Henrik Ibsen denied that it was his intention to write A Doll’s House as a feminist text, but the play has long been a favourite of feminist thinkers and activists. For them, it details a middle-class woman’s awakening to the lack of fulfilment in her life, and her husband’s apathyLack of interest or enthusiasm. . Many 19th Century women related fiercely to Nora’s assertion that “I have been your doll-wife, just as at home I was papa’s doll-child; and here the children have been my dolls”, as well as her decision to leave her family to honour her duties towards her own happiness at the end. But not everybody appreciated the Norwegian playwright’s 15th play: it was accompanied by a wave of controversy, with one of Ibsen’s agents even changing the ending to have Nora decide to stay with her family, in line with sensibilities of the time.
A Doll’s House
Henrik Ibsen denied that it was his intention to write A Doll's House as a feminist text, but the play has long been a favourite of feminist thinkers and activists. For them, it details a middle-class woman's awakening to the lack of fulfilment in her life, and her husband's apathyLack of interest or enthusiasm. . Many 19th Century women related fiercely to Nora's assertion that "I have been your doll-wife, just as at home I was papa's doll-child; and here the children have been my dolls", as well as her decision to leave her family to honour her duties towards her own happiness at the end. But not everybody appreciated the Norwegian playwright's 15th play: it was accompanied by a wave of controversy, with one of Ibsen's agents even changing the ending to have Nora decide to stay with her family, in line with sensibilities of the time.
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Torvald calls Nora his "little squirrel" and "little songbird", diminutives which infantiliseTreat like a child. and even dehumanise her. Kristine tells her that she is like a child. Despite the fact that she has guided her family through various hardships, including supervising moneyless Christmases and travelling to Italy to help Torvald recover from an illness, the other characters regard her as frivolousNot serious. . There is certainly no sign of songbird, squirrel nor infant in the firm, resolved woman who has her say with her husband in the final Act of the play, and the audience becomes aware of just how much Nora has been underestimated.
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Marriage is depicted as a patriarchalA society in which adult men have a monopoly on power. In these societies, men tend to hold all political positions, and women and children are also expected to obey the men in their families. institution which entrenches gendered norms and disempowers women. Whilst Torvald pursues his high-flying career, Nora is relegated to the role of wife and mother, and is afforded no identity beyond that by the people around her. At the play's conclusion she has realised that honouring her own subjectivity and being married are mutually incompatible.
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Money is the main hidden motivation throughout the play. Nora commits a crime in taking out a loan by forging her late father's signature; Krogstad blackmails Nora to get a promotion and thus a higher salary from Torvald; Torvald berates Nora, fearing that her actions will jeopardisePut in danger. his prospects and career. Yet money is rarely spoken about explicitly, and takes on a more symbolic role, representing the power that characters exert upon each other.
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Apathy - Lack of interest or enthusiasm.
Infantilise - Treat like a child.
Frivolous - Not serious.
Patriarchal - A society in which adult men have a monopoly on power. In these societies, men tend to hold all political positions, and women and children are also expected to obey the men in their families.
Shrewd - Showing good powers of judgement.
Discrepancy - Difference between how things should be and how they are, or between two things.
Jeopardise - Put in danger.
Claustrophobia - Fear of confined or closed spaces.
A Doll’s House

Glossary
Apathy - Lack of interest or enthusiasm.
Infantilise - Treat like a child.
Frivolous - Not serious.
Patriarchal - A society in which adult men have a monopoly on power. In these societies, men tend to hold all political positions, and women and children are also expected to obey the men in their families.
Shrewd - Showing good powers of judgement.
Discrepancy - Difference between how things should be and how they are, or between two things.
Jeopardise - Put in danger.
Claustrophobia - Fear of confined or closed spaces.