Nora’s Character Development in play A Doll 's House, by Henry Ibsen
In the play A Doll’s House written by Henrik Ibsen’s in 1879, the character of the drama’s protagonist Nora Helmer is developed and revealed through her conflicts and conversations with the other characters in the story. In that period of time in which the culture was strictly concern about female gender in having a socially acceptable image based on nineteen century values, Nora like many other women faces the social pressure to be a “doll” or a “little bird” in her home. In such a setting, any normal social activities from “helpless little birds” could easily end up with a conflict and Nora is not exempted of that. Although Nora’s role in the play is a typical housewife, …show more content…
Then, Torvald starts to represent Nora in an animal imagery by referring her to helpless little animals and birds: "Is that my lark twittering there?" (Ibsen 26). Although at first these names look cute and matching to Nora’s behavior, these pretty, helpless little bird’s names become excessive in act one and reader starts to realize that Torvald truly compares them to Nora’s reality and metaphorically indicates to Nora as a weak little bird that cannot fly or to her as a doll in her own home. In the other words, she is a dependent, greedy and weak little girl who needs to be taken care of: "Come come; my little lark mustn’t droop her wings like that" (Ibsen …show more content…
She does not spread her wings until Act III where Torvald displays his selfishness and his true character reveals. Torvald’s ignoring other’s perception and not paying attention to the consequences of the constraints in Nora’s life, never let the “Miracle” that she was always expecting happens. When he tells Nora: “But no man sacrifices his honour, even for one he loves." (Ibsen 14) she replies: "Millions of women have done so" (Ibsen 14) showing that she has now a better understanding of her accomplishments and the value of the reward that she should have been given. Now it seems that their marriage is corrupted, there is no love between them anymore and Nora, who is now very well aware of her wings, is ready to
In the play A Doll’s House written by Henrik Ibsen’s in 1879, the character of the drama’s protagonist Nora Helmer is developed and revealed through her conflicts and conversations with the other characters in the story. In that period of time in which the culture was strictly concern about female gender in having a socially acceptable image based on nineteen century values, Nora like many other women faces the social pressure to be a “doll” or a “little bird” in her home. In such a setting, any normal social activities from “helpless little birds” could easily end up with a conflict and Nora is not exempted of that. Although Nora’s role in the play is a typical housewife, …show more content…
Then, Torvald starts to represent Nora in an animal imagery by referring her to helpless little animals and birds: "Is that my lark twittering there?" (Ibsen 26). Although at first these names look cute and matching to Nora’s behavior, these pretty, helpless little bird’s names become excessive in act one and reader starts to realize that Torvald truly compares them to Nora’s reality and metaphorically indicates to Nora as a weak little bird that cannot fly or to her as a doll in her own home. In the other words, she is a dependent, greedy and weak little girl who needs to be taken care of: "Come come; my little lark mustn’t droop her wings like that" (Ibsen …show more content…
She does not spread her wings until Act III where Torvald displays his selfishness and his true character reveals. Torvald’s ignoring other’s perception and not paying attention to the consequences of the constraints in Nora’s life, never let the “Miracle” that she was always expecting happens. When he tells Nora: “But no man sacrifices his honour, even for one he loves." (Ibsen 14) she replies: "Millions of women have done so" (Ibsen 14) showing that she has now a better understanding of her accomplishments and the value of the reward that she should have been given. Now it seems that their marriage is corrupted, there is no love between them anymore and Nora, who is now very well aware of her wings, is ready to