Heredity in a Doll’s House Essay

One major topic incorperated in Henrik Ibsens play A Doll House is the influence of heredity on a person. Ibsen seems to value that heredity is responsible for all faults in a persons existence. Even what modern-day scientists would classify as environemental factors are ocnsidered heredity in Ibsens play. The first discussion of inheretid traits comes barely a dozen pages into the play. Helmer is telling Nora how she is a spendthriftYoure an odd little one. Exactly the way your father was. . . . Its deep in your blood. Yes, those things are hereditary, Nora. Most of the discussions having to do with heredity seem to be accusing the person of inheriting an ill-suited trait. This could be because in general sight want to appear as though everything good that happens to them is a direct result of something they themselves did. Anything pernicious that happens is always someone elses fault.Also, characters in the story coiffe such credence upon the concept of heredity that one does not want to give his sons a bad start in life due ot his bad genes. Krogstad is an example My boys are growing up. For their sakes, Ill have to win back as much respect as possible here in town. Helmer, maybe more than any other character, puts much faith into this system. He remarks, Because that kind of atmosphere of lies infects the whole life of a home. Every breath the children take in is filled with the germs of something degenerate. Further, Oh, Ive seen it often enough as a lawyer. Almost everyone who goes bad early in life has a mother whos a chronic liar. Heredity plays a large part in setting up the belief systems of the characters such that the background provided in the first act carries by means of to its eventual conclusion in the final act. The power of heredity ot shape the play is shown by the last line of the first act, uttered by Nora diminished my children Poison my home? Thats not true. Never. Never in all the world.