A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen
"A Doll's House," written by Henrik Ibsen, is a groundbreaking play centered on the life of Nora Helmer, who navigates the complexities of marriage and identity in a patriarchal society. Set during the Christmas season, the play opens with Nora preparing for the holidays, reflecting the constraints imposed on her by her husband, Torvald Helmer, who views her more as a cherished possession than an equal partner. The narrative unfolds as Nora grapples with a secret from her past—she forged her father's signature to secure a loan to save Torvald's life.
As tensions rise due to the threat posed by Krogstad, the moneylender, Nora's situation becomes increasingly precarious, leading her to confront the inequalities in her marriage. After a series of dramatic events, including a fancy dress ball and the revelation of her forgery, Nora challenges Torvald's self-centered views and ultimately declares her independence. This culminates in a powerful decision for Nora to leave her husband and children in search of her own identity, symbolized by the iconic slamming of the door. Ibsen's play is often seen as a critical examination of gender roles and the quest for self-actualization, making it a significant work in the realm of modern drama.
A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen
First produced:Et dukkehjem, 1879; first published, 1879 (English translation, 1880)
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Social realism
Time of plot: Nineteenth century
Locale: Norway
Principal Characters
Torvald Helmer , a bank managerNora Helmer , his wifeMrs. Linde , Nora’s old school friendKrogstad , a bank clerkDr. Rank , a friend of the Helmers
The Story
On the day before Christmas, Nora Helmer busies herself with last-minute shopping, for this is the first Christmas since her marriage that she does not have to economize. Her husband, Torvald, is made manager of a bank and after the New Year their money troubles are over. She buys a tree and plenty of toys for the children and even indulges herself in some macaroons, her favorite confection, although Torvald does not entirely approve. He loves his wife dearly, but he regards her very much as her own father did, as an amusing doll—a plaything.
It is true that she does behave like a child sometimes in her relations with her husband. She pouts, wheedles, and chatters because Torvald expects these things; he would not love his wife without them. Actually, seven years earlier Nora demonstrated that she had the courage of a mature, loving woman. Just after her first child was born, when Torvald was ill and the doctor said that he would die unless he went abroad immediately, she borrowed the requisite two hundred and fifty pounds from Krogstad, a moneylender. She forged to the note the name of her father, who was dying at the time, and convinced Torvald that the money for his trip came from her father. However, Krogstad was exacting, and since then she devised various ways to meet the regular payments. When Torvald gives her money for new dresses and such things, she never spends more than half of it, and she finds other ways to earn money. One winter she does copying, which she keeps a secret from Torvald.
Krogstad, who is in the employ of the bank of which Torvald is now manager, is determined to use Torvald to advance his own fortunes. Torvald dislikes Krogstad, however, and is just as determined to be rid of him. The opportunity comes when Christina Linde, Nora’s old school friend, applies to Torvald for a position in the bank. Torvald resolves to dismiss Krogstad and hire Mrs. Linde in his place.
When Krogstad discovers that he is to be fired, he calls on Nora and tells her that if he is dismissed he will ruin her and her husband. He reminds her that the note supposedly signed by her father is dated three days after his death. Frightened at the turn matters take, Nora pleads unsuccessfully with Torvald to reinstate Krogstad in the bank. Krogstad, receiving from Torvald an official notice of his dismissal, writes a letter in which he reveals the full details of Nora’s forgery. He drops the letter in the mailbox outside the Helmer home.
Torvald is in a holiday mood. The following evening they are to attend a fancy dress ball, and Nora is to go as a Neapolitan fisher girl and dance the tarantella. To divert her husband’s attention from the mailbox outside, Nora practices her dance before Torvald and Dr. Rank, an old friend. Nora is desperate, not knowing quite which way to turn. She thinks of Mrs. Linde, with whom Krogstad at one time was in love. Mrs. Linde promises to do what she can to turn Krogstad from his avowed purpose. Nora thinks also of Dr. Rank, but when she begins to confide in him he makes it so obvious that he is in love with her that she cannot tell her secret. However, Torvald promises her not to go near the mailbox until after the ball.
What bothers Nora is not her own fate but Torvald’s. She imagines herself already dead, drowned in icy black water, and pictures the grief-stricken Torvald taking upon himself all the blame for what she did and being disgraced for her sake. In fact, Mrs. Linde, by promising to marry Krogstad and look after his children, succeeds in persuading him to withdraw all accusations against the Helmers. She realizes, however, that sooner or later Nora and Torvald will have to come to an understanding.
The crisis comes when Torvald reads Krogstad’s letter after their return from the ball. He accuses Nora of being a hypocrite, a liar, and a criminal and of having no religion, morality, or sense of duty. He declares that she is unfit to bring up her children and that she might remain in his household but will no longer be a part of it. When Krogstad’s second letter arrives, declaring that he intends to take no action against the Helmers, Torvald’s attitude changes, and with a sigh of relief he declares that he is saved.
For the first time, Nora sees her husband for what he is—a selfish, pretentious hypocrite with no regard for her position in the matter. She reminds him that no marriage can be built on inequality and announces her intention of leaving his house forever. Torvald cannot believe his ears and pleads with her to remain, but she declares she is going to try to become a reasonable human being, to understand the world—in short, to become a woman, not a doll to flatter Torvald’s selfish vanity. She goes out and, with irrevocable finality, slams the door of her doll house behind her.
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