Characterization of Nora Helmer in "A Doll's House"

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Julia Wynands English 1705 EL05 Dr. Gary MacCoubrey 9 February 2013 The Characterization of Nora Helmer in A Doll’s House The protagonist in Henrik Isben’s “A Doll’s House”, Nora Helmer, is characterized through many different methods throughout the play. Her character is established primarily through her interactions with the other characters in the play, her actions, and her personal identity. Throughout the play, is it shown that Nora is quite child-like and very selfish, but eventually it is revealed that she has made great sacrifices in her life for the sake of others. Many of Nora’s character traits, such as her child-like behavior and need to please, are presented through her many interactions with her husband, Torvald Helmer, and her old friend, Mrs. Linde. Torvald refers to Nora by her real name only while scolding her, calling her by childish nicknames such as “my squirrel” and “my little skylark” (Ibsen 793). This shows the audience how he belittles and dehumanizes her. While one would think that that would hurt her feelings and make her feel insignificant, she seems to enjoy it. As argued by Unni Langås, she goes long with it in order to do what she seems to spend most of her life doing, which is “to please him and manipulate him” (Langås 162). Nora is commonly perceived as childish, which is emphasized when Mrs. Linde points out that Nora has gone through very little hardships throughout her life, saying: “How kind you are, Nora, to be so anxious to help me! It is doubly kind in you, for you know so little of the burdens and troubles of life … My dear! Small household cares and that sort of thing! – You are a child, Nora” (Ibsen 799). When Mrs. Linde says this, Nora becomes defensive, feeling the need to prove that “[she] too [has] something to be proud and glad of” (Ibsen 799). These are just a couple instances that demonstrate, through
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