1. In what ways does Ibsen
show Nora Helmer to fulfil the role of the Victorian woman?
She has fulfilled her duty of being a housewife since
she takes good care of the house decorations for Christmas, and good care for
her children. The degree of how much she cares for her children is showed through
her intention of leaving, “they would forget their Mummy if she went away for
good?”Although the idea from Torvald is abstract, she takes it literally due to
women’s lack of assess to proper education within the Victorian society. The
idea makes her put the children in priority over her again (previously she puts
Torvald in the first priority to save him) showing how the she has fulfilled
her duty of good care towards the family and giving the best environment for
her children by leaving them since she thinks she can “corrupt my children”.
2. In what ways does she not
adhere to the role?
She hides secrets from her husband who is supposed to
get complete control over the household. The secret creates a sense of
untruthfulness within her character and thus is considered to be a not obedient
wife which escapes the Victorian ideology for women.
3. In what ways does Ibsen
develop Nora’s character to present her complexity? In what ways might this
have been a challenge to the audience of the period it was written in?
Her complexity: From Act One, the audience sees Nora’s
change of attitude after the blackmail from Krogstad. She becomes more anxious
and the fact that Torvald adds the idea of “corrupt my children” turns her
upside down. Her confusion in herself as well as the confusion of being
discovered by Torvald soon adds dramatic tension and dramatic irony to Act Two.
In Act Two, her actions are restless and her inner conflicts are shown during
conversations such as with Dr.Rank, Nursemaid and Torvald. As a result, the
audience can witness Nora as a typical Victorian woman, who knows nothing and
acts childishly now builds up anxiety, confusion and desperation.
The audience from that period will be shocked as they
would not usually consider the characteristics of a woman to be complicated due
to their view on how women are similar to children. Therefore, the realisation
within the audience may not be taken in quickly but shocks the audience. The
reality needs to time to be accepted by audience.
4. What elements might have
shocked a Victorian audience in Act 2?
·
How she wants to leave the house without consulting with
Torvald – women do not have power to influence men in the society and are not
expected to be involved in men’s business.
·
Her insistence on letting Krogstad stay and how she calls him
“petty” – women are not supposed to devalue a men’s pride
·
How she lets Dr. Rank see her stockings and “a bit higher up”
– a married woman cannot show her inner stockings to other men
·
She knows about Dr. Rank liking her but completely ignores it
– a married woman has to stay loyal to the man she married (has to avoid Dr.
Rank from the start and even getting timid to him showing her selfish
motivation since she does not care how Dr. Rank’s feelings will develop later
on)
5. Does Ibsen build empathy
for Nora in Act 2? If so, in what ways?
Ibsen builds sympathy for Nora in Act 2 for contemporary
audience as modern perspective is open-minded and fair. The audience will feel
the same way as Nora if they are to be put into her position which makes her
motivation comprehensive. Moreover, her motivation to go against the ideology is
due to her priority to her family members which shows the good characteristics
of Nora however, being denied in the play and cannot be considered in a wide
range of perspectives.
The Victorian audience will not feel sympathy for her
from the start due to the strict Victorian ideology of women. They would be
upset with Nora from the beginning of the play due to her dishonest and
disobedience towards her husband and the audience thus would await the
punishment for her instead of empathising.
6. Ibsen parallels some
themes with other subplots in the play for example lies and deception, breaking
the law, poisoning one’s offspring, if someone goes away – everyone will soon
get used to it. Name which parts in the play it occurs and the effects it has
on the audience.
·
Lies & Deception: Macaroons, Secret of her borrowing
money, Lying some part of the secret to Linde
·
Breaking the law: during the first conversation between Nora
and Krogstad
·
Poisoning one’s offspring: When Nora first insists Torvald to
let Krogstad stay in the bank and Torvald refused
·
If someone goes away – everyone will soon get used to it:
during Nora’s conversation with the nursemaid and Dr. Rank in Act 2
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