A Doll House: Gender inequality
Ibsen's A Doll House is a psychological play that shows the inequalities between the two sexes during the late 1800's early 1900's and how this inequality affected peoples' lives. A symbol that Ibsen uses to do this is Nora's "illegal" macaroons. Throughout the play, the macaroons are a type of defiance of character, an object resulting from forced dominance. The contrast created by the macaroons shows how people act one way while under societies' hold and how, when not under a close eye, a person dons the cloak of their own true personality. During the late 1800's men and women were not considered socially or legally equal. This lack of equality is exemplified in the home of Nora and Torvald Helmer, the protagonist couple of the play. In the story, it is apparently obvious from the very beginning that Torvald holds all of the power. He holds the key to the mailbox, designates the spending of money, and controls all major goings on. Nora, his wife, is merely a child or favorite plaything
A person's "macaroons" should not be regulated by others but be freely and openly shared, because if you can't get know who someone really is, who are they?. During her calm before the storm, Nora calls for a feast and merrymaking "for just this once" she says. However, Helmer cannot completely stop Nora's own voice. At the beginning of the play, it told to the reader that Nora's husband Helmer has banned macaroons from her because they will "rot her teeth". Despite his limiting of "macaroons", Helmer finds himself no longer in control. Soon she will have to tell Helmer what she has done that will make him very angry. Everyone at one point or another will reveal his or her true character. A child held in their seat too long will eventually go crazy; Nora's case is no different. Soon Nora requests macaroons, "heaps of them". By showing how Helmer regulates Nora's sweets consumption, Ibsen demonstrates to his readers how confined and imprisoned Nora really is. She even feels comfortable enough to say "I have such a desire to say so Torvald can hear. Their "macaroons" will eventually show through, perhaps more violently when held down for a longer period. The reader is soon shown how Nora lets her own opinions known.
Common topics in this essay:
Nora Helmer,
Torvald Helmer,
Ibsen Nora's,
Slowly Nora's,
Helmer Despite,
Soon Nora,
Doll House,
Rank Nora,
Dr Rank,
late 1800's,
nora's own,
true character,
husband helmer,
symbol ibsen,
slowly nora's,
macaroon ibsen's,
dr rank,
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