Treated like a Doll

Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House" is still relevant today because it teaches lessons on independence and society relatable to college students. In the play, Nora represents the limitations placed on women in the 1870s by society's expectations. Like some students feel controlled by academic expectations, her husband Torvald controls her life. Many first-year students at Loyola concentrate primarily on classes that are relevant to their majors rather than pursuing other interests. You never know what may interest you until you branch out and try new things. For example, I had to take the core requirement classes to get them over with my first years, and now I am in my junior year and don’t know what truly interests me yet. I have already changed my major twice and still am unsure of my future, but I am required to take classes that do not interest me. Torvald's influence over Nora's situation mirrors this lack of freedom. Similar to how students may feel confined by the rules of academic life, she feels stuck and accuses him of holding her back. “I believe that, before all else, I am a human being, no less than you—or anyway, at all events, I ought to try to become one.” (146). This quote highlights Nora's quest for her own humanity, implying that, above all, she should make an effort to become fully human. This is similar to what many college students go through in their quest for individuality and personal development. Students are discovering independence for the first time just as Nora makes the decision to go to school and leave Torvald. Despite social constraints, they are attempting to discover their identity and goals in life. This play reminds us of the importance of independence and finding our own path, both for Nora and for college students like me.