Henrik Ibsen's 'A Doll's House'

Film Accounts - Part Two

So the second part, around 45minutes in, which we watched picks up just after Mr Krugstad accuses Nora of fraud, as she signed the loan of money for her father as he had passed away in a moment of sheer recklessness and panic.

The continuation of the bird theme, therefore the theme that women should follow a stereotypical role of indulging their husbands, continues in the second part of this movie. Torvald continues to call Nora his 'little bluebird' and discusses how his 'skylark' is exciting him when he thinks of her in her outfit for the party they are going to attend. Women in those days were expected to do whatever their husband's wished as the man's role was to gain an education and then a job to provide for his family, whereas the woman's role was to play to her husband's needs and create children. Torvald epitomises this behaviour as he states 'I'm your husband, it's your job to indulge me', I find that this is extremely degrading to women of that time frame. Although Nora doesn't help herself, she accepts her position in society and doesn't try and find her independence as she describes how she will speak 'in her prettiest voice' and dance and sing for her husband.

When Nora tries to speak up for herself regarding her own thoughts and ideas Torvald immediately disregards them, asserting his dominance over her in a shocked manner as he 'never thought you'd [she'd] say something like that to me [him]'. This is the first scenario in which Nora remotely finds her independence and speaks her mind. Despite her classification as a bird who is free to sing and fly by her husband he has locked her in a cage, just as a pet bird is locked in a bird cage. Torvald's disapproving tone is presented as he declares 'This ends now' in a very final and assured way, he is aware that he has the domestic power in the household despite Nora stating earlier to Christine that she knows how to get 'my [her] own way with him'.

Doctor Rank, Torvald's best friend who visits every day, is the exact opposite of Torvald. He speaks to Nora with more respect I believe and instead of trying to make everything seem beautiful and picturesque he accepts his fate and the somewhat ugliness that he sees in the world. I think the contrast between him and Torvald is prominent because he doesn't try and make Nora out to seem a beautiful innocent bird who should have no troubles but instead speaks to her about how he is facing death face on due to the degradation of his spinal chord.