Free Essays on A Dolls House: Theme of Emancipation :: Dolls House essays

The Theme of Emancipation in A Dolls House While reading Ibsens play, A Dolls House one cannot help but recognise the powerful underlying theme. Ibsen develops the theme, the emancipation of a woman, by emphasizing the doll marriage, and the problems that such a marriage caused. In Act I, there are umpteen clues that hint at the kind of marriage Nora and Torvald have. It seems that Nora is a doll controlled by Torvald. She relies on him for all(prenominal)thing, from movements to thoughts, much like a instrument that is dependent on its puppet master for all of its actions. The most obvious example of Torvalds physical control over Nora is his teaching her the tarantella. Nora pretends that she needs Torvald to teach her every move in severalize to relearn the dance. The reader knows this is an act, and it shows her submissiveness to Torvald. After he teaches her the dance, he proclaims When I saw you turn and sway in the tarantella - my blood was pounding till I couldnt stand it(Isben 1009), showing how he is more interested in Nora physically than emotionally. When Nora responds by saying Go away, Torvald Leave me alone. I dont want all this(Isben 1009), Torvald asks Arent I your husband?(Isben 1009). By saying this, he is implying that one of Noras duties as his wife is to physically pleasure him at his command. Torvald also does not trust Nora with money, which exemplifies Torvalds treating Nora as a child. On the rare occasion when Torvald gives Nora some money, he is concerned that she will waste it on candy and pastry as one would worry active a child. Noras duties, in general, are restricted to caring for the children, doing housework, and working on her needlepoint. A problem with her responsibilities is that her most important obligation is to please Torvald, making her reference similar to that of a slave. The problem in A Dolls House lies not only with Torvald, but also with the entire Victorian society. Females were confined in every way imaginable. When Torvald does not immediately offer to help Nora after Krogstad threatens to expose her, Nora realizes that there is a problem. By waiting until after he discovers that his social spatial relation will suffer no harm, Torvald reveals his true feelings, which put appearance, both social and physical, ahead of the wife whom he says he loves.