Degeneration Theory In Ibsens A Dolls House - 2035 Words

Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is a naturalistic play set in the late 1800’s that features the ideas of debt, humanism/feminism, social reproduction, sexism, and Degeneration theory. Degeneration theory is an idea that when you deviate from the moral values of society or from the norm you develop a physical deformity that can be passed to you children and your family. It was used to control people’s behaviour so they would not deviate from social norms. Which William M Greenslade agrees with in his book Degeneration, culture and the novel: 1880-1940: â€Å"Degeneration is discursively activated to produce for example, typologies of ‘inclusion’ and ‘exclusion’. Regulating morality or sexuality entails not only repression (or indifference) but the active†¦show more content†¦Nora is one of the main characters in A Doll’s house and is a women struggling with the patriarchal values of the late 1800’s while also having internalized them so greatly her idea of freedom is what patriarchal society tells her she wants. She is labeled as a degenerate in the play due to her behaviour throughout the play which is considered morally bad because it goes against the values and expectations of the time. The first instant is a conversation between Dr. Rank and Nora with Mrs. Linde present: â€Å"Rank: See here, macaroons! I thought they were contraband here. Nora: Yes, but these are some that Kristine gave me.† (Ibsen, p.199). This first instance shows her behaviour going against the value of the time because she has lied to Dr. Rank about the origins of the macaroons which is considered morally wrong because you are not supposed to lie, especially a women. This impulsiveness to lie and to hide the true origins of the macaroons Nordau states is a symptom of being a degenerate: â€Å"The two psychological roots of moral insanity, in all its degrees of development are, firstly, unbounds egoism, and, sec ondly, impulsiveness i.e., inability to resist- sudden impulse to any deed.† (Nordau, p. 18-19). The most important instance that shows Ibsen was labeling Nora a degenerate is when it is revealed that Nora has committed fraud by signing her father’s signature on a loan agreement with Krogstad. This is morally wrong behaviour because not only did she fraudulently sign