Nora And Torvald example essay topic

Literary Essay: A Doll's House The title of the play, A Doll's House, is directly based on how Nora, the main character, is treated and how she behaves throughout the entire play. The title reflects on Nora's life, and what she has faced her entire life. She is basically treated like a doll, her whole life. She feels very much like a doll, and she feels trapped in the world, which she would refer to as a dollhouse, thus giving the title of the play, A Doll's House. A doll has many resemblances to a child. A child loves and cares for a doll, much like a parent loves and cares for their child.

A child is trapped inside the house he or she lives in, while a doll is trapped in her own little world that occurs within her dollhouse. Nora has been childish ever since the play has started. She has the mind of child, and therefore acts like a child. (Puts the bag of macaroons into pocket and wipes her mouth) (Nora: Page 4) Like most children, she has a huge craving for sweets, and she does not like to get into trouble. Here she is trying to hide some of candy, from her husband, just like what a child would do to avoid the troubles that were involved. This shows that she does not have a lot of power in the marriage, if there's a rule about not eating sweets.

She loves sweets from what we have seen so far. One of the main reasons she acts like a child is because she is very much treated like a child her whole life. Her father treated her like a child, and now her husband treats her like a child. Very well. But now tell me, you extravagant little person, what would you like yourself? (Helmer: Page 5) Her father and her husband didn t let Nora's mind evolve into a more mature mind, therefore she is somewhat trapped with the mind of a child.

Nora feels like a child, but she feels trapped inside the house she is living in, much like a doll. Her husband, Torvald Helmer, treats Nora with uttermost respect, but she treats her as a more inferior type of person. He believes it's his job to do everything for her, like it's his duty. One would hardly believe how expensive such little persons are! (Helmer: Page 6) Overall, Torvald treats her like a doll.

Not only does he do this, but he is also very sexist towards women, thus being sexist towards Nora. This is like a women! (Helmer: Page 4) Almost everyone who has gone to the bad early life has had a deceitful mother. (Helmer: Page 27) Torvald expects that both women and men have certain roles in marriage and in the society. He strongly believes men are more superior to women. Bad people come from misleading mothers.

Society has a great influence on these alleged roles. Since these roles have great impact on everyone, every one seems to follow them. It's shocking. This is how you would neglect your most sacred duties. (Helmer: Page 65) Again, this shows that there are certain roles, you must abide. Nora is not treated like an actual human being but more like a doll with duties to fulfill.

Women's main duties were to be a good wife, housekeeper, and mother. Those were considered the women's most sacred roles. Nora eventually finds out that those roles are what leads to phony marriages, and leaves Torvald at the end of the play. Nora believes the roles that society portrays are what makes women feel trapped, much like a doll. Torvald is considered a very controlling person, therefore he denies Nora of any moral or intellectual life of her own. Nora must live up to his expectations in order to please him.

Due to that, she seems to act very childish and ditzy in front of her husband, therefore fulfilling her husband's expectations. You haven t any idea how many expenses we skylarks and squirrels have, Torvald. (Nora: Page 6) Nora is using Torvald's words for her in order to please him. She makes fun of herself, so that she can fulfill her role of being inferior to men, especially to Torvald.

Nora and Torvald often act to the roles that society has expected them too. Because they do not act true to each other, they are considered a phony marriage. A true marriage would consist of honesty, purity, innocence, and pure true love. When Nora knows the truth about a true marriage she has a determination to seek answers. These roles that the characters portrays are immensely evolving as the plays continues. Her best friend, Christine Linde, is one of the few people in which Nora can have an intellectual, serious, or true conversation with.

Nora and Christine have been friends for a number of years, and due to that, they developed a close relationship. Their conversations are sincere and truthful. Their relationship would be considered true. No, you must begin, I mustn t be selfish to-day; to-day I must only think of your affairs. But there is one thing I must tell you. Do you know we have just had a great piece of good luck?

(Nora: Page 8) This quote shows a new side of Nora we have never seen. With Christine, she is able to use more advance or intellectual language. She is able to express herself truthfully. She is not treated as a doll. At first Christine, thought Nora still had a mind of a child. Nora, Nora, haven t you learnt sense yet?

In our school days you were a great spendthrift. (Mrs Linde: Page 9) Christine though Nora was still the same as she was back during her schooldays. Nora replies with: (laughing). Yes, that is what Torvald says now. (Wags her finger at her.) But Nora, Nora is no so silly as you think.

We have not been in a position for me to waste money. We have both had to work. (Nora: Page 9) Nora explains to Christine about her problems about looking for money, and moving to Italy for a year. Christine and Nora talk about the sacrifices they have made so that they could support their family. They speak freely with no restrictions.

Overall Christine treats Nora as an equal, maybe because they are both women, and experienced the roles that they have to play. Torvald is the only character that has the biggest impact on Nora. Torvald is controlling on how the roles are supposed to be played. Torvald treats Nora as a prized possession, rather than his partner and companion.

This is similar to the way a child would treat a doll. You have never loved me. You only thought it pleasant to be in love with me. (Nora: Page 63) Torvald cares a lot about his reputation. He feels that his reputation will grow if he is married to a lovely woman like Nora. But no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves.

(Helmer: Page 66) Torvald's reputation and honour is more important than his marriage. Everything Helmer does has something to do with his reputation. His reputation means everything to him. Nora never understood Torvald at all, and Torvald never understood Nora at all. That is just it; you have never understood me. I have been greatly wronged, Torvald – first by papa and then by you.

(Nora: Page 63) Nora expected Torvald to react as a savoir as he found out about the scam she was involved with, but instead Torvald acted differently. He feared about what might others think. Nora realized from that point on, their marriage could never work, because it was too phony. Act is the most crucial point of the entire play. Nora realized that she was considered a plaything, more than a partner or companion.

The term doll was not used until this act. Nora realized that she was just a doll. He called me his doll-child, and he played with me just as I used to play with dolls. And when I came to live with you – I mean that I was simply transferred from papa's hands into yours. You arranged everything according to your taste, and so I got the same tastes as you – or else I pretended to, I have existed merely to perform tricks for you, (Nora: Page 63) Nora's father treated her as a doll, and he handed her to Torvald, who adjusted her into his own doll. She realizes the marriage is phony, and she acts like a child.

She wants to explore the world, so that she can mature into a real human being. The play's title, A Doll's House, represents the false appearance that the characters live, represented by the house. The play deals with the roles that men and women are trapped into. Society helps by enforcing these traps.

Media and reputations encourage these roles that men and women are supposed to have. Nora is one of the few women who realize what the world has gotten into. Nora is treated like a doll, throughout her entire life. She represents a doll, who is trying to escape the life inside the dollhouse and go into the real world.

She realizes that gender plays an important role in society, and she wants to change that. She wants to be free, and to live a true and a happy life..