A Doll’s House Critical Reception by Character
Quote/Reception Themes
Nora Puts ‘love before legality’ – Sophia Duncan New Woman, Love
Nora opposes ‘the demands of a hostile society’ – Ledger (f) N.W, power?
Critics saw her actions as ‘shocking and scandalous for a woman’ – Cron N.W, social norms
‘A daring defiance of cultural norms of the time’ - Johnston N.W, social norms
Marriage was ‘the worst form of woman purchase’ – Mona Caird (f) Patriarchy, social norms
Nora is a ‘heartless flirt’ – Crawford Patriarchy, social norms
She is a ‘monster and unnatural woman’ – Long, contemporary reaction N.W, weakness, patriarchy
‘There are thousands of such doll-homes’ – Social-Demokraten N.W, patriarchy, social norms
Patriarchy, social norms
Torvald Ibsen makes ‘Torvald grotesque, and reduces the tragic quality of the play’ – Gray Patriarchy
Torvald’s words are ‘belittlement covered by affection’ – Rogers Patriarchy, social norms
‘The husband absolute over his wife’ – Perking Patriarchy
‘Helmer is shown to be weak’ – Meyers N.W, social change?
‘Torvald’s apparent strength is wholly dependent on Nora’s weakness’ - McNamara Patriarchy, power, women.
Quote/Reception Themes
Nora Puts ‘love before legality’ – Sophia Duncan New Woman, Love
Nora opposes ‘the demands of a hostile society’ – Ledger (f) N.W, power?
Critics saw her actions as ‘shocking and scandalous for a woman’ – Cron N.W, social norms
‘A daring defiance of cultural norms of the time’ - Johnston N.W, social norms
Marriage was ‘the worst form of woman purchase’ – Mona Caird (f) Patriarchy, social norms
Nora is a ‘heartless flirt’ – Crawford Patriarchy, social norms
She is a ‘monster and unnatural woman’ – Long, contemporary reaction N.W, weakness, patriarchy
‘There are thousands of such doll-homes’ – Social-Demokraten N.W, patriarchy, social norms
Patriarchy, social norms
Torvald Ibsen makes ‘Torvald grotesque, and reduces the tragic quality of the play’ – Gray Patriarchy
Torvald’s words are ‘belittlement covered by affection’ – Rogers Patriarchy, social norms
‘The husband absolute over his wife’ – Perking Patriarchy
‘Helmer is shown to be weak’ – Meyers N.W, social change?
‘Torvald’s apparent strength is wholly dependent on Nora’s weakness’ - McNamara Patriarchy, power, women.
