Henrik Ibsen’s title A Doll’s House is a perfect and appropriate description of Nora’s life and dilemma she experiences in finding herself. A doll is an inanimate object and a playful toy to please its owner. As discussed in class, a doll is always in the manipulative hands of another being. Though the doll may have all the possessions and physical attributes it desires, a doll symbolizes a lifeless being because it lacks the freedom to make its own decisions. Nora frees herself of being captive in a “doll’s house” by deciding to accept the reality of her true life.
The interactions between Nora and her husband clearly depict the absence of a mutually respecting relationship. Almost all her life, Nora had been pretending that her life was complete with a loving husband. When Torvald and Kristine interact with Nora, her dreamlike and fanciful “doll-house” life suddenly vanishes, as she opens her eyes to the bitterness of reality. The unselfish and naive Nora finally accepts her false life from pretending to becoming happy. Instead of confronting her husband about her feelings, she continued to live in denial to feed her figment of self-contentment. This sadly gave Torvald the wrong impression. Unbeknownst to him about how disrespectful he had been, Torvald continues to take advantage of Nora until the bond of their love for each other finally fragmented, forcing her to walk away from the illusion of a perfect marriage. The song “Pretend” by Secondhand Serenade echoes what I believe Nora was experiencing as she realized that Torvald was not whom she had dreamt, especially the song lines, “Your eyes, telling me lies / And making me find myself / While you have your agenda, a life to pursue / So please, / Let me be free from you. / And please, let me be free / I can face the truth.” (Full lyrics at the end)
Deception was instrumental to the plot of Ibsen’s story. This play similarly reminds me of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave.” The plot incorporates the exposure from an idealistic lifestyle (manufactured truth / false reality) to an understanding of a character’s dilemma and position (absolute truth). Nora had lived a life of self-deceit, in which she pretended to be happy and satisfied to keep herself sane in order to deny herself from realizing that her marriage is unfulfilling and broken. Torvald and Nora perceived a happy life of love, until Kristine and Krogstad introduced them to the reality of their actual relationship. Nora’s realization of the false life she had endured symbolizes the prisoner’s ascension to the light of true reality. Like Plato’s cave dweller in his first glimpse of the sun (absolute reality), Nora could not manage the harshness and blinding realization of her life and broken marriage.
Kristine and Krogstad help Nora. Though some may deem their actions nefarious because they were the catalysts to the destruction of Nora’s marriage, they also help wake Nora from her illusory perfect world. Kristine helps and supports the blinded Nora to follow her true desires and to free herself from her manipulated life. If Kristine had allowed Krogstad to retrieve the letter and permit her friend to continue living her fanciful life, Nora would continue to be the victim of a marriage without substances. Krogstad was influential in Nora’s realization in that he revealed to her the blinding effect money has on a person. Previously, Nora was misguided by money and thought she lived happily with her husband; however, she did not realize her husband’s obsession of work, money, and pride that influenced his behavior towards her. Fortunately, with her friend’s support, Nora is able to leave the “doll’s house” with the door slamming behind her as she steps into a world of reality. (628)
Pretend – Secondhand Serenade http://youtube.com/watch?v=5CC3hOqOkjM
It seems all of these words couldn't be further from the truth
How did I get here?
What did I do?
Your eyes, telling me lies
And making me find myself
While you have your agenda, a life to pursue
So please,
Let me be free from you.
And please, let me be free
I can face the truth.
I'm blind to all of your colors
That used to be rainbow then
My eyes, where did the go to?
Why disappear?
It's hard to be all alone
I never got through your disguise
I guess I'll just go, and face all my fear
So please,
Let me be free from you
And please, let me be free
I can face the truth.
Put down your world
Just for one night
Pick me again
So please,
Let me be free from you
And please, let me be free
I can face the truth
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4 comments:
Richard--thanks. I agree that the song fits in very well with the theme of the play, especially the lines about lies, facing the truth, and being all alone to face the fear. Those images capture Nora's predicament pretty well. Good catch!
It's been a long time since I read Plato, so I can't remember if the cave-dweller was in denial as much as Nora was, but the line about the blinding realization makes sense to me.
Good post.
Wow, as always, you're so insightful! I liked how you intertwined Plato's Allegory into the theme of deception. this was really interesting to read and amazing. Kudos
Julia
Hey Richard,
I REALLY liked your post! I thought you delved really deep into the story and brought up a lot of points I had not thought of. I always thought Kristine was a little out of line for causing the truth to come to light, but as you pointed out, had she not done so, Nora would have continued to live on unhappy and illusioned. You also pointed out how strongly the story alligned with the alegory of the cave. That was a really cool way to put it.
You made a lot of strong points, and I really like the song at the end. I'm listening to it on youtube right now :)
Nice job!
-Pipes
On this day I must bid my aristocratic counterparts farewell. I shall not go into detail of what has driven me to such action, but it was the topic of Gary’s speech. I have authored a brief, might you say, rebuttal, which can be read here.
Jane Austen (48)
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