Ibsen and the Classic World, Essay Example

Introduction

Often, literature allows one to examine the main ideas in works such as poems, plays, and paintings. Although each work may lie in different sections of art and possess diverse characteristics, they tend to have themes, characters, and styles used to develop the plot. An analysis of such elements in a play allows one to generate a better understanding of the author’s motive. Also, one gets to understand the role that the play has in entertaining, informing or warning society. An analysis of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House makes it possible to understand the underlying themes and character motives in the play. A comparison with other plays also allows one to establish the quality of the play.

Character Analysis

The first character in the play is Nora, whose life revolves around her home and taking care of her children. Although her husband is a bank manager, she does not seem to enjoy the comfort of his wealth because he also scolds her when she seems to spend a lot on Christmas gifts and sweets. Nora is also playful at the beginning of the play, making the audience assume that she is immature and childish (Kelly 16). However, it is later revealed that she is not a spendthrift as her husband thinks and that she is also mature. Although the things she has done may put her in trouble with her husband, she only meant to be a good wife. She borrowed money by forging her father’s signature so she could facilitate Trovald’s treatment. Nora represents the typical woman during the 18^th century when wives did not have power in the household. Nora is also displayed as courageous and seeking freedom when she refuses to be scolded by her husband for trying to save his life. She holds her head up and walks out of her marriage.

Torvald is portrayed as a man who loves his family and makes sure that they were well-kept. However, Torvald holds a high concern for his name and respectability in society and could compromise his family’s happiness to be respected by society. He has also been promoted to a bank manager but insists on controlling his wife’s spending. Torvald is also revealed as having a sense of immaturity when he does not understand that Nora borrowed money to save his life. Instead, he scolds her and claims that she caused embarrassment to his respected name by borrowing money. He also reveals his true characters when he finds out the Nora borrowed money to save his life. Although he understands that she borrowed the money out of love, he does not let her explain. When they realize that Krogstad has changed his mind, he claims that he has forgiven her and sets new rules for their marriage.

Krogstad in the play appears as a respectable man in the community. However, his actions as the play progresses reveal that his character is stained and that he has a moral problem. He also blackmails Nora into making sure that she convinces her husband to give him a job. As a result, he is portrayed as a bad person who does not have a concern for what is right and to earn respect the right way. As the play progresses he is also shown to be a sensible person when he changes his mind about revealing the Helmers’ secret to other people (Tam 49). Kristine, on the other hand, forms an important part of the play as she is the only woman with whom Nora can be compared in the play. She seems thoughtful and wiser than Nora. It is easy for the audience to think that having to fend for her family is the reason she matured. She also sends the message that being independent forces one to be wiser because they have to make good decisions that will improve them.

Themes

The main themes of the play progress as the play advances. Some of them include deception, materialism, freedom, love, and personal identity. The play is built on deception because Nora and Krogstad are deceiving other characters. While Nora forged a signature to secure a loan and fails to tell her husband the truth, Krogstad blackmails her into making sure that he does not lose his job. Materialism is mainly portrayed in the sense of Torvald who only thinks of Nora as a possession. He also displays a similar aspect when he finds out that Nora borrowed money (Anderson 218). Although the money was meant to save his life, he refuses to help his wife in the argument that his reputation would be ruined. Freedom comes across the film when Nora is freed from her secret, she is relieved when Torvald opens the mailbox and encourages him to read the letters because she does not want to delay the inevitable any longer. She also receives an awakening that frees her from her naivety and she decides to focus on herself. She decides to leave her husband to rediscover herself and determine whether or not she agrees with the principles that have been forced on her by her father and Torvald.

Conclusion

A Doll’s House offers its audience a perfect play for both entertainment and learning. While the play is well-organized and possesses clear themes, it is also entertaining for its audience to read. An analysis of the play’s characters and themes allows the reader to generate a better understanding of the author’s intentions. The themes help in understanding the message that the author attempts to send to the audience. A character analysis of the other hand helps one in associating their experiences with those of the real world.

Works Cited

Anderson, Andrew Runni. “Ibsen and the Classic World.” The Classical Journal, vol. 11, no. 4,   1916, pp. 216–225. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3288095. Accessed 7 Mar. 2020.

Kelly, Katherine E. “Pandemic and Performance: Ibsen and the Outbreak of Modernism.” South Central Review, vol. 25, no. 1, 2008, pp. 12–35. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40040017. Accessed 7 Mar. 2020.

Tam, Kwok-kan. “Ibsen and Modern Chinese Dramatists: Influences and Parallels.” Modern        Chinese Literature, vol. 2, no. 1, 1986, pp. 45–62. JSTOR,    www.jstor.org/stable/41495962. Accessed 7 Mar. 2020.