This document provides descriptions of costumes for characters in Henrik Ibsen's play "A Doll's House". It describes costumes for the main character Nora, her husband Torvald, her friend Christine, Torvald's friend Dr. Rank, an employee named Krogstad, and Nora's costumes for a masquerade ball and her traveling outfit at the end of the play. The costumes are designed to be historically accurate for Norway in 1899 and reflect the social status and personalities of the characters.

1. A Doll’s House By Shannon Enander

2. I am using this presentation to show how my research can help me create a historical show with garments from that time period. This version of A Doll’s House, Nora, is set in Norway at Christmas in the year 1899.

3. Nora Nora is the main character of the play. She is very materialistic and enjoys the finer things in life. She is submissive with her husband and flirtatious with his friend. She plays herself as an innocent woman without much worldly knowledge when in reality she knows far more. This gown is the style worn between 1899 – 1900 in light pink with a purple stripe running through it. Purple was still a choice color because of the discovery of the purple synthetic dye earlier in the 1800s.

4. Torvald Torvald is Nora’s husband. He works at a bank and just received a promotion. In this costume he will is just at home with his wife and their company. Torvald is a rather serious man who enjoys having power over others. He is wearing a white button down shirt, a jacket and tan/brown trousers. He is also wearing a four-in-hand tie.

5. Christine Christine is Nora’s friend from school. She is a widow and has no children. She has come to see Nora and Torvald because she is in need of a job and wishes to be hired at Torvald’s office. Since we are at the end of the Victorian era, Christine is wearing all black since her husband has passed away. She has on a slightly shorter dress for traveling and she is wearing black boots. She is wearing a cape since it is winter time and she is also wearing a veil.

6. Dr. Rank Dr. Rank is Torvald’s friend who is in love with Nora. He is a sickly man who has a very quirky personality. He is a charming man who is down on his luck, but is always a good friend, as well as a flirtatious one, to Nora. Dr. Rank is wearing a black morning coat which was worn during this time. He is also wearing a double-breasted waist coat and pin striped pants. He is wearing a white button down shirt and a four-in-hand tie.

7. Krogstad Krogstad is an employee at the bank Torvald works at who will be relieved from his job. He has a plan to blackmail Nora who took out a loan without Torvald’s knowledge or permission. He is a sad man who does not have much money and he gives off a harsh vibe to the reader. Krogstad is wearing a three piece suit with a frock coat. These coats were still popular during this time and I have it rendered in a nubby brown fabric. He is also wearing a white button down shirt and a four-in-hand tie. He is wearing black shoes signifying that he does not have much money and therefore does not have many pairs of shoes.

8. Nora This is the Tarantella costume worn by Nora at the masquerade ball. She got it while living in Capri, Italy with her husband. This is a traditional garment that has been altered to fit the time period with the longer skirt and the long sleeves. This would still be considered risqué because her ankles are showing and it has a lower neckline than dresses of that period.

9. Torvald This is Torvald’s costume for the ball. He chose not to dress up for it in costume like Nora, but instead just wore his formal suit. He does not want to have the focus be on him, he would rather it be on Nora. He is wearing a tail coat with a waistcoat, white button down shirt and bow tie. He has on flat front pants and black shoes as well.

10. Nora At the end of the play, Nora gets the courage to leave her husband and start her own life without being treated like a child. As she explains this to her husband, she is getting ready to leave the house. Nora is wearing a traveling outfit with a shorter skirt and boots to cover the ankle. Her jacket has fuller sleeves to accommodate the sleeves of the time period and is belted around the natural waist.

11. Contact Shannon Enander at senander7@gmail.com