1987 AP Essay- Question #2

 A Doll is Changing Tradition

   Breaking the rules, traditions, and social norms are apart of the changing world, in the play A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen Nora Helmer breaks the social norms and more specifically the marital norms of the nineteenth century. First Nora broke the rules by borrowing money by forging her fathers signature and without her husbands consent or knowledge. Secondly, she leaves Torvald because they did not understand each other, in this time period divorcing was almost unheard of.

   Ibsen expresses his want for change in tradition through Nora and her actions. Nora making her own decisions to borrow money and forge
her father's signature are examples of actions women did not take. Being described as a "little squirrel" Nora is not equal to Torvald like women are today. To Torvald Nora is just a toy or a doll to be played with, however, Torvald does not know that throughout the play his "little squirrel" is keeping secrets from him and this makes Nora's character a rule breaker of their society.

   Nora leaving Torvald was the close of Nora leading her own life and discovering who she is. Women living in Europe during the nineteenth century didn't have as much freedom of thought compared to today's European women. In that time period a women's rights movement was occurring and influenced Ibsen to write for human equality. The act of Nora leaving her husband of 8 years and them having 2 kids together was not normal in society, thus, Nora realizing who she wasn't she was changing social traditions of nineteenth century Europe.

   Changes in social attitudes, political views, or traditions is not a smooth path, Ibsen guided his character, Nora, to transcend tradition and take her life into her own hands. By keeping a secret from her husband and leaving her husband Nora escaped the house she was mentally held hostage in and shed her doll like persona. Henrick Ibsen influences the reader to support Nora because of her breaking the rules of the time period,