Australian Catholic University
SEMESTER 1 2016
Modern Drama
Research Essay
Why is freedom important in the play A Doll’s House?
Everyone has their own definition of freedom. What does freedom mean to you? Does it mean being finically sufficient? Does it mean being independent? Does it mean you can just be who you want to be? Freedom has an individual personal meaning to everyone, especially depending on the circumstances or whatever situation you are in. The play ‘A Doll’s House’ by Henrik Ibsen shows the main character of the play Nora and how over the course of her relationship with her controlling, domineering husband Torvald she starts to understand what the word freedom means to her. The definition constantly changes as the circumstances …show more content…
This as a result meant that she did not have any knowledge of the outside world. Torvald used this as a way to walk all over her. Nora’s ignorance of the outside world meant that whatever Torvald pressed upon her was in the name of love. To constantly remind Nora of her worth Torvald would say “Oh, in your blind inexperience” (Ibsen, 2008). So being a homemaker Nora had to rely on Torvald for money which he was in complete control of. So it was easy for him to rein his power over her.
Torvald is the stereotype of the strong husband, the man of the house whereas Nora is just a little skylark. Torvald uses little animal references to address Nora. Such as in the first act Torvald refers to her as his little feather brain, his little scatter brain, basically devaluing her as a human being. His continuous use of downgrading words show that she has started to believe them herself and allows Torvald to lord over her. He treats her like a child, he acts likes a parent-husband and controls her …show more content…
She was constantly being shaped by her father and her husband. She revolts against her husband who represents society. She was deprived of speech, action and performance so she decides to leave Torvald. Because of her husband reaction to her when he found out about the forgery when revealed. She realized that her feeling to her husband was not mutual. The imbalance of power distribution between her and her husband where he was the dominant partner which she finally understood after eight years she did not understand him at all. She had made nothing out of life cause she was always in the shadow of men who deprived of the freedom to grow and become an induvial person. Nora says that Torvald did her a great wrong. So she leaves Torvald and her children to experience the world.
Nora now has found that society and society hierarchy are oppressive towards women. She has refused to see these social norms. She said I believe that, before all else, I am a human being, as much as you are or at least that I should try to become one. I know that most people agree with you, Torvald and that they say in book. But henceforth I can’t be satisfied with what most people say, and what is in books” (Ibsen, 2008). Which show that she is starting to think independently for
SEMESTER 1 2016
Modern Drama
Research Essay
Why is freedom important in the play A Doll’s House?
Everyone has their own definition of freedom. What does freedom mean to you? Does it mean being finically sufficient? Does it mean being independent? Does it mean you can just be who you want to be? Freedom has an individual personal meaning to everyone, especially depending on the circumstances or whatever situation you are in. The play ‘A Doll’s House’ by Henrik Ibsen shows the main character of the play Nora and how over the course of her relationship with her controlling, domineering husband Torvald she starts to understand what the word freedom means to her. The definition constantly changes as the circumstances …show more content…
This as a result meant that she did not have any knowledge of the outside world. Torvald used this as a way to walk all over her. Nora’s ignorance of the outside world meant that whatever Torvald pressed upon her was in the name of love. To constantly remind Nora of her worth Torvald would say “Oh, in your blind inexperience” (Ibsen, 2008). So being a homemaker Nora had to rely on Torvald for money which he was in complete control of. So it was easy for him to rein his power over her.
Torvald is the stereotype of the strong husband, the man of the house whereas Nora is just a little skylark. Torvald uses little animal references to address Nora. Such as in the first act Torvald refers to her as his little feather brain, his little scatter brain, basically devaluing her as a human being. His continuous use of downgrading words show that she has started to believe them herself and allows Torvald to lord over her. He treats her like a child, he acts likes a parent-husband and controls her …show more content…
She was constantly being shaped by her father and her husband. She revolts against her husband who represents society. She was deprived of speech, action and performance so she decides to leave Torvald. Because of her husband reaction to her when he found out about the forgery when revealed. She realized that her feeling to her husband was not mutual. The imbalance of power distribution between her and her husband where he was the dominant partner which she finally understood after eight years she did not understand him at all. She had made nothing out of life cause she was always in the shadow of men who deprived of the freedom to grow and become an induvial person. Nora says that Torvald did her a great wrong. So she leaves Torvald and her children to experience the world.
Nora now has found that society and society hierarchy are oppressive towards women. She has refused to see these social norms. She said I believe that, before all else, I am a human being, as much as you are or at least that I should try to become one. I know that most people agree with you, Torvald and that they say in book. But henceforth I can’t be satisfied with what most people say, and what is in books” (Ibsen, 2008). Which show that she is starting to think independently for