A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen | Summary & Analysis

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Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth analysis of the plot, characters, symbols, and themes of Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House.
Download the free study guide and infographic for A Doll's House here: www.coursehero.com/lit/A-Doll...
The play’s feminist messages emerge through the story of Nora Helmer, a comfortably middle-class housewife who finds herself stifled by the repressive social mores of her social station.
Through conversations with a friend, it is revealed that she is struggling to repay a loan taken out earlier in her marriage to benevolent chauvinist Torvald.
Her lender, Krogstad, uses this knowledge in an attempt to extort her into convincing her husband to retain him as an employee at his bank. Torvald, however, fires him and he tells him that his wife has been lying about the source of the money.
Though Torvald ultimately forgives her, Nora rejects his paternalistic attitude and becomes one of the first stage heroines to leave her husband and strike out on her own-a remarkable decision for a woman of her era.
Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House was first performed in 1879 at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen. His emphasis on realism and social analysis made him the "father of modern drama." A Doll’s House is considered a touchstone in the development of realistic theatre and in 2001 was included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.
The play A Doll’s House contains many powerful symbols including birds, representing Nora’s flight to freedom and Torvald’s view of her; money, representing men’s control over women; and Tarantella, symbolizing Nora’s attempt to avoid revealing her secret. Important themes explored are sexism, the individual versus society, honesty, and self-awareness.
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I have an exam in 59mins😂

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not the man we asked for but the man we needed

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Same.

[@JWager]

This is the first time I had seem the play. I loved the actors! They were all perfect for their part. I have a connection with Nora, as I would of done what she did Love the plot and the outcome! Thanks for the eye opener!

[@venkateshalagappan293]

a whole three years ago and it still rings true

[@nolanrice9112]

I believe that Nora's tarantella dance is done so aggressively in the play more than just to amuse Torvald. When it happens in the play, it is a rehearsal of the dance right before the dance is performed at the Christmas party the Helmers are going to. And since it's a rehearsal, she doesn't need to really go all-out for the dance. She may be so fiery with it because she has to show her husband how hard she's been working to entertain him, but more importantly, this happens at a point in the play after Krogstad delivers his letter and right before Torvald goes to pick up his mail. So Nora has to dance so ferociously in an effort to distract him from getting his mail and the letter that can end their financial reputation. *She is literally dancing for her life!*

[@annablu]

You gave me some clue as to what to write for my summary thanks !

[@imoloves]

I also think that the ferociousness of Nora's tarantella really accentuates the frustration and confusion of the situation she's in after having found her efforts may well have been in vein. Symbolically, I reckon it's a representation of her current mental state as chaotic and longing for her freedom

[@jamierm3002]

I see the tarantella as more of a symbol of Nora and Torvald's relationship as a whole. When they were younger she learnt the dance in Italy (Ironically on their trip away), it represents their younger love and Nora's willingness to comply to Torvald's will. Now, she cannot dance the tarantella as well and dances much more wildly, showing her not giving in to him anymore, she subconsciously feels more free and wild

[@surenaemnm3724]

Nora dear, you dance as if your life depends upon it❤❤

[@nicoledyer6707]

I read it somewhere that the dance is suppose to be serving Torvald’s fantasy as he can dress her up and move her around as he pleases. However, Nora rebels against him with his own dance when she uses it to distract him and went behind his back > showing that she is not a just doll, but a person who has self acknowledge.

[@kyyush5357]

lol, i am basically just copying this and it cannot be traced back because i'm writing in norwegian lmao

[@HMASbogan]

I'm doing an essay on this in Australia

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@@HMASbogan omg same !! english lit?

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Awesome summary and analysis. This definitely reinforced my comprehension, thank you.

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My quiz is tmrw and I haven’t read my book and you just potentially saved my grade.

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So... How did you end up doing?

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Did you pass?

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[@sgcustodio]

I just read the play and I really liked it. But now I'm surprised of how much symbolism it has. I learned so much with this video and made me appreciate the genius of author. Thank you

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Did you pass?

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How have we chosen the exact shade of pink for our pfps lol

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[@theo4722]

I loved this video so much, it helped me understand better the play. I just don’t agree that Nora was trying to please her husband when dancing faster. I feel like she was trying to distract her husband so he could focus on helping her with the performance instead of work and consequently found the letter.

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I have to finish this book during the summer of 2022 cause next school year (when I am an IB Y1 student) in Modern Greek we would analyze it as soon as school started. You just made me have a predicted grade of 7 without even having started the IBDP! Thank you sir.

[@bobdal1946]

A very informative and insightful summary. Good job. I read the play in college, 57 years ago!, now I understand it a little better.

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[@jeffrey322]

Very good presentation. (All the books I was supposed to read and didn't in high school that I take great interest in decades later. TY!)

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Im studying for an exam i have about this play, and this was such a big help. lots of great perspectives and interesting themes. thank you so much, you have such a great voice wich makes it easier to listen to.

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Thank you!! I have to write about this for my final and you made this make so much more sense.

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Extremely well done video, it is so helpful. Thank you for making it

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Oh my God! This came up while i was looking for reviews of joss whedons doll house, it brought me strait back to my literature A level... And now im craving macaroons

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thanks alot you helped me so much in the modern drama exam ❤❤

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Thank you fr. I was cramming for an ELA final exam and this was great

[@dinithi8123]

I like krogstad than others becouse although he had known that nora fogged his father's sign he lent money to Nora. That's true he isn't motiveted money or desire to win the respect of society. Only he wanted love, understanding and honest

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Wooow!!! best summary ever!!! Thank you!

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I have an exam on drama in an hour. This helped so much

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Watched this whole thing so I can have a convo with a new friend about their interests

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Bojack horseman sent me here when Bojack said to Beatrice it's not Ibsen.

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what episode was that?

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@@notmn8210 S2 E1

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@@notmn8210 The "some alcohol, please" scene

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Please do a summary of Hamlet Shakespeare

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[@happy-composer]

What piece is playing in the background at around 6:30?

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Thanks it's very helpful

[@adararyum7226]

Funny background music for an analysis of a Norwegian play...

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[@cholien2585]

Thank you ❤️

[@lanakhaled9718]

The irony behind it all is; men with fragile masculinity, feel obligated to control women, the ’inferior’ gender, and all that does is drive women to become more independent. In Torvald’s mind, his duty as a man is training his wife to fit in a (inefficient) system where he thrives, and she gets a treat for obeying him. Moreover, he has to portray this figure of the “provider” however, in reality, it's the women that provide for their home, kids, and adhere to their husbands desires. Mothers, daughters, and wives like (Nora), continuously make discreet sacrifices for their loved ones, placing their own needs aside. To conclude; Behind every successful man stands a strong, loving woman.

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I have in exam in few hours and 9 of the grades are on this play tysm I didn't want to buy the book

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This novel used to show a translator and now no translator appears, why?

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thank goodness I am attending college in the 21st century

[@enesballa236]

Last Year I got called a sexist and mysogonist by my old Literature teacher who looked like Roz from Monsters Inc. because I haven' read this book. To this day I wonder how did she knew.

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watching this two hours before my leaving cert exam 😤😝

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same 🤓

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Bruh, got an essay due in 2 days and I got no clue what to write xD

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Hope it all worked out , I’m here for the same reason lol

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Did you pass?

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Well, It's not Horsin' around.

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From Bangladesh

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[@emiengagwe8008]

Exams around the corner 😅

[@juliablair5451]

I find it ironic Russell refers to all the male characters by their last name but refers to Mrs. Linde as Christine. Does she not deserve the same amount of respect?

[@skinnydunkster4622]

That’s how they are addressed in the play

[@Momo-hl9xh]

whats with the oriental background music

[@aroundworldnews]

why the silly music

[@yvesayrrosie741]

if you're here for school, reply "hatdog"

[@Choiangel.]

Hello am I the only one who is 11 or in the 6th grade :-:

[@imanhewamanage731]

grade 6?? were doing this in grade 11

[@Choiangel.]

Iman Hewamanage Oh wow, and yeah I’m in grade six

[@imanhewamanage731]

@@Choiangel. you must be having a hard time no cap

[@Choiangel.]

Iman Hewamanage Nah, I’m getting homeschooled about this (Cause of Covid) my parents are strict

[@imanhewamanage731]

@@Choiangel. oh shi, well hope you get A's lmao

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Pov: You are a literature student 😂

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#آداب المنيا 😂😂

[@Forthegirls999]

Christina needs to mind her own business, I see being jobless makes people nosy

[@majazmajapapaja]

When you can't find legit information on your language so you watch English videos ;-;

[@azrielackerman4659]

I feel like your interpretation of the falling action shows a pretty deep misunderstanding of why exactly Nora was disillussioned with Torvald. She expected him to throw his entire career and reputation into the bin to save her, taking full responsibility. When he didn't, and instead offered to abandon his moral principles in order to keep her from being arrested, she felt as though she was betrayed and Torvald was not her hero. To me I think this shows her immaturity; she decided to leave after her frankly unfair expectations of Torvald were not proven justified, and although Torvald doees indeed treat her as this "doll", it is her own manipulation that seemed to have caused it. There is no way of knowing what would have happened if she were honest about why she always needed money, but it is an undeniable fact that she took on this role of the doll in order to get his money. Either way, this video is a cripplingly boring and shallow interpretation of the play.

[@alexandres6293]

She did not "take on this role of the doll in order to get his money". THAT is a "shallow interpretation of the play" within itself as it's one the original audience would have taken were it not for the context and character development provided. If the late 19C audience can recognise Nora's overwhelming victimhood, your lack of sympathy becomes quite worrying.

[@azrielackerman4659]

@@alexandres6293 I'm not saying she isn't a victim, and it seems extremely weird to summarise my entire stance on this play over a single KZbin comment. The truth of the matter here is that, like people in real life, she is both the wrong and the wronged. Ultimately she is a character who has been robbed of her self and her identity for the most part, and that leads her to become disillusioned with what character is and how people behave. Is it her fault? No. Does it lead to her having unrealistic expectations and using this persona that is forced onto her for her own gain? Yeah. Does that make her a terrible person? No, life isn't as simple as that, and it certainly isn't as simple as "Oh no she's a victim". Ibsen himself said the play was more than a simple show of feminism, and it feels ignorant and boring to reduce it to that.

[@gascon861]

"Taking money in secret" , you mean stealing? She should've been thrown In jail.

[@EscargoTouChaud]

God help if students must actually think

[@Edgar10115]

Sir, why speaking so fast? Some non-native speakers are also listening to you.