A Doll’s House Research Project

A Doll’s House Research Project 2

In A Doll’s House written by Henrik Ibsen. Nora one of the main characters led a very privileged life due to her marrying into a great position. RIghts for women were very miniscule during that time. She lived in a house run and led by her strong and independent husband. Although she did live in a strict christian home and she did not have many rights and freedoms. Many of her actions had to be overseen by her husband or her father. Thinking her reasoning would outweigh the consequences of her actions she does something her husband thinks is actually a great morale sin. The situation is very ironic the fact that her sin saved her husband’s life. While Nora lives a great life her only ruined by her own doing, Nora’s old friend Christine comes onto the scene being utterly defeated without her children or any sort of job. The two friends live very different lives while Nora is trying to prove her worth and that she is a strong woman. Christine is trying to do everything she can to take her matters into her own hands and better her life.

Nora lives the life of a common stay at home house wife whose only responsibility is to her husband and their children. Nora has married a successful man name Torvald who is a head of a local bank and who provides and takes all responsibility for his house and everyone that falls under his roof. Torvald is a very dominant and ruling figure in the play. And because of his dominance Nora is left thinking little of herself. Questioning her self worth and wanting to prove that she is just as capable as her husband. She is the type of person that wants to feel needed and she needs to feel that she is independent too and could work on her own. This fire inside of her actually does help her in a past predicament, her husband was gravely ill. To a point where his condition could only be helped by going to a place with a higher temperature. Hearing this news Nora is quick to find a place that would help her dying husband. But Nora doesn't want her husband to know that his sickness is that serious so she lies to Torvald and tell him it is a family vacation. And she didn't want to share the cost and that this vacation was going to cost nearly five thousand dollars. Wanting to prove her own self worth Nora borrows money knowing this is totally against what her strict husband deems as right for a woman to do. But to do so she had to forge her father's signature. Forging a signature is still a great crime with great punishments. In the time and place of this play the level of intensity is held much higher than what it is today. She does this knowing her husband Torvald would greatly disapprove of her actions. But she continues on and holds the secret from everyone within the story. Then Christine her friend appears and in a boasting manner Nora confesses to Christine that she got the money all by herself to save her husband's life and he never knew and couldn't know.

Christine walks in a more difficult life. Her past has been troubled with trials and tribulations. Christine comes into the setting not having her children or a family. But goes to Nora looking for a chance to start her life over. She asks her friend Nora if she could possibly talk to her husband Torvald about giving Christine a job in his bank. Christine is now taking matters into her own hands and trying to improve her situation. Much like Nora, Christine needs the assistance from someone else. The two friends have many similar characteristics despite their completely different situations.

Nora is trouble by her own internal conflict. The trouble Nora is in, was all brought upon by herself. She knew borrowing money from a man was wrong she did it and now is left with the burden she brought on herself. Although Christine’s has physical financial problems. The two friends have two different backgrounds they are both really