Nora Helmer, the main protagonist of Scandinavian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (1879), has always been depicted, as an exuberant novelty item, whose only purpose is to serve the important male figures in her life. This especially pertains to her father and her husband. These male figures move around Nora’s realm with indirect disregard to Nora’s true nature, desires, and abilities. Although this facade seems to be built on solid ground in the beginning, we see the consequential subtle, but progressive, crumbling of a falsified foundation. In the end, Nora, the once veiled unseasoned girl becomes a woman waiting to grasp the horizons of experience …show more content…
Thus, I believe Nora’s decision to leave Torvald and her children is reasonable and morally justified.
Henrik Ibsen uses connecting themes such as the uncovering of Torvald’s true nature, his real characterization of Nora and the inevitable hampering of Nora’s rightful individualistic growth in order to show this moral justification. In the beginning, Nora’s fondness for Torvald knew no limits and she sought to do whatever was possible without due regard for herself to please him. She believes being the source of entertainment, indulgence, and appeasement for Torvald allows for her own source of contentment. Although Torvald commands a certain sentimental affection towards Nora, the source for most of these feelings however come solely from the appreciation of her alluring outwardly complexion. Nora’s intricate emotions and intelligence take a back seat in Torvalds mind to the more important plastic image that she is mandated to portray. Perfect examples of this dynamic throughout the whole story …show more content…
This only seeks to reduce her place as a human being while further digging her into the belief that her existence is to be Torvalds eye candy and plaything. In the end, the stoic anger that has accumulated from Torvalds constant arrogance and belittlement boils over. Nora