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The Role Of Nora In A Doll's House

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Henrik Ibsen said that ‘a thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.” He represents this in his play ‘A Doll’s House’, where at the end of the play “(the sound of a door shutting is heard from below)”. (Act 3, 80) This deed acted by Nora was so unexpected to the readers that the reader changed their perspective of Nora. In the beginning of the play, Nora is childish, cheerful and carefree and according to the needs of society and the role of women during the Victorian Era, Nora is seen to be the proper housewife in a normal household. In the reader’s view, throughout the Victorian Era, Nora’s characteristics make her the perfect housewife a man would want to marry. She is oppressed by her husband and by the Norwegian society. However, as the play continues, the reader gets to know Nora as her portrayal develops into a more forceful character and acquires her own individuality. in the reader’s view, she becomes more of a dynamic character rather than static one even though she didn’t change. Nora’s transformation in the reader’s view is portrayed through the stage directions, the symbols used in the play. During the first Act, Nora is belittled and treated as a child through the stage directions. For example, when Helmer “takes her playfully by the ear” (Act 1, 4) or when he “wagging his finger at her.” (Act 1, 7) Her husband has dominance over her and this is proven when she “goes cautiously to her husband’s door and listens.” (Act 1, 4) Her caution to

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