In response to this post, please state why do you think Nora, in Ibsen's
A Doll's House, is a sympathetic character? Be sure to provide specific examples in MLA format in your response. You may use information you've included in your post on Act I for this activity.
I think Nora is a sympathetic character in A Doll's House because she does what she thinks is right, but with desperate actions. She fulfills her role as the inferior wife, but tries to stand her ground in ways that she can. In conversation with her friend, Kristine, Nora says "you think I've never had anything much to contend with in this hard world" (1422). She wants to gain some independence and respect, instead of being seen as a man's woman.
ReplyDeleteat the beginning she looks so sympathetic but as go through she seems that change the way she used to think and behave.its probably Helmer change her the way she is tin II act
ReplyDeleteBetween the Helmers, I find Nora to be the more sympathetic character for she has been placed in a dilemma for only stepping out of the bounds that's has been expected of her. Although she was spoiled by her father, when the time came to raise money to save Torvald's life, she took it upon herself to take out a loan and pay it back on her own. Nora's past of a pampered upbringing has stuck with her as an adult as her husband talks to her as a child and even her friend Mrs. Linde uses Nora upbringing as a sort of estimation of her capabilities when she responds to Nora agreement in helping her by saying "How kind you are, Nora, to be so eager to help me! It's doubly kind of you since you know so little of the burdens and troubles of life" (Ibsen 1127). This remark is an example of the belittlement that Nora receives on a continuing basis. The only crime Nora has committed is trying to step beyond what's expected of her.
ReplyDeleteNora seems more sympathetic because while she tends to spend a lot of Torvald's money, she spends almost none of it on herself, and when she does, she buys the cheapest items. Among the things she's bought are housekeeping items and gifts for their children. When she and Torvald were in less stable financial straits she would make all of the Christmas decorations. It seems that underneath her ignorant blissfulness, she would do what is needed to provide for her husband and children.
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ReplyDeleteTEAM NORA... I THINK NORA CAN BE CHARACTERIZED AS SYPATHETIC IN THE PLAY BECAUSE SHE IS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO PROVER HERSELF! SHES NOT IN ALL A BAD PERSON OR WIFE BECAUSE SHE LOVES MONEY AND MATERIAL THINGS SHE JUS DO WHAT ANY WIFE DOES. NO ONE TAKER HER SERIOUSLY SO SHES JUS TRYING TO GAIN INDEPENDENCE.
ReplyDeleteNora is a sympathetic character in the sense that she went through a lot in a short amount of time. Some drastic changes that cost her to sacrifice some things. Nora is also economically sick , she likes to borrow money and money that sometimes she doesn't have. For example Nora mentions when her husband became ill she had no other choice then to help her husband and support him , " oh, yes, odds and ends, needlework, crocheting, embroidery, and that kind of thing. (Dropping her voice) And other thing too. You know Torvald left his government job when we got married? There was no chance of promotion, and he had to try to earn more money than he was making there. But in that first year he overworked himself terribly. You see, he had to make money any way he could, and he worked all hours, but he couldn't take it, and he got very sick, and the doctors said he had to go south, to a warmer climate." (1125)
ReplyDeleteI decided to go with team Nora not so much because I feel any sympathy for her but more because I found Torvald to be condescending at times. Torvald is a man that to me at first glance would seem loving and caring but as you begin to read a little more in depth we start to wonder whether there's an underlying message. At one point he blames her gender as the reason for her bad money managing "that is like a woman"(Ibsen). Torvald also addresses Nora throughout the first act with what at first glance would seem sweet names such as "squirrel" and "skylark" but in reality to me those names sort of belittles her to a degree. Sort of dehumanizing her.
ReplyDeleteNora is more sympathetic because she just wants the best for her family, her husband Helmer says, "Of course you couldn't, poor little girl. You had the best intentions to make us happy, and that's the main thing."(1124). Nora also cares about her friends, Nora tells Mrs. Linde "No, you go first. I mustn't be selfish today. Today I should think only about you." (1125).
ReplyDeleteNora is more sympathetic because she wants to gain her independence by being supportive and try to do everything possible to sspend time with her family. Even though she is a caring mother and wife nobody seems to appreciate her.
ReplyDeleteI believe Nora is the sympathetic character. She cares genuinely about her family and as Helmer says "Do you remember last Christmas? For three whole weeks you hid yourself away every evening making ornaments for the Christmas tree" (1123). This shows that even though her family is low on money, she still wanted the holidays to be a happy time and not have them think of what they couldn't afford.
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ReplyDeleteI think Nora is a sympathetic character in A Doll's House because in the play she sounds like she only cares about money and she is not. When you are married is not your money or my money is our money.In this case the husband makes it sound if he is doing her a favor by giving her the money but technically is her money also. It is true that she doesn't work but she is responsible for all the duties of the house and that is work also.
ReplyDeleteEVEN THOUGH I DIDNT LIKE NORA AT FIRST, I THINK NORA IS A SPMPATHETIC CHARACTER. IN SOME PARTS YOU CANT HELP BUT FEEL SORRY FOR HER, HER INTENTIONS ARE GOOD BUT SHE DOESNT THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF HER ACTIONS. ALOT OF WOMEN CAN RELATE TO HER BECAUSE THEY SOMEHOW LOSE THERE SELF-IDENTITY IN THE MARRIAGE, AND IT BECOMES ALL ABOUT MAKING THE FAMILY HAPPY
ReplyDeleteI feel like Nora is the more sympathetic one because even though she likes spend money like it's nothing, you never read about her buying something for herself. She's more intent on buying gifts for her children, the house and even the maids that they have. When Helmer asks, "If you say so. But now tell me, you extravagant little thing, what would you like for yourself?" Nora replies, "For myself? Oh, I'm sure I don't want anything." (1122) Instead she suggests that he give her money, money she could save up so that one day when she finds something she really wants she could buy it for herself.
ReplyDeleteWhen Nora's friend Mrs. Linde comes over, it's revealed that Mrs. Linde is a widow. Nora insists that Mrs. Linde takes the more comfortable seat and that she only wants to hear about how Mrs. Linde is doing instead of talking about herself.
I believe Nora and Torvald both made sacrifices in their lives and marriage. To me though I will say Nora is a product of her upbringing and very similar to a lot of girls who feel a man should support them financially at any means. In a way that crippled her and that's why people take advantage of her.
ReplyDeleteFrom my perpective, Nora is a sympathetic character. She sounds very spoiled at first, being obssesed with money but it is only to pay back the money that she had secretly borrowed to save her husband's life, as Nora mentions that going to the south "was a wonderful, beautiful trip, and it saved Torvald's life. But it cost a tremendous amount of money..." (1125).
ReplyDeleteI think that Nora is a more sympathetic character, because she looks out for her family's best interest. She is a devoted wife and mother, who has risked a financial burden to save her husbands life. Nora's husband Torvalds seems controlling, he treats her a like a little pet. While Mrs. Linde treats Nora like a child, when she says "My dear! Small household chores cares and that sort of thing! You're a child, Nora ( 1127). The way that Nora is treated by her husband and Mrs. Linde makes her a sympathetic character because as a woman, she is treated as inferior to her husband. While, others like Mrs. Linde looks at Nora as a child and doesn't take her seriously as a woman either.
ReplyDeleteI think Nora is a sympathetic character.In Ibsen's "A Doll's House", Hemler calls Nora, "My precious little songbird" (1140).In Helmer's eye, Nora is just like a pet. Nora is in a low position in her family, but she respect her husband.She says, "If you're going to talk disrespectfully about my husband, I'll have to ask you to leave my house"(1135). She doesn't allow that anyone disrespects her husband even though they are friends.
ReplyDeleteNora deserves to recieve more sympathy than Torvald because her husband tends to throw unnecessary quips about her actions and she takes them in stride while providing happiness and sensability to the family, keeping them together. She even sttempts to make the holidays more joyful by buying gifts for the whole family showing her care for everyone:
ReplyDeleteNORA (counting): Ten, twenty, thirty, forty! Thank you, Thank you, Torvald. That'll keep me going for a long time.
HELMER: It's going to have to.
NORA: Yes, Yes, it will. But come here and let me show you what I bought. And all so cheap! ...Old Anne Marie really should have something nicer. (Ibsen 1122)
I think that Nora is more symaptheic than her husband Trovald because she cares about her husband health so much that she will go to great lenghts to have him healthy and with her. Nora has basically made a deal with the devil just so she could save her husbands life by taking him to Italy. She explains to her friend that"Torvald would never have recovered if he had not gone there." She truely believes that she has saved his life by taking him away
ReplyDeleteNora is a sympathetic character because she's willing to sacrifce her reputation, by keeping her fraudlent loan situation under wraps, in order to keep the house hold dynamic in tact. By secretly borrowing money, in order to pay for her husband's health issue, Nora willingly knew she was breaking the law. While Nora is speaking to Krogstad, who's trying to inform her about the law, she says, "I don't believe it. Isn't a daughter allowed to spare her dying father anxiety and concern? Isn't a wife allowed to save her husband's life? I don't know much about the law, but I'm sure there must be provisions for things like that. Don't you know anything about such provisions? You seem like a very poor excuse for a lawyer, Mr. Krogstad" (1137).
ReplyDeleteI think Nora is a sympathetic character because she sacrifices a lot for her family. She saved her husband life by borrowing money without his consent or knowledge. Nora still has not told Torvald of the money she borrowed to save his life. She is paying for that debt on her own. Nora buys herself inexpensive dresses to still have money left to pay off her debt. She wasn't able to see her father before he passed because she was pregnant of Iver and was taking care of Torvald. Nora is also selfless because she lied about making christmas ornaments, she was really working to make extra money to pay her debt.
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