The Wave of New Women essays

The Wave of New Women essays In Ibsen's play A Doll's House today, one may find it hard to imagine how daring it seemed at the time. Its theme, the emancipation of a woman, makes it seem almost contemporary. Written during the Victorian era, the controversial play featuring a woman seeking individuality caused more trouble than any of Ibsen's other works. This play portrayed the role of women as the comforter, helper, and supporter of man, "A Doll's House" introduced woman as having her own purposes and goals in life that they would like to accomplish. Nora Helmer, the helpless wife, slowly changes through the play and eventually realizes that she must stop being her husbands doll and become an individual. Although Nora's relationship with her husband was to be expected during the time it was written, there were many clues that set off at the kind of marriage Nora and Torvald had. Throughout the play it was obvious that Torvald did love Nora, but only how a person would love a prized possession. She relied on him for everything, from movements to thoughts, much like a puppet who is dependent on its puppet master for all of its actions. He enjoyed how everything was perfect, how he could do anything with her and loved having his perfect wife in his perfect house with their perfect children, and he loved her as deeply as he could understand the world. Nora pretended that she needed Torvald to teach her every move in order to relearn the dance. This is obviously an act, and it shows how much of a doll to Torvald she is. After the dance lesson, he states "When I saw you turn and sway in the tarantellamy blood was pounding till I couldn't stand it" showing how he is more interested in Nora physically than emotionally. When Nora responds by saying "Go away, Torvald! Leave me alone. I don't want all this", Torvald asks "Aren't I your husband? In what he said, it demonstrates how he thinks Noras duties a...