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

hopeful sad tense fast-paced

3.0

I might rate this higher if I didn't hate the husband so fucking much. Right from the very first he's loathsome, which in a way undercuts the effect of Nora leaving him. Of course she has to leave, who would want to be married to that?! I expect back in the day, when this first started playing in Norway, Torvald might have been perceived by audiences as somewhat patronising but essentially goodhearted, and the subsequent reveal of his total lack of love for his wife might have been seen as genuinely shocking... and Nora's reaction to it all more compelling. Nearly 150 years later, feminism has percolated enough through my culture, at least, for me to recognise that shit for what he is right off the bat. As such, it's not a surprise that Nora walks away... it's just basic relief, really.

You don't have to be a genius to understand that, whatever happens to Nora after the play ends, Torvald at least will learn nothing. He really is dreadful. Good on Ibsen for making him that way, though. I understand the play sparked a whole lot of conversation, and controversy, as it damn well should have. Apparently Ibsen took inspiration from real life, ugh.