Book Review #2: A doll's house by Henrik Ibsen

A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen is a play about a poor lady named Nora who lives with someone who she think she loves named Torvald. Nora then sees the error of her ways and how she needs to find her own way when she sees that she is just a plaything in Torvald's life. It's a play about independence and is often seen as an early feminist work. The 5 major characters in this play would be Nora, Helmer (AKA: Torvald), Krogstad, Mrs.Linde (AKA: Christine) and Dr. Rank. Nora is Torvald's wife who is treated like a child by Torvald and leaves in the end to become independent. Helmer is Nora's husband and a lawyer who has been recently promoted. Krogstad is the man who Nora borrowed money from to pay for the trip to cure Torvald. Mrs.Linde is an old friend of Nora's and asks her to ask her husband for a job. Dr. Rank is Nora's secret admirer and Helmer's best friend who also has a spinal disease which he decides to announce at the end of the play.

Some important quotes:

• Krogstad: ""Do as you please. But let me tell you this- if i lose this position a second time, you shall lose yours with me."" -- means that he will do anything to keep his position at the bank including: ruining her marriage with Torvald, ruining her place in society and making her an outcast just like he is.
• Mrs. Linde: ""This unhappy secret must be disclosed; they must have a complete understanding between them, which is impossible with all the concealment and falsehood going on."" -- means that she wants to reveal the secret that Nora has kept from Torvald so that they may become closer and more true to each other.
• Nora: ""No, only merry. And you have always been so kind to me. But our home has been nothing but a playroom. I have been your doll/wife, just as at home i was papa's doll/child; and here the children have been my dolls. I thought it great fun when you played with me, just as they thought it great fun when i played with them. That is what our marriage has been, Torvald.""-- means that she feels like their marriage is nothing more than a game. The guy is just playing with her mind and emotions.

 The theme of the play would be:

• people may play tricks with your mind
• something you see as great may be just a fantasy

The significance of the opening scene would be to explain the situation between the Nora and Torvald. The opening scene implies that there will be problems between the 2 main characters because of the secret she has held from him for a while.

The significance of the closing scene would be to end the problem between Nora and Torvald by revealing the secret to Torvald; Nora finally realizes that their marriage has been a game and she was the pawn. The closing scene implies that she finally becomes independent.