Foil Characters in “A Doll’s House” Essay Example
Foil Characters in “A Doll’s House” Essay Example

Foil Characters in “A Doll’s House” Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (898 words)
  • Published: October 30, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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Henrik Ibsen creates characters in A Doll’s House who change throughout the drama. Ibsen’s usage of foil characters helps the reader understand each single character better. Some of the characters in the drama are perceived as antonyms but in fact portion several similarities. Krogstad and Torvald. Christine and Nora. and Krogstad/Christine’s relationship and Torvald/Nora’s relationship are all foils to each other. Foil characters are mirror images of each other ; they have similarities every bit good as differences.

Nils Krogstad and Torvald Helmer are foils to each other. They both have kids and are attorneies. even though Krogstad lost his licence because he did a counterfeit. Krogstad did something immoral but so did Torvald ; Torvald helped Nora’s male parent when he had done a bad thing. Torvald and Krogstad were childhood f

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riends and now they work together at the bank. Even though they have the same professions as each other. Torvald’s place at the bank is much higher than Krogstad’s.

Everyone hates Krogstad because he did an illegal act ; on the other manus. everyone loves Torvald. The thought that Krogstad is the scoundrel of the drama is reinforced by the reactions that Nora displays whenever Krogstad is about.

The reader finally understands that Krogstad is a victim to fortunes ; he committed counterfeit to assist his kids. non to assist himself. Krogstad is hated by others for the offense he committed to assist his kids. yet Torvald is loved even though he committed a dishonest act to function himself. Torvald helped Nora’s male parent in order to win favour with Nora and achieve her as his married woman. Krogstad no longer has a married woman becaus

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she. Christine. left him for money.

Christine Linde and Nora Helmer are greatly dissimilar but besides portion some comparings. Very much like Krogstad and Torvald. Nora and Christine were childhood friends. Before their meeting in Act 1. these two adult females had non seen each other in about 10 old ages. Christine and Nora are about antonyms of each other ; Nora has kids. money. and a hubby. Christine is a hapless widow with no progeny.

Christine is an independent adult female who has been out in the universe and has held multiple occupations. Nora is seen as a kid who does non hold cognition of how the universe works because she is trapped in a “dollhouse” . Christine supports this thought when she calls Nora a kid and says. “For you ( Nora ) know so small of the loads and problems of life. ” ( Act 1 ) When the reader learns what Nora did for Torvald. it shows that Nora is more intelligent than she seems which is a characteristic that Christine besides possesses.

In order for Nora to pay back the loan she took. Nora did fix work for excess money. Nora and Christine both had a ill parent who needed their aid. which caused them to do a tough determination and they each chose the most of import individual to them. The two twosomes in A Doll’s House. coincidently. are foils to each other. Society sees Nora and Torvald Helmer as a absolutely happy twosome. On the other manus. Krogstad and Christine’s relationship is looked down upon because Christine apparently left him for money.

Christine elected to go forth her hubby. Krogstad. so she

could do more money to assist her brothers and her ill female parent. Nora chose to assist her ill hubby alternatively of her ailment male parent during his deceasing yearss. The Helmer’s relationship looks stronger because Nora chose her hubby over her male parent but in fact. her determination shows how much Nora is under Torvald’s control. Christine and Krogstad genuinely have the better relationship because they have adult conversations and work their jobs out. These two twosomes are basically antonyms of each other except for the fact that they both become separated at some point.

Christine and Krogstad genuinely love each other because they have both been out in the existent universe and want to be together. The Helmer’s do non hold true love because Nora has ne'er been out of her “dollhouse” to see the universe for herself. Nora and Torvald’s relationship is more similar to father/daughter instead than husband/wife. Torvald loves Nora as more of a girl and cares more about what others think of him instead than what she thinks. “Torvald: From now on. bury felicity.

Now it’s merely about salvaging the remains. the wreckage. the visual aspect. ” ( Act 3 ) . Torvald is highly selfish in his relationship with Nora ; Krogstad is non selfish at all in his relationship with Christine. Christine and Krogstad are able to work out their issues together as grownups. The chief characters in this drama have foil characters who are at that place to back up them and assist the reader understand the narrative. Certain characters seem to be antonyms of each other while besides holding similarities.

Krogstad and Torvald have similar occupations and households.

but are besides rather dissimilar. Christine and Nora were childhood friends but grew up in different universes.

The relationship between Christine and Krogstad and the Helmers’ relationship differs because Krogstad and Christine genuinely love each other and the Helmers do non. Even though these characters do hold similarities to each other. they are about exact antonyms ; they are mirror images of each other.

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