Nora’s Character Development in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House Ibsen’s character Nora in A Doll’s House, shows gradual development throughout the play to support his theme that above all else, you are human; even in marriage both parties should be given the equal opportunities, rights and respect. While Nora may at first seem happy with her life inside her “doll house”, she begins to recognize that she must find herself, and stop being a toy in the lives of men. Nora’s growth could be described as a subtle process. It is not until the end of the play that she even decides to leave and seek out the life experience she needs to develop her own thoughts, ideas and actions. However, there are definitely many small instances within the …show more content…

She finally stands up for herself, and tells him to stop, which she had not done previously in the play. In the climax of the play, Torvald receives Krogstad’s letter about the loan Nora received, and the forgery of her dad’s signature to get it. Torvald does not defend her in any way, and completely lashes out on her. Once they find that Krogstad has freed them of anything they might owe him, Nora has a complete epiphany. Once Nora realizes that her own husband was willing to throw her away her honor to save his (whether she would have allowed him to or not), she knew that her life had never been the way she wanted it. When Nora is speaking to Torvald, she says, “Sit down. It’s going to take a long time. I’ve a lot to say to you” (3.1). Here, you immediately know that something in Nora has changed, because she gives Torvald a command, which never happens. Throughout their conversation, Nora speaks of how she how her father and Torvald have controlled her entire life, and that she needs her own experience, to create her own ideas and

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thoughts. Nora says, “our home has never been anything but a playroom. I’ve been your doll-wife, just as I used to be Papa’s doll-child. And the children have been my dolls” (3.1). Ibsen shows here that a marriage must be of equality, and when Nora decides to leave Torvald, she has a right to create her own life, instead of being thrown into someone else’s and used however he please. Nora’s character is