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Research
19 th Century European Drama Naturalistic writers were
influenced by Darwin's theory of evolution which was controversial
to thethe usual style of romanticism which was very popular during
the 19 th century. Romanticism isemphasising characters emotions
and is a type of melodrama. However naturalism is the idea that
acharacters social surroundings affects how they act. Naturalism
often contains content which wasseemed to be 'out there' because it
usually explored topics that were thought as taboo which is
whynaturalistic writers were seen to be blunt and criticised
because of it. The text of naturalismcompletely broke tradition of
traditional theatre by not having rhythmic texts and
shorteningspeeches to get rid of patterns.
Henrik IbsenHenrik Ibsen was often known as the 'father of
realism'. Realism is defined as 'exposing the
underlying truth in situations. Like naturalism in the 19th
century, Henrik's plays often were seen asoutrageous because
most of his pieces showed truth behind the morals and made them to
seem likefacades. It is thought that Ibsen based a lot of his works
on his family life as his family was slightlydysfunctional: His
parents were thought as incestuous as they shared a step parent;
Ibsens fathedturn to alcoholism after bankruptcy and fathering a
child out of wedlock which he had to payfor until he was in his
teens although he never got to see him. Since Ibsen died in 1906,
he has receivedmany had many honours and Norway celebrated 'Ibsen
memorial year' on his centenary anniversaryin 2006.
ContextIn 1888, married women in Norway were finally given
control over their own money, but the
Norway of Ibsen's play predates this change and provides a more
restrictive environment for women such as Nora Helmer. In 1879, a
wife was not legally permitted to borrow money withouther husband's
consent, so Nora must resort to deception to borrow the money she
so desperatelyneeds. Ibsen always denied that he believed in
women's rights, stating instead that he believed inhuman rights.
Norma Helmer is one of the best examples at that time of an
illusioned woman wholives in a society where the male oppresses the
female and reduces to a mere doll or plaything. NoraHelmer is that
doll living in her fake doll house, which reinforces the fragile
idea of a stable familyliving under a patriarchal and traditional
roof.
First Production/Alternate EndingThe first performance of A
Doll`s House took place at Det Kongelige in Copenhagen on December
21st 1879. The production was sold out and a great success. The
parts of Nora and Torvald were
played by Betty Hennings and Emil Poulsen, and the director was
H. P. Holst. However, Ibsen hadan alternate ending of the play. In
this ending, Nora packs her bags and leaves but Torvald grabs
her
by the arm claiming she would leave her children 'motherless'
just as she was. Nora burts into tearsand stays which is when the
curtain comes down.
Ending:
NORA. ... Where we could make a real marriage out of our lives
together. Goodbye. [Begins to go.]HELMER. Go then! [Seizes her
arm.] But first you shall see your children for the last time!
NORA. Let me go! I will not see them! I cannot!
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HELMER [draws her over to the door, left]. You shall see them.
[Opens the door and says softly.]Look, there they are asleep,
peaceful and carefree. Tomorrow, when they wake up and call for
their mother, they will be - motherless.
NORA [trembling]. Motherless...!
HELMER. As you once were.
NORA. Motherless! [Struggles with herself, lets her travelling
bag fall, and says.] Oh, this is a sinagainst myself, but I cannot
leave them. [Half sinks down by the door.]
HELMER [joyfully, but softly]. Nora!
[The curtain falls.]
