Analysis of Henrik Isbens A Dolls House :: A Dolls House Essays

Act I AnalysisAct I, in the tradition of the well made play in which the first incite serves as an exposition, the second an event, and the third an unraveling (though Ibsen diverges from the traditional third act by presenting not an unraveling, but a discussion), establishes the tensions that explode later in the play. Ibsen sets up the Act by first introducing us to the central issue Nora and her congress to the exterior earthly concern (Nora entering with her packages). Nora serves as a symbol for women of the succession women who were sentiment to be content with the luxuries of modern society with no thought or care of the world in which they lived. Indeed, there is some justice in this (the extent of this is debatable). As the play reveals, Nora does delight in existent wealth, having been labeled a spendthrift from an early age. She projects the attitude that money is the find out to happiness. By presenting this theme of the relationship between women and their surro undings at the beginning, Ibsen indicates to the indorser that this is the roughly basic and important idea at work in the play. However, it is also clear that Noras simplistic approach to the world is not all t rare her fault. Torvalds treatment of Nora as a small helpless small fry barely contributes to Noras isolation from reality. Just as Nora relates to the exterior world primarily through with(predicate) material objects, Torvald relates to Nora as an object to be possessed. The question becomes who is more gratis(p) from reality? Though Torvalds attitude pervades every word he speaks to Nora, his objectification of her is most evident in his use of animal imagery. He refers to her as his slim lark and squirrelsmall harmless animals. Similarly, Torvald repeatedly calls Nora his little one or little girl, maintaining the approach of a father rather than husband. Nora is richly dependent on Torvald, from money to diet (the macaroons) and, because she is so sheltered, he r perception of the world is romanticized. Noras skewed vision of the world is most evident in her interactions with Mrs. Linde. Whereas her old school friend is wizened and somber, Nora is impetuous. Her choice to tell Mrs. Linde about her hidden seems to be more of a boast of a small child than a thoughtful adult in fact, Nora only reveals her secret after(prenominal) being called a child by Mrs.