Literary Analysis A Doll House By Henrik Ibsen
Nora Helmer once secretly borrowed a large sum of money so that her husband could recuperate from a serious illness. She never told him of this loan and has been secretly paying it back in small installments by saving from her household allowance. Her husband, Torvald, thinks her careless and childlike, and often calls her his doll. When he is appointed bank director, his first act is to relieve a man who was once disgraced for having forged his signature on a document. This man, Nils Krogstad, is the person from whom Nora has borrowed her money. It is then revealed that she forged her father's signature in order to get the money. Krogstad threatens to reveal Nora's crime and thus disgrace her and her husband unless Nora can convince her husband not to fire him. Nora tries to influence her husband, but he thinks of Nora as a simple child who cannot understand the value of money or business. Thus, when Torvald discovers that Nora has forged her father's name, he is ready to disclaim his wife even though she had done it for him. Later when all is solved, Nora sees that her husband is not worth her love and she leaves him.
Literary Analysis A Doll House By Henrik Ibsen
This early description of the house sets the tone for the rest of the play and introduces the financial circumstances of the Helmers: they live "comfortably" without being "extravagant" in their wealth. Ibsen also describes the house in extensive detail. This helps orient stage productions while also emphasizing the idea that the house is carefully arranged, much like a dollhouse.
This study guide and infographic for Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Explore Course Hero's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A pairs.