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A Doll's House | Study Guide

Henrik Ibsen

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Course Hero. "A Doll's House Study Guide." Course Hero. 17 Aug. 2016. Web. 28 Sep. 2023. <https://www.coursehero.com/lit/A-Dolls-House/>.

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Course Hero. (2016, August 17). A Doll's House Study Guide. In Course Hero. Retrieved September 28, 2023, from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/A-Dolls-House/

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Course Hero. "A Doll's House Study Guide." August 17, 2016. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/A-Dolls-House/.

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Course Hero, "A Doll's House Study Guide," August 17, 2016, accessed September 28, 2023, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/A-Dolls-House/.

A Doll's House | Infographic

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Check out this Infographic to learn more about Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House. Study visually with character maps, plot summaries, helpful context, and more.

a-dolls-house-henrik-ibsen_UPDATEA Doll’s Houseby the NumbersYear A Doll's House premiered at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen1879Year play was performed in Germany with alternate ending in which Nora does not leave Torvald1880Film versions released in 1973—an American version starring Jane Fonda as Nora and a British version starring Anthony Hopkins as Torvald2Year the play was included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register2001ThemesSexismTorvald loves Nora only as his helpless "little skylark."Individual vs. SocietyNora defies societal norms to achieve independence.HonestyNora lies to save Torvald's pride; Mrs. Linde makes a loveless match to save her family.Self-AwarenessTorvald's rejection then "forgiveness" of Nora forces her to face the lies in their marriage.Torvald, Act IIIshould not be a man if this womanly helplessness did not just give you a double attractiveness in my eyes.Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica, IMDb, Henrik Ibsen: A Doll's House and Other Plays, Merriam-Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature, National Library of Norway, UNESCO, Writers TheatreCopyright © 2016 Course Hero, Inc.TarantellaDance symbolizing Nora's desperate attempt to avoid revealing her secretMoneySymbolizes men's control over women, who are notallowed equal access to itBirdsRepresent Nora's flight to freedom and Torvald's view of Nora: merely a creature to entertain him, whom he must protectSymbolsThe Norwegian playwright's emphasis on realism and social analysis made him the "father of modern drama." Though a classic today, A Doll's House initially caused controversy—many considered the play indecent because of its portrayal of a woman renouncing traditional roles of wife and mother for independence.HENRIK IBSEN1828–1906AuthorNoraProtagonist, Torvald's selfless "little songbird"KrogstadNora's mercenary lenderTorvaldNora's condescending husbandMrs. Kristine LindeNora's principled friendDr. RankFamily friend who loves NoraIvar, Bobby, and EmmyNora and Torvald’s childrenFriendshipRomantic relationshipMarriedBusinessFamilyMain CharactersMain CharactersSet in the 1870s, A Doll's House tells the story of Nora Helmer, a young wife and mother who tries to hide a secret forgery from her husband, Torvald, that could threaten their marriage. Torvald treats her as a pretty plaything without realizing Nora has a mind of her own—until she leaves him in the play's shocking conclusion.A SkylarkTakes FlightOVERVIEWAct II Freedom from ExpectationsTrying to maintain her role as wife and prevent her secret being revealed, Nora dances for her husband and finds hope in his potential courage.Act III Freedom from ObligationsUnderstanding that her husband is not worth her love, Nora feels free to abandon traditional obligations and leave him.Act I Freedom from Debt Having secretly borrowed money to help her husband, Nora struggles diligently to pay it back.Henrik Ibsen1879NorwegianPlayAuthorYear PublishedOriginal LanguageA Doll’s HouseDrama
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