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*****I need a reply to this classmate discussion post on Doll House. The main element that readers can identify with is equality for women. Torvald thought that by being the man and taking financial care of Nora would make her happy. What she really wanted was to be treated as an equal in their marriage rather than as a child. Communication is what this marriage lacked. Torvald hid anything “serious” from Nora, such as business and finances. In return, Nora hid “serious” information from Torvald, as well. She signed for a loan without his knowledge and forged her father’s signature, because women weren’t allowed to do those things independently. Nora didn’t understand the severity of her crime. Torvald had never had a serious conversation with her about such things. She assumed that she would not be punished due to the reasons behind her actions. Nora felt like a doll. Torvald was controlling, like the person playing with a doll. A doll doesn’t think on its own. Torvald fed Nora his beliefs, likes, dislikes, etc. Nora believed they had those things in common, until she realized that he had planted it in her head. He treated her as a child, instead of his wife. He gave her nicknames and told her how to dress. He taught her to dance. In his eyes, a woman was to obey her husband’s every command. Torvald made Nora leave the party early, because he wanted to leave. He didn’t care that she was enjoying herself. He wanted to take her to bed in the intimate sense after his imagination went wild at the party. He spoke

of how he pretends that they’re “secretly in love” or that she’s his “young bride.” Just like a doll, Torvald plays with Nora by making her be and do what he wants her to. When she says no to being intimate, he says, “You won’t? I’m your husband,” as if she has no choice. Kristine Linde was the strong female character that readers could compare with Nora. Mrs. Linde lost her husband and had to take care of her mother and brothers. She worked, as many different jobs as a woman in that day could hold, to make her own money. Nora had to beg Torvald and forge her father’s signature on a loan to receive money. Mrs. Linde didn’t answer to anyone. Once her mother passed and brothers were older, Mrs. Linde had the freedom to only work for herself. Torvald only considered hiring her at the bank, because she was a widow with experience. Mrs. Linde chose to be in a relationship with Nils Krogstad with the freedom to be his equal. “We two need each other, Nils, I have faith in your true nature. I can face anything together with you.” Mrs. Linde chose to work for herself, Krogstad, and his children, after years of being alone. Nora chose to leave her husband and children, in order to be alone and find herself. I think this play was originally banned in England, because it wasn’t ready for equal rights for women. Men had all of the legal rights. England didn’t want wives up and leaving their husbands, forcing England to give women legal rights, as well. Also, Dr. Rank loved a married woman. That, to this day, is taboo.