Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House describes the awakening of Nora, a typical housewife in the Victorian era who enjoyed her ideal life as a little woman. Being the lighthearted woman who seems happy and innocent all the time, Nora hides secrets from her husband, Torvald, about her debt to Krogstad, a moral cripple. As we discovered further in the story, to retain his position at the bank, Krogstad blackmailed Nora to ask her to convince Torvald, the bank manager, to keep his position at the bank. After experiencing a series of traumatic problems, she finally awakens, discovering that she lives with a stranger who only cares about reputation; and decides to leave her house to learn and experience the world herself. This play ends with Nora leaving, her unknown future awaiting her outdoors, precarious and obscure, bringing her to face the world's reality. Nora’s seemingly naive personality is a result of society's expectations, yet, it is also a protection of her in the era, bringing her the perfect way to remain subsidiary and satisfy her husband’s so-called love towards her.
Being Torvald's ideal wife, Nora had to obey the rules her husband gave and had to follow the expectations society provided. In the Victorian era, people asked women to stay home and organize the house. Once married, a woman takes the responsibility of being a good wife and mother. Nora, a possession other than a human being, had to abide by the rules such as not eating sweets, never lying, and trying to entertain her husband. Not only did Nora have to stay home and take care of the children, but she also decorated the house and herself as the kind her husband admires. Her husband, treating her as a child, nicknamed her pet names—little squirrel, little skylark, little songbird—and Nora seems to be used to them. Even when Mrs. Linde asks Nora to get a job for her, Nora thinks of pleasing Torvald. Through the conversations between Nora and Helmer, Nora can’t stop saying how much she needs him, how she will be desperate without him, and how she is childish and clueless without Torvald’s help and advice. Since Nora was a child, she followed her father's expectations, pretending to never go against his wishes. Her obedience towards her father and her husband brings her a perfect peaceful house that satisfies her husband’s strong feelings and independence. Following the title, A Doll’s House, Nora is the doll of the house. She keeps on decorating and faking the perfect house, being the doll of the male characters, a tool to represent their independence and reputation in the era.
Staying childish and naive resulted in Nora’s ignorance about the world and her feeling of inadequacy. Staying home all the time, she relies on her husband for everything, which causes an unclear understanding of the intricate world and induces her to remain an asset to Torvald. Not having anything to worry about, she could spend money the way she likes. Just like Torvald said, every time she gets hold of any money, it seems to melt in her hands and disappears. In her opinion, when there is no money, she could borrow it because it wouldn’t matter whether or not they could not pay it back. It would not be her duty to pay back the money, and there would not be any pressure on her because she could not solve the problem anyways. Clueless about the society outside, Nora slowly develops thinking that she is silly and insignificant, while her husband is strong and independent. From time to time, her unsophisticated self seems satisfied by the living circumstances; her life appears happy and peaceful, and she puts a great effort into keeping the house pretty and appreciative of Torvald. Yet, due to her lack of knowledge about the world, everyone thought of her as a child—someone who has never experienced any burdens or troubles of life.
As the perfect wife of her husband—pretty, innocent, subordinate—Nora makes herself a facade to maintain their relationship. Knowing that her values are her youth and beauty, she understands how to gratify her husband. Her childlike character makes Torvald feel important and satisfies his need to be independent. To please him, she expresses how much she needs Torvald and gives him the impression that she is helpless without his help. Nora’s obedience brings her protection against society, pretending that everything is going as society expects, and creates an illusion that her life is peaceful and lovely. Slowly, the entertainment occurs daily, bringing Nora the mindset that she is ignorant, while her husband is powerful and necessary. The way she acts like a doll makes her hide under the mask, and everyone around her thinks she is innocent, helpless, and childish. Even if she has a faint idea that Doctor Rank likes her, she pretends to know nothing and continues their friendship as usual. Yet, though Nora does not know much about the world, she tries her best to be independent and work like a man. Due to the debt, Nora has to work to pay Krogstad without letting her husband know, afraid to ruin Torvald’s reputation. Her honor, because of society's expectations, becomes simply independent.
Living in the Victorian era, Nora develops a perfect self to satisfy society’s standards of women. Innocent and youthful, she seems like an ideal housewife who obeys rules regardless of her personal needs. Sacred duties of being a mother and a wife surpass herself, slowly making herself worthless. Except for being Torvald’s entertainment, Nora seems like a trifle. As if like a bird, Nora remains lovely. The owner remains cheerful when the bird behaves, but censures her when he faces any problems. Sometimes, she tries to fly out of her cage but gradually learns to lie and adjust her life. Nora’s happy mechanism brings peace to her house, forming the “perfect doll house”, but after experiencing the predicament of blackmail, she eventually awakens from her dream and has to face the gritty reality.
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