Torvald: Nora's Duty As An Epic Hero

All of Nora’s deception begins as an act of love for her husband, Torvald. The doctor informs her, “it [is] necessary he should have no idea what a dangerous condition he [is] in” (p. 1357) and that a warmer climate is what he needs to get better. But Torvald refuses to get a loan even when Nora’s request she would like to “travel abroad like other young wives” (p. 1357), Nora has no choice but to lie to get the money herself. Since “hundreds and of thousands of women have done” it in the name of love (p. 1401). Nora has no second thoughts of borrowing money to save her husband.

Nora is a married woman and has children to take care of. She really has little freedom because of the way Torvald treats her. She is not even I feel as if deep down she knows she is not free and wants something more in her life then to be a entertaining puppet for Torvald. She realizes at the end of the story that Torvald is not good to her because of the way he acted when she told him about forging the signature. When Torvald called her a criminal and other harsh words she realized that she had no true love from Torvald and wanted to be free from him. Henrik Ibsen shows that Nora is basically trapped in this house with Torvald with no freedom if she does not leave him.

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

But, look here; your father dated his signature the 2nd of October. It is a discrepancy, isn’t it? Can you explain it to me?” (Ibsen 1374). Nora tries to manipulate Krogstad into believing that her father was terribly ill, and was not able to sign his name, so she signed it for him. She also manipulates her husband into giving her an allowance. While he gives her this allowance, she is working behind his back trying to make extra money. This shows how Nora is a character who is very manipulative. Mrs. Wright is someone who is very innocent, as for Nora is someone who is

During act III, Nora asked to speak to Torvald after her performance of the tarantella dance. The following conversation demonstrated her quest for autonomy and freedom, as well as Torvald’s inadequate responses to her arguments and demands; it also showed how deeply connected her unhappy situation is with society’s regulation of the relationship between the sexes. She asserts that she is “...first and foremost a human being”, and her strong conviction that her womanhood, and the expectations associated with it, are secondary, strengthens her resolve to make a radical choice: A break with both husband and, with necessity due to her legal position, her children (Ibsen, 184). During her conversation with Torvald, she proclaims, “I have other sacred duties...The duties to myself (Ibsen, 184).” Her existential choice seems to be forced upon her by society, but in adopting her husband‘s and society’s language, so often used to contain in control women, she now speaks of her duties towards herself, even sacred ones. In a radical refusal to stick to inherited notions of women’s role in family and society, Nora rejects the other identities available to her, both as a doll and as self-sacrificing wife and mother, and of her husband’s pet names for

What does it mean to be in complete control of your life, without fearing disapproval from your own husband? Nora Helmer sure would not know what that feels like. In the literary work credited to Henrik Ibsen, A Doll’s House, a clear distinction between the gender roles of Torvald and Nora Helmer was established through symbols. Through Ibsen’s use of symbols such as macaroons, pet names, and the Tarantella, such symbols help convey and compare the roles of men and women within the nineteenth century. Not only were the gender roles distincted through their character, but they exemplified the actual feminine and masculine roles of typical nineteenth century society. Nora is portrayed as powerless and confines herself through patriarchal expectations,

Torvald and Nora’s relationship and home can be compared to as a “doll house” because of its perfect characteristics, however it is quite the opposite, with its foundation based on lies and pretend happiness. The stage directions read “A room furnished comfortably and tastefully, but not extravagantly. At the back, a door to the right leads to the entrance-hall, another to the left leads to Helmer’s study. Near the window is a round table, arm-chairs and a small sofa. Engravings on the walls; a cabinet with china and other small objects; a small bookcase with well-bound books” (Ibsen 4). Similar to a dolls house, everything is neatly placed and rooms are divided into separate areas. Although, the house seems to be a perfect one, Nora and Torvald put on facades and appear as everything is normal between them. In fact, Nora continues to lie to Torvald for example, her forgery. Mrs Linde tries to get Krogstad to not reveal the letter to Helmer. Mrs Linde states: “Helmer must know all about it. This unhappy secret must be disclosed; they must have a couple understanding between them, which is impossible with all this concealment and falsehood going on,” (Ibsen 52). Mrs. Linde is well aware of Nora’s secret and the consequences that would follow if Torvald found out. When Torvald finds out about the letter, he is only worried about his reputation and his appearance. Torvald says, “From this moment happiness is not the question; all that concerns us it to save the remains, the

In “A Doll House” money is constantly on each of the character’s minds. Krogstad blackmails Nora because of her forgery scheme to help her husband. The idea of blackmail comes to mind because Nora was being forced to obey Krogstad demand of keeping his job. Krogstad was trying to manipulate Nora into obeying him. Due to Nora`s need to save her husband, she is reminded of Torvald’s statement, “No debts! Never borrow! Something of freedom`s lost--- and something of beauty, too--- from a home that`s founded on borrowing and

In the story "Hondura Entrepreneur Help Central American Immigrants Gain Legal Status In Mexico" by Mayela Sanches what makes Nora Rodrigues a hero is that she makes a stand in Central America to help immigrants gain legal states in Mexico. Also she doesn't charge a lot of money as other people would, she helps people for a little bit of money. A peace of evidence from the text is in paragraph 2 it says that" Rodriguez had raised her price accordingly and now charges 30 pesos($2.25) for each electronic form are 10-15 pesos(7 cents-$1.15) per page to write and print official letters." I think that this makes Nora a hero because she is trying to help people she try's to make it as easy as she can so other immigrants can have legal status. She

Nora does what her husband says every women does. She asks him to do something that she already knows he will not let happen, Nora! Just like a woman. Seriously though, Nora, you know what I think about these things. No debts! Never borrow! There’s always something inhibited, something unpleasant, about a home built on credit and borrowed money.” (Ibsen, Act 1, p 2) Torvald tells her that she is just like every other women, always wanting to borrow money just to spend it all on useless

She does not begin to fully develop as a grown woman mentally until she believes she can no longer take pride in being a good mother. Nora, only trying to take care of her husband, borrowed money without Torvald’s knowing. This guilt causes Nora to exemplify Freud’s reaction formation. (Myers). This occurs when a person who feels one way towards a person acts the opposite of how they are feeling. In Nora’s case, she subconsciously feels guilt for lying to Torvald so she works hard to be the perfect wife towards him. Her guilt does not affect her conscious until Torvald mentions hypocritical mothers. He states, “Nearly all young criminals have had mothers who lied.” [Ibsen 1136]. This guilt causes doubt in Nora’s mind as she begins to believe that she is no longer a perfect mother. She

Nora is a character that will do everything that somebody tells her, she is kind of submissive regarding what Torvald says. She has to mention him at least once while she’s talking about anything, but she does have some petty forms of rebellion, like the macaroons. A larger way of her rebelling would be when she pays for the trip so that Torvald can get better. She is viewed as a child by Mrs. Linde, Christine, and is treated like one by Torvald and it seems almost like they look down on her because she is a woman and she is completely dependent on her husband. Her character, at this point, has no backbone; she is completely captivated by this life in which she perceives as

Nora expected Torvald to take the blame for her mistakes “When he’d done that, I was so utterly sure that you’d step forward, take the blame on yourself and say: I am the guilty one” (592). While Nora does say that she would defend her husband if he were to do so, Nora wanted Torvald to attempt to take the blame for her illegally borrowing money. She was so used to Torvald consistently taking care of her, Nora expected him to swoop in and take save her in her time of need. A husband and wife should be able to defend each other and ensure the other’s safety but even more importantly, Nora should have been able to be honest with Torvald from the

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

For Nora, the goal was not to simply escape her life but instead to make a life for herself that she could be proud of and live with happily. Torvald did not treat her with the respect that a husband should treat a wife by modern standards and while this might have been considered a controversial decision for the period in which it was written, by modern standards it can easily be shown as the logical way to end the