A Doll House, written by Henrik Ibsen in 1879, tells the story of a woman named Nora and the struggles she faces after borrowing money to take her husband out of the country.
Throughout the first act of the play, Ibsen hints at a former relationship between Kristine Linden,and Nils Krogstad. The key role of the relationship between Krogstad and Kristine is as an example of a healthy relationship,between two adults in contrast to the relationship between Nora and,Helmer. Towards the end of the play, the door represents this relationship when Kristine meets up with Krogstad in,an attempt to convince him to take back the letter that he had written to Helmer, informing him that Nora had borrowed money without his knowledge. They start,their talk …show more content…
Rank’s relationship through the symbolism of the door by showing Rank as never fully being welcomed in and always being insecure in his place. This represents the way that Dr. Rank, though he is often in Nora and Torvald’s home with them, is not crucial to their lives. Ibsen demonstrates this with Dr. Rank’s initial introduction in the play. The reader’s first encounter with Dr. Rank shows how he is always politely unsure of his position with Nora. Ibsen writes that he is “(still in the doorway)” and he states that he does not “want to intrude” upon Torvald, then realizes that to speak with Nora is “intruding [there] too” (1723). He is very polite, not wanting to disturb those in the house, though he wants to be there. This evinces the idea that he is insecure in his place in their house, and worried that he is bothering her with his appearance. However, Ibsen shows that Nora and Dr. Rank are good friends when Nora states that she “[recognizes] his ring” at the doorbell (1738). The two are obviously close, as Nora is able to tell who is at the door by the way in which he rings the bell. Once he enters, Nora “shuts the door after him,” indicating that she is comfortable enough that she will allow the two of them to be alone together, behind closed doors (1738). However, near to the end of the play when Torvald is approaching Nora in a sexual manner, Dr. Rank happens to show up at that moment, announcing himself with “A knock at the outside …show more content…
The door shows the closed off nature of,their relationship and their inability,to communicate with each other as adults. The play begins with Nora ringing the bell before entering her own home, demonstrating that she is,unwelcome in her own house. The door then makes another appearance when Helmer closes and locks it, forming a barrier between him and Nora as a means of control. The fact that the door is closed and locked, separating the couple, represents the way that Helmer holds the power as the adult in the relationship and has no intention of allowing Nora to share in the responsibility. During the second act, Nora develops an obsession with the front door, running back and forth saying, “Someone’s coming! (Goes toward the door, listens.) No- there’s no one. Of course- nobody’s coming today, Christmas Day- or tomorrow either, But maybe- (Opens the door and looks out.) No, nothing in the mailbox” (1733). Nora is desperate to keep Helmer from uncovering the truth about where the money to travel to Italy truly came from. The repeated closing of the door reflects on Nora’s wishes to keep Helmer closed out from her adult secret. However, when Helmer does find out, their entire image of a perfect family crumbles. Helmer calls Nora names and blames her for ruining the family image until he opens a second note from Krogstad, reassuring them that he will not press
Throughout the first act of the play, Ibsen hints at a former relationship between Kristine Linden,and Nils Krogstad. The key role of the relationship between Krogstad and Kristine is as an example of a healthy relationship,between two adults in contrast to the relationship between Nora and,Helmer. Towards the end of the play, the door represents this relationship when Kristine meets up with Krogstad in,an attempt to convince him to take back the letter that he had written to Helmer, informing him that Nora had borrowed money without his knowledge. They start,their talk …show more content…
Rank’s relationship through the symbolism of the door by showing Rank as never fully being welcomed in and always being insecure in his place. This represents the way that Dr. Rank, though he is often in Nora and Torvald’s home with them, is not crucial to their lives. Ibsen demonstrates this with Dr. Rank’s initial introduction in the play. The reader’s first encounter with Dr. Rank shows how he is always politely unsure of his position with Nora. Ibsen writes that he is “(still in the doorway)” and he states that he does not “want to intrude” upon Torvald, then realizes that to speak with Nora is “intruding [there] too” (1723). He is very polite, not wanting to disturb those in the house, though he wants to be there. This evinces the idea that he is insecure in his place in their house, and worried that he is bothering her with his appearance. However, Ibsen shows that Nora and Dr. Rank are good friends when Nora states that she “[recognizes] his ring” at the doorbell (1738). The two are obviously close, as Nora is able to tell who is at the door by the way in which he rings the bell. Once he enters, Nora “shuts the door after him,” indicating that she is comfortable enough that she will allow the two of them to be alone together, behind closed doors (1738). However, near to the end of the play when Torvald is approaching Nora in a sexual manner, Dr. Rank happens to show up at that moment, announcing himself with “A knock at the outside …show more content…
The door shows the closed off nature of,their relationship and their inability,to communicate with each other as adults. The play begins with Nora ringing the bell before entering her own home, demonstrating that she is,unwelcome in her own house. The door then makes another appearance when Helmer closes and locks it, forming a barrier between him and Nora as a means of control. The fact that the door is closed and locked, separating the couple, represents the way that Helmer holds the power as the adult in the relationship and has no intention of allowing Nora to share in the responsibility. During the second act, Nora develops an obsession with the front door, running back and forth saying, “Someone’s coming! (Goes toward the door, listens.) No- there’s no one. Of course- nobody’s coming today, Christmas Day- or tomorrow either, But maybe- (Opens the door and looks out.) No, nothing in the mailbox” (1733). Nora is desperate to keep Helmer from uncovering the truth about where the money to travel to Italy truly came from. The repeated closing of the door reflects on Nora’s wishes to keep Helmer closed out from her adult secret. However, when Helmer does find out, their entire image of a perfect family crumbles. Helmer calls Nora names and blames her for ruining the family image until he opens a second note from Krogstad, reassuring them that he will not press