A Doll's House
ACT 1
Characterization
Nora
Nora humming: carefree and happy, joyous, pleasant
Nora talks to Porter: giving, generous (christmas spirit) / middle class / spendthrift, irresponsible with money
Nora speech patterns: childlike, playful, immature / diminutives
acts as the obedient servant
plays and adopts the strict Norms
little acts of defiance and rebellion
Torvland
paternalistic attitiude / speech patterns --> pet names --> "small, little"
possesive case ("my")
typical male of 19th century
seemingly loving, tender, condosending, infantilazes Nora
responsible / cares a lot about class (bourgeois respectability)
absolute tone
adheres to conservative social norms of his time
upward social mobility
firm
Objects / Scene
Christmas Tree
allows the audience to be temporarily oriented
contributes to the atmosphere (festive, celebratory, active)
change - rebirth, new beginnings (New Year)
Doors: hold a symbolic part in the play
Stove: appears to be Nora's comfort space
p. 27 - mise-en-scene
"hide" - first word that Nora says --> hint at secrets
macaroon incident
hides them from Torvland
foreshadows theme of lies and deception
connects aspects of Nora and Torvald's characters and the dynamic of their relationship (characterization)
Themes
Appearance vs Reality
Lies and Deception
Legality vs Morality
All themes are the effect of rigid social norms
Money and Materialism
Notes
structural symmetry of the play
1st act --> Nora enters Doll's House
3rd act --> Nore departs from stage
Torvald sees Nora as finanically irresponsible (terms of indearmenet)
Free/Freedom: financial security
Mrs. Linde acts/serves as a foil to Nora
foil: a character created to be opposite to the protagonist, highlighting certain points of their character
Mircle: financial security
Krogstad
Rank says Krogstad's morally twisted, we learn from Nora that he was unhappily married and is wwidower --> we form an opinion on him before meeting him
Krogstand threatens Nora (p.51)
Krogstad's motives heavily based on regaining bourgeois respectability and helping his sons
bitter, firm, intimidating, persistent
Krogstand believes law is above emotion
Linde
Linde contrasts Noras' vibrant energy (foil)
Linde also sees Nora as a kid and mention she was spendthrift, until Nora talks to her about her struggles --> Nora's facade is successful
responsibe, tired, empty, sad, independent
Linde is left an empty shell after losing her purpose (taking care of people) --> she has nothing left for herself
Linde has no one to "work for" except for herself
bell rings in the hall --> breaks happy atmosphere --> appearance of Krogstad