The Controversial Theme of A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen Essay

The Controversial Theme of A Dolls House In his act as, A Dolls House, Henrik Ibsen depicts a female protagonist, Nora Helmer, who dares to defy her husband and forsake her duty as a wife and mother to seek out her individuality. A Dolls House ch eitherenges the patriarchal view held by most people at the time that a womans indicate was in the home. Many women could relate to Noras situation. Like Nora, they felt trapped by their husbands and their fathers however, they believed that the rules of society prevented them from stepping out of the shadows of men. Through this play, Ibsen stresses the importance of womens individuality. A Dolls House combines realistic characters, enthralling imagery, graphic stage directions, and an influential setting to develop a controversial theme. The characters of this play help to support Ibsens opinions. Noras initial characteristics are that of a bubbly, child-like wife who is stringently drug-addicted on her husband. This subordinate ro le from which Nora progresses emphasizes the need for change in societys view of women. For Nora, her inferior, doll-like nature is a facade for a deeper passion for individuality that begins to come in during the play and eventually fully emerges in the ending. An example of this deep yearning for independence is shown when Nora tells her friend, Kristina Linde about earning her own money by doing copying. Nora explains, it was tremendous fun sit in her room functional and earning money. It was almost like being a man (A Dolls House, 162). Mrs. Linde is an inspiration to Nora, because Kristina has experienced the independence that Nora longs for. Even though Nora seeks to be independent, she uses her role of subordination to her advant... ...ntroversial theme. Ibsen expresses to the auditory sense his bank for the miracle of true equality, when neither men nor women abuse the power that society gives them. When Nora sheds her dolls dress and steps out into the real world, sh e opens up a new dry land of possibilities for all women. Works Cited and Consulted Agress, Lynne. The Feminine Irony Women on Women in Early-Nineteenth-Century English Literature. London Associated UP, 1978. Durbach, Errol. A Dolls House Ibsens Myth of Transformation. Boston Twayne, 1991. Ibsen, Henrik. A League of offspring/ A Dolls House/ The Lady From the Sea. Trans. Peter Watts. England Clays Ltd., 1965. Salom, Lou. Ibsens Heroines. Ed. and trans. Siegfried Mandel. Redding Ridge Black Swan, 1985. Templeton, Joan. The Doll House Backlash Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen. PMLA (January 1989) 28-40. The Controversial Theme of A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen striveThe Controversial Theme of A Dolls House In his play, A Dolls House, Henrik Ibsen depicts a female protagonist, Nora Helmer, who dares to defy her husband and forsake her duty as a wife and mother to seek out her individuality. A Dolls House challenges the patriarchal view held by most people at the time that a womans place was in the home. Many women could relate to Noras situation. Like Nora, they felt trapped by their husbands and their fathers however, they believed that the rules of society prevented them from stepping out of the shadows of men. Through this play, Ibsen stresses the importance of womens individuality. A Dolls House combines realistic characters, fascinating imagery, explicit stage directions, and an influential setting to develop a controversial theme. The characters of this play help to support Ibsens opinions. Noras initial characteristics are that of a bubbly, child-like wife who is strictly dependent on her husband. This subordinate role from which Nora progresses emphasizes the need for change in societys view of women. For Nora, her inferior, doll-like nature is a facade for a deeper passion for individuality that begins to surface during the play and eventually fully emerges in the ending. An example of this deep yearning for independence is shown when N ora tells her friend, Kristina Linde about earning her own money by doing copying. Nora explains, it was tremendous fun sitting in her room working and earning money. It was almost like being a man (A Dolls House, 162). Mrs. Linde is an inspiration to Nora, because Kristina has experienced the independence that Nora longs for. Even though Nora seeks to be independent, she uses her role of subordination to her advant... ...ntroversial theme. Ibsen expresses to the audience his hope for the miracle of true equality, when neither men nor women abuse the power that society gives them. When Nora sheds her dolls dress and steps out into the real world, she opens up a new realm of possibilities for all women. Works Cited and Consulted Agress, Lynne. The Feminine Irony Women on Women in Early-Nineteenth-Century English Literature. London Associated UP, 1978. Durbach, Errol. A Dolls House Ibsens Myth of Transformation. Boston Twayne, 1991. Ibsen, Henrik. A League of Youth/ A Dolls House/ The Lady From the Sea. Trans. Peter Watts. England Clays Ltd., 1965. Salom, Lou. Ibsens Heroines. Ed. and trans. Siegfried Mandel. Redding Ridge Black Swan, 1985. Templeton, Joan. The Doll House Backlash Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen. PMLA (January 1989) 28-40.