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A Doll's House


            Written during the Victorian era, the controversial play, "A Doll's House" by Henrick Isben, features a female protagonist seeking individuality (Tornquist, 5). 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. Work, politics, and decisions were left to the males. Nora serves as a symbol for women of the time; women who were thought to be content with the luxuries of modern society with no thought or care of the world in which they lived (Bradbrook, 57). By presenting this theme of the relationship between women and their surroundings at the beginning, Ibsen indicates that this is the most basic and important idea at work in the play (Ackerman, 82).
             As the play reveals, Nora does delight in material wealth, having been labeled a spendthrift from an early age. She has the attitude that money is the key to happiness. However, it is also clear that Nora's simplistic approach to the world is not entirely her fault. Torvald's treatment of Nora as a small helpless child only contributes to Nora's separation from reality. Just as Nora relates to the exterior world mainly through material objects, Torvald relates to Nora as an object to be possessed. He refers to her as his little "lark" and "squirrel," implying that she is small and helpless. Similarly, Torvald repeatedly calls Nora his "little one" or "little girl", maintaining the approach of a father rather than husband. Nora is fully dependent on Torvald, from money to diet (the macaroons); and, because she is so sheltered, her view of the world is deluded (Ackerman).
             When Nora took upon herself to borrow money to save Torvald's life, she was taking the first step to realizing that she can be in some control of her life. However, when pressed as to whether she will ever tell Torvald about the loan, she replies that she would, but only in time.


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