Nora

Nora Helmer is one of the most interesting characters in Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House. She is the mother of three and the wife to Torvald Helmer. Helmer, just as any man in his time period, is basically the owner of his wife. He shows love and affection for her but at the same time belittles her. Throughout the play Nora grows to be a powerful woman and to stand up for her and what she believes in.

In the beginning of A Doll’s House, Nora allows herself to follow social conformity and yield to every wish or whim of Helmer. For example, she is eating macaroons and as soon as Helmer walks into the room she will hide them so he doesn’t know (2). At times she can be a giddy and submissive girl. When Nora finds out that Christine is a widow she says “Poor thing, how you must have suffered. And he left you nothing?” She is referring to the fact that Christine has nothing without a husband. No money and no children. It seems as though she feels that that is the only thing one can get out of marriage (6). Also within Act I we get to see Nora’s freedom with

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This is where Nora makes a stand for what she really believes in. He does read it and begins to yell at her for ruining him. Seven hours till midnight; and then four-and-twenty hours till the next midnight.

Throughout this story line Nora has change dramatically from a doll in a doll house to a strong and powerful woman. She knows that this is her time to go out and get an education and find out what she wants in this world. her children as she hides under a table to play with them (18). She fears that it will ruin her family (28). Then, when Helmer gets news of Krogstad’s apology, he turns around to forgive her for everything because he is saved (63). Even though he doesn’t even come to speak with her about the money she fears him. She is pacing around her living room and showing nervousness that Krogstad might come over and ruin her. It is amazing how just after seeing her freedom she can suddenly shift to these new feelings.

Act II opens to show Nora absolutely paranoid.

The third act begins with Nora attempting to be manipulative. She realizes that she needs to be scared of her husband because he might find out about this debt she illegally has.

Approximate Word count = 722
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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