Roles In A Doll's House

In A Doll House, Henrik Ibsen writes about the controversial roles between men and women in the nineteenth century. In this tragic three act play, Ibsen raises the question of how much a woman should have to compromise her own aspirations to fit into society. In the play the main character, Nora plays a typical housewife. At first look Nora seems happy to play her role. As the play unfolds the audience finds out that Nora is far from happy.
The play takes place on Christmas Eve in the Helmer’s respectable middle class home. Nora Helmer comes into her living room carrying several Christmas presents. Torvald Helmer, Nora’s husband came in to greet her as soon as she arrived. They seem like a playful and affectionate couple, also uncomfortable …show more content…
Instead, she worried that Krogstad will write her husband and tell him everything. When Nora sees Torvald she begs him to let Krogstad keep his job, but he refuses. Instead, he sends a dismissal letter to his home. Krogstad comes back to speak with Nora. He tells her he will not publicly accuse her, but he will blackmail Torvald. He plans to keep the bond that shows the details of the loan. When she finally is able to pay off the loan, he will keep the bond as evidence. He will no longer be happy with getting his old job back, now he wants a …show more content…
The fact that the setting of the play was in the Helmer’s elegant middle class home plays along with the title as well. Nora felt like a doll all her life. Not only with her marriage with Torvald, but also when she was younger, and living with her father. Nora and Mrs. Linde had to play a role the society expected them to fill, and they are both portrayed as dolls. Nora quoted it best "He used to call me his doll-child, and he played with me the way I played with my dolls," and "he told me all his opinions, so I had the same ones too." This is how Nora lived her whole life, she did what she was told to do and how it was expected to be