At a masquerade party, people are expected to wear masks. The masks are meant to hide the wearer 's true identity. The people around them are only to guess who the person truly is. In the play A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen the characters also wear masks. However, their masks are constructed to hide the character’s real personality. Throughout most of the play the character’s disguise their true nature when speaking to each other, and often switching their “masks” often. These are emotional masks; the characters are hiding behind. The purpose of the masks is to give the idea of deception and illusion. The author uses the masquerade serves to give the reader a better understanding of the allegory the masks that the character’s use in their everyday
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She has never lived alone; she took care of her father then immediately her husband. She has lived a very sheltered life away from the troubles of the world. She lives in a society that is completely dominated by men. When her husband became ill, she borrowed money to help save his life. For a woman to take on debt without her husband, or in Nora’s case without the knowledge her husband, was not proper during the period in the play. Nora borrowed the money behind Torvalds back. “The secret that is my joy and my pride- that he should learn it in such an ugly, coarse way- and from you. It would involve me in all sorts of unpleasantness” (CITE). Nora disguises herself as the loyal wife. However, when Nora explains to Mrs. Linde about the money, she also tells her that her husband, Torvald, does not know about it. This is something that she has been keeping a secret for years. When Nora’s dishonesty is questioned, she plainly …show more content…
Oh, that she does in any case.
NORA. I 'll be an elf and dance in the moonlight for you, Torvald. (CITE)
At this moment she shows her unmasked self, as she tries desperately to manipulate Torvald to get her way. Nora keeps her secret because it is not socially acceptable for a woman to borrow money without her husband. Nora’s unmasked self is very selfish. She was trying to convince Torvald against firing Krogstad is to keep her secret safe. Her constant sneaky, manipulative, and selfish behavior will only backfire in the end.
Another character that wears multiple masks is Torvald. At the beginning of the play, he has been promoted to manager of the bank. He is very controlling of his wife, Nora. He dictates what his wife is allowed and not allowed to do. For example, Nora is not allowed to eat Macaroons (CITE). Torvald believes that Nora will destroy her beauty by eating them. By Nora eating them, she would be ruining the main reason why he married her. Torvalds main character flaw is the concern for his self-image, above anything else. He is very conscious of other people’s perception of him and his standing in the community. This also explains Torvalds unmasked identity; he is image conscious. For instance, when Nora requests that Krogstad keeps his job. Torvald tells her that if he were to allow Krogstad to keep his job now that his staff already knows his intention to fire him. He would be the “Laughing stock before the entire staff” (CITE). As a representation
She has never lived alone; she took care of her father then immediately her husband. She has lived a very sheltered life away from the troubles of the world. She lives in a society that is completely dominated by men. When her husband became ill, she borrowed money to help save his life. For a woman to take on debt without her husband, or in Nora’s case without the knowledge her husband, was not proper during the period in the play. Nora borrowed the money behind Torvalds back. “The secret that is my joy and my pride- that he should learn it in such an ugly, coarse way- and from you. It would involve me in all sorts of unpleasantness” (CITE). Nora disguises herself as the loyal wife. However, when Nora explains to Mrs. Linde about the money, she also tells her that her husband, Torvald, does not know about it. This is something that she has been keeping a secret for years. When Nora’s dishonesty is questioned, she plainly …show more content…
Oh, that she does in any case.
NORA. I 'll be an elf and dance in the moonlight for you, Torvald. (CITE)
At this moment she shows her unmasked self, as she tries desperately to manipulate Torvald to get her way. Nora keeps her secret because it is not socially acceptable for a woman to borrow money without her husband. Nora’s unmasked self is very selfish. She was trying to convince Torvald against firing Krogstad is to keep her secret safe. Her constant sneaky, manipulative, and selfish behavior will only backfire in the end.
Another character that wears multiple masks is Torvald. At the beginning of the play, he has been promoted to manager of the bank. He is very controlling of his wife, Nora. He dictates what his wife is allowed and not allowed to do. For example, Nora is not allowed to eat Macaroons (CITE). Torvald believes that Nora will destroy her beauty by eating them. By Nora eating them, she would be ruining the main reason why he married her. Torvalds main character flaw is the concern for his self-image, above anything else. He is very conscious of other people’s perception of him and his standing in the community. This also explains Torvalds unmasked identity; he is image conscious. For instance, when Nora requests that Krogstad keeps his job. Torvald tells her that if he were to allow Krogstad to keep his job now that his staff already knows his intention to fire him. He would be the “Laughing stock before the entire staff” (CITE). As a representation