The Road To Independence Essay Research Paper

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The Road To Independence Essay, Research Paper The Road To Independence As an individual grows, he or she is molded by the actions of the parents or parental figure that is present in the home. In Henrick Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House Ibsen created Nora who is a victim of her upbringing and male dominance. What is responsible for Nora’s attitude toward life and her acceptance of a commanding mate? Nora has been emotionally controlled her entire life, and she does not know true love. It is only natural for her to grasp for emotional freedom and rebel against all which stands in her way. Throughout her life, Nora’s actions and attitudes portray her as a very unhappy woman. By analyzing Nora’s treatment by her father, her marriage to Torvald, and the Victorian time

period in which they lived, and process of events which lead to her final decision to leave the family may justify her supposed abandonment of her family. Daughters have a special place in their life for their father. This is not different for Nora and her feelings toward her father. Nora’s father is a very controlling parent. Growing up, she was restricted in her actions and dialog. As she grew to the age of marriage, because of her upbringing she knew nothing of the outside world. The only man she had been accustomed to was her father, which led her to believe every decision her father made was correct. Nora’s attitude toward males and her perception of society were very similar from other woman of the time. It was common during the Victorian time period for the male

figures in a home to act as the dominating role in the family. The man made the decisions for the family, and the other family members were to follow. Alike most women of the time who had a na ve outlook toward life, Nora went along with the norm of society. Although she did not agree with how her father treated her, she did not rebel against him because she did not know where to turn or what to do. Nora was taught not to express her emotions or speak unless it was something charming and refined. Whenever a confrontational situation arose, she was clueless in how to handle herself. Instead of a precious marriage full of love and commitment, Nora married Torvald, a man who mirrored her father in every aspect. Torvald took Nora’s father’s role, leaving Nora with no independence

of her own (Hurt 438). Nora was bound to be seen and treated as a child her entire life. Her first home was with her father. There she was trapped inside of a world, where she was treated as an object. She was treated as a doll. Although she eventually grew old enough to leave her home and father’s mistreatment, she walked into an identical home when she married Torvald (Hurt 437). Torvald took full advantage of the situation while they were married. Torvald convinced Nora her would not treat her as her father did. He claimed to be the complete opposite of her father. Throughout Nora and Torvald’s relationship, Torvald remains confident that he is the complete opposite of Nora’s father. Torvald is blind to his own actions and instead scolds Nora for being exactly like her

father. Torvald explodes one day and shouts: I ought to have guessed something of this sort would happen. I should have forseen it. All your father’s recklessness and instability he has handed to you. No religion, no morals, no sense of duty! Oh, how I have been punished for closing my eyes to his faults! I did it for your sake ” (Ibsen 425). After Torvald’s outburst, Nora begins to be more aware of his actions and behaviors, especially the similarities between the two men. Torvald treats Nora as a child and wishes to keep her as an object rather than an equal mate. He uses the “lark and squirrel” games to keep himself sexually aroused over the years (Hurt 438). During Act 3, Torvald explains to Nora why they never associate while at the party. Torvald explains his