The ending that I preferred was the original and initial one, where Nora decides to leave Torvald and everything to do with him behind, so as to start a new, more independent life for herself. There are a couple of reasons why I think that your original ending is of better quality, meaning, and substance. Firstly, I strongly believe that introducing radical unforeseen ideas is the only way to bring about a change in society. I understand that your message, and the way it was conveyed, was extremely shocking for an audience of the Victorian Period; I find that it is this element that makes your original ending all the better. With the original ending, the crowd is able to be astonished and surprised – therefore have the image ingrained in their minds – whereas the alternate ending is less radical, and the audience may not be as surprised by it. I also believe that your original ending restores and conveys your message about human rights and equality of the sexes much more effectively. When the argument between Nora and Torvald ends with Nora leaving and shutting the door, there is quite a lasting impact on the audience. Such an ending accentuates the need for Nora to leave her “doll-like” imprisonment behind her and start anew.
I disliked the alternate ending because I felt that it was not as effective at displaying Nora’s “doll” type existence and conveying your message about human rights. As I have already said, the original ending accentuates the message with its dramatic finish. The alternate ending, which has Nora stay after seeing her sleeping children, loses the urgent feeling that Nora simply has to leave her Torvald associated life behind. The audience gets the impression that Nora thinks the others in her life are more important, yet, according to my interpretation of your well-crafted play, that is not the case. Another reason that I disliked this ending was because of the image it depicted of you. Changing the ending displayed a degree of uncertainty on your part, and therefore on the message of the play itself. Not keeping a firm stance not only makes you seem indecisive but it renders the message of the play much less valuable than staying with your original ending does.
To those people that say that the original ending is not better because it is unrealistic and depicts Nora as impassive, and it was too risky and different for Victorian times, I say nay! The point of the play, as far as I can see it, is that Nora’s own relief and well-being came before that of others. She was urged to free herself from her imprisoned existence and she therefore thought not of her children, leaving them to the Nurse and departing to start a new life of her own. And, I would also like to re-iterate that the very different idea of the play is what makes it ever so momentous and effective. And to those that say that the alternate ending is the better of the two because it makes the play, and Nora, seem more realistic, and it is more suited for the Victorian time period as the crowd would be more accepting, I say nay for the very same reasons that I have mentioned above.
Therefore, Mr. Ibsen, I strongly urge you to maintain your original ending. It is by this ending that your message of human rights is most effectively conveyed to the audience. It is also by this ending that the most radical idea is expressed. When Lenin expressed radical new Communist ideas to Russia in 1917 at the time of his rise to power, he changed Russia and many other parts of the world for eons to come. You are capable of doing the same thing, Mr. Ibsen, by preserving your original ending. Only, you will show the people the need for human rights, and you will change the way woman, and humans in general, are treated all over Norway, and eventually, the world.
