Character Study of Helmer in Ibsens Famous Play

One of the two main characters in the play, Torvald is the husband whose dolls house is torn apart at the end of the show. His character is far from ideal—but upon seeing a production of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, audiences are left with an important question: Should we feel sorry for Torvald Helmer? At the plays end  his wife, Nora Helmer, abandons him, leaving behind her three young children. She claims that she doesnt love him. She can no longer be his wife. He begs her to stay, yet Nora denies him, walking off in the middle of the winter night, slamming the door behind her. When the curtain closes upon a pathetic, defeated husband, some viewers find that Torvald has received his comeuppance. Torvalds demeaning personality and his hypocritical actions justify Nora’s harsh decision to leave. Examining Torvald’s Character Flaws Torvald Helmer possesses many obvious character  flaws. For one, he constantly talks down to his wife. Here is a list of his pet names for Nora: â€Å"My little skylark†Ã¢â‚¬Å"My little squirrel†Ã¢â‚¬Å"My little singing bird†Ã¢â‚¬Å"My pretty little pet†Ã¢â‚¬Å"My little sweet-tooth†Ã¢â‚¬Å"My poor little Nora† With every term of endearment, the word â€Å"little† is always included. Torvald views himself as the emotional and intellectual superior of the household. To him, Nora is a â€Å"child-wife,† someone to watch over, to instruct, nurture and censure. He never considers her an equal partner in the relationship. Of course, their marriage is one typical of 1800s Europe, and Ibsen uses his play to challenge this status quo. Perhaps Torvald’s most dislikeable quality is his blatant hypocrisy. Many times throughout the play, Torvald criticizes the morality of other characters. He trashes the reputation of Krogstad, one of his lesser employees (and ironically the loan shark that Nora is indebted to). He speculates that Krogstad’s corruption probably started in the home. Torvald believes that if the mother of a household is dishonest, then surely the children will become morally infected. Torvald also complains about Nora’s late father. When Torvald learns that Nora has committed forgery, he blames her crime on her father’s weak morals. Yet, for all his self-righteousness, Torvald is a hypocrite. In the beginning of Act Three, after dancing and having a merry time at a holiday party, Torvald tells Nora how much he cares for her. He claims to be absolutely devoted her. He even wishes that some calamity would befall them so that he could demonstrate his steadfast, heroic nature. Of course, a moment later, that wished-for conflict arises. Torvald finds the letter revealing how Nora has brought scandal and blackmail into his household. Nora is in trouble, but Torvald, the supposedly shining white knight, fails to come to her rescue. Instead, here is what he yells at her: â€Å"Now you have ruined my entire happiness!†Ã¢â‚¬Å"And it’s all the fault of a featherbrained woman!†Ã¢â‚¬Å"You will not be allowed to bring up the children, I can’t trust you with them.† So much for being Nora’s dependable knight in shining armor! Examining Noras Complicity To Torvald’s credit, Nora is a willing participant in their dysfunctional relationship. She understands that her husband sees her as an innocent, child-like persona, and she struggles to maintain the faà §ade. Nora uses the pet names whenever she tries to persuade her husband: â€Å"If a little squirrel were to ask every so nicely?† Nora also carefully hides her activities from her husband. She puts away her sewing needles and unfinished dress because she knows that her husband does not wish to see a woman toiling away. He wishes to see only the final, beautiful product. In addition, Nora keeps secrets from her husband. She goes behind his back to obtain her ill-gotten loan. Torvald is too stubborn to ever borrow money, even at the cost of his own life. Essentially, Nora saves Torvald by borrowing the money so that they can travel to Italy until her husband’s health improves. Throughout the play, Torvald is oblivious to his wife’s craftiness and her compassion. When he discovers the truth, in the end, he is outraged when he should be humbled. Should We Pity Torvald? Despite his many flaws, some readers and audience members still feel tremendous sympathy for Torvald. In fact, when the play was first performed in Germany and America, the ending was changed. It was believed by some producers that theater-goers would not want to see a mother walk out on her husband and children. So, in several revised versions, â€Å"A Doll’s House† ends with Nora reluctantly deciding to stay. However, in the original, classic version, Ibsen does not spare poor Torvald from humiliation. When Nora calmly says, â€Å"We two have a lot to talk about,† Torvald learns that Nora will no longer be his doll or â€Å"child-wife.† He is astounded by her choice. He asks for a chance to reconcile their differences; he even suggests that they live as â€Å"brother and sister.† Nora refuses. She feels as though Torvald is now a stranger. Desperate, he asks if there is the smallest hope that they might be husband and wife once again. She responds: Nora: Both you and I would have to change to the point where†¦ Oh, Torvald, I don’t believe in miracles any more.Torvald: But I will believe. Name it! Change to the point where†¦?Nora: Where we could make a real marriage of our lives together. Goodbye! Then she promptly leaves. Grief-stricken, Torvald hides his face in his hands. In the next moment, he lifts his head up, somewhat hopeful. â€Å"The miracle of miracles?† he asks himself. His longing to redeem their marriage seems sincere. So perhaps, despite his hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and his demeaning attitude, the audience may feel sympathy for Torvald as the door slams shut on his tear-stained hopes.

Ethics And Legality Of The Strategy 3 - 1398 Words

Contents Executive Summary 2 Name of student Name of instructor Date of submission 3 Ethics and Legality of the Strategy 3 INTERVIEW HANDLING AT TURKEY 4 Predicament Lopez Incurred: 5 Lopez in Turkey? 5 Bibliography 6 Executive Summary The case illustrates the ethical dilemma Lopez faces during her tenure in Imatari- an ecommerce startup company that developed ecommerce businesses either by buying out or by imitating the plan from other players. Lopez a fresh Harvard business graduate faces a deadlock between ethical values and professionalism while working at imatari. Since the company have severe Human resource practices and business strategy, Lopez has to decide whether to pursue he career with the organization or not.†¦show more content†¦Lopez on joining the company, Ethics and Legality of the Strategy Imatari, is a Dubai based ecommerce business headed by plamo. The company imitates the business model of the other existing business models and operates under Grey marketing strategy. The business model as whole is illegal as, copying of the business model is adhered to copyright and imitating the model without concerns exposes the company to legal allegation. In addition to this, Imatari has weak Human resource department and organizational structure. There is no hierarchy and job roles, which makes people non-liable for any action taken to pursue the work. Also due to weak or absence of human resource policies, the company fires and shuts down the operations and employees without any prior notice. This makes the company liable to lawsuit because, of the unethical practice to fire the employees without any prior notice. However it also depict the cultural and organizational value of the company which is making profits at all cost that shapes the human resource practices of the company and allows it to shut down the business if turns to be non-profitable. Since the company practices such policies and rules, it started conflicting with the mindset and ethical values which Lopez has developedShow MoreRelatedNegotiation Strategy Analysis1141 Words   |  5 PagesNegotiation Strategy Analysis MGT445 September 6, 2010 Jeni Mixon Negotiation Strategy Analysis In many interactions throughout life, there comes the need to negotiate. Negotiation comes in many forms and fashions. Often when there is an issue, when there is a purchase, when a person has a need, when we have a want and many other instances can require the use of negotiation to achieve the desired outcome. In the world of business, negotiations are a staple of every interaction. 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Clinical Interview Questions free essay sample

Ten Questions: 1. Please tell me about what type of person your father was and your relationship with him. 2. Please tell me about what type of person your mother was and your relationship with him. 3. Please tell me about your relationships with siblings and other close relatives 4. Please tell me what you remember most about your childhood. 5. Please tell me about your most memorable experiences in grade school, high school, and college (if applicable). 6. Please tell me about any romantic relationships you have had and whether you are in a relationship now, or if you would like to be. Why or why not? 7. Please tell me about what makes you happiest in your current life. 8. Please tell me about what upsets you most in your personal life. 9. Please tell me about any dreams or fantasies you can remember. 10. How would you like to see yourself in five years from now? Let’s assume I have a patient that has problems with depression due to issues that have happened throughout his or her life. We will write a custom essay sample on Clinical Interview Questions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The first question my patient responds by saying not that good. I would go into asking for more detail as to why the relationship with ones father was not good. I would learn if there was something there that would help me to help the patient with their depression. As with most of these questions the patient would be responding in a way that they feel which would help me to learn what has caused the problems and why the patient may or may not be able to let go. I could learn a lot from a person by these questions because they are questions that ask a person to open up without being so noticeable.

The charge of alliance with the Red hell Essay Example

The charge of alliance with the Red hell Paper I intend to study the Crucible by Arthur Miller. I will be looking at act 3, through the eyes of a director. The character I will mainly be focusing on is Abigail Williams, a late teen who had committed adultery with the well thought of, John Proctor. The play was written in 1952 and was an allegory of the political state of America under the supervision of Senator Joseph McCarthy. The play was set in 1692 in a god-fearing, puritan village that was isolated in the east of Massachusetts. This play is based upon the Salem witchcraft trials, two centuries before the book was written and therefore the location of the play was thought of to be masking the anti-communist message it was portraying. The basis of the play is of a group of young female teens that had danced in the woods within the hours of darkness. Yet because of the beliefs that these acts were closely related to witchcraft, the readings of the bible would instruct them to hang all those who participated. Yet to avoid their own prosecution the blame was passed to many innocent people, including a West Indian slave, who because of her colour and belief in spells was an easy target and another was the wife of John Proctor. John himself then becomes the main suspicion of practicing witchcraft after the tables are turned once again. He was asked to give names of those he knows of having connections with the devil to save his own life, he refused to answer their questions as did Miller when he was summoned before McCarthys House Un-American Activities Committee. We will write a custom essay sample on The charge of alliance with the Red hell specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The charge of alliance with the Red hell specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The charge of alliance with the Red hell specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This was very similar to the condition of America around the early 1950s when the country was in a situation of corruption. Many innocent people had come to a gritty end, after scapegoats that were part of McCarthys House Un-American Activities Committee, could prove them guilty on the flimsiest of evidence. Stage Design I have chosen the below layout because I believe it gives the best possible chance for all of the characters to be seen and heard clearly throughout this act. Dramatic Techniques As a director the dramatic techniques of Miller will be incorporated into my play while personal techniques will be added to feed the requirements of a 21st century audience. Throughout the play Millers techniques seem very precise in the movements and the way characters express themselves. In Act 1, Miller adds instructions about the amount of light pouring through a narrow window. Therefore showing he considered the smallest of techniques to be important. Not only does he describe the objects in the house but also the mention of the clean air gives a more defined feel. He then follows to describe the positions of the opening characters; Reverend Parris kneels beside the bed, evidently in prayer and his daughter Betty Parris is lying on the bed, inert. Following these directions, right the way through act 1 Miller tries to sum up the feelings about the devil and the contrast between good and evil as he questions whether diabolism is a holy practice. Miller then tells of how we can now consider the devil as a necessary part of a respectable view of cosmology, therefore really establishing the idea of good and bad religion fully into the play. During act 1, Miller compares the relationship with people and the devil with a professor at his university and the pupils he taught. He then makes the crucial comparison about America around his era. He quotes; and in America any man who is not reactionary in his views is open to the charge of alliance with the Red hell. Political opposition, thereby, is given an inhuman overlay Therefore backing up his theory of McCarthys scapegoats and his own personal experiences, they incorporate into the success of this scene. Once again Miller describes the basic techniques to introduce act 2, he describes the position of the furniture, the date, and he also describes an action of John Proctor to ensure the audience understand he is at home. He directs Proctor to lean his gun against the fire as he swings a pot from underneath. He smells whats in the pot, and then tastes it. He then adds a pinch of salt and tastes again. We then hear the footsteps of Elizabeth. Other techniques and statements are made throughout the act, but none have the similarity in length as those we see in act 1 that set the scene.