What Is The Importance of The Title of The Play?

1. What is the importance of the title of the play?
The importance of the title of the play “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen, is that it
foreshadows the elements where the setting take place in Helmer’s household. Moreover, it
was likely to uncover the real role that Nora plays within her family; that of a mere
entertainer to her husband and children. The word “doll” has been used in the title rather than
ironic manner. The “doll” symbolizes passivity, beauty and the feminine nature which can be
seen in Nora when we looked at her from the outside. It is true, from Helmer’ point of view,
who is normally a general possessive husband, Nora the doll is something like a lifeless
object in which he can play and appreciate it. In the end of the play, Nora effectively moves
away from the role of a “doll” and started to move on become a fully-grown and a real
woman.
2. How would you describe the relationship between Helmer and Nora?
At the beginning of the play, Nora and Helmer seems to have a happy marriage,
although it is quite a childish relationship as Helmer often use sweet nicknames such as
“songbird”, “squirrel” and so forth whenever having a conversation with Nora. Even in the
first act, there is something off about their relationship. Helmer sees Nora more as a child
than as a grown woman, scolding her for eating too much of macaroons and withholding the
money from her even though she contributes money to the household with part-time work.
Nora admits that, she doesn’t mind being treated like a doll by Helmer, liked being his
possession and being called cute nicknames. However, by the end of the play Nora seems to
have changed. The way Nora speaks changes from being a young girl to a grown woman and
finally she leaves Helmer.
3. Describe the changes in Nora as the play progresses. Do you think the transformation
is realistic?
The development of Nora’s characteristics changes as the play progresses and her
transformation is realistic. Because at the early of the play, Nora allows Helmer to play down
her by calling “pet” names and endures his comments such as “You’re an odd little one.”
Helmer treats his wife like a child in the first act, where Nora smiles and plays the part of his
“little lark”. But however, in the third act, Nora learns the truth about the marriage and said
“You don’t understand me. And I’ve never understood you either-until tonight. No don’t
interrupt. You can just listen to what I say.” It is clear in the first act that Nora didn’t have
much courage or confidence in herself. But as the play progress and its transformation, she
proved and made her husband listen to her, and leaves Helmer.
4. Relate the following passage to the larger context of the play and comment on its
connection with one of the emerging themes/issues of the play (e.g. gender, identity,
social class and money, morality, inheritance, disease).
NORA. ……….. I told him how much I should love to travel abroad like other young
wives; I tried tears and entreaties with him; I told him that he ought to remember the
condition I was in, and that he ought to be kind and indulgent to me; I even hinted
that he might raise a loan. That nearly made him angry, Christine. He said I was
thoughtless, and that it was his duty as my husband not to indulge me in my whims
and caprices--as I believe he called them………….
MRS. LINDE. And since then have you never told your secret to your husband?
NORA. Good Heavens, no! How could you think so? A man who has such strong
opinions about these things! And besides, how painful and humiliating it would be for
Torvald, with his manly independence, to know that he owed me anything! It would
upset our mutual relations altogether; our beautiful happy home would no longer be
what it is now.
Based on the passage to the larger context of the play, it can be seen that Nora is
looking for the loan and wants to let Helmer know of what she wants in her life: “I told him
how much I should love to travel abroad like other young wives; I tried tears and entreaties
with him.” It shows that woman in that era was expected to be independent and that is the
reason Nora doesn’t want to bother Helmer with her thoughts because she already knows
what Helmer was going to say. “He said I was thoughtless, and that it was his duty as my
husband not to indulge me in my whims and caprices--as I believed he call them.” This
context relates to gender, where the society should know and how women was seen as
independent and a women of a house.
NAME: VISHALATCHI A/P VELLAKANNU
MATRIC NUMBER: MC 180106058
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 22nd OCTOBER 2019
SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE IN ENGLISH 2 (ESLB2063)
LECTURER: DR. MALLIKA VASUGI A/P V. GOVINDARAJOO
TITLE: ASSIGNMENT 3 – A DOLL’S HOUSE (INDIVIDUAL)

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1. What is the importance of the title of the play?

MATRIC NUMBER: MC 180106058

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 22nd OCTOBER 2019

SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE IN ENGLISH 2 (ESLB2063)

LECTURER: DR. MALLIKA VASUGI A/P V. GOVINDARAJOO

TITLE: ASSIGNMENT 3 – A DOLL’S HOUSE (INDIVIDUAL)

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