Group Members: Scarlett, Sofia, Angela, Natalie, Anderson

A Doll’s House
IB English HL 1: Dialectical Journal

Dialectical Journal: A formal log that catalogs the conversation between the author and the reader of a text. Also
referred to as a reader-response journal or a double-entry journal.

Directions: Use the following chart to record your evidence while analyzing the play. Your goal is to accurately
identify multiple themes throughout the text, as well as how the author relates those to the audience using
intentional craft and technique. There should be AT LEAST THREE pieces of evidence for each theme, and
commentary should be in the form of brief bullet points on each piece of evidence.

If you are struggling with craft & technique, revisit these notes: Introduction to Drama

Theme Statements Textual Evidence Commentary on Evidence

Including Speaker & Citation & Analysis of Craft

In Ibsen’s “If your squirrel were to ask you for #girlboss

enlightening play, A something very, very #slayqueen
Doll’s House, he prettily---Would you do it? Your Ibsen utilized metaphors to show how Nora was
reveals women’s squirrel would run about and do all acting like a poor helpless animal in order to
tendency to her tricks if you would be nice and manipulate her husband into complying with her
manipulate those do what she wants” (Ibsen 34). wishes. Nora used her influence for her own
with power as well needs because she wanted Torvald to reinstate
as their emotional “Yes, [I’m] so dreadfully afraid of Krogstad so Nora wouldn’t be caught in her
strength to disprove [dancing]...You must coach me up to crime.
the false claims of the last minute. Promise me that,
male superiority. Torvald!” (Ibsen 48-49). Nora acted frightful and timid to gain sympathy
from Torvald. She made it seem like she was a
“Do you suppose I didn’t try, first of poor helpless animal to make Torvald pity her
all, to get what I wanted as if it were and only focus on teaching his wife rather than
for myself? I told him how much I checking his letters.
should love to travel abroad like
other young wives; I tried tears and In order to save her husband, Nora attempted to
entreaties with him…” (Ibsen 11). manipulate Torvald into agreeing to travel so that
he would willingly agree to do it. She used her
“You shall not suffer for my sake. influence over Torvald to get him to make a
You shall not take it upon yourself” decision that she favored.
(Ibsen 62).
Nora was willing to run away and leave her
Torvald “...No man would sacrifice family all in order to save them and let them still
his honor for the one he loves” live a happy life. It reveals the emotional strength
(Ibsen 70). she possesses that is necessary to make such a
Nora: “It is a thing hundreds of sacrifice.
thousands of women have done”
(Ibsen 70). Torvald admits that a man would never give up
his reputation in order to save his wife,
Maybe page 20 meanwhile women everywhere give up their own

Sofia Nora:
In Henrik Ibsen's 1."Here I have been your doll wife,
play, A Doll's just as at home I used to be papa's
House, he explores doll child" (Ibsen 63).
the negative impact 2."I must try and educate myself"
of indoctrination on (Ibsen 63).
the vulnerable which 3."When I was at home with papa,
leads them to he told me his opinions about
become fragile everything, and so I had the same
creatures. opinions; and if I differed from him
I concealed the fact, because he
would not have liked it" (Ibsen 62).
4."I mean that I was simply
transferred from papa's hands into
yours. You arranged everything
according to your own taste, and so I
got the same tastes as your else I
pretended to" (Ibsen 63).
5."
Dr Rank
Angela Nora: “[going to the table on the
In the play A Doll’s right] I should not think of going
House, Henrik Ibsen against your wishes” (Ibsen 7).
criticizes this time
period as the Helmer: “My little songbird must
females are forced to never do that again. A songbird must it is right but she is unwilling to follow it. The
conform to gender have a clean beak to chirp with– no author uses this understatement in order to
norms false notes!” (Ibsen 26)
Mrs Linde: “a wife cannot borrow
without her husband’s consent”
(Ibsen 13)
all for their husbands. Ibsen is showing the
mental superiority that women have that allows
them to make the decision of giving up their
honor for the sake of others.
1.When she was younger Nora was treated by her
father as a plaything rather than a human being
and as she got older and got married to Torvald
the treatment still continued. She had never been
able to think for herself and the men in her life
treated her as unequal to them.
2. Due to the indoctrination and oppression she
faced while living with both Torvald and her
father she did not have the chance to educate
herself and therefore never had any actual
opinions or original views. This also pertains to
her not knowing the law because she was not
educated leaving her having to depend on others.
3.Opinions of her father were forced on her and
she was unable to have any differing opinions let
alone voice them. She was conditioned growing
up to not formulate any views or opinions that
went against the leading male figures in her life,
the opinions of her dad oppressed her leaving her
to become
4. Nora never lived on her own and due to that
she had to depend on her husband and her father
to build her chracater. Nora never had the chance
to find her own taste or opinions as she was just
passed from an oppressing man to another
oppressing man.
Nora lies about eating macarons to Torvald and
walks away as she says that she would “not think
of going against [his] wishes” (Ibsen 7).
However, her walking away shows that she may
be feeling guilty of what she said for she knows
illustrate how Nora may be scared to voice the
truth in front of Torvald, afraid of what he might
say or do to her.
Torvald Helmer demands his wife to act a certain
way, showing the male superiority over the
female gender. The tone he uses to speak to Nora
shows that he is displeased with the way she has
acted. Torvald expects Nora to be pure with “no
false notes” and degrades her when she goes

In Henrik Ibsens
play, A Dolls House, “No this is all over. All that
he contrasts the concerns us is to save the
different forms of remains, the fragments, the
male and female appearance” (Ibsen 60)
relationships
through the outcome “ we have been married now
of a destructive eight years. Does it not occur to
relationship and the you that this is the first time we
start of a healthy two, you and I, husband and
relationship. wife, have had a serious
conversation?......that is just it:
you have never understood me. ”
(Ibsen 62)
Tourville it was then it dawned
upon me that for eight years I
have been living here with a
stranger man, and had borne him
three children.” (Ibsen 66)
Mrs. Linde: Nils, suppose we two
shipwrecked souls could join
hands?
Krogstad: What are you saying?
Mrs. Linde: Castaways have a
better chance of survival together
than on their own.(Ibsen 50)
Nora:he left you nothing?
Mrs. Linde: No.
Nora: and no children ?
Mrs. Linde: No.
Nora: Nothing at all, then?
Mrs. Linde: Not even any sorrow
or grief to live upon (Ibsen 9)
In Henrik Ibsen’s Helmer: “For I suppose you have
revolutionary play, A
against his wishes.
Hearing of what Nora did for her husband,
Cristin did not praise her for her actions but
criticized her. Nora’s action to save her husband's
life did not matter because she didn’t have “her
husband’s consent” before borrowing money.
(Ibsen 26). In this quote, Ibsen shows us of the
unfair treatment that Nora is faced with for what
she has done, creating compassion towards her
character.
Quotes 1-3: Nora and tourvilles relationship
● It appears as love but is a relationship to
serve each other's wants. Nora is to care
for Turvald and the kids. While torvald is
to provide and shelter Nora. Yet, this
sheltering and need to control her
prevents them from having a true
connection or really knowing each others
true self
● They are married and live together but
Tourville doesn’t take Nora seriously or
think of her as a human so he doesn’t take
the time to get to know or understand her
Quotes 4 and 5: Mrs. Linde and krogstad
● They had a past relationship but she left
him for Mr. Linde because he had money
and for the sake of her mother and kids
she needed to put her through feelings
aside and leave Krogstad
● Then when she no longer needed to tend
to her children or mother she went back
to Krogstad seeking a second chance
because now they both need each other
● They also both truly love each other
unlike Nora and Tourville
Helmer, portrayed as evil throughout the
Doll’s House, he some moral feeling?” (Ibsen 45)
examines the decay
of moral values Helmer: “all your father's want of
through a positive
principle you have inherited- no
lens
religion, no morality, no sense of
duty. How I am punished for
screening him! I did it for your
sake; and you reward me like
this.” (Ibsen 39).
Helmer: “Oh! what an awful
awakening! During
all these eight years- she who
was my pride and myjoy- a
hypocrite, a liar- worse, worse- a
criminal. Oh, the unfathomable
hideousness of it all! Ugh! Ugh!”
(Ibsen 39)
story, is claiming that Nora has no moral
compass. By Ibsen painting Helmer as a
force of negative who actively hates his wife
for having no moral compass, he promotes
the idea that adhering to the old standards of
morality is a negative.
Helmer continues this trend of insulting Nora
for her lack of moral compass. By Ibsen
continuing to have characters, which are
generally seen as antagonists, belittle Nora,
he continues to promote the idea that the
general decay of the old moral system is a
positive.
Ibsen’s slander against the old moral
compass is continued through Helmer’s
disdain. Specifically, he is upset with his wife
for being a criminal more so than her being
morally decrepit, showing Ibsen’s disdain
with the old system.

Critical Theory of Investigation: Moral Theory

Critical Theory Question & Textual Evidence Analysis of Evidence

Answer: Including Speaker & Citation

What is the author’s
conception of good and
evil? And what does the
work say about the nature
of good or evil? Is good
rewarded? Is evil
punished?
Ibsen shows that the
concept of goodness
depends on the intentions
of someone rather than
their actions. He is
showing that even though
“The law cares nothing about
motives” (Ibsen 24).
“Is a daughter not to be allowed to
spare her dying father anxiety and
care? Is a wife not to be allowed to
save her husband’s life? I don’t know
much about law, but I am certain that
there must be laws permitting such
things as that” (Ibsen 24).
“I know that what you did you did out Ibsen reveals that there is good in
of love for me” (64).
Ibsen is showing his viewpoint that
sometimes it doesn’t matter whether an
action is good or evil because the law
does not care about the reasonings. This
shows that Ibsen believes that good can
be punished if it evades the law despite
its pure motives. He is showing that
sometimes good is punished rather than
rewarded because society only cares
about the action itself.
humans but society often has no
patience for it. Nora believes that she
should be exempted from her crimes
because she had good motives. It is
an action may be because of this that she does not
considered evil, it can have understand why society would still
a good reasoning. Ibsen condemn her for her well intentioned
actions.
shows that in society, good
is not always rewarded When Torvald mentions this to Nora
and may be punished after discovering her past actions, Ibsen
because of the means to do is showing that while there are evil
good. actions in the world, there are also good
intentions present. Ibsen is showing that
while there is evil present, the concept
of goodness depends on the intentions
and not the actions.

What is the author’s Mrs Linde: “a wife cannot borrow The author criticizes this time period
attitude toward his or her without her husband’s consent” where women had no power to do
world? Toward fate? (Ibsen 13) anything without the permission of a
man in their family. Even though Nora's
The author goes against Helmer: “How I am punished for action saved the life of her husband,
the rules of his world and having winked at what he did! I did it during this period of time this was seen
presents his ideas through for your sake, and this is how you as an improper action. Because of
Nora as someone who goes repay me” (Ibsen 59). Nora's actions, her friend who was
against the rule of society. listening to her did not praise her for her
The author shows the fate Nora: “No, I have never been happy. I deed but instead found fault in her.
that is created by an thought I was, but it has never really
individual and how it can been so” (Ibsen 63). Torvald Helmer reveals a give and take
be changed as long as one relationship that he believes is between
stands up for oneself. him and his wife Nora. He believes that
his wife hasn’t repaid him for his
actions that were done for her sake.
However, we can see that this is more
of his point of view and not something
recognized by his wife. Unusually, this
one sided thinking is what ruins most
relationships.

Nora’s happened was something that

she made herself to feel and believe.
Nora was a doll in other people's hands
just playing along with everyone else
because that was all she knew how to
do. All her life, she was living for
someone else and now that she is
thinking for herself, she realizes that
she has never really felt happy about
her life.

What does the work
say about human ”And besides – he’s so proud of
nature? being a man – it’d be so painful
and humiliating for him to know
that he owed anything to me. It’d
● Norra being a good wife felt the
need to nurture and care for
Torvald to ensure he wouldn’t
die she borrowed money.
Women fit in to the role of a completely wreck our
mother and wife in a male relationship.”(Ibsen 14)
dominated society
“ I have broad wings to shelter you
under…. Here is shelter for you
here I will protect you like a
hunted dove that I have saved
from a Hawks claws. I will bring
peace to your poor beating
heart.”(Ibsen 61)
Torvald: You see, you see! How
right I was not to let you stay
longer!
Nora: Oh, you’re always right,
whatever you do.
Torvald: (kisses her on the
forehead) Now my little songbird’s
talking just like a real big human
being.
What view of life
does the story Problems in their society
present? Which 1.Torvald: "I would gladly work fr
you day and night, Nora - bear sorrow
character best
and want for your sake - but no man
articulates this sacrifices his honour, even for one he
viewpoint?-Sofia loves" (Ibsen )
Ibsen presents in the 2.Dr Rank: "My poor innocent spine
story him critiquing must do penance for my father's wild
the norms of his oats"(Ibsen ).
3. Mrs Linde: "a wife cannot borrow
story, by showing
without her husband's consent" (Ibsen
this he represents the 13)
view that the norms
are only harming his
society. Nora best
articulates this
viewpoint because
through her actions
and conversations
the reader is learning
about these critiques
that Ibsen has.
What moral attributes are Helmer: old viewpoints, old morals Throughout the play, Helmer
reflected in various adamantly takes the side of the
● But since Tourville is a man his
pride doesn’t allow him to ask
four money from someone else
● Torvald feels the need to shelter
and protect Nora since he’s a
man that his human nature to be
the protector and provider
● Men’s human nature is clearly in
dominance and that’s why he
was in control of when Nora had
to leave the party then he says “
Talkin just like a real human
being“ showing how as a male
his human nature is to protect
her and in the sense of the book
control her.
1.Ibsen is critiquing the immense effect
reputation has on his society. Torvald
was more upset at the possibility f his
reputation being tarnished than any
actual consequences that Nora would
have or her well-being. Reputation and
the fear of ruining it has a hold on this
society as they would even cut people
off in order to maintain their image.
2.Ibsen uses Dr Rank's health to
symbolize the negative extent of
indoctrination in life. As a result of
3. Nora only gets into trouble because
of the strict gender roles of her society,
if women were able to have more power
in society and be able to borrow and
handle money she would have never
forged the signature. Nora shows the
viewpoint of critiquing the gender roles
in her society by showing that they only
end up har
characters? And how does
the author present those
characters in order to
reflect his or her point of
view
“Come come; my little lark mustn't
droop her wings like that. What?
Is my squirrel in the sulks? [Takes
out his purse.] Nora, what do you
think I have here?” (Ibsen 2)
Nora: New feminism,
“No one has said I borrowed the
money. I could have got it in some
other way. (Throws herself back
on the sofa.) I could have got it
from an admirer. When a girl’s as
pretty as I am -” (Ibsen 8)
Mrs. Linden: traditionalism for
women
“Is it not best? Since 1 had to
break with you, was it
not right that I should try to put an
end to all that you felt
for me?” (Ibsen 33)
Roach: new morals for men
“That I have loved you as deeply
as anyone else has? Was that too
bad of me?” (Ibsen 26)
Ibsen uses craft in forms of
epitaph, motif, foils, metaphors
conservative and old viewpoint for
the entirety of the play. Ibsen
portrays Helmer as a wholly
negative person across the play,
showing that Ibsen has disdain for
the old ways.
For the entirety of A Doll's House,
Nora takes the stance of a radical
(for the time) femininst, she also
follows a new moral compass
opposed to her husband's more
conservative way. Ibsen paints Nora
as a great person throughout the
play and as a generally positive
person throughout, showing his
support of the feminism.
Mrs. Linden is generally portrayed
neutrally throughout the story as she
is more conservative then Nora but
also shows that women can in fact
hold power.
Roach is portrayed positively
throughout the play as he also
represents the new moral compass
was becoming more widespread.