Who Is the Stranger in the Society of Ibsen's "a Doll's House"?

In his play ‘A Doll’s House’, Henrik Ibsen suggests that his characters are all strangers within society in their own way. He deliberately keeps the idea of a ‘stranger’ within humanity unclear.

The protagonist of ‘A Doll’s House’, Nora Helmer, is as a stranger to herself. Towards the end of the plot she realizes how she has been playing a role in order so she could fit in society, ever since she was a child. Therefore she changes dramatically, as she is tired of being treated condescendingly by both her husband, Torvald and her ‘friend’ Christine Linde. This becomes painfully clear to her: “I’ve been your doll-wife, just as I used to be papa’s doll-child.” However, she does know that her ‘childish’ behavior may be in her advantage, as Torvald is used to her acting this way and likes to guide her. “Correct me, lead me, the way you always do, I can’t get anywhere without your help.” This makes Nora a symbol of society at that time: woman deliberately play a role because they otherwise would not be understood or accepted by their environment.

Despite Nora’s infantile actions at the opening scenes of this play, Ibsen does show some more mature female characters, even in the male-dominated society they live in. Christine Linde for instance. This woman is much more independent than the other women at the time. She is not subsidiary on children or a husband (any more), whereas Nora still is. Christine has disdainful feelings towards Nora, as she recognizes how much her friend needs to be taken care of whereas she perfectly knows how to take care of herself. During their first conversation in the play, Mrs. Linde even literally tells her: “You’re a child, Nora.”

Torvald Helmer, Nora’s possessive partner, is however not a stranger to himself as he fits into the conventional idea of what a man should be like in society. This becomes clear when Nora tries to confront him with the fact that their conversation