Feminism in A Doll House
...endent on its puppet master for all its actions. The most obvious example of Torvald’s physical control over Nora is his reteaching her the tarantella. Nora pretends that see needs Torvald to teach her every move in order to relearn the dance. We know that this is an act, and it shows her submissiveness to Torvald. After he teaches her the dance, he proclaims “When I saw you turn a sway in the tarantella-my blood was pounding till I couldn’t standit”, showing how he is more interested in Nora physically than emotionally. Prior to the 20th century, women were expected to obey their husbands and only concern themselves only with the matters of frivolity and entertainment. Women were not expected to educate themselves or become independent, which ensured complete reliance on their husbands. When Nora responds by saying “Go away, Torvald! Leave me alone. I don’t want all this:, Torvald asks “Aren’t I you husband?” By saying this, he is implying that one of Nora’s duties, as a wife is to physically pleasure him at his command. Torvald also does not trust Nora with money, which exemplifies Torvald’s treating Nora as a child. On the rare occasion that Torvald does give Nora some money he is concerned that she will waste it on candy and pastry. A Doll’s House features a protagonist who is meant to be an example to women, displaying he importance of finding a sense and true identity. Nora’s duties, in general, are restricted to caring for the children, doing housework, and working on her needlepoint. A problem with her responsibilities is that her most important obligation is to please Torvald, making her role like that of a slave. The problem in A Doll House is not with just Torvald but with the entire Victorian society. Females were confined in every way imaginable. When Torvald does not offer to help Nora after Krogstad threatens to expose her, Nora realizes that there is a problem. By waiting until after he discovers that his social status will suffer no harm, Torvald reveals h...