A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

1. A Doll’s Houseby Henrik Ibsen

2. Background on Henrik Ibsen • Born in Skien, Norway, in 1828 • Ibsen grew up in poverty. • He wanted become a doctor, but the education was too costly. • He began writing and working in the theater.

3. Background on Henrik Ibsen • Ibsen married Susannah Thoresen, a pastor’s daughter, in 1858.

4. Background on Henrik Ibsen • In 1864, he received a scholarship to study and to travel in Rome. While there, he published a string of plays. • The one that caused him the most critical uproar was A Doll’s House.

5. Background on Henrik Ibsen • Towards the end of his life, Ibsen was known as one of the world’s greatest dramatists • In his later years, he suffered several strokes, which destroyed his memory for words and even the alphabet.

6. Background on Henrik Ibsen • In 1906, Ibsen died in Oslo, Norway.

7. Facts About A Doll’s House • A Doll’s House appeared in an edition of 8,000 copies at the beginning of December 1879. • It was produced at the theatre Royal Copenhagen three weeks after its publication.

8. Facts About A Doll’s House • The play was considered scandalous for its time. It portrayed a woman not only forsaking her marriage vows, but acting independently and renouncing obedience to her husband.

9. Facts About A Doll’s House • When the play was performed in Germany in March 1880, Ibsen was forced to write a different ending. • In the new ending, Nora’s husband dominated her and “put her back in her place” in accordance with society’s standards.

10. Facts About A Doll’s House • Only after ten years was A Doll’s House performed outside of Scandinavia and Germany. • This is Ibsen’s best known play, likely because Nora goes beyond what was expected of the 19th century woman.