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  • Essay / Character Analysis of Henrik Ibsen's 'A Doll's House'

    A character analysis of Ibsen's 'A Doll's House' reveals a main challenge facing Nora and women today: men tend to misjudge women. Men assume that women are innocent and weak, simply because they are women. Nora Helmer, considered childlike, is an example of a woman who lives in a metaphorical "dollhouse." On the other hand, towards the end of the story, Nora shows her independence and her desire to be a real woman; This is another characteristic that many women exhibit. Nora's metamorphosis is a clear representation of how modern-day women gained the freedom and rights they enjoy today. In order to successfully dissect the character of Nora Helmer, we must talk about the struggles of women in her time. According to Elaine Fortin, the role of the wife in the 19th century was to “complete her husband, bringing honor to him and to herself” (Fortin). The author clearly captures this concept by creating a character such as Nora. His introduction, personality, motivation, struggles, and the ultimate lesson learned will be examined in depth. Nora Helmer is introduced to the public as the wife of banker Torvald Helmer. The play begins with her concern about hiding the Christmas tree from the children, as stated in this dialogue: “Hide the Christmas tree carefully, Helen. Make sure the children don’t see it until it’s decorated tonight” (Ibsen 892). There is also a slight indication of her financial situation when she says to the bearer: "Here is a crown." No, keep the change” (Ibsen 892). She displays normal interactions as a well-off 19th century woman. However, his vulnerability is evident in his interaction with Torvald, in reference to spending more money: "Winnie the Pooh, we can borrow until then" (Ibsen, 892). Emma Goldman describes Nora as “light and cheerful, seemingly without depth. indeed, one would expect the depth of a doll, of a squirrel, of a songbird” (Goldman). Looking at Goldman's comments, it is clear that Nora's perception differs from what she actually is. This is perhaps the method used by the author to make him a credible character. Nora's personality can initially be characterized as childish or immature. Wade Bradford describes her as "behaving playfully, yet obediently in his presence, always asking him for favors instead of communicating as equals" (Bradford). It's possible she's using this as a coping mechanism to forget her past transgressions. Another critic shares the same opinion as Bradford and Goldman, in