A Doll's House (The Transformation of Nora)

A Doll's House (The Transformation of Nora) During the time in which the play took place society frowned upon women asserting themselves. Women were supposed to play a role in which they supported their husbands, took care of their children, and made sure everything was perfect around the house. Nora is portrayed as a doll throughout the play until she realizes the truth about the world she lives in, and cuts herself free. Nora Helmer was a delicate character that had been pampered all of her life, by her father, and by Torvald. She really didn't have a care in the world. She didn't even have to care for the children; the maid would usually take care of that. In every sense of the word, she was your typical housewife. Nora never left the house, mostly because her husband was afraid of the way people would talk. It really wasn't her fault she was the way she was; it was mostly Torvald's for spoiling her. Nora relies on Torvald for everything, from movements to thoughts, much like a puppet that is dependent on its puppet master for all of its actions. Her carefree spirit and somewhat childish manners are shown throughout the play with statements such as, "Is that my little lark twittering out there?" (1). "Is it my little squirrel bustling about?" (2). A lark is a happy, carefree bird, and a squirrel is quite the opposite. If you are to squirrel away something, you were

  • Word count: 1299
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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A dolls house - Plot and subplot.

Plot and subplot The play is set in Victorian Norway. Mrs Nora Helmer and Mr Torvald Helmer seem, on the surface to live a very happy middle class life. But from the outset of the play we see that there may be cracks in this relationship. In the first scene we see Nora lie to her husband about eating macaroons. The way that her husband talks to her is very patronising in this section and the rest of the play. "Has my little songbird been indulging herself in town today?" We can see therefore, from the outset that Torvald treats Nora as a chid, and consequently they cannot have a healthy adult relationship. We also find in this section a key idea to the play's plot. Her husband continually calls her a "spendthrift". This statement is justified as we see that in the beginning of the play Nora tips the porter heavily. We also learn of hteir attitudes to taking out loans. Nora is trying to persuade Helmer to take out a loan to pay for Christmas. He replies, "Nora you know how I feel about this, never borrow, no debts!" Later that day Nora's old friend Mrs Christine Linde visits her. Mrs Linde also treats Nora like a child. In retaliation to this Nora proves she is not a child by revealing her great secret. She tells Mrs Linde of how she saved her husbands life by taking out a loan to pay for him to go to Italy. Mrs Linde is shocked because she knows the trouble Nora may get

  • Word count: 1275
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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A Doll's House: Persuasive Writing

A Doll's House: Persuasive Writing Biendislina Avenue, 29th Street, Oslo, Norway 05 February 2005 Mr. Ibsen Dear Mr. Ibsen, I am a student of the IB program in Abu Dhabi, and I have read your fantastic play, A Doll's House. I found that its radical and very different message about human rights and equality between men and women was very eloquently conveyed. I have also had the opportunity to read the alternate German ending to your play, where instead of leaving Torvald after a heated argument, Nora looks in at her sleeping children and is overcome by the image, deciding to stay. I would like to express my opinion to you - regarding which ending I like better- and hopefully you will consider what I have to say. I would also like to tell you that I wish not to break too much from formalities, but please do pardon any minor informal language you may come across; I find they are necessary for me to persuade a person, especially one of your skill and caliber. 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

  • Word count: 851
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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An Oppressing Society

Luciana Machado Drama An Oppressing Society In the society portrayed by Henrik Ibsen in the play Hedda Gabler, social problems display their important role in the outcome of the text. This is one of the main characteristics of Modern Drama, in which Ibsen is known to be a pioneer. The author shows how social issues affect the main character of the play, Hedda, and how she ends it all with suicide, the most powerful form of her self-destruction Society forces a certain conduct upon people in which many cannot deal. Thea, a docile but ardent woman who went to school with Hedda even though they were never friends, is actually the real courageous character because she faces her troubles instead of running away from them, like Hedda does. The society of nineteenth century idolizes the image of submissive, passive and pure women. Typically, this kind of play contained the same collection of characters-including the overbearing father, the innocent woman in distress, the jealous husband, the loyal friend, the cruel villain who underwent predictable crises involving lost letters, guilty secrets, and mistaken identity, but Ibsen changed this technique. Instead of being superficial types, they are complicated people whose problems the audience can identify with. The reader can learn something about himself through the intrigue and tension onstage. In addition, the way the play is

  • Word count: 1554
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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A Doll's House: 5 Elements

A Dolls House 5 Elements Introduction Henrik Ibsen was born on the 20th March 1828 Plot Form and Structure Visual, Spacial and Aural Ibsen once said, " A prop is worth a thousand words" it is proved that he thoroughly believed this in the design of his set and use of props in his plays. In "A Dolls House" the set itself has been designed so that the cosy environment that surrounds Nora has been arranged to suit her husband's tastes, making it seem as if she's trapped within. She rarely settles but paces the floor as if in the confines of a cage. The two doors (one leading into Helmer's study and one into the street) symbolise the choice that Nora has to make. Either she stays trapped in her present life or she leaves. Throughout the play there are 40 references to doors being open and closed this represents different decisions. Certain parts of the set are used in the play for symbolic purposes such as the stove that Nora often retreats to. She does this to comfort herself when she feels threatened, and the warmth represents the security she so urgently craves. An example of this is on page 68 when Nora goes over to the stove saying, "Oh, dear, Dr.Rank, this was really horrid of you". Thus Ibsen uses an apparently naturalist method to clearly establish the emotional life of the characters. Another example of this is at the beginning of the play when Nora brings a

  • Word count: 940
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Animal Symbolism in A Doll's House and The Metamorphosis

Animal Symbolism and its Symbolical Use in A Doll's House and The Metamorphosis Ashwin Betrabet IB Junior Literature Mrs. Marciniak May 23, 2006 In Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, and Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, animal symbolism is used to describe the protagonists and their relationships within their families. However, both authors use animal symbolism in different methods to exemplify these relationships; while Ibsen uses nicknames to describe Torvald's condescending view of Nora, Kafka uses a transformation to show how Gregor has turned into the person he is inside. Both authors use these methods to clearly demonstrate the characters' personalities and characteristics, they way they are viewed by their loved ones, and how they interact with other people. In A Doll's House, we get a clear picture of Nora's daughter-father relationship with her husband, Torvald, through the use of belittling animal nicknames, which he seems to think suit her. Throughout the play, we find Nora acting like a child; she secretly takes macaroons, she constantly begs Torvald for money, and she shows off to her friend, Kristine Linde. These are characteristics typically seen in children, and Torvald exemplifies these characteristics in her by calling her nicknames such as "my little skylark," (Ibsen 1), and "my little squirrel," (Ibsen 2). In The Metamorphosis, Kafka uses a

  • Word count: 1368
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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"Some writers reflect the culture they live in, others challenge it. Henrik Ibsen criticizes the Norwegian culture at his time in the play A Doll's House and so does Arthur Miller in Death of a Salesman,

187 words 2001 November Exam (SL) (c) "Some writers reflect the culture they live in, others challenge it." In what ways and with what effects have works in your study either conveyed to you an appreciation of the culture of the works or offered a critique of it? Authors usually choose to set their work in the culture they are living in themselves. Hence, literal works often reflect the culture the author is living in. However, a very important function of literature has always been to criticize. Victims of such critique can be of various sort, but especially culture has always been subject of criticism in literature. Also Henrik Ibsen criticizes the Norwegian culture at his time in the play A Doll's House and so does Arthur Miller in Death of a Salesman, where he criticizes the US-American culture. Ibsen criticizes in A Doll's House the Norwegian culture at his time (in the 1880's). More specifically he criticizes the role of women in Norwegina society. Ibsen paints a bleak picture of the sacrificial role held by women of all economic classes in his society. In general, the play's female characters exemplify Nora's assertion (spoken to Torvald in Act Three) that even though men refuse to sacrifice their integrity, "hundreds of thousands of women have." In order to support her mother and two brothers, Mrs. Linde found it necessary to abandon Krogstad, her true-but

  • Word count: 1220
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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A Doll's House Illusions

A Doll's House In the play "A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen, Nora and Torvald Helmer appear to share a happy, idealistic marriage and family life. This perfect image is threatened when Nora's previous act of forgery is in danger of being revealed. The following incidents that take place leads Nora to gradually realize that their marriage and lives has all been shaped by illusions, and she is soon left unsure about what is right and wrong. In the beginning of the play, Nora had strong illusions of herself, believing herself to be the ideal wife and mother. She acts out this role dutifully, charming her husband with her pretty tricks and playing with her children. Her devotion to her husband, combined with her ignorance of the law and her naïve confidence that the law is on her side, results in her forging her father's signature while borrowing money from Krogstad, which was needed for the trip to improve Torvald's health. Despite Krogstad's warning "The law is not concerned with motives", Nora still believes in her own morals, protesting "I simply don't believe that. 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?" Eventually, Nora is forced to face reality when Torvald confirms Krogstad's words when he was discussing Krogstad's own crime of forgery and adds on "Just think how a guilty man

  • Word count: 1118
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Plot and sub-plots in 'A Doll's House'

Plot and Sub-Plots The main plot of 'A Doll's House' traces the awakening of Nora from her unexamined life of domestic comfort. Ruled her whole life by either her father or her husband, Nora must question everything she believes in when her marriage is put to the test. Having borrowed money from a man of a dishonored name, Krogstad, by forging her father's signature, who had passed away three days before. It was with this money that she was able to pay for a trip to Italy to save her sick husband's life who was unaware of his condition and the loan, believing that the money came from Nora's father. Since then, she has had to contrive ways to pay back her loan, growing particularly concerned with money. When the play opens, it is Christmas Eve and the audience discovers that Torvald has just been promoted to manager of the bank, where he will receive a big raise. Nora is thrilled because she thinks that she will finally be able to pay off the loan and be rid of it. Her happiness, however, is spoiled when an angry Krogstad approaches her. He has just learned that his position at the bank has been promised to Mrs. Linde, an old school friend of Nora's who has recently arrived in town in search of work, and tells Nora that he will reveal her secret if she does not persuade her husband to let him keep his position. Nora tries to convince Torvald, using all of her feminine

  • Word count: 1002
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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A Doll's House Act one scene one - In this scene, how does the dramatist effectively expose characters, relationships and issues so as to make the audience keen to see the rest of the play?

A Doll's House In this scene, how does the dramatist effectively expose characters, relationships and issues so as to make the audience keen to see the rest of the play? Act one scene one from 'a doll's house' by Henrik Ibsen is effective in many ways for enrapturing its audience. Henrik Ibsen successfully manages to introduce many themes and issues alone into the first scene. The scene focuses solely on the two characters Nora and Torvald. Our first impressions are that they are a happily married couple but there are many clues, which hint at the marriage Nora and Torvald have. It appears Torvald controls Nora. Ibsen seems to suggest Nora is a vivacious and cheerful character who is very spirited. Her humming and her smiling all add to the gaiety of her character. In contrast her characterisation to Torvald is very different. Ibsen portrays Torvald as an admirable man who is rigidly honest, a hard worker, and a man of high ethical ideals. He is serious and logical whilst Nora is not; she is made to be very feminine whilst Torvald is conveyed as the representative figure of masculine society. Their behaviour toward each other is affectionate, there does not seem to be any tension between them, Nora appears to be a submissive and dependent character. She exemplifies the roles expected of women and mothers during the time at which the play was set. But who is in control of

  • Word count: 1252
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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