A Dolls House written by Henrik Ibsen in 1879, is about a family broken apart by a series of misfortunes. Set in Scandinavia during the Victorian Era around Christmas time, this play gives us a glimpse into the life of the times. In an attempt to provide her husband some well needed rest after being sick from over work. Nora would procure a loan from a local banker Krogstad, which has a tarnished reputation from past dealing. Her husband, Torvald is an upstanding member of the community that holds himself to high morals. Torvald, a lawyer is to take over management of the bank after the New Year. After finding out about Nora's dealings, this incident places the Helmer family in peril.
Nora has a carefree attitude towards life, whereas her husband worries about their reputation in the community. During a discussion about borrowing money by Nora, Torvald points out to her about what would happen should he die, while owing money. "Nora: If that happened, I don't suppose I'd care whether I owed anyone money or not. Helmer: Yes, but what about the people who'd lent it to us? Nora: Them? Who'd care about them? I wouldn't even know who they were" (Ibsen, 2012, p556). This type of attitude is what would get Nora in trouble later. It also shows that Torvald concern about his reputation, even after he is dead.
Ibsen would give us a view about two women in this play. For one Nora, he shows her as happy go lucky outwardly but also shows us that she craves money and the finer things in life. Torvald, her husband calls her "an extravagant little thing" (Ibsen, 2012, p 557). When asked what she would like for Christmas. Her answer: "You might give me money, Torvald. Only just as much as you can afford. And then one of these days I'll buy something with it."(Ibsen, 2012, p557). This would be the basis in which Ibsen builds Nora's character around. The other is Mrs. Kristine Linde, who is more grounded and sensible in her thinking. Upon hearing of Torvald's new job Kristine is happy for them. Nora ponders on the "heaps and heaps of money they will have", while the more sensible Kristine states that "it would be delightful to have what you want" (Ibsen, 2012, p559). Later he will show that neither of the women can be trusted.
While being visited by an old family friend Kristine Linde, Nora would let out her secret about getting a loan to spend time in warmer weather, for her husband's health. Nora feels that no one believes that she can be resourceful or responsible. As Kristine calls her a spendthrift and childish about her ways, Nora takes offense. Stating "You shouldn't act so superior" and "You're just like all the others-"(Ibsen 2012, p 560). As the conversation continues the doorbell rings, and the Helmer's servant announces that a gentleman is here to see her husband. As Nils Krogstad is introduced Kristine, "turns away and trembles" as Nora speaks to him in a "low stained voice, what is it you want my husband for" (Ibsen 2012, p 562)? This scene lets it be known that they both know Nils, but they didn't know that each other knew him. With this Ibsen hints that this is who Nora borrowed the money from. Also since Kristine turned away, it tells us that she knows him in some shameful or is embarrassed by him. Later we will find out that she once loved Krogstad but married another man because for his money. The reason would be that she could better care for her sick mother with the money. So Ibsen has brought full circle, that both women had problems with money that would cause them to make sacrifices in their lives.
Krogstad would find out that Nora had forged her father's name in order to obtain the loan. Knowing that his job at the bank was at risk, he would use this as leverage against Nora. She is to persuade her husband not to fire him and give his job to Kristine. Krogstad: 'Mrs. Helmer, you evidently don't realize clearly what you're guilty of" (Ibsen 2012, p 567). Ibsen hints that women don't have a head for business but, will also deceive people to get what they want. It also shows by doing so, they can be easily manipulated by other unscrupulous people because of this. Krogstad would be fired by Torvald anyway and he proves true to his threat by dropping the loan note in a locked mailbox for her husband to receive, once he opens his mail. Having seen this, the women, Nora and Kristine devise a scheme to find a way to get the note back. Kristine is to talk to Krogstad, to have him ask for the note back, before Torvald has a chance to read it.
During the meeting between Kristine and Krogstad, we will find out that not only did Kristine once love Nils but, she would also betray Nora. Ibsen does not put the blame on Krogstad for being immoral. Rather placing the blame on having his heart broken by a woman. Krogstad tells Kristine that "When I lost you, it was as if the earth crumbled under my feet. Look at me now-a shipwrecked man clinging to a bit of wreckage" (Ibsen, 2012, p 580). After a lengthy discussion Kristine would ask Nils "Didn't you imply that with me you might have been a very different person?" and "I understand completely what despair can drive a man like you to do" (Ibsen, 2012, p581). These statements places Krogstad's behavior on the fact that his heart was broken and he had become bitter and heartless. After agreeing to get the letter back Kristine tells him not to do it. That states that "she has seen incredible things in that house and the truth must come out" (Ibsen, 2012, p581). This reinforces the idea that women cannot be trusted, even with each other.
Coming home from the dance, Torvald would find the letter and confront Nora. She tries to keep him from reading it, only to fail. At first he is enraged, then calming down he feels that he can forgive her and deal with whatever may come from this problem. Nora would have none of this and decided that leaving him is the best way to solve this problem. As before when forging her father's name and now leaving so Torvald's reputation would not be tarnished, Nora thinks herself as a sacrificial lamb; that in both cases, it was up to her to save her husband. Once when getting the loan to go to warmer weather to save his life, now to have to leave to save his reputation. Begging her to stay, he has thrown her a lifeline, which she refuses.
Ibsen does not seem to hold women in very high esteem. In his eyes they are more suitable caring for the house and children, leaving the business to the men. In this play he demonstrations what happens when women think for themselves. With Kristine's betrayal, he also illustrations that they cannot be trusted either. He holds men in a higher regard, thinking them more honorable, being smart enough to not allow other people to take advantage of them. When men do fall it was because of a woman, as in Krogstad's case. He shows that Torvald is a forgiving person, "I'm not so heartless that I'd absolutely condemn a man because of one mistake like that" (Ibsen, 2012, p568). Ibsen would put any flaws in a person due to the raising of the mother and not the father." …Almost everyone who's gone wrong at a young age had a dishonest mother" (Ibsen, 2012, p 569). He does say that it could also be from "a bad father but, the influences seemly comes from the mother" (Ibsen, 2012 p 569). It may have been from that in the times that Ibsen wrote this play where most honorable women where to stay at home and raise children, while the men worked. Or it could have come from some trauma in his earlier life that Ibsen takes these views. That as a child he may have revered his father or the mother may have been unfaithful in some way. Having started out in poverty may have given him some misconceptions that women, if left to their own devices will only come to no good.
According to Enotes.com (2012) the play was so controversial, that a second ending would later be added. In the decision for Nora to leave her children caused an outrage among the feminist. "No "real" woman would ever make that choice" (Enotes, 2012). The second ending would have her taking Torvald's offer of forgiveness and staying. With this play, Ibsen broke away from the traditional romantic drama and would be known as "The father of modern Drama", creating a whole new genre for plays (Enote, 2012).
