Reality? I'd Say So!

Narratives are often written about women being pushed around by oppressive men. In fact, living in today’s world with one of the three presidential candidates being a woman, it is hard to relate to many of these types of tales, but Ibsen‘s vividly realistic description of a life lived in the shadow of a man makes this situation easy to imagine and even easy to identify with.

This play does not paint a picture of a bright and colorful life; instead, it digs into the plagues and tribulations of the often forgotten and neglected middle class. There is no sugar-coating, and there is no cushioning. This story is presented through the eyes of the middle class worker and it depicts real life situations and obstacles. The supernatural is a distant notion in “A Doll’s House”. This narrative consists of real people, real troubles, and real events.

“A Doll’s House” is absolutely a form of realism. When I think of what makes life “real” and unique, I think of all of the quirky and quaint actions that go on throughout a day. These interactions are really hard to capture in a narrative because they seem trivial, but they set the stage for reality. An example of this in “A Doll’s House” that grounded this narrative and helped to assure me that these people were absolutely realistic was when Torvald asked Nora if she has “given into her sweet tooth”. These little seemingly insignificant comments are, to me, what makes a story seem realistic. Another example is the fight over money. What real life family does not, at one point or another, argue about frivolous spending habits? This is relatable and slightly endearing.

The story line of “A Doll’s House” contains no extreme plot twists or heavenly influences, but instead, it depicts the life, lies, and weights of ordinary people with everyday problems. This play culminates around a shared forgery and fear of being tarnished in the face of society. This may seem basic and slightly dull compared to death, insurmountable love, and marrying your mother, but these are the big problems that face real people working hour after hour everyday. Reputations are at stake and there is nothing more important that maintaining a good reputation. In addition, when Nora is confronted with the idea that the poor decisions that she makes in her life may negatively affect her children, she is terrified. In reality, there is truly nothing more important than family and Nora is scared that she has dishonored her children and has made them into criminals.

Representation of real life dilemmas and trials pulls the reader in because the reader can relate to the lives being portrayed. Everyone has felt ruled over by an authoritarian and with that established universal common ground; we are brought together by the realistic depiction of life through narration.(514)