Question

Sometimes quitting a relationship may be the only option but it hurts loved ones. Using relevant illustrations from Henrik Ibsen's A Doll 's House, write an essay in support of this statement.

Answer 1

1. Nora, Helmer's wife, decides to quit her marriage. She feels that she is unappreciated and unprotected. She feels bitter that Helmer cannot defend her, although she is his wife. It is because of her love for Helmer that she took a loan from a bank to pay for Helmer's treatment in Italy. She says, "I have loved you above everything else in the world." (P.103). Helmer is rather unforgiving. He tells Nora that he "must sink to such miserable depths because of a thoughtless woman." (P.104). Eventually Nora tells him that, "when I am out of the way, you will be free." (P.104). Even though Helmer forgives her (P.107), she does not change her mind. She leaves behind three children who still need her care and a disturbed husband. 192-8, 90, 11-3, 17-23, 35-42, 43, 44, Details 45, 52-54, 56-62, 68, 72-77, 78-9, 80, 84, 91-6, 98
    
2. Mrs. Linde abandons her lover, Nils Krogstad and gets married to a rich businessman. She does this in order to take care of her bedridden mother and her siblings. She says, "My mother was alive then, and was bedridden and helpless, and I had to provide for my two younger brothers, so I did not think I was justified in refusing his offer." (P.14). In walking out on her lover, Nils Krogstad, and getting married to a rich man, surely, to Krogstad what could be more painful? Milo, 14-5,24 78, 85-90
3. Heimer on realizing that Nora had gone against expectation. Helmer by burrowing money & forging her father's signature, quits the relationship and declares that Nora is unfit to care for the children & also strips her of her wifely duties. Nora is hurt by how ungrateful he is when she realises that she's been living with a man who does not appreciate her contribution to the marriage. 22-8, 9-10 11-13 17 23, 35-42, 43, 44, 52, 53-4 56-62, 68, 72-78 So 91-6, 98, 10-22
4. Ann, Nora's nurse, also walks out on her relationship with her daughter's father. It is revealed that she got a child out of wedlock and left her with the father. Nora wonders, "How could you have the heart to put your own child out among strangers?" (P.50). Anne says that "that wicked man didn't do a single thing for me." (P.50). For this reason, she abandons her child at a very tender age in order to find a good place." (P.50). 1949-51
5. Nora, abandons her three little children with the father. She says that she will only think of Helmer, the children and the house. "I know I shall often think of you, the children, and this house." (P.119). She adds that she does not want any communication between her and Helmer. When Helmer asks her whether he could write to her, she retorts, "No-never. You must not do that ..... Nothing-nothing." (P.119). Nothing could be more painful than cutting links with your own children never to return. 89 417, 11, 30-2, 41-2/,46-8, 49-51, 73, 102-10), 13, 114, 115, 117-8, 119. -2, 14, 245, 2627, as 29, 3, 62-70, S3, ag 7