Nora

In the play A Doll's House, by Herink Ibsen, the main character is a young wife named Nora.  Nora is
symbolic of many things that have to do with gender roles in history. She is symbolic of a doll. Torvald
has a pretty plaything that will perform for him—sing songs, flit about, and provide him amusement
whenever he cares to play. Yet, when he tires of spending time with her, he puts her away—
metaphorically.  

Nora's Personality

Nora is a manipulative and deceitful character. Before the secret loan is ever mentioned, Nora is shown
eating macaroons, which Torvald has forbidden her from eating. She then denies having bought any
macaroons to Torvald’s face. She also attempts to use her good looks and “little squirrel” persona to
manipulate Torvald into doing things, such as giving Mrs. Linde a job and refraining from firing Krogstad.
However, Nora’s deceitfulness is not intentionally malicious, and her manipulations are a symptom of
her lack of power in her marriage. She feels that she must lie in order to protect her marriage. She fears
that if Torvald were to view her as competent and intelligent, then he would treat her differently. Prior
to Krogstad’s blackmail, Nora tells Mrs. Linde that she plans to tell Torvald about the loan when she has
aged and lost some of her beauty. She believes that he will love and respect her for saving his life. For
the time being, she is content to be Torvald’s “little squirrel” who dresses up and does “tricks” for him.

At start, Nora is shown as rather a submissive, childish woman, who enjoys being patronized, pampered
and treated like a defenseless animal. She seems happy and doesn’t seem to mind her husband calling
her a “little featherbrain”  

Nora’s character is thus a very complex one. She is cunning yet innocent, timid and insecure yet
extremely courageous, defenseless yet fiercely independent and manipulative and secretive in the
beginning but bold and direct towards the end. However, till her transformation, she seems to be
playing two roles- one of her true self and another of her husband’s doll. Thus, the weak, unassertive,
dependent and secretive part of herself is in reality her character as the doll, which she forsakes as soon
as she realizes that being Helmer’s doll is serving her no purpose, and doing her more harm than good.  
Nora is a symbol for confidence, and for every oppressed woman who is patronized and denied her
independence and self-identity.