Nora Helmer

Nora Helmer is a fictional character of Henrik Ibsen's 1879 play A Doll's House. She is introduced as a seemingly devoted wife and mother, living in a comfortable middle-class home with her husband Torvald, a recently promoted bank manager, and their three children. After committing forgery to pay for her husband's medical treatment without his knowledge, Nora attempts to deal with the consequences that threaten her marriage.

Nora's character sparked significant controversy upon the play's release, particularly due to her decision to abandon her domestic life, which challenged 19th-century gender norms. Over time, she has been reinterpreted as a feminist icon and a heroine symbolizing women's struggle for autonomy and self-determination. Her characterization inspired literary and political discussions worldwide, influencing debates on gender roles, marriage, and individual freedom, particularly in early feminist movements and 20th-century Chinese intellectual discourse.