Tuesday, December 23, 2014

In Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House, what are the three most significant moments that show that Nora is a doll, or being treated like a doll?

Henrik Ibsen, in his play A Doll's House,
gave us several instances in which we can see that Nora is being treated like a doll, or doll
wife, rather than a real human being. Listed below are a few of the most significant
instances:

The first moment in which we can see Nora being treated like a doll
takes place in the opening scene. We see that Torvald has many pet names for Nora, such as lark
and little squirrel. When he hears Nora enter the house, he asks her "Is that my little lark
twittering out there?" and "Is it my little squirrel bustling about?" href="http://www.fullbooks.com/A-Doll-s-House1.html">(Act I). But these endearing
phrases stand in great contrast to his next line: "Don't disturb me" href="http://www.fullbooks.com/A-Doll-s-House1.html">(Act I). These endearing names
in conjunction with his treatment of her shows just how little respect he actually has for her
and just how little he takes her seriously. His lack of respect is further shown when he calls
her a "featherbrain" for so called "wasting" money on Christmas gifts that Nora bought very
cheaply (Act
I)
.

A second occurrence proving that Nora is nothing but a doll to
Torvald is Torvald's reaction to Nora's request that Torvald let Krogstad keep his position at
the bank. Torvald treats her request with complete disregard. Nora, like a doll, asks her husband
"If your little squirrel were to ask you for something very, very prettily--?" and of course,
like a doll, Torvald refuses to take her request seriously href="http://www.fullbooks.com/A-Doll-s-House1.html">(Act II). He has his own
opinion of Krogstad and refuses to bend to the ideas of his doll.

A third
moment signifying that Nora is being treated as a doll is when Nora is practicing the Tarantella
in front of Torvald. Ibsen goes to great extent to describe Torvald standing beside her, giving
her "frequent instructions," while she dances violently and Dr. Rank plays the piano title="fullbooks.com" href="http://www.fullbooks.com/A-Doll-s-House2.html">(Act II).
Finally Torvald exclaims, "Stop, I tell you! I could never have believed it. You have forgotten
everything I taught you" href="http://www.fullbooks.com/A-Doll-s-House2.html">(Act II). Just as Torvald
instructs Nora about macaroons in href="http://www.fullbooks.com/A-Doll-s-House1.html">Act I, Torvald believes that it
is his right to instruct Nora into whatever he wants her to be. Just like a doll, Torvald
believes he can bend her, and pose her, and make her look however he
wishes.

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