A Doll's House Analytical Essay
In A Doll House, written by Henrik Ibsen, Nora Helmer spends the entire play trying to keep a big secret from her husband, Torvald Helmer. This secret is that she borrowed money to pay for Torvald to get better, but she told her husband that she got the money from her father. After consulting her friend Kristine and lawyer Krogstad, Nora allowed Torvald to find out the truth, which leads to her leaving him and their children. Throughout the play, it is obvious that Nora has different characteristics, some of which are good and bad. In A Doll House, Nora shows the characteristics of being loving, deceitful, and selfish.
Despite the corrupt things Nora has done, she can still be seen as loving and kind. The first act of kindness Nora does …show more content…
This is seen in the conversation between Nora and Kristine. At the start of their dialogue, Nora does not recognize Kristine because they have not seen each other in years, and Nora mentions Kristine’s husband’s death from three years ago. Most people would make an effort to see a friend who lost a spouse, but Nora did not. Nora also does not allow Kristine to talk about how she felt. Instead, Nora praises her husband’s new job and her “three lovely children” (190). Basically, Nora is bragging about all of things she has that Kristine does not. Later in their conversation, Nora tries to one up Kristine by saying she has bigger issues. She boast about her borrowing money to save Torvald, and when Kristine asks Nora if she is going to tell Torvald, Nora replies, “Yes-maybe sometime, years from now, when I’m no longer so attractive” (195). Nora plans to tell Torvald when she can no longer be benefitted. Later in the play, Torvald finds out about the money, and Nora says she was hoping he would take the blame. When he did not, she realized that she no longer loved him and decided to leave him and her children. As stated earlier, Nora leaving her kids can be out of love because she wants to protect them; however, this is also a selfish act. She wants to better herself by herself instead of staying for her children and
Despite the corrupt things Nora has done, she can still be seen as loving and kind. The first act of kindness Nora does …show more content…
This is seen in the conversation between Nora and Kristine. At the start of their dialogue, Nora does not recognize Kristine because they have not seen each other in years, and Nora mentions Kristine’s husband’s death from three years ago. Most people would make an effort to see a friend who lost a spouse, but Nora did not. Nora also does not allow Kristine to talk about how she felt. Instead, Nora praises her husband’s new job and her “three lovely children” (190). Basically, Nora is bragging about all of things she has that Kristine does not. Later in their conversation, Nora tries to one up Kristine by saying she has bigger issues. She boast about her borrowing money to save Torvald, and when Kristine asks Nora if she is going to tell Torvald, Nora replies, “Yes-maybe sometime, years from now, when I’m no longer so attractive” (195). Nora plans to tell Torvald when she can no longer be benefitted. Later in the play, Torvald finds out about the money, and Nora says she was hoping he would take the blame. When he did not, she realized that she no longer loved him and decided to leave him and her children. As stated earlier, Nora leaving her kids can be out of love because she wants to protect them; however, this is also a selfish act. She wants to better herself by herself instead of staying for her children and