A Dolls House. Given Noras final words (Ive stopped believing in miracles) is her characterization in Act 3 itself unbelievable?
by
charlottewhite (student)
The rapid change in the character of Nora in A Doll’s House, between Acts 1 and 2, and Act 3 have been noted as “startling” by critics, however the believability of this transformation has been argued. Looking at it from a Realist perspective, Nora’s final words of “I’ve stopped believing in miracles,” apparently seems to prove that her characterization in Act 3 is in itself unbelievable. However, when analyzing the text it becomes evident that her change in character only seems sudden from Torvald’s perspective, and that there is in fact subtle dramatic irony within Acts 1 and 2 foreshadowing this transformation. Throughout the play Ibsen shows Nora’s gradual development into a more determined and self-assured woman. This character development is guided and made evident through her growing courage and direct attempts to become more equal to Torvald. Her serious tone at the end of the play is also diminished by her contrasting childish actions within Act 3, shown primarily through her final act of door slamming.
Throughout Acts 1 and 2, Nora’s develops to be increasingly more courageous, firstly shown through her demanding Torvald to hire Mrs. Linde, which contrasts to her previous stating that “[she] should not think of going against your wishes]” suggesting a foreshadowing an ongoing change within her character. Due to the form being a play and therefore the lack of descriptive settings, it is the character’s actions and their contact with the objects that surround them that defines them. For example, at certain moments in the play Nora “moves towards stove,” and it is argued that these action convey her need for emotional warmth. In Act 1, when Nora expresses her sweet tooth by sneakily eating the macaroons, it shows Nora is deceitful and manipulative from the start, and thus her “sudden” transformation into a woman who can tell her husband to “stop” and “listen to me,” has in fact previously been suggested to. It is also hinted that Nora acquires an idealistic intention; to become an equal to her husband. She states that “last winter I was lucky enough to get a lot of copying to do; so I locked myself up and sat writing all evening until quite late at night it was a tremendous pleasure to sit there working and earning money. It was like being a man.” The use of the verb “locked,” suggests entrapment, and her desire to be like man and to earn money and work thus shows her unhappiness with her own life. This is further proven by the adverb “enough,” which sarcastically suggests woman having a set and concrete place in life.
