Marriage:

A Doll’s House:

• Trapping for both men and women – have to play roles/wear masks. Result of patriarchal society.
• Forces a woman to sacrifice her identity.

Nora & Torvald:

• Hyperbolised presentation of 19cent marriage at beginning; male-dominated, Nora infantilized by Torvald.

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• Rely on each other for social status/money/opportunities etc. Torvald isn’t even aware of how much he relies on Nora.

• Torvald does not realise he is wearing a mask throughout; Nora becomes aware and realises she has to break out. Nora waiting for a ‘miracle’ that never came.

• End of play opposes traditional 19cent marital expectations as Nora takes control and leaves.

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Mrs Linde & Krogstad:

• Sacrificed love to marry for safety. Emphasis that marriage is the only way for women to be safe and have opportunities (ROSSETTI LINK – NO, THANK YOU, JOHN; WINTER: MY SECRET; FROM THE ANTIQUE).

• Able to come back together as their own people, free from masks/roles. Mrs Linde has worked and sacrificed herself for others; Krogstad has made and learnt from mistakes. Do not rely on each other for anything but happiness.

• Example of the possibility of non-traditional/evolving 19cent marriage; Ibsen shows happiness is possible free from society’s rigidity.

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Quotes:

• Act 1:

  • Torvald: “My little songbird”, “My squirrel” – infantilizes Nora; male dominance.

  • Nora: “[moves over to the stove] Yes, yes, as you wish Torvald.” – subservient; playing role of housewife at stove etc.

  • Mrs Linde: “My mother was… bedridden and helpless. I had my two younger brothers to provide for. I didn’t really see how I could justify declining his offer.” – married for circumstance, not love (typical 19cent situation for women). Entrapment of women in societal expectations out of necessity.

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  • Krogstad: “Some years ago I was guilty of an imprudence… but it meant all avenues were somehow closed to me.” – rigidity of society; cannot rebuild. Emphasis on his suffering, which allowed him to break from role and be ready for marriage.

• Act 2:
  • Torvald: “I have strength and courage. I am man enough to take everything upon myself.” - fulfilling societal role within marriage; ‘protecting’ Nora.
  • Nora: “Correct me, instruct me as you always do.” – uses her role to her advantage; distracting Torvald by emphasising it. Realising the consequences for her marriage because of her actions.
  • Krogstad: “I want to get back on my feet… for a year and a half I have been guilty of nothing dishonest.”- can see he has changed; ready for marriage.
• Act 3:
  • Torvald: “You’ve wrecked my entire happiness.” – his identity rests in his marital/societal role; façade is shattered.
  • Nora: “I’ve been your doll-wife.” – blatant recognition of entrapment caused by role/mask.
  • Nora: “[the sound of a street door slamming is heard from below.]” – broken out, but only into the harshness of society. New woman?
  • Mrs Linde: “What if we two shipwrecked people were to reach across to each other.” –equally damaged, imperfect people but marriage can unite them and bring happiness; doesn’t have to be perfect.
  • Mrs Linde: “The two of us need each other.” – equals. Shows possibility when broken out of roles.
  • Krogstad: “Now I’ll find a way to raise myself up in the eyes of others too.” – given him a reason to.

Context:

• Private/domestic sphere = women in the home; public sphere = men, new woman; working and contributing to society.