In Henrik Ibsen's dramatic realism play "A Doll's House", the characters are not as they first appear. Nora, the protagonist, at first glance appears to be a silly, egocentric, selfish, uneducated, superficial stereotypical housewife. In a conversation, Nora fills the patronizing Mrs. Linde in on her scandalous activities. She confesses that she took out a lone for Torvald's indispensable trip to Italy. This indirect characterization shows that Nora is a very determined woman. She also explains that she didn't want to ask her father because he was very ill and she didn't want to worry him with her troubles. This reveals a very unselfish and concerned Nora. She then tells Mrs. Linde that she borrowed the money from Krogstad by forging her fathers signature. This shows that she is a very determined and bold woman. Throughout the play, Nora is constantly lying to Torvald about what she is doing in order to keep her secret a secret.
Title page in the manuscript of A Doll's House, pl...
Linde Nijland and Bert Ridderbos
LindeIn the end, when she lives Torvald because she realizes that he never truly loved her, she leaves him and starts a life of her own. The innocent admirable Nora is discovered to be a ignominious and strong-minded woman with a brain.
Torvald, first appears to be a devoted and loving husband and a respected business man amongst the community. Through his degrading and condescending pet names for his wife, it is soon learned that Torvald is nothing more than an egocentric man living in a fantasy, doll like world. When he learns of what Nora did and from whom he is furious with her, despite that simple fact that she did it for him. The only thing he cared about was his reputation and what people might think. He could care less about Nora's feeling or the struggles that she has...