Assignment #1

Assignment #1

I believe that Henrick Isben’s “A Doll’s House” is more of a feminist play that a purely humanist play. There are many feminist ideals that are used throughout the play, such as Nora focusing mainly on her beauty and youth, and Torvald caring more about the appearance of his wife rather than her actions. However, the play employs many ideals of a humanist kind as well. Torvald takes on the job of being the hard worker and main supplier of income for the house, which was the assumed to be the duty of the man of the house during this time period. Also Torvald places great importance of how his wife looks at all times, as he states in the Third Act, “Why shouldn’t I not look at my dearest treasure?- at all the beauty that is mine, all my very own?” (Isben 79). Torvald genuinely felt that his wife was his possession, that she was an object that could be owned instead of a human being of equal value. In this way Torvald is the antagonist. An antagonist is a character who presents the protagonist with an obstacle or struggle throughout the story. Torvald makes Nora feel as if she is only as good as she looks. However, Torvald is also a victim of the societal norms of 19th century America. Men were made to believe that they had to be in control of the household and the women were there to cook and clean. Men were raised having the mindset that they were to be the dominant figure in a relationship and had to work to make the money to support their wife. This ideology has changed over time, and nowadays an equal amount of women are considered the breadwinners in the relationship. Nora goes through a transformation as the play progresses, and realizes that she has much more value than just her outer beauty. In the Third Act Nora begins to gain a sense of self. She claims “I must stand quite alone, if I am to understand myself and everything about me. It is for that reason that I cannot remain with you any longer” (Isben 90). In the ending of the play Nora leaves Torvald...

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