freedol Nora’s Struggle For Freedom in Ibsens A Dolls House Essay

Noras Struggle For Freedom in A razzs signalIn many cultures, a woman is expected to suck the role of the submissive, attentive wife. Often, a womans role is limited by lodge to that of wife and mother. Henrik Ibsen, in his play A Dolls House examines the consequences of the stereotypical roles of women in marriage. Isben allows the reader to follow Nora, the main character, along her difficult journey to repossess her self-esteem and self worth(Durbach 153). From the very first off lines of the play, we notice the office quo between Torvald and Nora. Torvald is the stereotypically strong, dignified husband while Nora is shrimpy skylark twittering (Isben 148). Torvalds unrelenting reference to Nora using bird names parallels Noras image of herself. For example, in the first act, Torvald continually refers to Nora as his little featherbrain, his little scatterbrain, his squirrel sulking, and most importantly his poem bird. These images of weak birds characterize Nora as a we ak person. The simple twittering, little birds we see every day are very susceptible to nipping weather and to dying and so is Nora. The image of a little featherbrain and a little scatterbrain indicate stupidity. Nora cant think for herself because her thoughts are scattered and unorganized. In contrast, we are led to believe that Torvald is the loving and accommodating husband. He treats Nora standardised a child. She, not knowing any better at this stage, acts accordingly. For example, as a child forbidden by its mother from eating dulcorate before dinner, Nora hides her forbidden macaroons from Torvald. Acting as a parent, Torvald suspects her hiding macaroons from him. He repeatedly asks her if she is sure she didnt eat any macaroons. Nor... ...ous struggle to break barren of her cage ind prison. In the beginning of the play, she is first weak and child-like. She then gains some personnel to stand up to Mrs. Lind, even going as far as helping her, and to push off Krogst ad. She finally, after realizing Torvalds true character, breaks free of her cage and does what birds do best Fly(Templeton 1636). Works Cited and Consulted Durbach, Errol. A Dolls House Ibsens fabrication of Transformation. Boston Twayne, 1991. Goodman, Lizbeth In James McFarlane (ed.) The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen. Cambridge University Press. 1994 Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll House (1879). Trans. Rolf Fjelde. Rpt. in Michael Meyer, ed. The Bedford Introduction to Literature. 5th edition. Boston & New York Bedford/St. Martins Press, 1999. Templeton, Joan. Is A Doll House a Feminist Text? (1989). Rpt. In Meyer. 1635-36.