We debated in class a little while ago about the nature of Mrs. Linde's so-called "help" to Nora. Basically one side believes that Mrs. Linde is just a friend who wants what is best for her old friend, while the other believes she is a jealous and spiteful witch who doesn't want anyone to enjoy the kind of happiness that she was never given: a happy family.
Actually, I've really got nothing more to say. But I guess I have to (darn it).
The title of the play, "A Doll's House," comes from the idea that Nora is living a sheltered and make believe life, in which her ideal happy family is merely an illusion. Mrs. Linde even suggests that Nora has never known hardship, nor ever had to depend on herself. When Nora reveals to Mrs. Linde the actions she has taken, Mrs. Linde realizes what Nora has not: that she is living a doll's existence. Seeing this, she attempts to become the hand that removes Nora from the doll house and put her into the real world (Gary Gold's metaphor). She merely wants what's best for her old friend, and any hardships that Nora experiences will be outshone by her newfound independence and freedom.
This is one side of the coin.
The other holds that Mrs. Linde does not hold Nora's best interests at heart. She sees Nora's happiness and great homelife, and is overcome with jealousy. She cannot stand to see anyone have the happiness that was so denied to her. She feels that she must ruin it. She exploits Nora's secret and uses it to drive a wedge in between Nora and Torvald, creating a rift that cannot be crossed. She tricks Nora into believing that her life is really a lie, and that she must go out on her own. On her own into the cruel and ruthless life which was forced upon Mrs. Linde.
I have a few problems with this latter argument.
The first is that I have a hard time believing that Mrs. Linde is capable of convincing Nora--or anyone for that matter--that she is unhappy when she is actually happy. The seed of doubt was already in Nora's mind. Mrs. Linde just helped it to grow. Nora's been trying to make herself believe that Torvald would sacrifice himself in the name of love because she knows it isn't true. (I also have something a problem with this. What Torvald chose to do was the logical thing to do which had the fewest repercussions for everybody, preventing a massive upheaval of the family's life. Just like a woman to have unrealistic expectations of men =) [don't really believe that last part])
The second problem I have is that I can't read any malicious intent in Mrs. Linde's actions. For the whole play, she has been supportive of Nora, offering to talk to Krogstad to see if things can't be resolved. It is at this point that she realizes that this might be for the best. I also don't believe she planned for Nora to leave Torvald. She just wanted things to be out in the open so they could have a genuine relationship. The fact that Nora did leave him was an unforeseeable consequence. (544)
On a separate note, I've been thinking about posting some stories I've written as blog entries, but the can be sort of violent and coarse in nature (nothing sexual, I haven't deviated THAT far into the realm of inappropriate). Just wondering how you would feel about that.
Thanks. (592)
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7 comments:
Dave--I agree that Kristine doesn't seem to me to have the malice some wished to ascribe to her the other day in class.
I also wanted to comment on one other thing you said: "What Torvald chose to do was the logical thing to do which had the fewest repercussions for everybody, preventing a massive upheaval of the family's life." In one sense I agree, but I also don't think that's the real issue in their last conversation. What's more at stake is that Torvald has always told Nora that he would have the strength in a crisis to take the problem entirely on his own shoulders and protect her. Then, when the crisis comes, it turns out that all he's really capable of is blaming her for HIS problem. It's the gap between his professed values and his actual behavior that causes Nora's disillusionment.
PS--Only because of the caveat you included re: your stories, could I see one perhaps before I weigh in with an opinion?
True with regard to the last statement in your first comment, but it makes very little sense for him to take the blame. The way he intended to go about, basically nothing would happen. The fact that he always professes to want to take the blame is a romantic and idealistic notion, and just because he didn't follow through is no reason to abandon her husband and children.
Dave. Amazing game today bud. Nice job on the face-offs. Excellent post. I liked how you justify that Kristine was not as evil as some had perceived in class. I too believe that Kristine had no intention to break up Nora's marriage.
David Blackwell--
I wish you were still in my English class so i could get your insightful opinion each and every school day after Monday. I like how you examined one of the peripheral characters in the story and look at both sides of the argument before giving your own opinion with valid supporting statements.
BTW I would love to read some of your random stories the next time I come to your blog, which will be the next time Mr. Coon assigns another commenting session.
I agree with you that nora was unhappy prior to her conversations with ms. linde. However, her unhappiness was unnecessarily brought to the surface because of her so-called friend. Therefore, I cannot agree with you that Ms. Linde had no bad intentions. I think she was wracked with envy and I think she only wanted to uproot Nora's feelings to make her own situation seem better.
I wrote three pages about this same sentiment for the in class essay so I'm pretty opinionated on it.
Good blog, D.
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