The society appears affluent and agreeable enough for those who can operate in it successfully. The Helmers have a very nice home and are looking forward to even more commodious living once Torvald gets his appointment. There is room here to celebrate Christmas with presents, to employ servants, to play music, to enjoy all sorts of creature comforts, and to celebrate with one's friends. Many of the most cherished ideals of middle-class life, then and now, are clearly on display.
But we learn that such benefits come at a price: one must conform to a view of proper conduct which is, in many respects, extremely narrow, savagely enforced, and unforgiving. This society values money, contracts, and conventional respectability over anything else …show more content…
Presumably he has always been like this, and society has rewarded him handsomely for that approach to life: a nice home, beautiful wife, young children, important job, good income, good economic prospects. He's honest enough about that, for he makes no attempt to pretend that he believes in anything other than what society's rules indicate (the notion that he is capable of pretending, of having some secret desire not to be the way he is, seems extremely unlikely). More than that, he appears incapable of even imagining another dimension to life. In fact, we might well see him as the fullest living embodiment of the perfectly and entirely social man in this milieu.
-Dialogue with Nora, about liars.. reveal to us society’s opinion of such people
- He represents middle class society. When he knows about Nora’s letter he explodes and tells her about how society will react (society’s spokesman). His reaction is not that of a loyal husband who will stand beside his wife but that of society which will degrade you and punish you for your disobedience. His response to the letter is not an overreaction but a representation of how society will respond to such violation. -Reaction to Nora’s forgery, is a reflection of society’s reaction to her …show more content…
Patriachal society
Her: seeking to cajole Torvald, thoughts of suicide, the tarantella, attempting to rob the letter box reveal her increasing desperation at having to deal with events which she cannot control. She is bringing to bear what has worked for her in the past, but what she has to deal with here resists her attempts. Other people and the rules of the society in which they live are too fatally complex and inexorable for her efforts.
Torvald’s social role is who he is, his entire identity. He has no conception of himself outside that role. So, in effect, Nora has, in his eyes, destroyed him. We may deplore the shallowness of his character, but we should not dismiss the intensity of his feelings or the accuracy of his perception of how society will react. Everything he believes in is in danger of being taken away. And that's why, once the danger has passed, he can instantly become himself again: his identity has been restored.
Since society won't know, things can remain the same, and he is prepared to interpret her actions as love for him combined with inexperience in the ways of the world, a situation he is prepared to assist her to
But we learn that such benefits come at a price: one must conform to a view of proper conduct which is, in many respects, extremely narrow, savagely enforced, and unforgiving. This society values money, contracts, and conventional respectability over anything else …show more content…
Presumably he has always been like this, and society has rewarded him handsomely for that approach to life: a nice home, beautiful wife, young children, important job, good income, good economic prospects. He's honest enough about that, for he makes no attempt to pretend that he believes in anything other than what society's rules indicate (the notion that he is capable of pretending, of having some secret desire not to be the way he is, seems extremely unlikely). More than that, he appears incapable of even imagining another dimension to life. In fact, we might well see him as the fullest living embodiment of the perfectly and entirely social man in this milieu.
-Dialogue with Nora, about liars.. reveal to us society’s opinion of such people
- He represents middle class society. When he knows about Nora’s letter he explodes and tells her about how society will react (society’s spokesman). His reaction is not that of a loyal husband who will stand beside his wife but that of society which will degrade you and punish you for your disobedience. His response to the letter is not an overreaction but a representation of how society will respond to such violation. -Reaction to Nora’s forgery, is a reflection of society’s reaction to her …show more content…
Patriachal society
Her: seeking to cajole Torvald, thoughts of suicide, the tarantella, attempting to rob the letter box reveal her increasing desperation at having to deal with events which she cannot control. She is bringing to bear what has worked for her in the past, but what she has to deal with here resists her attempts. Other people and the rules of the society in which they live are too fatally complex and inexorable for her efforts.
Torvald’s social role is who he is, his entire identity. He has no conception of himself outside that role. So, in effect, Nora has, in his eyes, destroyed him. We may deplore the shallowness of his character, but we should not dismiss the intensity of his feelings or the accuracy of his perception of how society will react. Everything he believes in is in danger of being taken away. And that's why, once the danger has passed, he can instantly become himself again: his identity has been restored.
Since society won't know, things can remain the same, and he is prepared to interpret her actions as love for him combined with inexperience in the ways of the world, a situation he is prepared to assist her to