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A Doll's House


            The play A Doll House takes place in an oppressive society. Characters mask their own feelings, and are not individual in thought. So many secrets are kept within their community that when Nora realizes the truth about her own life, she turns her back on society forever. Is the society making the characters choose their destiny, or are they so engulfed with their deceptions that they have chosen it for themselves? .
             Nora Helmer acts like any other housewife living in a Victorian era, during Act I. Because of the presence of male superiority, Nora is subservient to her husband Torvald and acts very childish in front of him. Torvald refers to her as his "little lark" and "frightened dove" (1166), names that are of helpless creatures that need care and guidance. But, Nora is hiding something; she is not as oblivious as Torvald thinks. In fact, Nora is a forger. When Torvald became ill Nora took control and signed legal documents to get money for his care expenses. Nora's deception of Torvald leads to the truth. She knows more than what her husband thinks, but society rejects the role of women. Therefore, Torvald rejects Nora as well because he is so wrapped in society's views. .
             However, in Act II, Nora begins to change. The Act starts in fear Nora is afraid of the discovery of her secret. She does not want Torvald to know anything. It is in this Act that leads to Nora slamming the door. Nora changes when she realizes that Torvald's lifestyle is so affected in the oppressed society that he cannot change for her. Nora's realization begins when she asks Torvald to keep Krogstad and not to fire him. But Torvald refuses and goes against his wife's wishes. Nora knows she cannot stay with the way things are. She is "waiting for the wonderful" (1211), for Torvald to rescue her; to be her knight in shining armor and save her from the oppressive society that they are stuck in. It is at the end of Act II when Nora shouts, "Here's your lark!" (1211), she is sick of the way Torvald treats her and she needs to accept her the way she is.


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