A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen is about a woman, Nora Helmer, who forges a signature and leaves her husband, Torvald Helmer, after realizing that he will not take the blame for her and she is not content with her life. Ibsen introduces another female character, Kristina Linde, in the subplot, serving as a foil to Nora. By contrasting their experiences in life and their beliefs, Ibsen enhances Nora’s characterization and shows the differences between a woman who falls into the social norm and a female outcast. Henrik Ibsen achieved this with the use of dialogue, stage direction and situational irony.
To start with, Nora’s life seems comfortable and of a higher living standard when compared to Mrs. Linde’s tragic one filled with hardships, in …show more content…
As a lady who should be wearing fancy clothes and sitting at home doing needlework, Mrs. Linde does not care about her image as much and wears what a man should be wearing at the time. As an immediate consequence, she gives the audience a first impression of an independent outcast from her very entrance of Helmers’ well-furnished household. “[Subdued and rather hesitant]” (153) Mrs. Linde seems dubious at first because of her timid personality and her experiences in life which has made her easily hurt. Consequently, this contrasts with Nora’s cheerfulness, always chirping like a bird. “I’ve been so happy these last eight years!” (153) Nora acknowledges her own happiness with Torvald and children. Moreover, Mrs. Linde’s presence induces Nora to describe about her own life while being a braggart. In consequence, this shows Nora’s careless and competitive character and Mrs. Linde’s other role as a way for the audience to know Nora’s background information through their dialogues. “Not even any regrets to break my heart over. Nora [Looking at her incredulously]” (154) Furthermore, Mrs. Linde marries …show more content…
She loves her husband as well, so she cannot imagine feeling nothing after Helmer dies. What is more, she is attached to Helmer and cannot live without Helmer’s support. Furthermore, she expresses her feelings on her face without hiding it, showing her naïvity. “And no children? No… I have three lovely children.” (154) Instead of comforting Mrs. Linde on her lonely life, Nora keeps bringing up her own wonderful life. For this reason, she is very inconsiderate yet the audience finds out that she fits into the social norms by being married and having children. “I’m not going to think about anything but your troubles… My husband’s been made Manager of the Savings Bank.” (154-155) Similarly, this situational irony where Nora breaks her own promise shows her cluelessness. Knowing Mrs. Linde is penniless and a widow, Nora talks about her own wealth with excessive pride. Therefore, Nora is out-going and wants to tell people everything whereas Mrs. Linde has an inert character and guards her feelings well. “Heaps and heaps of money!” (155) Even more, Nora’s greedy character is shown here. Indeed, her family is more well-off both in social status and
To start with, Nora’s life seems comfortable and of a higher living standard when compared to Mrs. Linde’s tragic one filled with hardships, in …show more content…
As a lady who should be wearing fancy clothes and sitting at home doing needlework, Mrs. Linde does not care about her image as much and wears what a man should be wearing at the time. As an immediate consequence, she gives the audience a first impression of an independent outcast from her very entrance of Helmers’ well-furnished household. “[Subdued and rather hesitant]” (153) Mrs. Linde seems dubious at first because of her timid personality and her experiences in life which has made her easily hurt. Consequently, this contrasts with Nora’s cheerfulness, always chirping like a bird. “I’ve been so happy these last eight years!” (153) Nora acknowledges her own happiness with Torvald and children. Moreover, Mrs. Linde’s presence induces Nora to describe about her own life while being a braggart. In consequence, this shows Nora’s careless and competitive character and Mrs. Linde’s other role as a way for the audience to know Nora’s background information through their dialogues. “Not even any regrets to break my heart over. Nora [Looking at her incredulously]” (154) Furthermore, Mrs. Linde marries …show more content…
She loves her husband as well, so she cannot imagine feeling nothing after Helmer dies. What is more, she is attached to Helmer and cannot live without Helmer’s support. Furthermore, she expresses her feelings on her face without hiding it, showing her naïvity. “And no children? No… I have three lovely children.” (154) Instead of comforting Mrs. Linde on her lonely life, Nora keeps bringing up her own wonderful life. For this reason, she is very inconsiderate yet the audience finds out that she fits into the social norms by being married and having children. “I’m not going to think about anything but your troubles… My husband’s been made Manager of the Savings Bank.” (154-155) Similarly, this situational irony where Nora breaks her own promise shows her cluelessness. Knowing Mrs. Linde is penniless and a widow, Nora talks about her own wealth with excessive pride. Therefore, Nora is out-going and wants to tell people everything whereas Mrs. Linde has an inert character and guards her feelings well. “Heaps and heaps of money!” (155) Even more, Nora’s greedy character is shown here. Indeed, her family is more well-off both in social status and