Nora's Future (A Doll's House Essay)

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Nora’s Future In the dramatic work “A Doll’s House”, by Henry Ibsen, lead character Nora leaves her husband Torvald after eight years of marriage because he has found out about an indiscretion on her part that has the ability to tarnish his reputation in their tight knit community. Being a woman in the 1800’s meant that they had a strict set of unwritten social rules to follow. Nora was expected to be the image of perfection as it pertained to the duties of a woman - the immaculate homemaker, the ever loving mother and the subordinate and supportive wife to name a few. However, it was the role of the subordinate that was key to survival for women of that era, which is what Torvald believed that Nora disobeyed. With all of the social stigma that may have surrounded a divorced woman at that time, even though this was not discussed in the play, Nora’s life after leaving could have gone in several directions – including a hard to arrange and maintain remarriage or homelessness. However, it is very likely that Nora could have gone on to live a comfortable life without her husband because she was cunning, innovative and determined, all of which are the qualities needed to become successful. In life, one must display a certain level of quick wit and cunning to navigate through various situations, characteristics that Nora displays throughout the play. In the scene where Mrs. Linde tells Nora that she is back in town and looking for work, Nora uses her quick thinking and cunning to persuade Torvald to find a position for Mrs. Linde at the bank where he is the manger. Also in Act I, Nora uses her quick wit and cunning on Dr. Rank to keep him from passing on to Torvald the fact that she offered him macaroons when visiting, which is like “contraband” in their household (Act I, Scene 1, Line 18). Nora quickly states that the delicacies were a gift from Mrs.
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