Be a Scholar:
A Doll’s House
By Ailina Heng
Henrik Ibsen

Born March 20, 1828 in Skien, Norway
◦ Father was a merchant; mother was an artist
◦ Poverty struck family  farm life  Ibsen discovered more
about literature

Age 15, Ibsen went to work in an apothecary
◦ Wrote Catilina, first play
Late 1850, met Ole Bull  Norwegian Theatre in Bergen
 In 1868, Ibsen went to Germany and saw first social
drama which inspired A Doll’s House
 After exiled from Norway, most of his work became
popular
 Returned to Norway as a literary hero

◦ Died on May 23, 1906
Historical Information

The role of women began
to rise.
◦ 1882 Married Women’s
Property Act
◦ Education Act
Charles Darwin published,
“The Descent Man”
 Oxford began allowing
female students into the
university

Themes

Role of Women
◦ Self-sacrificial  Nora sacrifices children in
order to find her true identity
◦ Not allowed to handle money, conduct
business within society, get educated,
isolated in marriages

Appearance vs. Reality
◦ The appearance of characters do not match
the realities of who they are.
◦ Ex: Torvald appears loving and caring but is
selfish and cares more for reputation

Morality
◦ Society’s morality versus true morality
◦ Ex: Nora forging her husband’s signature
Motifs

Letters  reveal secrets
◦ Ex: Nora borrowing loan

Money  demonstrates
power
◦ Torvald gaining a job with money

Inheritance  science and
values
◦ Dr. Rank and tuberculosis
◦ Nora and Torvald and their
children
Significant Characters
Nora Helmer  Protagonist
 Torvald Helmer  Partly antagonistic
 Krogstad  Antagonist
 Christine Linde  Confidante
 Dr. Rank  portrays themes

Style

Realism
◦ Definition: a manner of treating subject matter
that presents a careful description of everyday life,
usually of the lower and middle classes
◦ Characterizes colloquial, everyday speech
◦ Realism vs. Naturalism  Realism provides some
unrealistic events
 Ex: door bell ringing at the perfect time, people entering
and exiting when necessary
Symbolism

Holidays  Christmas and New Year’s
◦ Symbolizes rebirth and renewal
◦ Ex: Nora realizing to find her identity,
Krogstad developing into a generous
character

Christmas Tree
◦ Symbolizes Nora as a character
◦ Nora is ornamental as the Christmas tree
◦ Act Two demonstrates a burnt down tree
Conflicts

Man vs. Man
◦ Nora vs. Krogstad
◦ Krogstad vs. Torvald
◦ Torvald vs. Nora

Man vs. Society
◦ Nora vs. Woman’s Role
in Society

Man vs. Self
◦ Nora vs. Inner self