A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen Analysis

Questions:

1. Write a note on the significance of the title of the play A Doll’s House

2. A Doll’s House critiques late 19th century middle-class values. Elaborate.

3. Nora, in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, is a victim of traditional gender role expectations. Critically comment.

4. Examine the social issues represented in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.

5. Critically discuss the factors that lead to the transformation of Nora in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.

6. Write a note on Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House as a problem play.

7. Write a note on Nora Helmer relationship in the play A Doll’s House.

Answer:

Michael Meyer, a biographer of Henrik Ibsen, once remarked that the theme of “A Doll’s House” revolves around the need for individuals to discover their true selves and strive to become that person. “A Doll’s House,” a realistic drama penned by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in 1879, critiques the entrenched values of a male-dominated society. Ibsen broke away from outdated dramatic techniques such as soliloquies and monologues. The central theme of the play is individual freedom and self-emancipation. The protagonist, Nora, has been married to Torvald Helmer for eight years, and they have three children. As a problem play, “A Doll’s House” addresses the social issue of a woman’s status in relation to her husband and home. Ibsen highlights Nora’s pitiable situation as she is treated like a child by her husband, who calls her a squirrel, a skylark, and a doll.

“A Doll’s House” serves as a piece of social criticism, challenging traditional marriage, gender roles, and the domination of women by men under the guise of love and family. The play questions the values that were traditionally believed to bring happiness to families and civilization to society. When the play was written, Norwegian women had very limited economic agency. Lower-class women were confined to low-paying domestic and clerical jobs, and there was a societal stigma attached to working women. Married women faced even greater financial restrictions compared to single women, who often managed their own finances. Middle-class married women like Nora were discouraged from working, as it was seen as a reflection on their husbands. The relationship between Nora and Torvald lacks fundamental strength because it is based on appearances rather than trust and truth. Nora maintains a facade of obedience while secretly defying her husband in various ways.

The title “A Doll’s House” is symbolically significant, suggesting the message Ibsen intended to convey. The “doll” represents Nora, the central character, and the “house” refers to the Helmer household where she resides. The doll signifies passivity, beauty, and a feminine nature, as seen from Helmer’s perspective, who views Nora as an inanimate object to be enjoyed. Nora is subservient and shaped by Helmer’s desires, appearing perfect and unchanging, much like a lifeless doll. Her thoughts and interests are controlled by him, making her his possession for amusement. Nora herself describes the fun her husband derives from their playhouse-like arrangement.

When the play begins, Nora is seen telling innocent lies in a childlike manner. From the first act, her character gradually evolves, reaching its peak in the third act when she leaves Helmer’s home, slamming the door on the male-dominated ideologies, laws, and social customs. Ironically, the “doll’s” house does not belong to the doll. It is Helmer’s house, symbolizing a cage for Nora. The house is a structure or shelter, in contrast to a “home,” which implies a place of familial love and care.

Thus, “A Doll’s House” can be seen thematically as a portrayal of a naïve nineteenth-century woman struggling for self-definition and a powerful critique of a routine marriage between two ordinary individuals who lack self-awareness and hold different views on morality. The play had a profound impact on male-dominated societies globally, prompting social changes that led to greater equality for women. As Kate Millett observed, Nora confronted every convention that confined her within a child’s toy structure, destined to remain a house pet and infant forever.