In Act One Mrs. Linde Describes Nora as “a Child?” Is This a Fair Estimation of Nora’s Character at the Beginning of the Play?
In the following essay I will discussing whether or not I believe that Mrs. Linde is right on calling Nora “childish” in the first act of “A Dolls House.” “A Dolls House” was written by Henrik Ibsen in 1879 is based upon the day to day human struggle against the degrading constraints of social conformity.
In beginning of Act One we are introduced into a middle class home setting, it is well furnished and is presented with a pleasant, ordinary feel, “A room furnished comfortably and tastefully but not extravagantly.” We are then introduced to “Nora”, as she walks into her house she arrives with presents, and it is clear that the time of year is Christmas. She is followed by a porter who is carrying a Christmas tree, Nora then proceeds to ask the porter how much his service costs and he says “six pence.” Nora then hands over a shilling, “There is a shilling. No, keep the change.” This quote shows Nora to be quite generous and almost that she is showing off her money.
Nora then takes a packet of macaroons from her pocket and eats one or two and then silently goes to her where her husband is working and listens. This shows us that Nora is child like for she is spying on her husband and secretly listening to him, as he is unaware on what she is doing, personally I think she is hearing out for something she believes he does not want her to hear or know. The husband, Mr. Torvald Helmer suddenly calls out “Is that my little lark twittering out there?” He then continues to say, “Is it my little squirrel bustling about?” The use of pet names such as little lark and squirrel suggest that he treats her like his personal pet, and the fact Nora replies confidently shows that she enjoys being called by these child like names.
When Nora walks up to her husband the stage directions indicate that Nora hides the macaroons away and wipes her mouth, “Puts the bag of macaroons into her pocket and wipes her mouth.” The fact Nora hides the macaroons points out that she is not
In beginning of Act One we are introduced into a middle class home setting, it is well furnished and is presented with a pleasant, ordinary feel, “A room furnished comfortably and tastefully but not extravagantly.” We are then introduced to “Nora”, as she walks into her house she arrives with presents, and it is clear that the time of year is Christmas. She is followed by a porter who is carrying a Christmas tree, Nora then proceeds to ask the porter how much his service costs and he says “six pence.” Nora then hands over a shilling, “There is a shilling. No, keep the change.” This quote shows Nora to be quite generous and almost that she is showing off her money.
Nora then takes a packet of macaroons from her pocket and eats one or two and then silently goes to her where her husband is working and listens. This shows us that Nora is child like for she is spying on her husband and secretly listening to him, as he is unaware on what she is doing, personally I think she is hearing out for something she believes he does not want her to hear or know. The husband, Mr. Torvald Helmer suddenly calls out “Is that my little lark twittering out there?” He then continues to say, “Is it my little squirrel bustling about?” The use of pet names such as little lark and squirrel suggest that he treats her like his personal pet, and the fact Nora replies confidently shows that she enjoys being called by these child like names.
When Nora walks up to her husband the stage directions indicate that Nora hides the macaroons away and wipes her mouth, “Puts the bag of macaroons into her pocket and wipes her mouth.” The fact Nora hides the macaroons points out that she is not