Doll House Analysis

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A Doll House Project #2-DRAMATIC STRUCTURE/ MAIN IDEA Meghan Sigwarth March 12, 2008 From the start, the title, A Doll House, evokes images of a beautiful, picture perfect house with a model family to live the charmed life. In this play the word doll is used metaphorically to help describe Nora, the play’s main character and protagonist. It is her story, and it is in her that we see the most significant change. Now people play with dolls to explore their imaginations and escape reality, but Nora actually lives in that false reality, a plastic little Barbie to entertain her husband Torvald. Similarly, as a doll can’t talk or hold opinions, Nora is not allowed to show her true feelings and must pretend everything is perfect to make “Torvald darling” happy. Interestingly enough, there is a notice at the beginning of the play to not use the possessive “A Doll’s House” because “the house is not Nora’s, as the possessive implies.” She lives in a man’s world, with man’s law. She is trapped in that house, and in that false sense of reality. But the foundation of the house does have some cracks. Some ideas of what the universal dramatic action of the play might be include: the discovery of the truth, the destruction, and ultimately, the transformation. The discovery only happens towards the end of the play though, therefore, it isn’t a consistent driving force behind the play. Actually, much of the play is about hiding the truth and making sure the secret isn’t uncovered. Putting up a façade. Nora talks about what to wear to the next masquerade party and Dr. Rank tells them to go as “Charmed Life.” The destruction is a more constant dramatic action throughout A Doll House. There is the obvious destruction of Nora and Torvald’s relationship at the end

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