Gender and Marxist Criticisms of Term Paper

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Thus, Nora was controlled by Torvald in even her most mundane actions and behavior.

Nora was also economically indebted to Dr. Rank and Krogstad, immediately explicating why she was willing to be controlled by these men. Her fear of being discovered by Torvald that she had borrowed money from Krogstad made her submissive to Krogstad's demand that Nora influence her husband to allow Krogstad to keep his job ("Do as you please. But let me tell you this -- if I lose my position a second time, you shall lose yours with me"). Dr. Rank's lack of respect for Nora's position as wife, mother, and most importantly, woman, showed how Nora's preoccupation with money and material wealth made her look an "easy prey" or shallow in thought by men such as the doctor.

Nora's relations with the male characters in the play demonstrated how her belief in materialism and money made her susceptible to being victimized as a woman motivated by wealth alone. Though this perception was negated in Act II, when she expressed her liberal beliefs on motherhood and parenting to Nurse Anne, the image of Nora as a whimsical and money-motivated female became strong that she continued to be 'oppressed' by her husband, Krogstad, and Dr. Rank.

Marxist criticism, the second part of this paper's analysis, gives meaningful analysis to the power play between Nora and the male characters in the play as she continually experienced submissiveness and oppression because of her inability to become economically sufficient for herself and her family.

Not able to provide for her family, Nora succumbed to Torvald's authority and control, going so far to become totally dependent on him when it came to making decisions for the family.

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The fear she felt from Act II to Act III was caused by her economic dependency on Torvald and Krogstad, men in her life who were aware that they can manipulate Nora so long as she is indebted to them financially.

Upon discovering Nora's secret loan from Krogstad, Torvald began asserting what he thought was an action he rightfully deserved to commit, which was by expressing his anger by calling his wife "hypocrite," "liar," and "criminal," simply because she kept a secret from him that was borne out of what she perceived then as an important economic need. Her 'offense' -- borrowing money from Krogstad without letting Torvald know about it -- made Nora be belittled by her husband: "...all your father's want of principle has come out in you. No religion, no morality, no sense of duty...How I am punished for having winked at what he did!"

Ironically, Torvald's anger and resentment towards Nora became the turning point at which she was able to finally assert her true self, express her true feelings, and declare herself independent from him despite her lack of income and economic resources. This Marxist analysis of the relationship between Torvald and Nora symbolically signified the occurrence of a "revolution." That is, Nora as the oppressed individual had found courage to stand up against Torvald's authority and control, a 'revolution' of her own making and meaning that successfully resulted to Torvald's regret and inevitably, the failure and loss of their marriage.

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