Doll's House Is a Three-Act Essay

Linde: Come, come-

Nora: - that I have gone through nothing in this world of cares.

Mrs. Linde: But my dear Nora, you have just told me all your troubles.

Nora: Pooh! -- those were trifles (lowering her voice) I have not told you the important thing (20).

We see Torvald's side of the deception in Act Three after he learns of Nora's forgery and Krogstad's ability to expose her. The conversations Thorvald has had during the previous two Acts show us that he is really only attracted to Nora because of her beauty and the social status that will glean him in society. He notes, "From now on, forget happiness. Now it's just about saving the remains, the wreckage, the appearance," showing us that all he really cares about it he own social status and reputation, naught for Nora. Essentially, Nora's forgery is the epitome of their disenfranchised and deceitful marriage -- Nora's forgery proves Torvald not to be the fine, upstanding businessman he purports to be, but instead, a weak and immoral man that would rather hide than take responsibility. For instance, Nora states with an exasperated tone, "We have been married eight years. Doe it not strike you that this is the first time we two, you and I, man and wife, have talked together seriously?" (116).

Nevertheless, we should not just blame Torvald for the deception. Nora deceives as well, as we have seen, and even early on in the play when she makes her passionate plea to hire Krogstad's, knowing full well that she is not qualified for the position.Nora's relationship with Dr. Rank also reiterates how lies impact the plot and characters. When the doctor admits his love for Nora, the audience senses that Nora is flattered and even welcomes this attention, another detail that her fidelity to her husband is a sham.

Finally, it is ironic that it is actually lies that allow Nora to gain freedom and no longer live a life focused on deception. Symbolically, she changes from a ball gown, the toast of the town, beauty and glamor, to an ordinary dress -- changing into an empowered woman. . Unlike other women of her time, she works to earn money to pay back the loan that saved her husband's life. Although she does commit forgery, these acts allow her to leave her husband and children and focus on herself. Thus, it is within the lie that the truth emerges; and perhaps it is the nature of the lie that has kept Nora downtrodden. Her reasons are her own, but certainly somewhat societally imposed, and it is that very imposition that allows one to feel more compassion for her choices as opposed to the other characters.

REFERENCES

Ibsen, H. A Doll's House. Clayton, DE: Prestwick House, 2005.

Unwin, S. Ibsen's A Doll's….....