CONTOH MAKALAH THE ANALYSIS OF A DOLL HOUSE BY HENDRIK IBSEN

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of Study

Etymologically, the Latin word “litteratura” is derived from “littera” (letter), which is the smallest element of alphabetical writing (Mario Klarer, 2004). There are so many parts in literature, and one of them is drama. The word drama itself, which derives from the Greek “draein” (“to do,” “to act”), thereby referring to a performance or representation by actors (Mario Klarer, 2004). A Doll's House (Norwegian: Et dukkehjem; also translated as A Doll House) is a three-act play in prose by Henrik Ibsen. It premiered at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 21 December 1879, having been published earlier that month (en.wikipedia.org). These papers were made for explaining about A Doll’s House, especially about the analyzing.

1.2  Formulation of Problems

In these papers, we analyzed :

a.       the characters and characterization of A Doll’s House’s drama,

b.      the plot, include initial incidient, preliminary event, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement,

c.       the story organization, theme, genre, conflicts, settings, moral value, and also we looked for the author, Hendrik Ibsen, a little bit about him and the scandals of his drama, A Doll’s House.

1.3  The Objectives of Study

There are several objectives of finishing these papers, there are :

a.       for compliting literature’s task,

b.      for knowing more about A Doll’s House and the author, and

c.       for sharing what we know about this drama and its scandals to others.

1.4  The Significance of Study

By analyzing Hendrik Ibsen’s drama, A Doll’s House, we know how to anylize a drama and also we know that :

a.       he had something to express through his creation,

b.      when he wrote this story, there was something happened in his era, etc.

CHAPTER 2

DISCUSSION

2.1 Characters and Characterizations

There are 10 people in this story, there are :

1. Torvald Helmer
2. Nora Helmer
3. Dr. Rank
4. Nils Krogstad
5. Mrs. Linden or Christina
6. Anna            the servants
7. Ellen
8. Ivah
9. Emmy              the Helmer’s children
10. Bob

The protagonist in this story is Nora Helmer, while the antagonist character is Torvald Helmer. The tritagonist characters are the rest except Nora Helmer and Torvald Helmer, they are Dr. Rank, Nils Krogstad, Mrs. Linden, Anna, Ellen, Ivah, Emmy and Bob.

Nora Helmer : spendthirft, lovely mother, liar.

• Spendthrift : Mrs. Linden said “Nora, Nora. Haven’t you learnt reason yet? In our schooldays you were a shocking little spendthrift”. (page 13, act : I)
• Lovely mother : She and the children play, with laughter and shouting, in the room and the adjacent one to the right. at last Nora hides under the table : the children come rushing in, look for her, but can not find her, hear her half-chocked laughter, rush to the table, lift up the corer and see her. (page 32-33, act : I)
• Liar : Torvald Helmer said “Oh, what an awful awakening! During all these eight years – she who was my pride and my joy – a hypocrite, a liar – worse, worse – a criminal. Oh! The hideousness of it! Ugh! Ugh! (page 107, act : III)

Torvald Helmer : lovely husband, lovely father.

• Lovely husband : Torvald said “my little lark mustn’t let her wings droop like that” (page 4, act : I)
• Lovely father : Torvald said “your duties to your husband and your children” (page 110, act : III)

2.2 Plot

This drama has dramatic or progressive plot, include : exposition, initial incident, rising action, complication, climax, reversal, falling action, resolution, and ending.

• Exposition : It happened when Nora Helmer just arrived and showed what she bought to her husband and children. And they were talking about how useless the goods and how thriftless she was. She bought goods for preparing christmast eve and christmast day, and Torvald Helmer gave her some money. She loved counting them. Then Dr. Rank came for Torvald and a lady named Christina Linden came for Nora. Mrs. Linden was Nora’s old friend and they were talking about Mrs. Linden’s past and how happy Nora was at the moment. (page 2-25, act I)
• Initial Incident : There were several incidents that made this story went along. It started when Mrs. Linden came, and then she saw Mr. Krogstad who she knew years ago. Then Dr. Rank came to them and they were talking a little bit about Mr. Krogstad. Nora asked her husband to give a position for Mrs. Linden in his office in a bank and Mrs. Linden got a job. This thing created big problem for Nora Helmer later on. (page 25-30, act I)
• Rising action : Mr. Krogstad came to Nora Helmer and asked about a new position of Mrs. Linden in bank. He said that he was hounded out by Torvald and Torvald put Mrs. Linden for Krogstad’s position. Mr. Krogstad was angry because of it, then he reminded Nora about her owing money to him. Mr. Krogstad showed her a paper that she falsified the debt paper. Mr. Krogstad asked her to talk to her husband about him and he wanted his position back, so that he would not show her sin to her husband and publish it. After that all, she thought about it everytime. (page 30-42, act I)
• Complication : It was more complicated time by time. Nora lied to her husband, she said nobody came, but there was. She asked Torvald not to fire Mr. Krogstad (of course, she did it because she didn’t want her husband know the truth of her from Mr. Krogstad and for saving her family’s name), but Torvald Helmer didn’t care about that, even he talked about bad side of Mr. Krogstad. And also, suddenly Dr. Rank told Nora that he loved her, but Nora didn’t love him. Mr. Krogstad came again and Nora said she did her best to talk to her husband but it didn’t work. Then, she told everything about this to Mrs. Linden. Mrs. Linded tried her best to help her old friend, but the truth was she wanted the truth came to Nora and Torvald for their marriage. (page 42-106, act I, II, III)
• Climax : Torvald knew the truth from a letter. Then, he was angry to his wife. (page 106-110, act III)
• Reversal : Torvald forgive his wife because of the second letter from Mr. Krogstad. But Nora realized that her husband never loved her. She realized everything. (page 110-111, act III)
• Falling Action : after forgiving his wife, Torvald was really happy. He thought his family and he saved. Nora changed her clothes. Torvald thought she wanted to go to bed, but he was wrong. Nora never wanted to go to bed at that night. She wanted to go. Torvald confused and tried to get the answer from his wife. (page 111, act III)
• Resolution : Nora explained that she was the doll of the house. She was the doll for her father and then for her husband, too. She said she was lived there by performing for her husband. Torvald tried hard to hold Nora and save his family. He reminded her about the children and their marriage. But it didn’t work. Torvald asked her about her love, and Nora answered she didn’t love him. Nora wanted to go. (page 111-123, act III)
• Denouement : Nora left her family by closing the door hardly. (page 123, act III)

Summary of the story : Nora was someone who spendthrift and loved money so much. She falsified a debt paper for going to Italy with her husband by using her father’s name and signature. Eventhough she was spendthrift, she was a good friend. She helped her friend, Mrs. Linden, for getting a job from Torvald. But someone didn’t like it. Mr. Krogstad was angry because he fired because of Mrs. Linden new’s position. He asked Nora to talk to Torvald or he would tell her husband about her sin and publish it. Nora did the best, but it didn’t work. And finally, Torvald knew it through a letter. He was angry, but at the moment, Nora realized that she was a doll. She left torvald and her children.

2.3 Story Oganization

The beginning : It started when Nora and Torvald were talking about theirself and there also showed us about their characters. And also how could Mr. Krogstad was angry and threatened Nora Helmer. (page 2-39, act : I)

The middle : It happened when Mr. Krogstad threatened Nora and Nora did the best to save her family and her marriage, tried the best to hide her sin. Until Torvald Helmer knew the truth. (page 39-106, act : I, II, III)

The end : finally Torvald knew the truth, but he forgave Nora. But it was too late, Nora realized that she was a doll. She left the house. (page106-123, act : III)

2.4 Conflicts

There were several conflicts in this story :

Person vs Person

• Nora Helmer – Torvald Helmer

They had conflict in their marriage. Nora lied to her husband and falsified the debt paper, so Torvald was angry to her. But Nora left him at the end.

1. First Conflict

Nora : Oh ! You back already?

Helmer : Yes. Has nobody been here?

Nora : Here? No.             

Helmer : Curious ! I saw Krogstad come out of the house. (page 43, act : I)

2. Second Conflict

Torvald Helmer : Oh, what an awful awakening! During all these eight years – she who was my pride and my joy – a hypocrite, a liar – worse, worse – a criminal. Oh! The hideousness of it! Ugh! Ugh! (page 107, act : III)

• Torvald Helmer – Nils Krogstad

Torvald fired Mr. Krogstad because he wanted to put Mrs. Linden to Mr. Krogstad’s position. And also, Torvald saw him as a bad employee.

Helmer : But Krogstad didn’t do that ; he resorted to tricks and dodges, and it’s that that has corrupted him. (page 46, act : I)

• Nils Krogstad – Nora Helmer

Nils Krogstad wanted his position back, so he threatened Nora Helmer by showing her debt paper. He would tell her husband about it and also publish it.

Krogstad : Bad or not, if I lay this document before a court of law you will be condemned according to law. (page 41, act : I)

• Nils Krogstad – Christina Linden

She helped Nora Helmer by talking to Mr. Krogstad. But at the end, she wanted everybody knew the truth for saving Helmers’s marriage. She was in love with Mr. Krogstad at the end.

1. First Conflict

Mrs. Linden : I must speak to you. (page 86, act : III)

2. Second Conflict

Mrs. Linden : Was it not best? Since I had to break with you, was it not right that I should try to put an end to your love for me? (page 88, act : III)

3. Third Conflict

Mrs. Linden : Yes, in my first terror. But a day has passed since then, and in that day I have seen incredible things in this house. Helmer must know everything; there must be an end to this unhappy secret. These two must come to a full understanding. Than can’t possibly go on with all these shifts and concealments. (page 98, act : III)

• Nora Helmer – Dr. Rank

Dr. Rank told Nora that he loved her, but Nora didn’t love him.

Rank : That I have loved you as deeply as any one else? Was that too bad of me? (page 68, act : II)

Nora : For a great proof of your friendship. (page 67, act : II)

Person vs Self

• Nora Helmer vs Self

Nora talked to herself about her problem. She confused.

Nora : (stands while thinking, then throws her head back) Never! He wants to frighten me. I’m not so foolish as that. (Begins folding the children’s clothes. Pauses.) But - ? No, It’s impossible. I did it for love ! (page 42, act : I)

2.5 Themes

This story has love, society, family and crime themes.

Love : Nora said she lied because of love. And at the end, Torvald said he loved his wife. (act I and III)

Society : Torvald Helmer was angry when he knew the truth, he was afraid his reputation on social would be bad. And also he afraid what people would think when they know Nora left. (act III)

Family : This story is about Torvald’s family, especially about Nora and him. (act I, II, III)

Crime : Torvald called Nora as a criminal, a liar when he knew the truth. (act III )

2.6 Genres

This story has crime and family genre. It showed us about Nora’s sin and also Nora and Torvald’s family.

2.7 Settings

Place : Torvald family’s house.

Time : morning, afternoon, evening, night.

This story only in Torvald family’s house with his wife, his children, servants, and also visitors. The time was not really showed.

2.8 Moral Value

Spendthrift is a bad thing to have. It caused a problem for Nora Helmer. She owed much money to Krogstad. And it was better if Nora told the truth to her husband. How hard she tried to hide her sin, finally her husband knew the truth. And we think, leaving family is not something good.

2.9  About The Script, Hendrik Ibsen and The Scandals of This Drama

A Doll's House (Norwegian: Et dukkehjem; also translated as A Doll House) is a three-act play in prose by Henrik Ibsen. It premiered at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 21 December 1879, having been published earlier that month. The play is significant for its critical attitude toward 19th century marriage norms. It aroused great controversy at the time, as it concludes with the protagonist, Nora, leaving her husband and children because she wants to discover herself. (en.wikipedia.org)

Henrik Johan Ibsen (/ˈɪbsən/; Norwegian: [ˈhɛnɾɪk ˈɪpsən]; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a major 19th-century Norwegian play wright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of realism" and is one of the founders of Modernism in theatre. His major works include Brand, Peer Gynt, An Enemy of the People, Emperor and Galilean, A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler, Ghosts, The Wild Duck, Rosmersholm, and The Master Builder. He is the most frequently performed dramatist in the world after Shakespeare, and A Doll's House became the world's most performed play by the early 20th century.

When we saw the ending, there was a improriety. A mother should not leave her family, especially her children. But Nora left them. If we looked back to 1879, which is this story created by Hendrik Ibsen, the feminist literary critism was used by authors in that era. We watched the movie through website and there was a difference between the ending with the pure script. In the movie, Nora didn’t left the house at the ending. But in the pure script, Nora left them. If we looked back to 1879 to find the answer, there was a problem called 'barbaric outrage', which made Hendrik Ibsen created the other ending.

CHAPTER 3

FINAL

3.1 Conclusion

This story is about Nora’s life who wanted to fight for herself after hiding her sin for her husband and her family. But it’s only the surface, Hendrik Ibsen wanted to show the feminist side of this story, Nora’s side who finally left her family for getting the answer for herself. This story created by Hendrik Ibsen in 1879. Because of problem and critism, Hendrik Ibsen created the other ending.

3.2 Suggestion

A woman should fight for herself in the right way, but if it’s needed, she should not leave her family.

  

REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Doll's_House

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrik_Ibsen

Klarer, Mario. 2nd Edition. 2004. An Introduction to Literary Studies. New York: Routledge.

https://www.marxists.org/archive/bebel/1879/woman-socialism/ch12.htm