A Doll’s House Henrik Ibsen
1. “A Doll’s
House” fell like bomb into contemporary life” – Explain
2. How far
Nora’s life a representation of social reality?
3. Justify the
title of the play “A Doll’s House”
A Doll’s House
is a realistic drama written by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Johan Ibsen in
the year 1879. His plays attacked the age worn values of male dominated
society. He discarded outmoded dramatic
techniques such as soliloquies and monologues.
The theme of the play “A Doll’s House” is individual freedom and
emancipation of self. The protagonist of the play Nora is the wife of Torwald
Helmer and they are married for the last eight years. They have three children.
“Doll’s House” is a problem play because Ibsen deals with a social problem. It
is the status of a woman in relation to her husband and home. Ibsen shows the
pathetic situation of Nora being treated by her husband as a mere child who
doesn’t know anything and she is called the squirrel, the skylark and a doll.
When the curtain
rises, Nora is seen on stage telling innocent lies in a child-like manner.
Helmer treats her like an irresponsible being – like a child, a bird (skylark),
a squirrel, a possession, anything except as a woman. From his speech, it becomes
clear that she is nothing but a plaything (a doll) for him. But underneath
the surface of Nora’s mind, there is lurking a strong protest against the male
domination with its laws, religion and social customs, all trying to crush the
individuality, freedom and dignity of
woman. Her father and later, her husband have with the help of these male
dominated social laws tried to keep Nora ignorant of the “true realities of
life”, of her reasonable rights, of her obligations. From the First Act
onwards, the gradual growth of Nora is seen and it reaches its climax in the
IIIrd Act when she goes out of Helmer’s home slamming the door against the
male-dominated ideas, laws and social customs.
Nora’s father
committed forgery while working as a government employee. Torwald Helmer was
appointed to examine the documents of Nora’s father. It was during this verification of the
documents that Torwald met Nora, fell in love with her and married her. Nora
made supreme sacrifice in order to save the precious life of her husband. She
borrowed money from Krogstad, an unscrupulous man for a trip to Italy
In the concluding scene Nora questions the
foolish male-dominated religious ideas, spiritual laws, the legal system and
the social views about man-woman relationships. How can a woman be herself in a
male dominated society where women are mere dolls in the palms of men? In the
society laws are made by men for their own selfish interests with a judicial
system that judges feminine conduct from a masculine point of view. Nora has
committed forgery, and she admits her forgery and she is proud of it because
she has done it out of her love for her husband, to save his precious
life. But her husband with his
conventional outlook on religion and social etiquette cannot understand it. To
him forgery is a crime, a sin and a woman’s duty is to look after the needs of
her husband and children. She has no duty to herself. Therefore Torvald accuses
her of a cheat and a misfit for her children.
Krogstad is
dismissed from the Savings Bank by Torvald Helmer as soon as he becomes the
manager of the bank. In retaliation, Krogstad writes a letter to Torvald Helmer
revealing the forgery commited by his wife Nora. Torvald reads the letter and
is angry with Nora and tells her that she is a cheat and dishonest and not fit
for bringing up their three children and in that moment Nora sees him for what
he is actually is. His masked face is torn to pieces in the mind of Nora. She
learns that Torvald is a hypocrite and has no love for her. Meanwhile another
letter comes from Krogstad with the forged promissory note and cancelling all
revengeful action against Nora. This made Torvald happy and relieved and he
forgives Nora and tells her that she is once again his skylark and
squirrel. But Nora tells him that she
had expected a wonderful thing from Torvald that he would certainly take up the
blame of the forged bond on his shoulder and say publicly that it he who committed
the crime and that he was the guilty one and not Nora. But that wonderful thing
did not happen. So Nora goes out of Torvald’s home slamming the door against
the male-dominated laws and social customs.
The play “A Doll’s
House” has dropped a bomb into the male dominated society not only in Europe but all over the world. Social life in the cities
has changed fast since the publication of this play and woman has gradually
attained equal status with man in all fields of life.
4. The role
and character of Mrs. Linde
Mrs.Linde is the
best friend of Nora who calls her pet name Christine. She narrates her tragic
story to Nora. Christine and Krogstad are childhood friends and they fell in
love with each other. But Christine had to look after her ailing mother and two
younger brothers and she needed money for them. Being highly practical minded,
Christine consented to marry a rich man so that she could provide money for the
education of her two brothers and the sick mother. Krogstad is jilted by
Christine and he gets married to another woman. Christine does not want to lead
a poverty striken life and this is why she has rejected the love of Krogstad
and married a rich man. But fate did not allow her to continue enjoying the
happy rich life. When her husband died, and his business has collapsed, leaving
Mrs.Linde penniless and childless. But when her mother dies and her brothers
begin to earn their livelihood, a sense of loneliness seizes her and she finds
her life meaningless. So three years after the death of her husband, she has
come down to city to meet her old friend Nora, because Christine urgently wants
a job so that she can forget herself by doing the work. Nora tells her that her
husband is going to become the Manager of the Savings Bank and he will give her
a job in the Bank. Torvald Helmer gives Mrs.Linde a job in the Bank in the
place of Krogstad. Nora tells her dreadful secret to Christine and Christine
helps Nora. Mrs.Linde offers to marry Krogstad who is now a widower with three
children. Krogstand is thrilled with joy and promises to undo the mistake he
has committed. He returns to Nora the bond and cancels all revengeful action
against Nora. This made Torvald happy and relieved and he forgives Nora and
tells her that she is once again the skylark and squirrel for him. Thus
Mrs.Linde has played an important role in averting the crisis that faces the Helmers.
5. The role
and character of Krogstad
Krogstad is introduced in the Ist Act of the
play “A Doll’s House” as a villain. He is a lawyer and a widower with “several
children”. His marriage life was very unhappy according to Mrs.Linde. He is
dismissed from the Savings Bank by the Manager
Torvald Helmer and Mrs.Linde is appointed in his place. According to
Dr.Rank, the family friend of Helmers, Krogstad, the lawyer suffers from a
diseased moral character. Krogstad comes to Nora and threatens her that if he
does not get back the job in the Bank, he will file a case against her in the
court for forgery. He has paid her a loan of two hundred and fifty pounds for
the medical treatment of her husband in Italy
Nora tries her best to persuade her husband
Torvald not to dismiss Krogstad from his post in the Bank but Torvald was
adamant said that he made up his mind to dismiss Krogstad and appoint Mrs.Linde
in the post. Torvald tells Nora that while working in the Bank as a clerk,
Krogstad committed forgery and has never confessed the guilt. This is why
Torvald has decided to dismiss Krogstad from the Bank. As soon as Krogstad
receives the order of dismissal, he again comes to Nora and threatens to reveal
the truth about the forgery of Nora to her husband. Krogstad sends a letter to
Torvald revealing the forgery of Nora. But here Mrs.Linde comes to the help of Nora
and she offers to marry Krogstad who was once upon a time the lover of
Christine. The love of Mrs.Linde has changed Krogstad from a villain to a
kind-hearted human being. He sends his second letter to Torvald cancelling all
revengeful acts against Nora and also the forged bond is attached with the
letter.
Kjt/19-09-213
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