A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen

Illusion often masks reality, and can be easily looked over either unseen, unnoticed or just ignored. In the play A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen we see how people can hide behind their own masks of illusion. Nora’s character puts up several different acts on depending on who she was interacting with. She played the role of a woman, wife and mother of her time. She played the role of a doll. Her husband knew to some extent of her acts but he enjoyed playing his role and that was his reality; Nora’s illusions. “Nora, Nora how like a woman!” (Act one). Expressing how men were superior, women know nothing of the world and are so naive.  Illusions are seen and acted out in day to day life but, when the illusions become reality there is a dramatic step to complete the reality. In Nora situation is realizing that she no longer need to be Torvald’s illusions and she has the opportunity to step out in to the world. “Yes, Torvald. I’ve changed.”  Being honest with oneself places them when they have a stronger grasp on reality of life.