FREE ESSAY ON A DOLL'S HOUSE

A DOLL'S HOUSE

A Doll's House
One of A Doll's House's central theme is secession from society. It is demonstrated by
several of its characters breaking away from the social standards of their time and
acting on their own terms. No one character demonstrates this better than Nora. 
During the time in which the play took place society frowned upon women asserting
themselves. Women were supposed to play a role in which they supported their husbands,
took care of their children, and made sure everything was perfect around the house. Work,
politics, and decisions were left to the males. Nora's first secession from society was
when she broke the law and decided to borrow money to pay for her husband's treatment. By
doing this, she not only broke the law but she stepped away from the role society had
placed on her of being totally dependent on her husband. She proved herself not to be
helpless like Torvald implied: you poor helpless little creature! Nora's second secession
from society was shown by her decision to leave Torvald and her children. Society
demanded that she take a place under her husband. This is shown in the way Torvald spoke
down to her saying things like: worries that you couldn't possibly help me with, and
Nora, Nora, just like a woman. She is almost considered to be property of his: Mayn't I
look at my dearest treasure? At all the beauty that belongs to no one but me -that's all
my very own?
By walking out she takes a position equal to her husband and brakes society's
expectations. Nora also brakes society's expectations of staying in a marriage since
divorce was frowned upon during that era. Her decision was a secession from all
expectations put on a woman and a wife by society. Nora secessions are very deliberate
and thought out. She knows what society expects of her and continues to do what she feels
is right despite them. Her secessions are used by Ibsen to show faults of society. In the
first secession Ibsen illustrates that despite Nora doing the right thing it is deemed
wrong and not allowed by society because she is a woman. While the forgery can be
considered wrong, Ibsen is critical of the fact that Nora is forced to forge. Ibsen is
also critical of society's expectations of a marriage. He illustrates this by showing how
Nora is forced to play a role rather than be herself and the eventual deterioration of
the marriage. Throughout the play Nora is looked down upon and treated as a possession by
her husband. She is something to please him and used for show. He is looked upon as the
provider and the decision maker. Society would have deemed it a perfect marriage. Ibsen
is critical of the fact that a marriage lacked love and understanding, as shown by
Torvald becoming angry with Nora for taking the loan and saving him, would be consider as
perfect.
A Doll's House's central theme of secession from society was made to be critical of
society's view on women and marriage. Ibsen used Nora's secessions as an example to
illustrate that society's expectations of a woman's role in society and marriage were
incorrect. Her decision to leave was the exclamation point on his critical view of
society.