The play begins with Nora making preparations for Christmas. In the first act, she appears to be happy with her role as wife and mother. She believes that her marriage to Torvald is a great success, and his lucrative job at the bank will provide her with all the material things she desires. Outwardly, Nora seems to be nothing more than her husband's doll, a possession that he shows off. However, we learn that there is more to Nora. When her husband faced a medical emergency, it was Nora who took it upon herself to raise the money for a life-saving trip to Italy. Not only did she act against the conve

It doesn't seem logical that the sight of her sleeping children would cause Nora to abandon her plans for "absolute freedom." Shortly beforehand she declares, "The way I am now, I'm no use to them." In fact, she regrets that she even had children with a "stranger," and says she "can't stand the thought of it! I could tear myself to bits." She claims she is "not up to the job" of raising her children. When Torvald reminds her of her "sacred duties" as wife and mother, Nora replies that her duty to herself is just as sacred. Nora experiences a life changing moment when she says, "I have to stand completely alone, if I'm ever going to discover myself and the world out there."

In Ibsen's time, the alternate version which has Nora remaining with her family probably would have gone over better with the audience.

Nora believes she did what any loving spouse would do and calls the law "very poor". She doesn't want her husband to know how she got the money for fear it would destroy his "masculine pride." Secretly, however, Nora imagines that if he found out, her husband would shoulder all the blame out of love for her.

In light of all the things Nora says in the final act, the alternate ending would prove to be an illogical, if not ridiculous endi

Some topics in this essay:
Secretly Nora, Doll House, Doll's House, Outwardly Nora, wife mother, torvald reads, torvald reads letter, version nora, wife mother nora, husband children, sleeping children, nora replies, final act, alternate version, reads letter, nora abandon,