Her true strengths are revealed in the conversation between Mrs. Linde and herself. When Mrs. Linde inquires how Nora got money to finance the trip to Italy since a woman cannot borrow money without her husband’s consent, Nora replies, “Oh, but a wife with a little business sense, a wife who knows how to manage - ” (53). Her understanding of business shows that she is intelligent and has other potential outside of the home. She also says, “It really hasn’t been easy meeting the payments on time. Listen, in the business world there’s what they call quarterly interest and what they call amortization…” (55). Working so long and hard, she is definitely determined and ambitious. And from her willingness to break the law to guarantee Torvald’s health definitely shows her courage. She took a big risk taking out that loan. Therefore, she proves to herself that she is capable of being much more than a housewife. Unfortunately, it takes more than that for her to realize this.
When Krogstad becomes aware that Nora forged her father’s signature, he continuously blackmails her and causes her to realize her unfulfilled potential. In response, she demands, “Hasn’t a daughter the right to protect her dying father from worry and anxiety? Hasn’t a wife the right to save her husband’s life? I don’t know much about he law, but I’m quite certain that it must say somewhere that things like that are allowed. Don’t you, a lawyer, know that? You must be a very stupid lawyer, Mr. Krogstad” (67). Her strong words show her potential to be a strong woman. And throughout the story she’s becomes stronger and stronger.
Moreover, Nora breaking free from her marriage with Torvald is a result of the two letters Krogstad sends. In the first letter, Krogstad reveals to Torvald that Nora forged a signature to get the loan that saved his life. This triggers Nora’s inevitable fate. When Torvald reads the letter, he’s furious. Complaining that she has ruined his happiness and calling her a hypocrite and a liar, Torvald single-handedly proves to Nora that her
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marriage with him isn’t meant to be. Once Helene delivers the second letter from Krogstad, Torvald tried to dismiss everything he just said. Unfortunately, it was too late.
“Helmer: May I write you?
Nora: No-never. You’re not to do that.
Helmer: Oh, but let me send you –
Nora: Nothing. Nothing.
Helmer: Or help you if you need it.
Nora: No. I accept nothing from strangers.” (114)
As you can see, Nora wants nothing to do with Torvald. She’s lived in a manner suitable only for Torvald. She worked hard for him around the house and to pay off the debt that saved his life. Everything she did revolved around Torvald. However, she found the courage within her to break free from this emotional imprisonment that Torvald provided for her. She was unappreciated and her potential was unfulfilled. She is better off without him.
In comparison, Kafka introduces Gregor in Metamorphosis as the breadwinner of the Samsa family, just as Torvald was. Much like Nora, his family contributes to the household responsibilities, but counts on Gregor for his support and guidance. However, once Gregor awakes as a giant bug and is incapable of guiding and supporting them, the family is forced to take responsibility for themselves and Gregor. As the story unfolds, their attitude towards Gregor begins to change and they become less dependent of him.
At first, it’s clear the family is under the impression that his illness is not hopeless and will pass in time. The milk they put in his room while he is asleep would be a suitable diet for a sick human. And as much as his human sense of hunger makes him want to drink the milk, his body refuses it. Therefore, when his sister Grete realizes he didn’t drink any, she brings him a wide variety of fresh and rotten foods that he eats quickly. At this point, Grete’s perception of him changes. The idea of eating rotten food doesn’t seem very humanlike, and more like that of a bug. In a way, this is comparable to the conversation between Mrs. Linde and Nora where her secret is revealed. Her strengths are apparent here, but she doesn’t seem to utilize them yet. In the same sense, the bug isn’t very humanlike, but the family still wants to think that he is.
The family is a little better off financially than originally anticipated, but the family is aware the money won’t last forever. Unfortunately, his mother is asthmatic and his father hasn’t worked since his business went under about five years ago. And his sister will have to give up her dream of studying violin, if she plans to make money for the family. This is a major turning point for the family. As difficult as this is for them, they are all forced to take responsibility for their own needs and make Gregor less of a priority.
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Furthermore, his sister notices all of the marks on the walls and ceiling from his sticky feet and figures moving his furniture out of the room will help prevent most of this. This is an attempt to lessen her responsibilities for Gregor. If she has less to clean up, she wont have to work as hard. Thus, Gregor has become less important to her. Once the furniture is removed Gregor climbs up the wall and clings to a picture he always loved. When his mother catches a glimpse of this, she passes out. Out of anger and frustration, Grete comes in and threatens Gregor before caring for her mother. Then his father comes in the room and throws apples at him. Unfortunately, one is thrown so hard it gets lodged in his back. Although the family would never have resulted to such actions at first, they are having a hard time dealing with it and becoming more hostile towards him. Gregor’s condition is overwhelming for the family and causes them much pain they’d be better off without. At this point, one could see the similarity between the family not needing these problems and Nora not needing the problems Krogstad causes.
After Gregor exposed himself to the three lodgers the night before, the family finds out Gregor had pasted away the next morning. Kafka makes it appear this is the best thing that could have happened and the family can now be happy. The trolley car they took was “completely filled with warm sunshine” (58). Sunshine represents a good feeling; a feeling of happiness. And although one’s family would tend to grieve after the lost of a family member, they appear to be happy and independent without him as they lean “back comfortably in their seats” (58). The family takes time on the Trolley to look at their prospects for the future and they “weren’t all that bad” (58). Obviously, they’ve proven they don’t need Gregor. In fact, they “would now take a smaller and cheaper apartment, but one better situated and in every way simpler to manage than the old one, which Gregor had picked for them” (58). Therefore, not only are they happier without him, they’re also better off!
The change Nora and the Samsa family underwent is clear. Both Nora and the family were dependent on support and guidance. However, they all had potential to succeed on their own. Nora was driven to the point where she wanted absolutely nothing to do with her husband. And the Samsa family was forced to deal with Gregor as a bug, but can live happy now that he’s gone.
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WORD COUNT: 1475
