A Doll's House - Henrik Ibsen

A Doll House was the first of Ibsen's plays to create such a HUGE sensation and I think it is now perhaps his most famous play. It is my favourite Ibsen play. At the time when it was published, the play was highly controversial due to it's blatent criticicism of the standard Victorian marriage. About the author Henrik Johan Ibsen was a Norwegian playwright of the late 19th century. He brought to the European stage a whole new order of moral analysis that was placed against a very traditional middle-class background and developed with economy of action, powerful dialogue, and gusto thought ... more

I remember reading this play in college and had to do a piece of coursework based on this play as part of my English Literature course. Whilst having to study the play, I did not really enjoy this play. Whilst I do love to read and pick out points and themes and tiny aspects to analyse, I just found that this play seemed one dimensional. (My first impression was that this play was basically about a immature women's inferior role in a life where women are seen merely as housewives) however I was recently clearing out my room and I found this play, (admittedly not in a very good state quality ... more

When Ibsen created a Doll’s House he aimed to create it in a certain way. This structure was known as the well made play. Here are some examples of the format of the well made play and by looking at this list it is clear that A Doll’s House is of that nature. The Well Made Play 1) The plot during a well made play is usually based upon a withheld secret, often about the hero or main character and when it is revealed, the story line changes. 2) The initial exposition of the revelation provides information about the action before the play but also about the future, the secret. It ... more

This play was a pioneer of its time. It was created in the Victorian age, where women where submissive to their husbands, and children only spoke when spoken to. However, this play explored these themes and dealt with them with great care and thought. The central character of the play is Nora, a wife of a soon to be Bank manager. She has a hidden secret which slowly becomes extracted as the play evolves, creating ongoing dramatic tension throughout the play. The secret involves her borrowing money from a loan shark, (Krogstad), and repaying the money over time. As she is about to make the ... more

The titel only applies because of the plays absolutly abysmal nature. Do not even bother reading this play. It is one of the most boring things I have ever had the misfortune to read. While I will conceed that it is a feminist play and hence the forerunner of womens lib I cannot excuse the utter boredom it induces in the reader. The plot revolves around the fact that Nora, wife of Torvald, has borrowed money without her husbands permission and by forging his signature. The money is borrowed from a man called Krogstad, who loses his job at Torvalds bank and demands that Nora gets him reinstatd ... more