A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, though written in the late 1800s, is a modern tragedy as it presents a woman's journey towards self-liberation in a patriarchal society. From the opening scene of the play, Nora Helmer's clearly the subordinate in her marriage with Torvald. Many of his pet names towards her are references to animals which denote that her role in the marriage is a less than human one. Nora's positioned herself into a doll-like role, as she accommodate Torvald's needs; there is little to no reciprocity. Nora's desire to help her husband is evident through the debt that she incurred to help nurse him back to health. As the play progresses, Nora begins to awaken to the possibilities of who she could be as opposed to the doll-like role she current plays in her life with Torvald. Through Krogstad's blackmail and Torvald's lack of appreciate for who Nora truly is as a person, Nora awakens to a desire to leave and find out who she truly is as a person. The modern tragedy here begins with the dissolution of the Helmer's marriage; it is the marginal life that Nora must live in order to discover herself. She must divorce herself from her former, subordinating ties and set out to test her will in a patriarchal society.
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