SACRIFICIAL ROLE OF WOMEN IN A DOLL'S HOUSE

 THE SACRIFICIAL ROLE OF WOMEN IN A DOLL’S HOUSE

One of the major issues handled in A Doll’s House is that of the sacrificial role of women in the Victorian society. Self-sacrifice is a virtue and both men and  women can give up their own interests in order to help others. In A Doll’s House, characters like Nora, Mrs. Linde and Anne seem to be concerned more with the needs and wishes of others than with their own. Nora’s altruism is evident when she places the needs of her father, her husband and her children before her own. She gives up so many things for the sake of others.

 

Material comfort

After secretly taking a loan in order to save Torvald’s , life Nora is forced to work painstakingly, with a view of repaying the loan. Since a wife cannot borrow without her husband’s consent (pg 18), she is forced to conceal the fact that she borrowed 250 pounds to facilitate the trip to Italy. She struggles to repay the loan secretly without Torvald's knowledge.

Nora keeps the loan a secret from Torvald to avoid hurting him and to protect his manly independence. She also does it to avoid upsetting their mutual relationship. It would be painful and humiliating for him to know a woman owed him anything. (P 20)

Nora reveals to Mrs. Linde how difficult it has bees to repay the loan

“I can tell you too that this affair has caused me a lot of worry.”

It’s been difficult to meet her engagements punctually. The quarterly interests and payment in installment have always been difficult to manage. She has also had to save some money from her housekeeping money. She sacrifices her material comfort by buying the simplest and cheapest things. All the while, she makes sure Torvald has a good table and her children are smartly dressed.

Apart from saving, she has found other ways of earning money. Last winter, she got a lot of copying to do. She did it every evening until quite late and was desperately tired many a times.

“It’s very difficult to keep an account of a business matter of that kind. Many a time I was at my wits end" (pg. 22)

When she could not think of ways to procure the money Nora would sit and fantasize about some rich old man who could let her inherit all his possessions when he died.

 

Opinions & Desires

Nora also sacrifices her desire and her own opinions in order to please her father and husband or at least to avoid upsetting them. Nora feels that Torvald has never understood her.

“I have been greatly wronged, Torvald first by papa and then by you.” (p 110)

At home Nora’s father told her his opinion about everything and influenced her to have the same opinion. In order to avoid straining their relationship, she would conceal the fact, if she differed with him. To him she was a doll-child to be played with like she played with her dolls. Nora feels that Torvald is no different from him. He arranges everything according to his own taste and Nora is forced to follow suit or else pretend to. She blames the two men for failing to make anything out of her life.

“I have existed merely to perform tricks for you, Torvald” (pg. 111)

Torvald even forbids her from her from trifling things like eating macaroons, and so she has to enjoy such pleasures discretely.

Nora sacrifices her own desires and opinions for the sake of her father and her husband Torvald.

 

Self-worth & Respect

Thirdly, Nora also gives up her self-worth and respect when she fraudulently obtains a loan in order to save Torvald's life.

“That trip was to save my husband’s life. I couldn’t give that up.” (pg.40)

Nora thinks the law is foolish since it forbids her from sparing her dying father anxiety and care in order to save her husband’s life. Krogstad opines that the law does not care about motives (pg41)

When Torvald leaves his office job after he marries Nora, he overworks himself and falls dreadfully ill. The doctor says it was necessary for him to go South (pg. 12). Nora tries to get him to go but her efforts prove futile. She tries to coax him that she would love to travel abroad like other young wives; she tries tears and entreaties and even suggests that he raises a loan. He remains obstinately adamant and Nora is forced to borrow money for the trip. (pg. 19)

Nora borrows money from Krogstad on the security of a bond that her father was supposed to have inserted the date on which he signed the paper. Since he was very ill, Nora forged his name with a view of sparing him anxiety since she needed the money badly to save her husband who was in a dangerous condition

Nora finds it impossible to agree that the law is right

“According to it, a woman has no right to spare her old dying father or to save her husband life" (pg. 115)

Nora sacrifices her honour by securing a loan through illicit procedures for the sake of love.

“I did it for love’s sake.” (pg. 42)

Home & Family

Nora makes a major sacrifice by leaving her home and her family in pursuit of self fulfillment. Nora is tired of the repressive environment at Torvald’s home

“There must be perfect freedom on both sides” (pg. 119)

In order to achieve self fulfillment Nora has to try and educate herself.

“I must try and educate myself. You are not the man to help me in that. I must do it myself. And that is why I am going to leave you now” (pg. 112)

Nora says that Torvald doesn’t understand her and she has never understood him either. They have never had serious conversation for the 8 years they have been married. Nora says she has never been happy, only merry (pg. 111). She says their home has been akin to a playroom; and Torvald admits that it’s true and even promises that things will be different. (pg. 112)

Nora discloses that her most sacred duties are the duties to herself. She is no longer content with what most people say or what is found in the books. She does not exactly know what is found in the books. She does not exactly know what religion is. She thinks the law is wrong and that is why she has to make this sacrifice.

“I am going to see if I can make out who is right, the world or I.” (pg. 115)

She says the children are in better hands than hers since she leaves them in Anne’s care (pg. 118)

Torvald Helmer says that no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves, to which Nora replies “it’s a thing hundreds of thousands of women have done” (p 117) 

Nora even contemplates suicide in order to spare Torvald the shame of having to cover up for her by admitting that he is the guilty one. 

Mrs. Linde sacrifices her happiness and reputation with the aim of fulfilling her duties to her family members, her bedridden mother and her young helpless brother. (pg. 14)

"You must not forget that I had a helpless mother and two little brothers” (pg. 86)

Mrs. Linde is proud of what she did for her mother and brothers.

SUMMARY

Nora's sacrifices: 

• Material comfort
• Opinion & Desires
• Self-worth & respect 
• Home & Family

Mrs. Linde's sacrifices: 

• Happiness & reputation

SAMPLE QUESTION ON THE SACRIFICIAL ROLE OF NORA 

Self sacrifice must be rewarded. Write an essay to validate this claim basing your illustration on Nora in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.

Read the full essay on how Nora is portrayed as a selfless character. 

NEXT: A Doll's House essay questions and answers 

LEAVE A COMMENT: Do you think women are more selfless than men?