A Doll's House Norm

Henrik Ibsen explores the roles that society places upon men and women when it comes to marriage. In the past, the man has held the power and the final say on decisions, while the women generally follow along without providing much input--primarily because their husbands discourage their input. This was perceived as the “norm” preceding 1879, the year Ibsen wrote the play, A Doll’s house. Ibsen introduces the play inside the well-furnished living room of the Helmer household. Nora, the wife of Torvald Helmer, was not raised by her father as an equal which explains why she acts the way she does. She hardly spends any time with her children and keeps secrets from her husband. Her maids are more of a mother figure in the household than she is …show more content…
Linde has lost loved ones, been desperate for money, and tried to keep the anxiety attacks to a minimum. Mrs. Linde once had all the money she needed, until her husband passed away and she lost everything he gave to her. She is very much like Nora in that she depends on and expects the male figure in her life to constantly support her with money. Mrs. Linde even admits that she did not marry Krogstad because she found a man who was richer than Krogstad, “I thought it my duty to accept him” (536). Mrs. Linde was desperate to support her sick mother and younger brothers so she married a wealthy man. She never had any children with him or even felt affection towards him, she only wanted his wealth. Now that he has passed away, Mrs. Linde now feels that she has no purpose: she is a widow, has no children, is not employed, and no longer has a mother or younger brothers to look after. Nora looks at her friend’s circumstances and thinks that Mrs. Linde lives a “free” life compared to her own, but Mrs. Linde actually finds it very difficult to live with nothing to do, “No, Nora, only inexpressibly empty. No one to live for. / That is why I could not bear to stay any longer in that out-of- / the-way corner. Here it must be easier to find something really worth / doing—something to occupy one’s thoughts. If only I could get some settled / employment—some office work (536-537). Mrs. Linde does not experience the same happiness anymore that she did with her …show more content…
Brooks essay “The Motivating Factor Behind Nora’s Flight in A DOLL HOUSE”, Brooks interprets Nora’s actions of leaving her children as an act of love rather than irresponsibility. Nora is first referred to as a “frivolous narcissist” (14) and someone “who abandons her family in a paroxysm of selfishness” (14). Brooks claims that many audiences of the play feel that Nora should’ve stayed and put up with Torvald just for the sake of her children, no matter the circumstances; and that a mother who leaves her children is considered a “monster” (14). The ideas in the essay introduce a different perspective which perceives Nora’s actions not as selfish, but as a self-sacrifice for her children. She thinks her children are being “infected” just by her presence and she cares about them so much that she does not want to be the source of “poison” in their lives. At first, it seems as though Brooks feels that Nora’s decision was irresponsible and selfish, but he explains how it actually shows how much Nora cares about her