Nicolás Fernández Scheinowitz
Mrs. Berne
Mock Paper 2 Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House presents a play taking place in nineteenth century
Norway. Ambition and independence are the main factors that drive the characters of the play,
however, the important literary features are not limited to characterization, instead extending to
the use of tone and setting. With the combination of all components, the reader interprets the
overarching message regarding women’s rights. To further explain this claim, it is important to
analyze this through these three literary features.
As previously mentioned, ambition and independence are the two main motivators for the
characters of this play. Nora is a perfect example, for this, as she shows ambition through the
pursuit of financial stability. The development of the characters is also worth noting, as the
reader’s initial impressions of Nora show her as a materialistic housewife. As the play continues,
the reader sees Nora display her second ambition: independence. Her dynamic change as a
character is highlighted towards the end of the play, when she decides to leave her husband.
Another example of characterization in the play is Dr. Rank. His ambition appears to center on
the appropriation of Nora, who is married to Torvald. Given the objectification of women during
the time of the play, Nora had little influence from a social perspective, which contrasts greatly
with her display of courage at the end of the play.
As previously mentioned, the play takes place in nineteenth century Norway. The setting
plays a role on the play for the sole reason that social norms of the time provided women with
less rights in comparison to the male gender. This is highlighted on the plot by the strength
shown by one of the protagonists, Nora, when she decides to get a divorce from Torvald. This
was not only shocking to her husband, but given the historical and social context, it was
surprising for the reader as well. Her courage is contrasted with a more indicative character for
the setting, Christine. A hard-working woman providing for her family on her own, Christine
represents more accurately the circumstances of a women in the 1800’s, not for her need to work,
but for the tacit assumption that she was single or widowed, given her need to provide. The
contrasts of these two characters and their given situations shows different ways in which setting
impacts the characters, but also how women can be appreciated, regardless of the diminished role
that was assigned to them in the context of the play.
Finally, tone is constantly present in the play. As characterization and setting were
discussed, they combine to form the overarching theme of the text, which revolves around
women’s rights. This is the message that the author tries to convey to the reader, and it presents it
through the women involved in the plot. Despite their predisposed reduced influence, characters
such as Nora and Christine earn the respect and admiration of the reader as generate noise by
quietly battling the social injustices of the time. Nora displays this by standing up for her
independence, while Christine portrays here desire to maintain a family all on her own. Together,
these two characters depict the two most important elements of the characters on this play:
ambition, and independence.