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Portrayal of women in henrik ibsen's dolls house
Is Ibsen’s Doll House a feminist play? This theory of political, economic, and social equality of the sexes is the fundamental basis of Feminism
Portrayal of women in henrik ibsen's dolls house
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A Dollhouse was written by Henrik Ibsen, he had many themes that came out throughout the play and I think one important theme is the role of women and how they sacrifice themselves for their family. The author represents that the women are less important to men and shows that the role of a women is to sacrifice herself. For example, Nora’s is “Obligated” to please her husband. Ibsen also uses the role of female characters to comment that even with social expectations and difficulty, that choice is essential for all human beings. This role represented by women in the play can be seen through family sacrifices, the general insult of women and the decisions made by female characters.
Women are forced to sacrifice their lives for their families.
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She had felt like she needed to say yes to avoid hurting anyone. She was giving herself away in marriage because that was one of the ways that a woman could support her family. The play reveals that Mrs. Lindes true love turned out to be Krogstad. Although, due to her situation, she married for money in order to support her family. Mrs. Linde, a woman wasn’t working for herself, she had to sacrifice her own desires for the well-being of her family. Therefore, this was restricting her to the values of society. Mrs. Linde discusses with Nora her decision of saving Torvalds life by taking the situation, solving it on her own and borrowing money.
Mrs. Linde: “And your father never told Torvald the money wasn’t from him?” (ACT 1 794)
Nora: “No, never. Papa died right about then. Id considered brining him into my secret and begging him never to tell. But he was too sick at the time- and then, sadly, it didn’t matter. (ACT 1 794)
Mrs. Linde then had asked “And you’ve never confided your husband since” Nora then replied
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The wife has the right to control herself and shouldn’t have to deal with a controlling husband and that is where the Dollhouse play comes in, because Torvald seemed very controlling over Nora at times. The Dollhouse play ends with Nora choosing to leave Torvald and her family because she felt like she wasn’t a good wife and mother. I believe that Nora did this by choice and she did it because she wasn’t treated the way she should have been. Torvald wanted to work things out but Nora wanted nothing to do with him. She wanted to go her own way and start over and be happy and that’s all a girl needs, happiness and that wasn’t something Torvald was giving her. She found her happiness and got what she deserved at the end of it
In the play “A Doll’s House”, marriage is merely a social formality. Torvald and Nora, husband and wife, share merely a few intimate moments throughout the entire novel and their relationship is devoid of any affection at all. The setting of the play “A Doll’s House” is 19th century Norway and the norms and beliefs of this era play a huge role in defining the role of Torvald as a husband, and Nora as a wife. The husband in this era is supposed to be the sole guardian of the house, responsible for taking care of the families financial requirements and ensuring a high standing for the family in society. Torvald believes that Nora is confined to looking after their children and basically taking care of the physical aspects of their household, and Nora feels so oppressed by her husband that she helps him in a time of dire need without even telling him. This incident occurs in the scene where Torvald falls dangerously sick and is too foolish to spend money on foreign treatment that could save his life, Nora sensing the grave danger goes behind Torvald’s back and collects money to save Torvalds life by committing the crime of forgery.
Linde is an example of a woman acting predatory with her jealously and advancing herself as the motive for her actions. When Nora and Mrs. Linde are catching up on each other’s lives, Mrs. Linde tells Nora of the hardship in her life and says, “No one to work for, and yet you’re always having to snap up your opportunities. You have to live; and so you grow selfish” (Ibsen 2192). This emphasizes the nature of predatoriness in this society that is necessary to live within it. Mrs. Linde mentions that she has struggled to find work and garners Nora’s sympathy to then follow up and ask Nora if Torvald could possibly find her a job. Through Mrs. Linde, Ibsen illustrates this type of subtle predatoriness that is commonly used to advance oneself in his society. When Krogstad tells Mrs. Linde about his letter to Torvald, instead of stopping Torvald from getting the letter, and finding out Nora’s secret, she says, “Helmer’s got to learn everything; this dreadful secret has to be aired; those two have come have to come to a full understanding; all these lies and evasions can’t go on” (Ibsen 2222). Mrs. Linde gets exactly what she wants, a life similar to Nora’s with Krogstad, without having to cause any damage, but demonstrates predatory nature through acting with the intention to hurt Nora due to the jealousy she felt for Nora’s life. Ibsen suggests that many women want to get married and live the life of a life of a perfect housewife, but do not succeed in this, like Mrs.
How does Mrs. Linde explain why she is in their house? Mrs. Linde claims she is in the house to see Nora in her costume. 3. How is Torvald’s reaction contradictory?
Those of you who have just read A Doll's House for the first time will, I suspect, have little trouble forming an initial sense of what it is about, and, if past experience is any guide, many of you will quickly reach a consensus that the major thrust of this play has something to do with gender relations in modern society and offers us, in the actions of the heroine, a vision of the need for a new-found freedom for women (or a woman) amid a suffocating society governed wholly by unsympathetic and insensitive men.
In the play, Torvald also doesn’t trust Nora with money, when Nora wants money instead ...
“I believe that, before all else, I’m a human being, no less than you – or anyway, I ought to try to become one” (Act III 1016). These words echoed throughout history and changed the course and status of women in society today. Written by Henrik Ibsen, A Doll’s House perfectly demonstrates a woman going against the ideas of how society should have been. At the time the play was written, it was evident that women held little to no role in society. Although Ibsen didn’t get to see the impact of his play in his lifetime, it greatly impacted the course of theater.
In both plays, the female protagonist is in a strained marriage, and takes drastic measures to leave that relationship. Nora has been married to Torvald for eight years, and has three children with him. However, she hides things from him and lies to him, i.e., her sweet tooth for macaroons, which he has forbidden, and, more importantly, the large loan from Krogstad. Nora hides, lies, and pleases – she plays the trophy wife for Torvald, but does as she wishes anyway. She does not do so in a cruel-hearted way, but she does so nonetheless. As the play goes on, she realizes that their marriage has been loveless, more “for show” than anything else, and has been based on trivial conversations and matters. She says to Torvald, “Eight whole years, no, more, even since we first knew each other – and never have we exchanged one serious word about serious things… [You] never loved me. You only thought how nice it was to be in love with me” (Ibsen 79-80). Nora was the “doll wife” in Tor...
A Doll’s House illustrates two types of women. Christine is without a husband and independent at the start of the play whereas Nora is married to Torvald and dependent on him and his position at the bank. Both begin at different ends of the spectrum. In the course of the play their paths cross and by the end of the play each woman is where the other started. It appears that a woman has two choices in society; to be married and dependent on a man or unmarried and struggle in the world because she does not have a man.
After asking his wife if she understands what she has done Nora answers “[Looking squarely at him, her face hardening] Yes. I am beginning to understand everything” (835). This statement might be the key phrase of Nora’s realization. The double- meaning implies Nora’s understanding of the actual situation as well as her awareness that her marriage, even though it conforms with social expectations, is far from perfect. She now doubts the depth of her love for Torvald and becomes calm with comprehension as she begins to recognize the truth about her marriage. While she expects compassion for her sacrifice, she is none given. Instead of sacrificing anything to help Nora out of her predicament, Torvald is only worried about himself and appearances. It becomes very clear, after the second letter from Krogstad arrives, that her well-being always comes second “I’m saved. Nora, I’m saved! You too, of course” (836). Throughout the conversation with Torvald, Nora finally realizes, she needs to rearrange her life and priorities to be happy. This implies independence and self-awareness. While Nora finally understands the situation, she is in and what she needs to do but Torvald defines her new attitudes as madness “You’re ill, Nora; you’re feverish; I almost think you’re out of your mind” (840). “However, the characterization has been tied to the fact that she is breaking taboos or challenging conventions” (Langås 160). Torvald is still stuck in his fantasy world of how a wife should talk and act per his standard and the society he stands for. “Nora still has no way of knowing that she is not endangering her children with her presence and in the end, she feels impelled to leave, and her decision is less an act of defiance against her husband and society than an attempt to save the lives of her children” (Brooks
Mrs. Linde’s character foreshadows Nora’s decision to leave Torvald. Mrs. Linde and Nora are at opposite ends of their lives, one breaks up her marriage to be independent and the other enters into a relationship. Mrs. Linde expresses her feelings to be a mother, whereas, Nora sacrifices her relationship with her children to be free.
The Struggle for Identity in A Doll's House A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, is a play that was written ahead of its time. In this play, Ibsen tackles women's rights as a matter of importance. Throughout this time period, it was neglected. A Doll's House was written during the movement of Naturalism, which commonly reflected society. Ibsen acknowledges the fact that in 19th century life the role of the woman was to stay at home, raise the children and attend to her husband.
“A Doll’s House” gives the reader a firsthand view at how gender roles affected the characters actions and interactions throughout the play. The play helps to portray the different struggles women faced during the 19th century with gender roles, and how the roles affected their relationships with men as well as society. It also helps to show the luxury of being a male during this time and how their higher status socially over women affected their relationships with woman and others during this time period.
Nora was the main character who wanted to be free and make her own decisions in life. Her husband Torvald thought of Nora as a careless child who couldn’t make her own decisions and constantly needed guidance. They never had an equal partnership in their relationship. Nora was always inessential and Torvald was the significant one. They were once very poor and Nora tried taking action by illegally borrowing money to move to Italy and support the family at that time. At the end of the play Torvald freaks out on Nora after she finally informed him about Dr. Rank’s upcoming death. “Ah! What a rude awakening for me! For eight years my pride and joy, a hypocrite, a liar, even worse, a criminal! (Pg. 763 Line 378)” Torvald was very upset with her and his emotions changed drastically in a brief moment after receiving another letter from Mrs. Helmer. The letter was about Nora’s contract being returned and there is no longer the thought of fear for her fraud. Torvald settles down and is in complete joy at this moment from his wife helping him. However, Nora states that they both never understood each other until now and after eight years of marriage they finally talk seriously. She said that he never loved her and he thought that it was fun to be in love with her. “No, just having fun. You’ve always been very nice to me. But our home has never been anything but a playpen. I’ve been
At the beginning of "A Doll's House", Nora seems completely happy. She responds to Torvald's teasing, relishes in the excitement of his new job, and takes pleasure in the company of her children and friends. Nora never appears to disagree with her doll-like existence, in which she is cuddled, pampered and patronized. As the play progresses, Nora's true character appears and proves that she is more than just a "silly girl" as Torvald calls her. Her understanding of the business details related to the dept she incurred in taking out a loan to help Torvald's health shows her intelligence and her abilities beyond being merely a wife. The secret labor she undertakes to pay off her dept demonstrates her determination and ambition. In addition, her willingness to break the law in order to aid her...
Where the man works and provides for the family, setting off the image of being strong and independent. Thereby making the woman look like an accessory to man. That was the typical representation of husband and wife in their society. Torvald was working and being promoted as the bank clerk, a successful man. While Nora was home to care for the husband and at times their children. Since they had a nanny to take care of their children, Nora did not nurse their children much. This was all acceptable and seen as the