Joey Marasco

Modern Culture
2.1.10

A Dolls House

A Dolls House is Henrik Isbens statement against the oppression

that women faced everyday living in a male-dominated society during
the time. He wrote it in Rome in 1879. It stirred so much controversy
that people were even told not to discuss it at social events. It is one of
the best examples of a Realism play.
Nora has been trying for eight years to create a perfect, fairytale
home for the sole purpose of pleasing her husband Torvald. For a
majority of the play, anything outside the boundaries of her husbands
ideals means catastrophe. She is constrained to play the role of a
traditional, timid housewife. Throughout the play, Trovald refers to his
wife in such a manner that establishes his lower view towards women.
He treats her as a mere possession and not an equal. These conditions
demonstrate how Nora nothing more than a plaything to Torvald, ever
performing petty acts of societys ideal housewife.
A Dolls House depicts the traditional family of the time. Nora
acts as the self-sacrificing wife where she does everything for her
husband and nothing for herself. Wives of the time strived to keep their
husbands pleased. If the man wasnt happy, no one was.

The play has it heroine break away from her social norm and
realize that for her to even have a chance at happiness, she needs to
go against what society has deemed right. She decides not to be
dictated by societal norms and to follow her own thoughts.
It addresses the unfair treatment towards women from their
husbands solely because of patriarchal mentalities. In addition, it
warns people the risks of loans and better yet, the consequences of
forgery.
There are many themes present in A Dolls House. One is Social
Conflict, class warfare, revolution: Nora goes behind Torvalds back to
get money to save his life. Torvald is supposed to be the prime provider
for the family. To get money from a woman, let alone his wife, would be
embarrassing to his standards and those of the society. Next, theres
Individual vs society (the family): Nora breaks free of constraints
housewife template. She moves on, beyond the constrictions of male
domination and ideals. In addition, this play shows Realism: Focuses on
a ordinary family with secret affairs. Torvald has a respectable job, a
nanny takes care of the children while Nora, the wife, keeps the home
in order for her husband.