Interview with Henrik Ibsen

INTERVIEW WITH HENRIK IBSEN
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Interview with Henrik Ibsen
Statement of Intent
Henrik Ibsen’s Doll House can be viewed as a tragedy due to the tragic ending that occurs as a result of Nora’s actions. Even though Nora is not affiliated with a noble family, her family is well off, leads a comfortable life and receives plenty of respect from the society. Nora’s imperfection can be viewed as the lack of appreciation of the feminine moral construct which is expected from every woman in her society. She ignores the fact that the law views women as per the masculine code even though the moral codes that bound women are separate from the codes that bind men. She finds herself in a moral dilemma upon discovering that her husband cares more about being respectable and conventional when compared to her. This makes her doubt on what she perceives as good and bad, whereby it becomes a challenge for her to trust her moral truths and her value towards authority (Wang 2016, p. 69). The interview focuses on getting an insight into Nora’s character, her personality, actions and any other aspect that defines her.
Interview
Interviewer: Why did you choose the title Doll House?
Henrik Ibsen: The term “doll” highly aligns with Nora Helmer in which her life seems to be confined by the societal expectations and individuals close to her such as her husband. Her life is confined to a dream in which she does not put much attention on her life choices but rather serves as an ornamental wife.

At the beginning of the play, she leads a whimsical life whereby she does not employ much thinking in her actions. A good example is when she pays the delivery boy double the amount that he was expecting. This illustrates a reckless life where she does not think about the future but instead spends with the view that it is being provided for. It is her financial irresponsibility that results in the development of the plot in which her actions shutter her immature expectations. Her dream world is characterized by her desire of material things. She buys items such as dresses, and candy to impress herself instead of making good use of her time. She rarely spends quality time with her husband and often leaves her children with the nurse instead of interacting with them. Her dream world also includes disregarding others in which she does not care about how her words or actions affect others. However, her enlightenment regarding her personal beliefs serves as a wakeup call on her position in the society (Wiseman 2010, p.1).
Interviewer: What does Nora represent or rather symbolize in the play?
Henrik Ibsen: The women or rather wives in Norah’ society are expected to be the aesthetic supporter of their homes and family. The ideal role of Nora as a wife is to handle the domestic chores, take care of the family and ensure that the husband is satisfied. Nora comes into view to represent the individual conflict that most women during this era face but are afraid to express themselves due to the societal expectations. The woman is “An Angel of the Household” assumes the role of an ornament in the family such that she is limited when it comes to certain issues that she perceives are not in line with her moral truths. As mentioned earlier, Nora’s life is confined to a dream in which she does not put much attention on her life choices but rather serves as an ornamental wife. Nora’s major flaw emanates from her desire of receiving validation from her husband. She wants to feel appreciated or rather perceive that she is her husband’s topmost priority. She holds onto the belief that her husband will understand that she signed the deal to save his life and therefore gain a sense of appreciation. In other words, Nora’s role is to symbolize the personal conflict between a woman and the society (Karim et.al 2015, p. 22).
Interviewer: what is the significance of including Nora’s moral misperception and the disorder in her life as the play ends?
Henrik Ibsen: The character’s moral dilemma involves her being at crossroads in making an important decision that might affect her reputation. She is caught between two complex moral decisions. One of the moral decisions is her own moral convictions that convince her that faking a signature is acceptable as long as it saves her husband’s life. The second is her community’s and her husband’s conventional moral values which insist that every woman should inform her husband about her life’s façade. The significance of Nora’s illustration is not to illustrate feminism but rather illustrate how the rights of women are suppressed in a society dominated by the male gender. Her departure such that she lives her family implies that she has to know herself for her to comprehend her surroundings. Being a humanist, I abide by the principle that every person has the right to pursue answers regarding their lives such that they are not limited to a predetermined life. Therefore, Nora does not abandon her family as a confused tragic heroine who falls but rather a woman who is curious about her life and the future (Wang 2016, p. 70).
References
Karim, S.M.S., Fathema, F. and Hakim, A., 2015. Man-Woman Relationship in Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House”. International Journal of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, 3(1), pp. 21-27.
Wang, Q., 2016. Before Marriage, Within Marriage, and After Marriage—Kristine Linde in A Doll House. The Explicator, 74(2), pp.69-73.
Wiseman, M. C. 2010. Nora as a Doll in Henrik Ibsen’s a Doll’s House. Inquiries Journal, 2(3), pp. 1. Available: http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/a?id=1680