Analyzed by Itrat Batool
Critical
analysis of themes:
One of the most important themes is
appearance versus reality. In the beginning, nothing is like what it seems.
Torvald and Nora appear to have a perfect relationship but with time as the
play progresses, reality replaces appearances. Everyone wants to keep up
appearances. Torvald insists Nora keep up the appearance of their relationship
even after rejecting Nora for her past crime. Dr. Rank pretends to have an
innocent relationship but when Nora tries to seek his help, his appearance
shatters down.
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Another important theme of this play is
male domination. This play raises questions about female self-sacrifice in a
male-dominated world. Nora is just a doll of little intellectual value and even
less utility in Torvald's life. Typically a family responsibility is reserved
for the male member thus when Torvald comes to know that Nora being a woman has
managed financial affairs, he acts so shockingly.
Ibsen subjects his writing for the
elaboration of marriage time and again. According to him, a truthful marital
relationship is one which survives in every situation and none of the two
should be demeaning to the other.
Lastly, Ibsen declared that the greatest
duty of a person is to understand him\herself.
Initially, Nora does not realize that
she has a self. Her sole purpose was to please Torvald but in the end, she
realizes that the most sacred duty is to herself. She leaves everything to
establish her own identity.
Analysis from Feministic Prospective:
The protagonist of A Doll's House; Nora,
is the most credible character. Her story is a protest against that false view
of a woman which turns marriage into an agreement between a beautiful slave and
a kind owner. Nora copies her father's signature to obtain money for her ill
husband. The disclosure of her guilt brings her to face the harsh realities of
life. In this play, the society that looks upon a woman as a mere
"doll" has been described.
Nora puts on a persuasive performance of
being a selfish and foolish woman during act one; When she asks Torvald for
more money, she appears to be selfish but we soon discover in her conversation
with Mrs. Linde that she is not wasting money for herself, but using it to pay
back the loan she took to save her husband's life. In the first two acts, she
does not realize her strength maybe, because Torvald and the contemporary
society would never accept such strength in a woman.
In this play, Ibsen is illustrating a
fundamental problem in society. The marriage that Ibsen portrays is domineering
to one partner. Nora is not an object still she felt like one her whole life.
Ibsen does not release Nora from the duties of motherhood. Rather, he shows
that for Nora to become a successful mother, she must first establish her own
identity.
To conclude, this play is a demand for
justice; primarily justice for women and indirectly, justice to humanity.
