A review by mariekejee
A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen

challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I don't understand how I keep accidentally reading stories about women's autonomy - I'm not complaining, but it's starting to become suspicious. I was gifted a recording of this book by the audiobook app Audrey through a giveaway, for which my thanks. The recording is great - the actors are great, it's performed as a play but completely understandable in audio format, and hearing the audience laugh in the background is a fun addition.

As for the story itself: for a play written by a man in the 19th century, it is a surprisingly feminist one. This is the story of Nora Helmer, who we initially see as a frivolous and cheerful woman, happily married with lovely children, but come to understand as being coddled and confined in her marriage. She is not being taken seriously by her husband, rather seen as a pretty thing to take care of, the same as she was treated by her father. It takes a great crisis for her to realise this, and to reclaim her autonomy.

The ending is a surprising but powerful one:
after hearing the anxiety she suffered through most of the play, even willing to drown herself, I had expected her to be elated at Thorvald's forgiveness, but she shows a surprising amount of reflection and strength. I'm a sucker for happy endings, and while I feel for Thorvald and their kids, I believe it is the best ending possible for Nora
. I appreciate a piece of Victorian era-literature that is so willing to challenge the idea that a woman's purpose is more than just to be a good mother and wife, and I believe this play succeeded phenomenally in this.
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