ipl-logo

Nora's Nicknames

435 Words2 Pages

For centuries, men have felt that they are superior to women. This attitude is quite evident in the play A Doll 's House written by Henrik Ibsen as the husband, Torvald is sexist and does not see his wife, Nora, as an equal. In this story, Nora treated like Torvald 's "doll" in their house, as it is suggested in the title. Numerous instances throughout the story had shown that Torvald refers to Nora by demeaning pet names such as "little squirrel," "little spendthrift," and "singing lark." Isbel used Nora’s nicknames as a symbol of their husband/wife marital dynamic. For started, the nicknames “little squirrel” was used by Torvald. When Torvald calls Nora a squirrel, it shows that he does not view his wife as another human, but instead, an …show more content…

Secondly, another nicknames Torvald calls Nora a ‘spendthrift’ which was offensive on many levels and symbolized his attitude towards his wife. Parents generally use the nickname ‘spendthrift’ on their children when they feel as though their child buys and spends money on things that are very unnecessary, calling Nora this symbolizes that Torvald does not treat Nora as a partner and more like a child. This is further proven when the nicknames, ‘spendthrift’ is used to such a high extent that it was evident that the author was trying to make his sense of superiority and sexism visible; thereby giving Torvald control over Nora. Lastly, Torvald uses the nickname songbird which symbolized that Nora is not seen as an equal as a bird is placed in a cage. It goes on to say that she can be owned as a pet because that is what happens to songbirds. This degradment is evident many time for example, Torvald says “My little songbird must never do that again. A songbird must have a clean beak to chirp with—no false notes!" (Ibsen.Act 1.Page 435)”.Torvald 's habit of as a addressing his wife, Nora,as a ‘songbird’ shows his sexist and demeaning nature. To summarize, the nicknames Torvald had given Nora proved that he felt superior and was demeaning towards Nora only because she was

Show More
Related

  • Essay Comparing Anthem And A Doll's House

    2190 Words  | 9 Pages

    This exemplifies how he sees her as weaker than him and almost helpless. Also he presents that he is expected to be  the man of the household by stating, “I have broad wings to shelter you under.. I will protect you like a hunted dove that I have saved from a hawk's claws". Torvald also conforms to society as he is supposed to be the protector and provider for the “weak” and helpless “women”. This is a great similarity as both Equality and Nora are faced with the decision of either conforming to society and not being allowed to obtain true independence or individuality.

    Read More

  • Gender Role In A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

    1338 Words  | 6 Pages

    In the 19th century Victorian era, Ibsen delves into a society vastly different from the society we know today. He explores a society in which the men are in control, the men run businesses, the men control the money, while the women manage the home and children. Throughout the play, we see Torvald asserting that dominance over Nora, not only in spoken orders but also in how he speaks to her, “No borrowing, no debt. There can be no freedom or beauty about a home life that depends on borrowing and debt,” (Ibsen,1879). Frequently, Nora is referred to as "little songbird," "little squirrel," "little spendthrift," or "little Nora."

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Breaking Free Analysis

    1418 Words  | 6 Pages

    Torvald tells her that Nora has a duty as a mother and a wife but Nora tells him that “she is an individual”, showing that she is finally putting herself on par with Torvald, and no longer allowing Torvald to control her, but instead she is trying to gain independence and liberation from social norms in order to break free from the “Doll’s House.” She tells him that she must leave him, because “for eight years [she’d] been living with a stranger”, emphasising how there was never any proper communication and mutual understanding between them, and hence no proper marriage, as she didn’t actually know what his true character was like up until that night, as she was convinced all along that Torvald would be the man to take everything upon

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Psychoanalysis

    885 Words  | 4 Pages

    Nora is depicted as a dependant, childish and unexperienced woman (as said by mrs.Linde p.34). Torvald sees Nora as a dimwitted person as can be seen on p.89 where Torvald finds it impressive when ‘little Nora’ used to word ‘Scientific experiment’. Evidently Torvald

    Read More

  • Social Class In A Doll's House

    958 Words  | 4 Pages

    Torvald perpetuates aids to Nora’s doll-like personality, by calling her pet-names: “Come, come, my little skylark must not droop her wings” (Ibsen 5). Nora follows Torvald around in a submissive manner. Calling her “little skylark” and “little squirrel,” Torvald degrades her as both a woman and a human. The word “little” is also frequently used before the pet names to illustrate how Torvald does not see Nora as equal; rather, Nora is his property or possession, similarly to how a child looks after his or hers doll. Not only does Torvald call her pet names, but he also controls what she eats.

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Compare And Contrast Essay

    614 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nora carries herself as a childish, and naive person who has not had many life experiences, while Kristine prides herself on being down-to-Earth, and reasonable person. This shows in Act I, Scene I as Nora discusses Torvald’s new position at the bank and Kristine congratulates her, and states that “...it would be delightful to have what one needs” (pg. 761). Nora replies with “No, not only what one needs, but heaps and heaps of money.” (pg. 761) This exchange displays Nora’s materialistic mindset, while shining a light on Kristine’s maturity as she places necessities as a priority above personal

    Read More

  • Injustice In A Doll's House

    828 Words  | 4 Pages

    First, Nora is treated like a child by her husband Torvald. Torvald had nicknames for Nora like squirrel or skylark that was often accompanied by demenors like sweet or little. At the end of the play, Nora tells her husband that he treated her like a weak, fragile doll just like her father. Nora’s feelings about Torvald’s attitude is evident in the quote from Nora and Torvald’s conversation ”I was your little songbird just as before- your doll whom henceforth you would take particular care to protect from the world because she was so weak and fragile. ”(Pg.

    Read More

  • Gender In A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

    1283 Words  | 6 Pages

    Gender representation is a theme in which is common when focusing on the form and content of both Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godott. Even though they are represented in different manners they both highlight the gender norms during the time period they were written. Within Beckett’s writings masculinity is prominent, centralizing the powerful and protruding gender focal point. Whereas Ibsen includes the female perspective and allows the readers to become aware of the gender representation as such.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Appearance In A Doll's House

    1396 Words  | 6 Pages

    In Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, appearances prove to be deceptive veneers that disguise the reality of situations and characters. Ibsen’s play is set in 19th century Norway, when women’s rights were restricted and social appearance such as financial success and middle class respectability were more important than equality and true identity. Ibsen also uses realism and naturalism, portraying the Helmer’s Marriage through authentic relationships, which are relatable to the audience. In A Doll’s House, Nora represents 19th century women entrapped by society to fulfill wifely and motherly obligations, unable to articulate or express their own feelings and desires.

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Character Analysis

    1384 Words  | 6 Pages

    Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is a play set in 19th century Norway, when women’s rights were restricted and social appearance was more important than equality and true identity. In A Doll’s House, Nora represents 19th century women entrapped by society to fulfill wifely and motherly obligations, unable to articulate or express their own feelings and desires. Ibsen uses Nora’s characterization, developed through her interactions with others as well as her personal deliberations and independent actions, language and structure in order to portray Nora’s movement from dependence to independence, gaining sovereignty from the control of her selfish husband, deceitful marriage and the strict social guidelines of morality in 19th century Norway. Initially, Nora appears to be a dependent, naïve, and childlike character; yet, as the play unfolds, she appears to be a strong, independent woman who is willing to make sacrifices for those she cares about as well as herself.

    Read More

  • Metaphors In A Doll's House

    1207 Words  | 5 Pages

    Towards the end of the play, Nora herself comes to the realisation that she has in fact been nothing more than a ‘doll’, made to humour the men in her life. She states ‘I have been your doll wife, just as at home I was daddy’s doll child.’ This statement concluded the fact that Torvald has never truly seen Nora as his equal, whether that’s by objectifying her or infantilising her. Torvald has many nicknames for Nora such as ‘skylark’ or ‘squirrel’, which while on the surface seem like terms of endearment, are actually ways in which Torvald belittles her, as it allows Torvald to further view

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Symbolism Analysis

    1329 Words  | 6 Pages

    NORA. No, Torvald, indeed, indeed!”(Ibsen 3). This quote displays how Nora was literally pleading to Torvald that she wasn’t eating the forbidden fruit (the macarons) because she feared getting into a sort of trouble with Torvald, further intensifying the parent and child aspect. Taking the play’s title into perspective: “A Doll’s House” literally, and perfectly describes Nora’s life which is basically a doll’s house. Nora is living under Torvald’s roof and everything she does is decided and controlled by him.

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Nora Character Analysis Essay

    783 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Is that my lark twittering there” and “Is it the squirrel frisking around” can be great examples for the word choice Torvald uses towards Nora (1.13). Along with calling Nora his “Little spendthrift” Torvald objectifies Nora which creates an image of power and submissiveness. Degenerated word choice for women has been used throughout the play. As if, a woman is less of a man; “And it is just by pleading his cause that you make it impossible for me to keep him. It’s already known at the Bank that I intend to dismiss Krogstad.

    Read More

  • Metaphors In A Doll House

    1567 Words  | 7 Pages

    In 1880s, women in America were trapped by their family because of the culture that they were living in. They loved their family and husband, but meanwhile, they had hard time suffering in same patterns that women in United States always had. With their limited rights, women hoped liberation from their family because they were entirely complaisant to their husband. Therefore, women were in conflicting directions by two compelling forces, their responsibility and pressure. In A Doll’s House, Ibsen uses metaphors of a doll’s house and irony conversation between Nora and Torvald to emphasize reality versus appearance in order to convey that the Victorian Era women were discriminated because of gender and forced to make irrational decision by inequity society.

    Read More

  • Struggle For Identity In A Doll's House

    1851 Words  | 8 Pages

    When he receives the second letter and says that he is saved and that he has forgiven her calling her his "little lark", his "little squirrel", and a child. Although his response was deplorable, it must be noted that Torvald’s whole identity is grounded in his role to society with no sense of self outside it, Nora’s lie has in effect put everything he cares about in danger and once he knows that that Krogstad won’t tell, the life he saw slipping away from him is brought back and he can then resume his place in his reality. Telling her that he forgives her is in his eyes a sincere concession, one that Nora cannot accept. She says, "I have to try to educate myself. You can 't help me with that.

    Read More

More about Nora's Nicknames

Open Document