The Transformation of a Woman – Ibsen’s a Doll’s House Essay Example

to do so. She is unsure whether she genuinely shares his tastes or not. This perpetuates the traditional subordinate position of women. Helmer treats Nora like a child or a toy.

(Alexander 381--390) The text shows how Helmer speaks to Nora in a patronizing manner, using terms like "my little lark twittering" and "my little squirrel bustling about". He criticizes her spending habits and refers to her as "The same little featherhead". Helmer also dictates what she can eat, specifically prohibiting sweets due to concerns about her teeth. He scolds Nora for indulging in macaroons and playfully points out her rule-breaking behavior: "Hasn’t Miss Sweet-Tooth been breaking rules in town today?". Moreover, Torvald also controls Nora's wardrobe choices and expects certain behavior from her.

Nora tells Doctor Rank that being with Torvald is similar to being with her father. Her entire existence has revolved around fulfilling the expectations placed upon her by the men in her life. At first, she accepts this role and admits to Torvald that she cannot function without his assistance. Torvald bluntly states that her primary identity is that of a wife and mother. However, as Nora begins to discover her own individuality, she rejects these roles and tells Torvald that she has merely been a puppet for his entertainment. (Lee 620--637) When Torvald falls ill, Nora secretly borrows money from Krogstad to cover the cost of relocating to a warmer place.

She forges her father's signature on the promissory note while he is seriously ill. She feels a sense of pride and tells Mrs. Linde, "I saved Torvald's life." Every evening, she isolates herself from her family to make copies and earn money

to repay the debt. This marks the start of her realization that she is a capable and independent woman.

Despite these qualities traditionally being associated with masculinity, it is ironic that she possesses them. She expresses immense delight and a sense of empowerment, resembling a man, while seated and earning money. Nonetheless, Nora becomes overwhelmed with anxiety when she fears that Helmer will discover her secret. As she practices the dance routine for the dress ball of their neighbor, she begins to dance in an unrestrained manner. In response to this behavior, Helmer remarks, "My dear beloved Nora, you are dancing as though your life hinges upon it."

According to Moi (256-284), Nora's tarantella dance symbolizes the challenges faced by women in expressing their presence and importance. It represents her struggle to be recognized and valued. When Helmer discovers Nora's deception, she hopes he will acknowledge the sacrifices she has made and her love for him above all else. However, his reaction is one of anger and betrayal. He calls her a hypocrite, a liar, and even labels her a criminal. His concern only revolves around himself as he laments the destruction of his own happiness.

He is worried that his future has been ruined and is afraid of being wrongly accused of involvement in her crimes. There's a high chance that people will believe he was the one behind it all, influencing her. He tells Nora she must stay in the household to keep up appearances as a married couple, but only for society's sake. Furthermore, he states she won't be allowed to raise their children.

After realizing her newfound freedom, Helmer quickly alters his attitude towards Nora.

He offers apologies and grants forgiveness for all her past actions. He acknowledges that Nora's motivations stemmed from her love for him but realizes that their relationship is beyond repair. A Doll's House highlights the significant evolution of women throughout history, as they transitioned from being mere family members to asserting their own unique identities. Through this revelation, Nora comprehends the injustices she has endured and holds both her father and Helmer accountable for committing a serious offense against her.

Nora confronts Helmer, attributing her lack of success in life to him. She expresses that there has always been a lack of understanding between them until this moment. Nora claims to have been mistreated by both her father and Helmer. Furthermore, she declares that she firmly believes in being a rational human being like Helmer, or at the very least, she must make an effort to become one.

"Having found her bravery, Nora departs from Helmer and her offspring. In light of both Moi's analysis (256-284) and the work cited by Alexander (2003), Nora's endeavor to gain acknowledgement as an individual stands as a model illustration of women's fight for political and social entitlements."

Print. Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll's House. Ed. E.

Haldeman-Julius. eBook #15492 edition. Web: The Project Gutenberg, 2005. Web. May 28, 2011 Lee, Josephine. "Teaching A Doll House, Rachel, and Marisol: Domestic Ideals, Possessive Individuals, and Modern Drama.

"Project Muse 50. 4 (Winter 2007): 620--637. Print. Moi, Toril."

The text titled "First and Foremost a Human being": Idealism, Theatre, and Gender in A Doll's House1" can be found in Project Muse, volume 49, issue 3 (Fall 2006), pages 256 to 284. This information was originally printed. Another

relevant source is Timothy Ramsden's article "Servant Directs Others; Set Play."

The Times Educational Supplement published an article on June 4, 1999, while William, Robert, and Adam Kissell explored the themes of "A Doll's House" on the website Gradesaver in August 2002.

On May 29, 2011, I reflected on the transformation of a woman through writing an analysis of Hendrik Ibsen's play, A Doll's House. This assignment aimed to broaden my knowledge of Ibsen's work, the historical context in which the play was written, and the art of critiquing literature. A Doll's House, penned in 1879, allowed me to critically examine the play and comprehend its genre, as well as how the characters depicted the individuals and societal trends of that time period. Through this exercise, my ability to analyze significant literary works was enhanced, while also deepening my understanding of the origins and impact of gender discrimination within society.

One difficulty I faced was comprehending the themes and symbolism present in the characters and the narrative of the story. Another challenge was ensuring the paper had the correct structure and accurately represented the sources that were utilized. To conquer these obstacles, I acquired knowledge about and utilized both the USF Library tool RefWorks and the MLA Style of formatting. Furthermore, I consulted online resources to define a thesis statement and an exposition, as well as to conduct research on the various elements of the play.

These tools helped me gain more knowledge, which I then utilized in my critique.