Euphemism In A Doll's House

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The evolution of Nora’s character affects the outcome of the play.

As “A Doll’s House” is a play, it comprises of only dialogue and the behaviour of characters which helps the reader understand and connect emotionally with the characters. Ibsen has used Nora as one of the main character and made sure the whole plot of the play revolves around her. During the era in which this play was written, the societies experienced male dominance. Ibsen extracted the theme of male dominance and has collaborated it with the theme of expectation against reality which resulted in a masterpiece. He has used Nora for most of the play and has used dialogues and events that contribute to her evolving as a character. In the scene after Dr Rank confessed his love …show more content…

While reading the play, we as readers can deduce that the character of Nora not only represents an individual, but also acts as a euphemism for the oppression of women. She depicts freedom given to women and is a form of protest against women 's very limited rights in the 19th Century. Ibsen uses Nora as an instrument to emphasise on the importance of personal freedom and the ability of an individual to choose their destiny rather than rely on their spouse. The materialization of this idea, in terms of liberation of the main character (women), comes naturally after we have discovered the constraints surrounding Nora, especially the ones coming from her husband, for instance in the play when Nora committed forgery and Krogstad threatens her using this information in order for him to get what he wants: “it is the law by which you will be judged, if I produce this paper in court.” This gives us a small glance of the condition of women in a male dominating …show more content…

The readers suspect a twist in the plot when we are exposed to the contradictory feelings ok Nora; love for her children, love for her husband and the want to commit suicide. On the other hand she would do anything to get her old life back, the life of a doll who was passed from her father to her husband. The evolution seemed to end with the firm decision to kill herself after her husband and found out the truth. Torvald after reading the first letter gets furious. With a little push from Mrs Linde, Krogstad sends another letter that states that he will not do anything regarding the forgery and he will let it all go. On reading that Torvalds behaviour changes: “I am saved! Nora, I am saved! Nora. And I? Helmer. You too, of course; we are both saved, both you and I. Look, he sends you your bond back. He says he regrets and repents-- that a happy change in his life--never mind what he says! We are saved, Nora! No one can do anything to you. Oh, Nora, Nora!--no, first I must destroy these hateful things. Let me see--. (Takes a look at the bond.) No, no, I won 't look at it. The whole thing shall be nothing but a bad dream to me. (Tears up the bond and both letters, throws them all into the stove, and watches them burn.) There--now it doesn 't exist any longer. He says that since Christmas Eve you--. These must have been three dreadful days for

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