House of Attraction

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House of Attraction: A Woman Under Control in Henrik Ibsen’s “A Dollhouse” Henrik Ibsen’s play “A Dollhouse” portrays the life of a woman who is afflicted by the rules and standards of society. Nora, the protagonist in the story, tries to find happiness and her true identity while struggling with the controlling nature of her husband Torvald. Throughout the play, Nora finds her true identity through fighting society’s oppression, searching for freedom, and revealing her past. Nora is undervalued and treated as a child by her husband because of her gender. Torvald’s relationship with his wife is based on control and appearances, and he manipulates his authority over her through money. He often scolds her about her inability to handle finances and make difficult decisions just “like a woman” does (Ibsen 1206). But even though Nora is fully dependent on Torvald, she manages to secretly take on house work so she can pay off a loan that initially saves his life and his job. Nora’s responsibility as a wife, according to her husband and society in general, is to take care of domestic life and her appearance, as well as to behave acceptably. Later in the story she blames both Torvald and her father for doing “a great sin against [her]” by preventing her from growing into a mature, independent woman (Ibsen 1247). Nora lives in a world where only appearances mater and she eventually refuses to keep on pretending that she is happy. While under control of domestic life, Nora can not find the freedom to lead her own life. In the beginning of the play, she anticipates paying off her debt and being “free fro care” which will allow her to “play/with the children” and to “keep the house beautifully” clean (Ibsen 1213). Nora looks forward to the new year which will be a fresh start for the entire family, giving her time for house responsibilities, thus pleasing her husband. But

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