‘Ibsen Shows the Home in a Doll's House as Both a Sanctuary and a Prison.’ Discuss in an Essay of Not More Than 1,500 Words.

The first indication that the home in ‘A Doll’s House’ could be shown as being either a sanctuary or a prison is in the title. When we think of a doll’s house, we think of a model house which has been reproduced in minute detail which is very realistic almost to the point of perfection. With this in mind, the title immediately conjures up the image of a perfect home which could be seen as a sanctuary to its inhabitants. The reader may also reflect on the scaled down proportions of doll’s houses and the feeling of claustrophobia and entrapment inhabitants might feel being in one therefore it could be a type of prison. As ‘plays are conceived with a particular space in mind’ (Brooks et al p. 18) A Doll’s house evokes a type of space where all the characters will play roles as they might in child’s play. We are constantly reminded how important the title is, Ibsen constantly uses the theme of play throughout as Torvald treats Nora as a plaything, and treat’s her like a child. The doll metaphor is specifically referred to on more than one occasion in Act I, ‘no, dogs don’t bite nice little dolly children.’ (Act I, p.33) and in Act III ‘I was papa’s doll-child; and here the children have been my dolls’ (Act III, p. 112). This repetition underlines the importance of the play’s title; Richard Allen states that it ‘has become a kind of icon summing up women’s situation in society and the family and focusing our attention on Nora’ (Goodman et al, p. 208).

Initially it would seem that the home is portrayed more of a sanctuary than a prison, Ibsen starts by setting the scene at length. The description is certainly that of a wealthy household ‘a room furnished comfortably and tastefully, but not extravagantly....a small book-case with well bound books’ (Act I, p.5) A porter and a maid are mentioned in the opening lines so the audience is aware that the family are affluent. As the setting remains mostly unchanged throughout the play, the emphasis would be put on the actors... [continues]

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