First Impressions: sometimes accurate and sometimes not at all.

From Act I, Question I

After reading the first few pages of A Doll's House, I had strong first impressions of Nora and Torvald. Nora appeared to be carefree, seemingly impulsive, bound to her husband, and obsessed with status. She could be seen humming and smiling about her husband's words on how she spent money as well as cheerfully planning for her guests, as if she did not have a care in the world. On the other hand, Torvald appeared controlling, stiff, and cautious. As Nora rejoiced that her family finally had a large amount of money, Torvald firmly responded with, "Ah, but that does not mean we can afford to be extravagant, you know" (1681). His controlling demeanor was apparent in countless remarks in which he told Nora what to do and subsequently treated her like a young child. Torvald's way of communicating with Nora as if she was a delicate and fragile child was evident when he said, "And you don't have to strain your dear little eyes and work those dainty little fingers to the bone...." (1684). Even though Torvald loved his wife, the way in which he treated her appeared odd and even saddening; Nora really had no control, no say, and no true authoritative role in their relationship.

However, as I kept reading, some of my first impressions seemed drastically incorrect while others seemed accurate to the text. My impression of Nora continued to change as her personality, motives, and character became more evident. While I first viewed her as a carefree, spontaneous wife, I now view her as a courageous, strong, and intelligent woman. The first time I saw that she was a complex character with much depth was when she was offended by Mrs. Linde’s comment about her being similar to a child. Nora, who was clearly upset by this remark, responded with, “You’re just like the rest of them. You all think I’m useless when it comes to anything really serious….” (1688). Likewise, as the plot continued to unravel, the audience saw Nora as a strong woman who engaged in her own business deal to save her husband’s life. Although her business deal was not legal, her intentions were good. And through these good intentions, we are able to see her character and personality. Nora’s ability to stand up to Krogstad and to say, “I’m not frightened of you any more. After New Year’s I will soon be finished with the whole business” (1696) shows that she is most than just a cheerful, pleasant housewife.

On the other hand, I view Torvald the exact same way as I did at the beginning of the play. He continues to treat Nora as if she is inferior to him and continues to try to control her life. Torvald’s lack of true respect for his wife is seen when he is insulted that she offered an opinion about the job situation between Krogstad and Mrs. Linde, saying “My dear Nora, I forgive you this anxiety of yours, although it is actually a bit of an insult” (1707). Likewise, their marriage seemingly appears the same throughout the first two acts. It is hard to tell whether Torvald and Nora really love each other. I found myself wondering why they even got married in the first place. While it does appear that their marriage does have some love and affection, it sometimes does not seem genuine. And if they were truly in love, then why did Nora “escape” to flirt with Dr. Rank?

A Doll’s House is a fascinating play to read because something new is revealed on each page. The non-predictable nature and our ever-changing reactions towards the characters make this play intriguing and keep us engaged.

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