A Critics Opinion of a Doll's House
Destiny Maxfield
Mrs. Collar
Engl. 1302
19 November 2012
A Critic’s Opinion of A Doll’s House In Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House many views could be seen from both sides of the gender world. Critics will argue about the true meaning of the story and why Ibsen wrote the story. The main points of the play that critics discuss are sexuality i.e. feminism, the wrong doing of the father figure, and spiritual revolution. I believe these critics are each right in their own way from my understanding of the play and their ideas about the play. Sexuality or, in the case of A Doll’s House, feminism plays a huge role in how Nora ends the play for the readers. As I read through several criticisms of this play the main one that stuck out to me was how Nora was expected to bear children, keep her mouth shut, and do as Torvald said; so man rules and woman does as commanded. Nora didn’t see it that way she wanted to bring feminism to life and do for her and not of what was expected of her. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs describes of what Nora longs for, but not for her family but for herself and herself alone. As Kristin Brunnemer states in her critical essay “self-actualization, as Maslow described it, involves “the need to fulfill one’s potential, to be what one can be” … Nora yearns for self-actualization, in her desire for education, for time to ‘think over things for [her]self’,”(Brunnemer). I have learned from reading of this play that she feels like she is worth nothing but his little play mate and is not truly loved by the man she has given everything up for. She acts on the third stage of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which states, “…because of Torvald’s new job she seeks something greater than security: self-worth. While revealing Nora’s ‘need to feel that other people respect and recognize [her] as worthwhile’” (Brunnemer). Brunnemer’s analysis and criticism of the sexuality in this play fits so perfect to my reading of this play. She wants to feel loved and safe, while also
Mrs. Collar
Engl. 1302
19 November 2012
A Critic’s Opinion of A Doll’s House In Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House many views could be seen from both sides of the gender world. Critics will argue about the true meaning of the story and why Ibsen wrote the story. The main points of the play that critics discuss are sexuality i.e. feminism, the wrong doing of the father figure, and spiritual revolution. I believe these critics are each right in their own way from my understanding of the play and their ideas about the play. Sexuality or, in the case of A Doll’s House, feminism plays a huge role in how Nora ends the play for the readers. As I read through several criticisms of this play the main one that stuck out to me was how Nora was expected to bear children, keep her mouth shut, and do as Torvald said; so man rules and woman does as commanded. Nora didn’t see it that way she wanted to bring feminism to life and do for her and not of what was expected of her. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs describes of what Nora longs for, but not for her family but for herself and herself alone. As Kristin Brunnemer states in her critical essay “self-actualization, as Maslow described it, involves “the need to fulfill one’s potential, to be what one can be” … Nora yearns for self-actualization, in her desire for education, for time to ‘think over things for [her]self’,”(Brunnemer). I have learned from reading of this play that she feels like she is worth nothing but his little play mate and is not truly loved by the man she has given everything up for. She acts on the third stage of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which states, “…because of Torvald’s new job she seeks something greater than security: self-worth. While revealing Nora’s ‘need to feel that other people respect and recognize [her] as worthwhile’” (Brunnemer). Brunnemer’s analysis and criticism of the sexuality in this play fits so perfect to my reading of this play. She wants to feel loved and safe, while also
Cited: Brunnemer, Kristin. “Sexuality in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.” New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2009. Bloom’s Literary Reference Online. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. Ibsen, Henrik. "A Doll House." The Bedford Introduction to Literature. 9th. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin 's Press, 1990. 1708-1757. Print. Rosefeldt, Paul. “Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House.’(Henrik Ibsen)(Critical Essay).” The Explicator 61.2 (2003): 84+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. “The Importance of the Work.” A Doll’s House: Ibsen’s Myth of Transformation. Errol Durbach. Boston: Twayne, 1988. 9-12. Twayne’s Masterwork Studies 75. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. “The Spiritual Revolution.” A Doll’s House: Ibsen’s Myth of Transformation. Errol Durbach. Boston: Twayne, 1988. 3-8. Twayne’s Masterwork Studies 75. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 5 Nov. 2012.