Paper 2: A Doll's House: characters and themes

what was the reaction to the play at the time

• Premiered in 1879 

• Had to write an alternative end because the actor refused to leave the children 

• Was considered a feminist text 

• Ibsen was not comfortable with the feminist title 

why is the time period significant in this play

• The industrial revolution caused many to leave their agricultural jobs 

• The middle class had the chance to be rich 

• Many wanted to imitate the aristocratic upper class 

what were women going through at the time

• In the working class both men and women would work 

• Middle class thought ‘breadwinning’ was a status symbol. This is because not breadwinning implies that the man's salary is not enough 

• Women were discouraged from working (unless they were single or desperate for money) 

• Wives usually didn't have money. This gave control to their husband 

what was the inspiration for Nora

• Laura Kieler 

• Borrowed money for her husband 

• Wrote a book for money 

• She was sent to an asylum 

• Didn't like the novel ‘A Doll's House’ 

describe the character of Nora

• Increasingly desperate 

• Funny, serene, and quietly defiant at the beginning 

• Hopeless romantic mixed with pragmatism 

• At the end she has an adult conversation which was open and honest because she wanted to live authentically but she was not taken seriously 

describe the character of Torvald

• He was so uncomfortable letting Nora work that he was sick  

• He is not an empathetic person; he is authoritative and focused on making money 

• He projects strength and masculinity but in reality, he is fragile 

• He expects Nora to be obedient 

describe the character of Dr.Rank

• Not religious 

• Loves Nora but is Torvald’s closest friend 

• Scared of being forgotten 

• He and Nora have a genuine connection 

describe the character of Krogstad

• Bitter character who has suffered 

• Antagonist 

• His wife died, he is a single dad 

• Forged signatures which caused him to be a social outcast 

• He is ambitious, vengeful and disrespectful 

• Tragic figure 

• He redeems himself when Kristine re-ignites the relationship 

describe the character of Kristine Linde

• Audience surrogate (the character who gets told the problems of the main character/ Nora) 

• Is calm, collected, and gives levelheaded advice 

• She showed that she’s pragmatic when she decided to marry for money 

• Her mom died, her brothers died, and her husband died 

• Her life provides a model for Nora’s life after marriage and gives Nora hope 

describe the theme of money and debt

• Kristine takes Krogstad’s job so Krogstad blackmails Nora, making Kristine (and money) the catalyst of the play (because it is the thing that started everything) 

• Debt is the main cause for tension 

• Torvald gives Nora money showing his carelessness about money (He uses money to control her, he requires her to be attractive and sexually available (legalized prostitution))

describe the theme of death

•  Dr.Rank has compassion for his father with his disease 

• Torvald forgets about Dr.Rank showing that he only cares if something affects him 

• Dr.Rank is a metaphor for death, linking to the moral decay of the time 

• Nora’s departure is symbolic of death and rebirth 

• Death of Kristine’s husband (Death forces her to be financially stable/ independent)