Nora and Her Environment
In A Doll's House, Henrik Ibsen presents Nora as a product of her environment. When she lived with her father she allowed him to shape her life, her opinions and her thoughts. Then, when she married Torvald, nothing changed. She simply passed from her father's hands into her husband's hands. She describes it as: [W]hen I lived at home with Papa, he told me all his opinions, so I had the same ones too; or if they were different I hid them, since he wouldn't have care for that. He used to call me his doll-child, and he played with me the way I played with my dolls. Then I came into your house - I mean, then I went from Papa's hand into yours. You arranged everything to your own taste, and so on I got the same taste as you - or I pretend to; I can't remember.... It's a great sin what you and Papa did to me. You're to blame that nothing's become of me (1623). Nora realizes that her life has not amounted to anything consequently blaming her father and her husband as the main reason of her failure. While Nor
a's father and her husband have her best interest in mind, they harm her by over protecting her and by not allowing her to form any opinions on her own. Finally, at the end of the play, after learning from Mrs. She knows nothing of burdens, business or responsibilities. Her environment, the way she was treated by her father and her husband, took her individuality. When she commits forgery to borrow the money, she does not realize that it is a crime (1591). Torvald makes of her a creature to be loved, guided and shielded, but not an individual to think and act for herself. How snug and nice our home is, Nora. Granted Nora lies and commits a crime, yet her husband is partially the one to blame for her actions. His idea of a good parent was one that petted, spoiled and treated the child like a toy and not like an individual. In his mind, the fact that he can protect her, should be sufficient to make her happy. Torvald, however, measures his love for Nora by his ability to protect her. He not only took away her individuality, but he also transformed her into the "little lark"(1575) he admires - he even controlled what she could not eat. I will bring peace to your poor, shuddering heart" (1621). He says: "You can rest easy now; I've got wide wings to shelter you with.
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