Dollhouse
Fundamental characteristics of individuality include self-reliance, independence, and freedom from any form of external control. Throughout Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House," the character Nora Helmer is treated as property rather than a human being. She's a delicate housewife who is dominated over by her husband Torvald Helmer, and has no knowledge or experience of life at large. Nora's decision to leave the Helmer household served as a bold gesture of escaping a sheltered lifestyle and setting forth on the path of individuality. Throughout Nora's life, she's been sheltered and prevented from knowing anything outside the boundaries of her comfort zone. Nora's childhood of submission to her father was directly followed by a marriage comparatively of the same nature. However, Nora adapts and is happy with this life due to the fact that she knows of nothing else (Simonds). Nora has been eight years the wife of Torvald Helmer, and is the mother of three vigorous children. She is her husband's doll. He continually refers to her with silly pet names such as "his little squirrel," and provides for her every fancy (I.6). This establishes that Torvald sees Nora as inferior to him. It's almost as if he treats her as a child rat
Their disputes and interactions are often petty, and their conversations trivial. She experienced and sense of enlightenment and made the courageous decision to leave the only life she ever knew behind in hopes of becoming her own person, rather than being dependent on her husband. Instead of considering the well being of his wife, he thought only of how his social stature would be ruined due to his wife's mistake. She kept this crime a secret for a long time, and when it finally surfaced, Torvald became angered. Another potential reflection of Nora's heroism is her rebellion against societies' standards and contribution to women's rights. Feeling as if it would be an expression of love, Nora made a "sacrifice" and committed a crime in efforts to save her husband's life. During the era of this play, society views women as subordinate. She realizes that she could not be a role model for her children, when she is still child-like herself. In conclusion, Nora Helmer was but a victim who finally stood up for herself as a woman and a person. When Torvald tries to reconcile with her she explains that all her life she was treated like a child. "Clearly this principle exemplifies Ibsen's stated position that if women are to be mothers of a new generation, they must first achieve a measure of equality as human beings" (Metzger).
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Acceptance Essays
