The Doll House and a Good Man Is Hard to Find -Narcissistic View of Nora and Grandmother
Delia Tebedo
Dr. Kingsley
Intro Eng Lit
5 March 2009
Narcissistic View of Nora and Grandmother Narcissism is defined as the love of ones self. Sigmund Freud was the first to use the word to characterize certain character traits. He got the word from the Greek mythological legend Narcissus who saw his reflection in water and fell in love with himself. Freud suggests that all of us have a bit of self love, but when self love goes extreme it can be a problem and is considered a pathological problem. Nora from “The Doll House,” only exuded narcissistic behavior because she was treated like a doll. She was spoiled and only thought that that was how she was supposed to behave in order to get what she wanted or to please the men in her life. The grandmother from “A Good Man is Hard to Find” on the other hand was very narcissistic and extremely self consumed. The whole world was supposed to revolve around her. In “The Doll House,” Nora borrows money from a bank and lies about the fact that her father co signed the loan. Which, in those days’, women were not allowed to borrow money. She claimed that the reason she did it was to get her husband to a different climate so that his illness could improve. However, she seemed a bit too excited about getting the opportunity to go on a vacation when her husband’s life, that seemed not as important, was growing worse by the day.
Nora’s narcissism was on display throughout the play. In one particular scene she is preoccupied with having Torvald make her a costume for a party. The party is far more imperative than the fact that she has done something dishonest and is keeping it from her husband. “Yes, Torvald, I can’t get anywhere without your help.” She could also be using the party to keep Torvald’s from questioning her after Krogstad’s visit. What ever the case, it seems selfish.
Nora’s narcissism is very obvious in one particular scene in Act II. Torvald comes in the room as Kristine is exiting. He asks Nora if that
Dr. Kingsley
Intro Eng Lit
5 March 2009
Narcissistic View of Nora and Grandmother Narcissism is defined as the love of ones self. Sigmund Freud was the first to use the word to characterize certain character traits. He got the word from the Greek mythological legend Narcissus who saw his reflection in water and fell in love with himself. Freud suggests that all of us have a bit of self love, but when self love goes extreme it can be a problem and is considered a pathological problem. Nora from “The Doll House,” only exuded narcissistic behavior because she was treated like a doll. She was spoiled and only thought that that was how she was supposed to behave in order to get what she wanted or to please the men in her life. The grandmother from “A Good Man is Hard to Find” on the other hand was very narcissistic and extremely self consumed. The whole world was supposed to revolve around her. In “The Doll House,” Nora borrows money from a bank and lies about the fact that her father co signed the loan. Which, in those days’, women were not allowed to borrow money. She claimed that the reason she did it was to get her husband to a different climate so that his illness could improve. However, she seemed a bit too excited about getting the opportunity to go on a vacation when her husband’s life, that seemed not as important, was growing worse by the day.
Nora’s narcissism was on display throughout the play. In one particular scene she is preoccupied with having Torvald make her a costume for a party. The party is far more imperative than the fact that she has done something dishonest and is keeping it from her husband. “Yes, Torvald, I can’t get anywhere without your help.” She could also be using the party to keep Torvald’s from questioning her after Krogstad’s visit. What ever the case, it seems selfish.
Nora’s narcissism is very obvious in one particular scene in Act II. Torvald comes in the room as Kristine is exiting. He asks Nora if that
Cited: Meyer, Michael. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature, (2008): 921-928.