediction of this change.