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Transformation of Nora


            
             A Doll's House, by a Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen, traces the transformation of Nora Helmer-childlike, desperation, and her awakening- in which Ibsen effectively creates a dramatic argument of feminism. The play opens on Christmas Eve and Nora learns that her husband, Torvald, has been promoted in his job. Nora is thrilled because she thinks she will finally be able to pay back the loan. She took out a loan to save Torvald's life without his knowledge. Her happiness is marred when Krogstad, the loan shark, learns he will lose his position at the bank to Mrs. Linde, an old school friend of Nora's. Krogstad blackmail's Nora because he learns she forged her father's signature to get the loan. Nora panics and becomes desperate. Torvald learns of Nora's action when Krogstad sends him a letter. Torvald is very angry and tells Nora they can live in the same home but not share the same room. Nora finally sees the truth in her relationship and leaves her family. According to Bernard Shaw, (Torvald) "Helmer is brought to his senses, and that Nora's departure is no claptrap" (Shaw 539-541).
             Nora is a delicate character that has been pampered, treated like a child all of her life, by her father, and especially Torvald. It is not her fault she is the way she is; it is mostly Torvald's for spoiling her. Nora relies on Torvald for everything, much like a child that is dependent on its parents for all of its necessities. Nora never leaves the house, mostly because her husband is afraid of the way people will talk. Her carefree spirit and childlike manners are shown throughout the play with statements from Torvald such as, "Is that my little lark twittering out there?" (1166). "Is it my little squirrel bustling about?" (1166). A lark is a happy, cheerful bird, and a squirrel is quite the opposite. If you are to squirrel away something, you are hiding or storing it, like Nora and her macaroons.


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