A Doll's House: Jungian Analysis Anonymous

In Ibsen's A Doll's House, the path to self-realization and transformation is depicted by the main character, Nora Helmer. She is a woman constrained by both her husband's domineering ways as well as her own. From a Jungian perspective, Nora's lack of a developed contrasexual force, or animus, is the stumbling block to her achieving personal freedom. The author achieves this by creating in Nora the "archetype of transformation," which allows her to change from a child-like object belonging to her husband Torvald Helmer, into an independently thinking, self-realized woman.

The outset of the story characterizes Nora as a childish plaything who is controlled by her husband. From a Jungian perspective, her persona points to the lack of balance of her animus. One indication of this is the way Nora tries to persuade Torvald to do something she wants. "NORA: Your squirrel would scamper about and do tricks, if you'd only be sweet and give in" (Ibsen 196). Nora doesn't feel she can be upfront with Torvald, so she relies on silly and flirtatious methods of persuasion. This behavior is prevalent during most of the play. In fairness though, Torvald refers to his wife in childlike ways. Nora is...