Introduction
It is hard to disagree that most situations and people cannot be considered entirely good or bad and right or wrong. Numerous perspectives reveal other sides and angles, and an individual seen as an immoral hypocrite becomes a victim of certain circumstances. Thus, in Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House, the main character causes sympathy at the end because of the pressure she experienced from males, but she is also at fault due to her actions.
Nora as a Victim
Firstly, it is possible to prove that Nora is a victim of the circumstances and people around her. For instance, due to the limited rights of women, she fails to get money legally and has to forge her father’s signature, having only good intentions (Ibsen 1). After that, she is blackmailed by Krogstad, fears her husband’s reaction, and has to work secretly, meaning that the pressure on her becomes more severe. Eventually, when secrets are revealed, Helmer notices, “I would gladly work night and day for you, Nora—bear sorrow and want for your sake. But no man would sacrifice his honor for the one he loves” (Ibsen 2). Her husband betrays her, and gender discrimination appears to be quite powerful.
Nora’s Fault
At the same time, there are cases and issues in which Nora is at fault. Knowing that her actions are illegal and can cause many troubles, she still forges her father’s signature and lies to Helmer. Further, being manipulated by others, she decides that manipulation will be her tool. As she tries to hide the truth, she tries to convince her husband to give Krogstad a job and involve other people in this situation (Ibsen 1). Therefore, she is at fault for not exiting the vicious circle of lying earlier.
Conclusion
To conclude, Nora from A Doll’s House can be partly blamed for the events she encounters, but she is also a victim of the male characters surrounding her. She experiences gender discrimination and has to find different ways of addressing and resisting it. However, she is also responsible for adopting unethical methods of communication, such as manipulation, which makes her at fault.
Work Cited
Ibsen, Henrik. “A Doll’s House.” Project Gutenberg, 2001. Web.