A Doll’s House
Historical Context and Inspiration of the play
Inspiration of A Doll’s House
• Ibsen was inspiration for A Doll’s House
came from the actual traumatic events in
life of successful Norwegian writer, Laura
Petersen.
• Ibsen called Petersen his ‘skylark’ which is
the pet name that Helmer gives to Nora.
• Petersen’s husband was diagnosed with
Tuberculosis and was advised by his
doctor to travel to a warmer climate to
recover his health.
• In order to finance the trip, Petersen
secretly arranged a loan. When she
couldn’t repay the loan she had to forge a
check. However, the bank discovered the
forgery and refused the payment.
Inspiration of A Doll’s House (Continued)
• Petersen confessed to her husband of the forgery and even though her
intentions was to save his life, he treated her like a criminal and told
her she was not fit to raise their children.
• Petersen was submitted to a public asylum by her husband
• When she was discharged, she begged her husband to take her back.
He agreed to take her back only for the sake of the children.
Inspiration of A Doll’s House (Continued)
• Ibsen placed the idea of women taking on male roles at the heart of
the play.
• This contributed to the debate in Norway about women’s positioning
in society and how their roles are only to be wives, mothers and
sexual partners. A Doll’s House was seen received as an outrage
because of the notion that a woman can walk out on her husband and
children.
• The play was widely received with controversy. Nora’s character
sparked outrage by not upholding her societal expectations
• Today it is difficult to understand the shock and outrage that A Doll’s
House caused in the Victorian England where Ibsen deliberately
challenged marital relationships, sexual politics and male control over
women and the overall standards of the Victorian Age.
Think-Pair-Share
Analyze the following quote and discuss with a partner what Ibsen is saying.
How can this statement relate to Nora?
“A woman cannot be herself in contemporary
society; it is an exclusively male society, with laws
drafted by men and with a judicial system that
judges feminine conduct from a masculine point of
view…” (Ibsen, Notes for the Tragedy of Modern
Times.)
Victorian Era
• Lasted from 1837-1901
•• Romanticism
Lasted during Queen Victoria’s reign in Britain when the
experienced peace, prosperity, and innovations
• empire
Idealism
• Brought about a new era of romanticism and mysticism in
• Social
regard toUnrest
social value, religion, and the arts. The era came
a strong
social and sexual restraint.
• with
Social
Status
• Because of the vast size of the British Empire, the effects of
the Victorian Era were felt in many areas outside of the
United Kingdom.
Social Norms and Societal Expectations of the
Victorian Era
• The Victorian Era emphasized specific
gender roles, social status, sexuality,
and religion.
• Women were expected to be the
house keeper, obedient to husbands,
and focus around family life.
• Men were expected to be the provider
for the family as well as the head of
the family. Men were considered
superior to the women mentally and
physically.
Norway in the Victorian Era
• Women were only given control of their own
money in 1888 (A Doll’s House pre-dates this
time, however.)
• A woman was not allowed to borrow money
without consent of the husband
• Norway at this time was newly liberated from
Danish control in 1814, and therefore issues of
personal and political freedom were on the
minds of most Norwegians.
What can you associate with these toys based
on American Social Norms?
Who would typically have these
toys?
How do these toys uphold cultural norms and
gender stereotypes?
How do culture norms and
societal expectations affect
individual happiness?
http://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=7v
5CSF10ytw&NR=1&
feature=endscreen
A Doll’s House
Ibsen criticizes the societal standards placed during the
Victorian time period through Nora Helmer. Nora challenges
the normal standards of her culture by taking out a loan and
lying about it to her husband. Women were not allowed to
take out loans without permission of their husbands during
this time. She defied this rule and therefore challenges the
cultural norms of her time.
Nora
The society of the Victorian Era specifically
valued gender roles and economic status.
Nora’s happiness is affected directly by the
societal expectations placed upon her in this
time period. Her happiness comes from
pleasing her husband and achieving a higher
monetary status through Torvalds's new
position at work.
How does societal standards effect Nora’s
happiness?
“To be able to keep the house beautifully and have everything just as Torvald
likes it!”(Ibsen, Act I)
An ideal Victorian woman would be one who keeps a neat home, cares
for the children, and is submissive to her husband. Nora lives up to this
standard and therefore is pleased by it. She achieves what women in this
time period strive for. Due to the standards of her society, she is pleased
with the role of “housewife” because that is considered a high and worthy
position for females of the time period.
“Its perfectly glorious to think that we have – that Torvald has so
much power over so many people.” (Ibsen, Act I)
The Victorian Era largely emphasized the importance of
money and social class. This emphasis can be seen in A Doll’s
House when Nora expresses her happiness about Torvald’s new
position at work because it affords them a larger income and also
puts them higher in their social rank.
“Rank. What, macaroons? I thought they were forbidden here.
Nora. You couldn’t know Torvald has forbidden them. I must tell
you he is afraid they will spoil my teeth.” (Ibsen, Act I)
The man in Victorian times has the absolute say in all matters within a marriage.
A man is regarded as the ultimate authority in the house hold. Despite Nora’s liking for
macaroons, she is forbidden from them on Torvald’s orders, thus stopping her individual
freedom and her happiness. Women were subject to whatever the man wanted, and it
was not her place to disagree.
What happens when someone breaks a culture
norm? How is a person affected when they break a
social norm?
Do social norms and standards hurt the happiness
of an individual?
“Coning”
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYPcFSAW
VBA
Discussion
Does Nora’s happiness come from the
expectations society puts on her and her
ability to achieve them? Is Nora only happy
because she feels she is achieving the
potential that society gives her?
Prompt
Provide a thesis for the following essay prompt:
Why did A Doll's House cause such controversy
when it was first performed? To what extent did the
time period influence the way in which the play was
received by audiences?