The point of literature, at least when Ibsen was writing it, was to tell a compelling story. At that time, a woman having enough of her existence as a wife and mother and walking out on them to be an individual was indeed compelling. When I read it, I was just taken aback. I could imagine Torvald's shock, the kids' disbelief. It must have been like a bomb went off. It's a great story that makes you think: wow, I wonder what happened next? Would Nora be happy? Would Torvald be a good father for his children?
Whatever answers you come to are yours. Ibsen ends the story and says, "That's it." It's your job to think about it and come to your own conclusions.
The mistake that's probably made in a conversation involving Michael Knowles is to somehow believe a play written almost 150 years ago is advocating for women to leave their husbands, because that's what most literature does today: it advocates. We shouldn't apply the situation of today to the past. Henrik Ibsen never claimed to have written in advocation of women leaving their husbands and children. He wanted to tell a good story, and he did. Any characterization of the story as a feminist tract is wrong.
You can say what you want about Nora. Her actions are questionable, and since she's not real, it's okay to pass moral judgment. But any kind of "our kids" discussion is disingenuous. The play makes you think. We want children to do that. They should read this play.
@NoNameNoFace-rr7li Says:
how many have read A dolls house? and your are under 50?
@Phantom8589 Says:
Narsacism and abandonment for selfishness and pride.... is abjectly evil!
@ndb232 Says:
❤
@cloud_xeno Says:
being born into a role doesn't mean you have to play it
@WeedMIC Says:
So, like buddha, she abandons her family to seek clarity. And this is a good thing?
@matthewwolff3729 Says:
If a woman walks out on her family, she's empowered, but if a man does the same thing, he's a deadbeat? Please expand.
@for_really4398 Says:
1 individual + 1 individual =
The kids starved to death.
I cant do math.
@Men4JC Says:
Definently a "selfish monster." Wife and mother is a sacred honor.
@galladegamer6950 Says:
Why did I read childless woman as womanless child
@goosieschmoo8239 Says:
Everybody is a jerk in that book. 😂
@MichaelJPartyka Says:
I was forced to read Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" in my college Creative Writing class back in the day. I don't think I can stomach expose to another work of Ibsen's.
LATEST COMMENTS