The Rise of An Individual:

Ibsen’s A Doll’s House Reinterpreted

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to interpret Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House as a play where the author portrays a human being who encounters a situation which makes her aware of the position she is in, who then confronts the new person she will be through self-discovery. The characterization of Nora is discussed to show Ibsen’s purpose behind writing the play. By examining the historical background of the play and some of Ibsen’s letters, I’ve tried to find support for the view that Ibsen truly believes in the freedom of the individual, irrespective of the gender identity. I’ve, therefore, focused on the fact that there is not much difference between a feminist text and a text which vindicates individual freedom. That Ibsen’s aesthetic concerns are sourced by a tragic perception about the human life is also what I’ve shown.