Analysis Of Nora Helmer

– A Dolls House Essay, Research Paper

Character Analysis for

Nora Helmer

Sometimes, characters in a novel or play go through a great dynamic change only to find their true self and to remove the fraudulent perception of themselves in the eyes of others. Such a change leads the character to become fully aware of their life as well as finally understand what a hypocritical life they have mistakenly led. At the beginning of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, Nora Helmer is shown as a childish and na ve housewife with a knack for spending money. This opinion is transferred mostly through Nora’s “parent – child” dialogue with her husband, Torvald. Torvald’s usual characterization of Nora as an “expensive little person” (p14) with a skill of melting his money in her hands clearly illustrates Nora’s relation with her husband as being strikingly similar to that of a spoiled child and his wealthy parents. However, during the course of the play, as Ibsen takes the reader through the climax of Nora’s pre-liberated life, he shows how Nora develops into a wiser, more determined woman who learns to respect herself. Nora’s development is highlighted and guided with her growing courage, her direct attempts to become more equal with her husband, and her increasingly realistic attitude about herself.

As Nora Helmer develops increasingly more courage, the reader sees a start at her growing liberality and respect for herself. At first, Nora’s carefree happiness is only propelled by her utter following and dependence on her husband’s wishes. For example, Torvald jokingly confronts Nora about nibbling on some sweets she seriously states, “[she] should not think of going against your wishes,” (p15) acting in the same way a child would, when he does not obey. However, with the arrival of Mrs. Linde, Nora finds a person to whom she can be fully honest and true. Her request that Torvald hire Mrs. Linde, a demand unthinkable of at the beginning of the novel, indicates an ongoing change in her attitude. The true test of Nora’s courage comes when Krogstad threatens to reveal to everyone her fraudulent signature on the bond. An otherwise timid woman, Nora’s actions now show her rapid change. As Nora sends out Mrs. Linde to persuade Krogstad get to change his mind, she shows full independence and awareness of her actions. Nora’s final test of courage comes, of course, at the climax of the action, after Krogstad sends the bond back and all seems to be well again. As Torvald Helmer admits

“I should not be a man if this womanly helplessness did not just give you a double attractiveness Very soon you won’t need me to assure you that I have forgiven you; you will yourself feel the certainty that I have done so”, (p66) Nora truly realizes what a lie she has been living for the past eight years. She demonstrates now that she is liberated from Torvald’s parent-like influence by leaving him to “stand quite alone to understand myself and everything about [her]” (p71) Needless to say, the courage to part with one who you have loved for a number of years, shows how determined Nora has become to liberate herself from the shackles that society placed her.

In addition to Nora Helmer’s growing courage, she also acquires an idealistic intention – to become equal with her husband. In her heart, she realizes the position in life that she has been given, one where she must wear a fa ade of cheerfulness and eagerness to please, is far lower than her potential. The reader gets a first glimpse into this desire as Nora admits to Mrs. Linde how she saved money to repay Krogstad for the loan. Nora says,

“Last winter I was lucky enough to get a lot of copying to do; so I locked myself up and sat writing all evening until quite late at night it was a tremendous pleasure to sit there working and earning money. It was like being a man.” (p22)

This innate desire to be like a man, to have responsibilities, to earn money and have work to look forward to shows Nora’s unhappiness with her life. The reader can then see that Nora is a very astute and precocious woman. A second, more direct example of Nora’s intent to become more significant and influential in the family occurs after Krogstad’s threat to tell Torvald about their matter. Nora approaches Torvald and is ready to talk to him about the loan she had procured to save his life, but is turned off by his idiosyncratic reply what would it seem if “the new manager changed his mind at this wife’s bidding” (p41). Through Nora’s unsuccessful attempts to change Torvald’s mind about firing Krogstad, Ibsen shows the controversial truth that in the late 1800’s it was common and expectant of women to become influenced and controlled by the men in their lives. Alas, to the end Torvald maintains his superior position over Nora, which is most accurately presented in the quote “Playtime shall be over, and lesson-time shall begin.” (p68) He so strongly believes that “no man would sacrifice his honor for the one he loves”(p71) that there is no wonder why Torvald acted so selfishly vain and harsh when he received Krogstad’s letter. Mrs. Helmer has so long awaited its arrival, for if her husband acted indifferent to it and even took the guilt upon himself, that would show he truly cared for Nora and was not just an arrogant, selfish demagogue. As Nora realizes that Torvald is not the noble man she perceived him to be, she leaves, because now under