Dolls House

Dolls House

A Doll’s House: Act 1
By Henrik Ibsen

    After reading Act 1 of A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, I noticed numerous facts about the theme and plot of the story. I also have a few thoughts about the structure and overall writing style the author used. It was easy for me to determine these specifics due to the fact that Ibsen wrote clearly and very straight to the point. This first Act allowed me to interpret my own ideas as to what the other two would be like. Although this play mainly has to do with finances, already after reading this short act, it has me going into a suspense as to what will occur next in Nora’s “perfect” life and what wrong decision she will intend to make next.
    In the first act, I noticed how in great detail the author described the role of women in that play and the differences between the male and female responsibilities.   Men, according to Ibsen, were the ones that worked to provide for their households. Not only that, but they also controlled their wives and did not have much communication with their children. It seems as though men were superior to women and only they have the ability to choose the decisions they make in not only finances but other things as well. Women, on the other hand, were considered to be the cheery support for their husbands and provide clothing and furniture for their house, just like Nora does in the first act. She, unlike any other woman in that era, provided for the children sometimes only because they had maids and nurses to care for the household. Overall, it seems to me that women were there for the comfort and dependency of the men, like Nora and Helmer portray in Act 1.
    In Part 1, I noticed a few symbols that signify some important issues going on in the house. One of which included the Christmas tree Nora began decorating. This symbolizes her stand in the family and her enthusiasm for it only shows how much that position means to her. She is excited for it because she gets to choose...