Tuesday, 22nd of October, 2019 Middle Years Program-

4-Armstrong
English Language and Literature.
Unit Title: Drama Study. Play Title: A Doll’s House.

Written by: Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906)

Play Analysis (Act1)
Task: Read page no.1-10 of Act1 and keep a record of your brief
notes including:
 Characters
 Their spotted attributes
 Hints or Symbols

 Nora is cheerful about her husband’s promotion at job and wants a

change in her life. She wants to free herself from her old life when
she had to save every penny and had to rely on loans to keep the
stoves of her house burning. Her happiness can be seen when she
tells the porter to keep the change allowing him to keep the whole
shilling, when the change should’ve been half of this amount.
(To the Porter, taking out her purse) How much?
Porter: Sixpence.
Nora: There is a shilling. No, keep the change.

 Nora’s husband calls her by pet names such as skylark or my little

squirrel. This sounds sweet, but if looked at this with a critical eye
and keeping in mind the society’s idea about male dominance; it
proves to be a way of expressing himself as the dominant.
Helmer: Is that my little lark twittering out there?
Helmer: Is that my little squirrel bustling about?
Why not call her by her name, why not call her as his
 wife, is he too ashamed of it? And why use the word
“little”? This proves the fact.

 Torvald only comes to listen to his wife’s call when she says that she
has “bought” something, because it hurts him to know that a little
amount of his so called hard earned money has been used to what is
for himself. He can’t accept the hard truths of life that money is not
going to be saved forever and not be used for the necessities.
Nora: Come in here, Torvald, and see what I have bought.
Helmer: Don’t disturb me. (A little later, he opens the door and
looks into the room, pen in hand). Bought, did you say? All these
things? Has my little spendthrift been wasting money again?
“All these things Mr. Helmer are for you! “
 Torvald doesn’t like to be dependent on someone as it would be an
insult to his respect or dignity as a man. Borrowing money from
someone or taking help, according to him, would give him the traits
of a woman. This shows that at the time it was a perception that
women are the ones who are dependent upon others. This is shown
in the play as:
Nora: Pooh! We can borrow till then.
Helmer: Nora! (Goes up to her and takes her playfully by
the ear). The same little featherhead!
 Torvald uses Nora’s weakness, her greed for money, as his greatest
strength and as a means to control her when she is mad at him. The
most weird part about this is that Nora knows that to please her or
cheer her up, her husband would use money.
Helmer: (following her). Come, come, my little skylark must not
droop her wings. What is this! Is my little squirrel out of temper?
(Taking out his purse) Nora, what do you think I have got here?
Nora: (turning round quickly). Money!
 When Torvald gives Nora money, he feels rather heavy at heart and
makes sure that he has to do this as little as possible. His expressions
 can be seen:
Nora: (counting). Ten shillings-a pound-two pounds! Thank you,
thank you, Torvald; that will keep me going for a long time.
Helmer: Indeed it must. (analysis: This seems rather like a
command)
 There can be a little hint or symbol as to why Henrik Ibsen chose
Christmas Eve as the season in his play. As the New Year shows
both the cheerful holiday and the beginning of a new year in the life
of the Helmers. Christmas, as it would show the Christmas spirit
when families and friends join, and open the presents together.
Presents can be both people and gifts. Nora has been shown in the
true spirit of Christmas; buying presents for everyone. As shown:
Nora: Yes, yes, it will. But come here and let me show you what I
have bought. And ah so cheap! Look, here is a new suit for Ivar, and
a sword; and a horse and a trumpet for Bob; and a doll and a
dolly’s bedstead for Emmy- they are very plain, but anyway she will
soon break them in pieces. And here are dress-lengths and
handkerchiefs for the aids; old Anne ought really to have something
better.