A Dolls House

Often in literature characters are presented as victims of society. There are many examples of this in Henrik Ibsen’s controversial play, “A Doll’s House”. Written during the Victorian era, Ibsen’s play would have raised a lot controversy on the roles of males and females in society. The audience would have noticed the constant similarities between themselves and the characters that are presented as victims of society. A lot of the audience would have found the play shocking and disturbing.

Torvald, a character who is a typical Victorian era husband, with a sweet wife, three children, a nanny, a maid and a well paid job; would have represented a large percentage of the play’s male audience. Only people, who were well off as Torvald, could go to the theatre and have such luxuries, in that period of time.

Torvald is a victim of society, forced by the need to fit into society’s circle and to be classified as high in social status. Torvald is aware of the pressures of society and is willing to adhere to them. Although Torvald is a victim of society, it’s quite evident that he is happy and comfortable with the idea.

Torvald has everything he could possibly want, and everything society could possibly expect

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The idea of maintaining a strong and crucial role in the family, is an image, which is important to Torvald. Making her seem like a better prize on Torvald’s arm. Now that Ms Linde is a widow she represents the independent woman. “Not a little nibble at a macaroon?” Nora: “No, Torvald- I promise you honestly-!” (Act 1, pg27)

Nora rebels against society’s morals and laws that “a wife can’t borrow money without the husband consent. “he’s so proud of being a man- it’d be so painful and humiliating for him to know that he owed anything to me (Nora). The most obvious example which shows Toravld’s need to follow to society’s ideas and expectations, is when Nora dances the tarantella and we see Torvald’s physical control over her. ” (Act 2, pg63)

In Act 3, we are able to see how the affects of society have taken the toll on Torvald's moral thoughts. Things in Ms Lindes’s life changed after she became a widow, she took up knitting, as it was efficient, even though it was not thought of as unladylike. Nora uses the image of being a victim of society to cover up her secret business. ” (Act3, pg98)

Ms Linde was once a victim of society. “I took your taste in everything- or pretended I did…I’ve been living here like a pauper…I performed tricks for you… You and Papa have done me great wrong. If Torvald didn’t have the need to be such an upstanding male status in society, then Nora would not had been forced to conceal her hidden independence, in order to save her husband’s life.

Torvald is presented as a victim throughout the whole play, and it is because of his need to accepted into society that his is life dramatically changed.

Approximate Word count = 2129
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)

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