Discussion Topic

Character Analysis in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House

Summary:

Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House features characters who challenge societal norms. Nora Helmer, the protagonist, evolves from a submissive wife to an independent woman. Torvald Helmer, her husband, represents patriarchal authority and is more concerned with appearances than genuine affection. Other characters, like Kristine Linde and Nils Krogstad, embody themes of sacrifice and redemption, adding depth to the play's exploration of gender roles and societal expectations.

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Which characters change throughout Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House?

The most important character who undergoes changes is of course Nora. Nora particularly changes from feeling that she is happy in marriage to realizing that her entire marriage has been a complete fraud. We see Nora profess to her friend Christine what she believes is her happiness in her marriage in the very first act. When Christine says that she has no children and that she is all alone in the world, Nora gushes about her "three lovely children" (I). She also effuses about Torvald's new position as manager of the bank, saying:

For the future we can live quite differently--we can do just as we like. I feel so relieved and so happy, Christine! (I).

All of Nora's boasts about her children and Torvald's new position shows us just how happy she thinks she is. However, that all changes by the end of the play. At the end of the play when Torvald demands of her, "Nora! Have you not been happy here?," she replies, "No, I have never been happy. I thought I was, but it has never really been so ... only merry" (III). The change in Nora's attitude about her position is due to her realization that her husband has never understood her, never loved her selflessly as she thought he had, and never really taken her seriously. Hence, Nora changes in the play from a naive wife who thinks she is happy into an adult woman who now understands that she has the right to be treated as an equal and "reasonable human being" (III).

A second character that changes in the play is Krogstad. Out of desperation to save his job, he blackmails Nora by exposing her secret forgery to her husband. But before Torvald has a chance to read the letter, Christine talks with Krogstad about their past together. She asks Krogstad to forgive her for leaving him for a man that was better off financially in order to care for her ill mother and two brothers. She also asks Krogstad to allow her to be his wife. Krogstad feels so relieved and rejuvenated that someone would still have enough faith in his character to want to marry him that he repents writing the letter to Torvald that exposes Nora and endangers both Torvald's and Nora's reputations. Krogstad is so repentant that he would have even waited for Torvald to return from the costume party in order to tell Torvald not to read the letter. However, Christine forbade it. Christine feels it is better for Nora's sake that her husband learns the truth.

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Who are the foil characters in A Doll's House?

Christine Lind is a foil to Nora.  Because Nora is the main character, and it is her development that the play is about, Christine is brought in to demonstrate the obvious differences. It is when Kristina comes to see her old school friend that it really becomes clear to the audience what is meant by the play's title; that Nora is living in a “doll’s house," a specially created, protected environment far from the real world. This is emphasized by what we learn of Christine's life; hard-working, adult and responsible. By contrast Nora is not even able to look after her own children, let alone earn her living. Her journey from independence to marriage is a foil to Nora's journey in the opposite direction.

Mrs. Linde. How kind you are, Nora, to be so anxious to help me! It is doubly kind in you, for you know so little of the burdens and troubles of life.

Nora. I--? I know so little of them?

Mrs. Linde [smiling]. My dear! Small household cares and that sort of thing!--You are a child, Nora.

Nora [tosses her head and crosses the stage]. You ought not to be so superior. "

The characters of Krogstad and Torvald  are also in the roles of FOIL's for each other.  One is married and the marriage is ending while Torvald is not married yet.  The links below can supply specifics.  Don't have enough room here.

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Who are the characters in A Doll's House?

You have obviously asked a very broad question, so I will only be able to respond with a general answer. The two central characters that you need to know about are Nora and Torvald Helmer, the married couple that the play focuses on.

Nora is the doll of the title, who finds herself trapped in a marriage where she is patronised and treated like a little child by her husband. However, as we see from their very first moments together on stage, this is a role that she accepts and plays very well. Her husband even goes as far as to pat her head like some adoring dog or other pet. However, we quickly realise that Nora has many thoughts and ideas that she conceals from her husband, and thus to a certain extent is a split person. She is constantly objectified and believes she is dependent upon her husband throughout the play.

Torvald seems to occupy a symbolic role in this play. As a lawyer in a patriarchal society, he embodies all of the chauvanistic assumptions of people at this time, particularly regarding the inferior and weaker position that women were deemed to occupy. As we see in his relationship with Nora, he constantly treats her like a little girl, which, we discover, is how she was treated by her father as well. He never treats her as a serious individual in her own right who is capable of making mature decisions, and thus Nora's awakening at the end of the play comes as something of a shock to him.

I have included other links below to various enotes study sections on this play, so I hope this helps you gain more of an understanding of this excellent work of literature. Good luck!

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