Nora Helmer Flashcards
Why was Nora a hard character for Ibsen’s early audience to understand
Nora is one of the longest and most complex female dramatic roles.Ibsen’s early audience expected figures on stage to be consistent unlike Nora who takes charge of her own growth
How is Nora shown as a woman with a ‘zest for life’
She takes pleasure in the Christmas tree,Enjoys macaroons and champagne,Is physically expressive and plays enthusiastically with her children
Why is Nora being seen as constantly in motion significant
Her physical vitality of constantly being in motion means she has the energy to undertake her inner journey.It also shows the role of women at the time in subordinate domestic jobs who are constantly on the move and have something to do with
How is Nora shown as ‘an actor’
Nora is aware of her ‘performing’ the role of wife.She perkily acts out the role of ‘skylark’ or ‘squirrel’ in act 1 and also enjoys being able to wheedle money out of Tordvald by ‘playing with his coat buttons’.Nevertheless she knows this kind of power will be gone ‘when I’m no longer pretty’ and so understands her role
When does Nora show her first signs of discontent
Her conversation with Mrs Linde where she expresses her pleasure in ‘working and earning money…almost like being a man’ however right after that she plays the role of actress again and flatters Tordvald in order to get Mrs Linde a job at the bank
Why is the Christmas tree scene key
In this scene she tries to introduce the topic of Krogstad,Ibsen is careful to arrange the scene so that Nora’s body language and facial expression are unseen by Tordvald as she dresses the tree.As well as showing her stress this also shows her discontent and anger at playing the part of a silly helpless wife who ‘can’t get anywhere’ without the help of a husband
How do Tordvald and Nora’s conscience differ
Nora is guided by her heart whilst Tordvald is governed by the rules of society.
Do Tordvald and Nora have a conscience at the start of the play
At the beginning of the play it could be argued that neither of them have a conscience,They are merely creatures of convention,not rational and ethical human beings
Where do Nora’s less attractive qualities tend to come from
They tend to come from her upbringing and its limitations
By the end of the play how is Nora determined to change
She becomes aware that her personality has largely been put together by two men and wants to reshape herself in order to become a subject rather than an object.She replaces her fantasies of herself as a noble suicide and helmer as the heroic miracle worker.She intends to work and stays the night with Mrs Linde
How is Nora shown as aware of the emotional cost of her decision
The break with her children and Tordvald has already begun come the end of the play.She admits that she will ‘often think of’ helmer and says ‘you know quite well that that woulden’t last’ when he suggests they could live as ‘brother and sister’ suggesting he still desires her.
How does Ibsen show the female conscience as ‘more developed’ than the male one
When Nora leaves she talks about ‘duty’ rather than love and has become a person with a moral code.Comparitavely Helmer merely talks about the same patronising Cliches
How is Nora shown as ‘a light giver’
At the start of the play Nora gravitates to the warmth and safety of the stove.When faced by Dr Rank’s declaration of love she demands light.In the last act offering kindness to a dying man she becomes herself a giver of light
