A Doll’s House

E72921

A Doll’s House is a landmark 1879 play by Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen that critiques 19th-century marriage norms and gender roles through the story of Nora Helmer’s awakening and decision to leave her family.


Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf literary work
play
realist drama
author Henrik Ibsen
character Dr. Rank
Kristine Linde
Nils Krogstad
Nora Helmer
Torvald Helmer
the Helmer children
controversy challenged traditional views of marriage and women’s roles
countryOfOrigin Norway
criticalReception initially controversial but later widely acclaimed
dramaticStructure well-made play with realist elements
ending Nora decides to leave her husband and children
firstPublisher Gyldendal
genre problem play
realist drama
social drama
hasAdaptation film adaptations
radio adaptations
stage revivals worldwide
television adaptations
influenced development of modernist theatre
feminist literary criticism
literaryPeriod late 19th century literature
mainCharacter Nora Helmer
Torvald Helmer
movement modern drama
realism
notableScene Nora’s tarantella dance at the party
the final door slam when Nora leaves
numberOfActs 3
originalLanguage Norwegian
originalTitle Et dukkehjem
plotSummary A Doll’s House self-linksurface differs
surface form: Nora Helmer secretly borrows money to save her husband’s life and later faces blackmail and a crisis that leads her to leave her husband and children to find herself.
premiereDate 1879-12-21
premiereLocation Royal Theatre
surface form: Royal Theatre, Copenhagen
publicationYear 1879
settingPlace Helmer household
a Norwegian town
settingTime late 19th century
significance considered a landmark in the history of modern drama
theme critique of 19th-century marriage norms
female emancipation
gender roles
identity and self-discovery
individual freedom
power dynamics in marriage
respectability and social appearance

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Claire Bloom notableWork A Doll’s House
Harold Prince notableWork A Doll’s House
this entity surface form: A Doll's House (1977 revival)
A Doll’s House plotSummary A Doll’s House self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: Nora Helmer secretly borrows money to save her husband’s life and later faces blackmail and a crisis that leads her to leave her husband and children to find herself.