Ibsen's "The Doll House"

Historic considerations
-Ibsen: Norway's foremost dramatist
-Based on real life events
-Roles of men and women
-Tuberculosis of the spine: Syphyllis
-Women had few rights

Plot
-Exposition: new job, her friend Christine, relationship dynamics
-Complications: loan, sickness, Helmer's power
-Climax: opening and reading the letter
-Resolution: Nora leaves


"The Doll House" mainly brings up relationship themes and strongly argues the roles of men and women during this time period. Helmer, a prestigous banker, has a lot of control over his wife Nora, whom he speaks to and treats like a child. He calls her pet names and speaks down to her. The problems begin when a fellow banker, Krogstad, beings black mailing Nora for a loan she took out from him to save her husband's life. In the end of the story Helmer finds out what all Nora has been up to and becomes extremely angry with her and blames her for making him look bad. It is only when Helmer realizes everything is going to be ok and forgives Nora that she realizes how she is being treated by her husband. She realizes she is basically nothing to him and leaves, leaving Helmer alone dumbfounded.

It seems the main theme of this story is the struggle of identity and the roles of men and women. Helmer never took into consideration that Nora's actions were for him. And young and naive Nora never saw her life clearly.