A Doll's House

At first glance Nora’s decision to leave her family was extreme, especially because she left her children. She contradicted her entire persona throughout the play when she realized that their relationship was fake. Although her relationship with Torvald was just as unreal, Nora goes through a realization and discovers that her relationship with her children is not much different. While her marriage has failed, her motherhood also suffered. Nora has dumped her children with the maid since they were born so she was no longer part of their family. She suddenly realized that there was no future with Torvald and she threw the baby out with the bathwater. She not only left her husband but also just as easily left her kids.

Ending a marriage is more understandable than ending motherhood. A relationship between mother and child is a near unbreakable one, yet for Nora it was an emotionless and instant decision. The rash way in which she cut off all future connections with her flesh and blood contradicted the Nora portrayed in the majority of A Doll’s House. “Goodbye Torvald. I won’t look in on the children I know they’re in better hands than mine. The way I am now, I’m no use to them.” (Act 3) She justifies the abandonment of her children by stating that they are in better hands. Nora thinks that her relationship with the children is solely based on the motherly task she fails performs. She forgets that the children also need to know that they have a mother and are loved by that person. Yet, she explains this to Torvald with a stone-cold tone. She is totally emotionally detached from the closest things in her previous life.

While it makes sense to end a relationship that is not working, it was selfish of Nora to not consider how her family would react specifically her children. Her sudden departure would no doubt change the kids. She is incorrect to think that just because they will be better with Torvald, that they wont be better without their mother. Instead of Nora being brave or mature she is being selfish, putting her want in front of the children. They not only have to grow up without their mother but they also have to grow up with the stigma that there mother left them.

Instead of Nora being seen as mature or strong, her actions show the opposite and a continuation of her immaturity and selfishness. She rashly throws away her entire life because she did not like with Torvald said. Despite Torvald acting immaturely and selfishly when threatened, Nora’s reaction is just as immature. She fails to tell Torvald why she is leaving and takes away the opportunity to learn from his mistakes. Torvald asks Nora, “Tell me the greatest miracle!” rather than explaining Nora says, “You and I both would have to transform ourselves the point that- oh Torvald I’ve stop believing in miracles.” “But ill believe. Tell me! Transform ourselves to the point that-?” Nora fails the answer Torvald’s question thus he cannot grow.

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Hubris Before a Fall

The bigger they are, the harder they fall. This proverb remains accurate throughout human history. The more power and pride an individual has the more likely they are to lose that power. For instance Napoleon Bonaparte, who commanded a new France and changed Europe forever. But he lost all of his power when his pride and greed grew to much and he lost the invasion of Russia. Napoleon spent the rest of his days on an island. Also consider Gaius Julius Caesar who, after winning Roman campaigns in Britain, successfully took control of the roman empire and declared himself a perpetual dictator. His fall is the greatest because he was betrayed by his own friends. Pride and power do not mix, and when they are the results are simply suffering and pain. Creon is no different from Caesar or Napoleon but his pride lead to the death of his family. His lack of humility caused the downfall in his personal life along with the trust of his people. Pride blinded Creon, who had unlimited power, and it allowed him to forget wisdom. Creon woke up from his hubris trip too late and was unable to save his family, just as Napoleon was unable to save his campaign, and Caesar was unable to save himself.