A Dolls House Character Analysis of Nora
Many readings of Ibsen's play, A Doll's House, attempt to show thatthere was great change within one character in particular, Nora. It isfairly easy to see that Thorvald, her husband, is a wooden character,imposing and seemingly without humor or compassion, both at the beginningof the play and at the end. Krogstad is also one-dimensional, a pettycriminal who has spent his life trying to get by without ever owning up tohis larcenous tendencies. Mrs. Linde does not change much, either; infact, she seems to be a sort of Greek chorus just inserted into the actionto move it from one situation to the next. In addition, Dr. Rand isdestined for only one change, death. The addition of Dr. Rand to theaction is merely a small complication in Nora's life; she has biggerworries than whether a dying doctor is in love with her. However, Nora's worries, despite what some critics say, are not thoseof a person changing and growing up. Instead, hers are the worries ofhaving always been grown up and choosing to play a role that has allowedher to survive. By the end of the play, those around her are also calledupon to take responsibility for their actions. Some-Torvald, for
Nora was not attempting to take on a man's role; she wasattempting to save herself and her family, something women have always hadto do as men deserted them for work, war or another woman. He seems tohave come belatedly to that conclusion, because that is what Nora has beendoing for years. Still another critic attempts to move the drama out of the realm offeminism and suggests that Nora is acting like a 'fake man. However, Nora had already proven that shewould do whatever needed to be done, from forging her father's signature towheedling her husband not to fire Krogstad, in order to stay alive. Granted, leaving husband and family was aradical step in those days. Rekdal alsoseems to suggest that forgery is a man's crime, and that anyone who wouldengage in it is necessarily masculine or longing to be masculine. Perhaps this is the basis forconsidering the play a feminist drama. She committed aforgery to save not only her husband's health, but also the appearance thatthey were of a well-off family and could afford 'health holidays. And it also suggests that Nora was alwaysas fully mature and capable of handling whatever comes her way as she is atthe moment she slams the door. However, Nora simply did what she had to doto cope with the situation. Torvald tells Nora, onhearing of her forgery, that "All your father's flimsy values have come outin you. Linde,although not as well-developed a character as Nora, did much the samething. On the other hand, the fact that the women in the play are able to goon with their lives, despite having been deprived of male support first byfathers and then by husbands, suggests that this is the true basis of thefeminism attributed to the play.
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