A normal subgroup $~$N$~$ of group $~$G$~$ is one which is closed under conjugation: for all $~$h \in G$~$, it is the case that $~$\{ h n h^{-1} : n \in N \} = N$~$. In shorter form, $~$hNh^{-1} = N$~$.
Since conjugacy is equivalent to "changing the worldview", a normal subgroup is one which "looks the same from the point of view of every element of $~$G$~$".
A subgroup of $~$G$~$ is normal if and only if it is the kernel of some Group homomorphism from $~$G$~$ to some group $~$H$~$. (Proof.)
%%%knows-requisite(Equaliser (category theory)): From a category-theoretic point of view, the kernel of $~$f$~$ is an equaliser of an arrow $~$f$~$ with the zero arrow; it is therefore universal such that composition with $~$f$~$ yields zero. %%%
[todo: why are they interesting]