Critical Analysis Of A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

The lack of a maternal role in the life of a developing child, a depicted by Nora Helmer in Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House, causes irreparable damage as well as serious psychological defects for this child. The loss of the protagonist’s, Nora Helmer, mother at such a young age causes her to become trapped in arrested development. She cannot mature or grow in self-confidence since she has had no female role model. These effects of her mother’s loss is shown through her husband, Torvald, becoming her mentor and through their toxic marriage.
The loss of a mother causes the daughter who has been left behind to lose their role model and instructor. Due to this loss, Nora is forced to find the roles which are usually carried out through a mother in the other people of her life. Kristine Linde, Nora’s childhood friend, becomes her confidant with whom she can share all her secrets. While no one is able to become a role model for Nora, her father takes the role of instructor …show more content…
Unfortunately, the role of instructor was not made for a husband since a husband is not responsible for controlling his wife’s every move. Torvald takes over everything that Nora does, he tells her the proper way to spend money as well as how to dance the correct way. When Nora wishes to dance, she asks her husband, “Now play for me! Now I'll dance” (Ibsen)! Torvald begins to play the piano as Nora start to practice her dance. Torvald demands, “Slower! Slower” (Ibsen)! Nora explains, “Can't do it slower” (Ibsen)! Torvald continues, “Not so violently, Nora” (Ibsen). Nora exclaims, “I must! I must” (Ibsen)! Torvald stops playing in order to properly explain, “No, no, Nora- that will never do” (Ibsen). Each action Nora does is an off set of Torvald’s teachings. Nora’s personality is developed through the ideas of her father and later her husband since they are her