Archive: A Doll's House

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Plot Summary
A Doll's House begins on Christmas Eve. Nora Is carrying the presents into the living room when Torvald enters. At first he greets her affectionatly, but after he sees all of the presents, he scolds her for wasting money. Torvald is tight with his money, but since he got a new job at the bank, Nora decides to spend a little bit for Christmas.

Helene, the maid, then enters and tells Torvald that Dr. Rank has arrived. After Torvald leaves the room, another guest, Mrs. Linde, Nora's friend, arrives.As they talk and catch up with what has happened since they were last together, Nora reveals a secret to Mrs. Linde and tells her that she illegally borrowed money from the bank without Torvald's knowledge. Torvald believed that the money was from her father, when really they were in debt.

Krostad then arrives, which makes Nora uneasy. Krogstad tells Nora that Torvald is planning on firing him from the bank and that if he does, then he will reveal Nora's secret to him. Krogstad now begins to blackmail Nora and force her to change Torvald's mind.

The next day is Christmas and Nora was getting ready for the ball at the neighbors house. After Torvald leaves, Mr. Rank tells Nora that death is near. Krogstad then enters and tells Nora that he has been fired, and puts a letter in the letterbox for Torvald to read, that explains everything. In panic, Nora has to get the letter from the letterbox before Torvald reads it.

The next night is the costume party. There, Mrs. Linde and Krogstad meet again and regconize one another. Before Mrs. Linde married, she was in love with Krogstad, but had left him for a wealthier man. After meeting back up, Krogstad is overjoyed and says he will get his letter back, but it is too late.

After Nora and Torvald arrive home Torvald reads the letter and is outraged. He then begins to insult Nora and Nora tells him that she is no longer a doll to be played with, and leaves Torvald.

Characters
Nora-the protagonist and wife of Torvald Helmer who is very unhappy.

Torvald Helmer-Nora's husband who treats her like a child or a doll that he uses. He also get s a new job at the bank.

Krogstad-a lawyer who went to school with Torvald.

Mrs.Line- Nora's childhood friend whom comes over to ask Torvald for a job.

Dr.Rank-Torvald's best friend

Bob, Emmy, and Ivar- Torvald and Nora's children

Anne-Marie- the Helmer's nanny

Nora's father-is dead before the play begins, but is refered to throughout the play.

Analysis
A Doll's House is a play written about a young woman named Nora who is treated like a "doll" by her husband. Finally, she gets tired of being used insulted, so she leaves his a few days after Christmas

Themes
The Sacrificial Role of Women Women, such as Nora are sometimes Sacrificed in order to survive and tend to others needs. In the novel, the nanny sacrificed her time with her child, and her time in general to take care of Nora and her children in order to make money to support her own family.

Motifs
Letters Throughout the novel it mentions letters and people writing letters to each other, such as Krogstad who wrote two letters to Torvald Helmer. One that reveals the forgery and one that retracts the blackmail note. These letters end up causing trouble throughout the book and end the end cause Nora to leave Torvald.

Symbols
New Year’s Day Torvald and Nora always look forward to New Year's Day, this is the start of a new life for them now that he will start a new job. But in the end of the play, they both change and become new people and Nora ends up leaving Torvald.

Reviews
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dollhouse/characters.html

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dollhouse/summary.html

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dollhouse/themes.html

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dollhouse/themes.html

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dollhouse/themes.html