A Doll's House Women Essay

986 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The influence of nora in doll house

In A Doll’s house, Henrik Ibsen a story of a woman doing an unheard of deed, all while trying to uphold her place as a woman in her marriage, only to be let down by her husband and acquiring the strength to leave in the end. A Doll’s House, with the ongoing role the lead had to uphold, shows the struggles women faced and the physical and emotional impact had on them during that era.
A Doll’s House reveals the limited role of the woman during the time the play was written and the issues faced from the differences in authority between men and women. Throughout the play Nora is belittled by several characters being referred to as “a child”, “a pet”, “property”, insinuating she isn’t smart enough or bright enough to be independent. While Nora seems upset by the treatment she receives, she cooperates with other characters. However, throughout the play several indications are presented to show how she isn’t happy with her role as a woman.
Nora presents majority of the play painting herself as this perfect wife, being obedient towards all of Torvald’s wishes. In act 1 Nora states “I should not think of going against your wishes,” (Ibsen 1992, pg. 5) showing here love for her husband and and accepting her gender role. In Act 2 Nora states “Splendid! But don’t you …show more content…

Nora states “ It is perfectly true, Torvald. When I was at home with papa, he told me his opinion about everything, and so I had the same opinions; and if I differed from him I concealed the fact, because he would not have liked it. He called me his doll-child, and he played with me just as I used to play with my dolls, and when I came to live with you, I was simply transferred from papa’s hands to yours.”(Ibsen 1992, pg. 59) Ibsen has shown evidence of this, especially at the beginning of the play when Nora overjoyed in performing for Torvald and playing the role of the perfect, obedient

Show More
Related

  • The Unrecognized Dimensions of Nora

    1499 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll House, Ibsen tells a story of a wife and mother who not only has been wronged by society, but by her beloved father and husband because of her gender. Nora left her father’s house as a naïve daughter only to be passed to the hands of her husband forcing her to be naïve wife and mother, or so her husband thinks. When Nora’s husband, Torvald becomes deathly ill, she takes matters into her own hands and illegally is granted a loan that will give her the means to save her husband’s life. Her well guarded secret is later is used against her, to exort Torvald, who was clueless that his wife was or could be anything more than he made her. However, Nora has many unrecognized dimensions “Besides being lovable, Nora is selfish, frivolous, seductive, unprincipled, and deceitful” (Rosenberg and Templeton 894). Nora is a dynamic character because her father and her husband treat her as a child and do not allow her to have her own thoughts and opinions, as the play progresses she breaks free from the chains of her gender expectation to explore the world around her.

    Read More

  • Essay On Feminism In A Doll's House

    767 Words  | 2 Pages

    A Doll House, a play written by Henrik Ibsen, published in the year 1879, stirred up much controversy within its time period because it questioned the views of society's social rules and norms. "Throughout most of history... Wifehood and motherhood were regarded as women's most significant professions... The resulting stereotype that 'a woman's place is in the home' has largely determined the ways in which women have expressed themselves" ("Women's History in America"). Ibsen places many hints throughout his play about the roles of women and how they were treated in his time. Nora is perceived as a typical housewife; maintaining the house and raising her children. However, Nora had actually hired a maid to do all of those typical housewife duties for her. Nora was naive, and ambitious. She hid many secrets from her husband. The way women were viewed in this time period formed a kind of barrier that Nora could not overcome. Women should not be discriminated against just because of their gender and within reason they should be able to do what their heart entails.

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Realism Essay

    1918 Words  | 4 Pages

    Once Nora reveals her deceptive act to Mrs. Linde, we begin to see Nora’s character in a whole new light. One that is much more mature and determined than previously thought. It isn’t until Mrs. Linde accuses Nora of not knowing her hard day’s work that she finally reveals her greatest secret. It is through their common experience of sacrifice that unites them and brings them closer together again. As we reach the end of act one, we begin to see Nora struggle with her new problem of guilt.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Nora In A Doll House

    1168 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nora is a dynamic character. When the play begins Nora is viewed and presented as a playful and carefree person. She seems to be more intent on shopping for frivolous things. But, as time goes on it becomes apparent that Nora actually has a certain amount of seriousness in her decisions and actions in dealing with the debt she incurred to save Torvald’s life. Nora’s openness in her friendship with Dr. Rank changes after he professes his affections toward her. Her restraint in dealing with him shows that Nora is a mature and intelligent woman. Nora shows courage, not seen previously, by manipulating her way around Krogstad and his threats to reveal her secret. After feeling betrayed by Torvald, Nora reveals that she is leaving him. Having

    Read More

  • Examples Of Stage Directions In A Doll's House

    1254 Words  | 3 Pages

    The nineteenth-century play ‘A Doll’s House’ by Henrik Ibsen focuses on the family and friends of Nora Helmer, a Norwegian housewife under control of her husband, who wishes for her to be a status symbol. Nora’s initial behaviour of childishness and naivety reflects the way in which her husband and father have been treating her. However as the play develops, Nora’s independence grows and her persona shifts into an independent individual, with a realisation that she deserves better treatment from those around her.

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Idealism Essay

    1008 Words  | 3 Pages

    Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is a three-act play significant for its attitude toward marriage norms. In the drama, Ibsen explores idealism between the wife Nora and her husband Helmer. Nora’s and Helmer’s idealism forces the pair to see themselves and each other starring in various idealist scenarios of female sacrifice and heroic male rescue. As a play, the scenes are act out on stage. The staging of a house reveals the dramaturgical aspects and dynamics of the play. The presence of the house is significant to the depiction of women on stage. The action of the play traces Nora’s relationship to the house. Ibsen’s play focuses on the aspect of the expected idealism of the wife and husband, and how the domestic abode can hinder freedom.

    Read More

  • Free Essays on A Doll's House: Marital Lessons

    1298 Words  | 3 Pages

    Without love a relationship would probably not even begin. Two people meet, a friendship forms, and soon a romance blossoms. Though the basis for Nora and Torvald's relationship appeared to be centered around love, the needed balance was not obtained. Torvald didn't really love Nora; to him she was just another child to mind. He said, 'And I wouldn't want you to be any different from what you are-just my sweet little song bird. But now I come to think of it, you look rather-rather-how shall I put it? -rather as if you've been up to mischief today' ( 151). Calling his wife names such as 'skylark,' 'squirrel,' and 'spendthrift,' Torvald does not love his wife with the respect and sensitivity a man should. The main area where Torvald showed his lack of love for Nora was in the way he managed his house. Torvald was the owner of what he believed to be a perfect doll house. This doll house was first controlled by Nora's domineering father, and once Nora entered marriage, the titles and deeds to this doll house were handed over to Torvald. Torvald manipulated Nora, and then the children through her according to his wants, sure that he could never lose control over his precious doll house. This lack of love and imperious attitude would eventually ruin their marriage. Nora was the only one of the two partners who showed love for the other in this play. Going against all the odds a woman faced in the late nineteenth century, Nora went behind her husband's back, borrowed a large sum of money, forged her father's signature, and went on to pay it off with hopes of Torvald never hearing of it. She refused to be a doll, and would alternate personalities between 'Torvald's little skylark,' and 'Nora the intelligent and strong woman.

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Sacrifice Analysis

    2126 Words  | 5 Pages

    Henrik Ibsen paints a sad picture of the sacrificial role of women throughout all social economical classes in his play “A Doll House”. The story is set in the late 19th century and all minor female characters had to overcome adversity to the expense of love, family and self-realization, in order to lead a comfortable life. While the main female protagonist Nora struggles with her increasingly troubled marriage, she soon realizes, she needs to change her life to be happy as the play climaxes. Her journey to self-discovery is achieved by the threat of her past crime and her oppressing husband, Torvald and the society he represents. The minor female characters exemplifying Nora’s ultimate sacrifice.

    Read More

  • What Is Nora's Sacrifice

    696 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play the same thing happens with Nora, she realizes her life with Torvalds is no different than with her father. Nora says she “lived by doing tricks for Torvald“(Ibsen 904) and her Papa. They both buried her personal feelings by their own and ruined her process to find her own identity. Nora then says “I’ve been wronged greatly, Torvald- first by papa

    Read More

  • Doll's House Critical Analysis

    1160 Words  | 3 Pages

    We see a woman who is making a bold action against gender inequality and the position society and culture has given her. As for Nora, we see in this first conversation that she seems entirely dependent on Torvald for her money, her food, and her shelter, despite the fact that she is keeping a secret. This secret is the kernel of her individuality and her escape from the doll’s house. While it is easy to paint Helmer as a tyrant and Nora as the naïve wife who suffers under his control, one must not forget that torvald is not aware of any damage he is causing. His greatest sin is perhaps his ignorance. The shock he shows at Nora’s revelation shows that he has no awareness that there is anything wrong with the status balance in his

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Gender Roles

    1575 Words  | 4 Pages

    Yet she later discovers Torvald would not do the same for her nor ever recognise her as his equil with her own opinions, ideas, or worth. He had always treated her like a pet or child controlling her down to every aspect of her life from the clothing she wore to how she spent her daily activities. Torvald even believed Nora to be daft and naive in the ways of how the world worked from financial issues to social conduct. Nora then abandons her doll 's house, the oppression she live under, and the inequality held over her by her husband to be able to stand on her own feet. “I have been your doll wife, just as at home I was Daddy’s doll child. And the children in turn have been my dolls. I thought it was fun when you came and played with me, just as they thought it was fun when I went to play with them. That’s been our marriage, Torvald.”(Ibsen). Nora shatters the only reference to how an oppressing marriage to a demining man distorts a person, those alterations are transcending capturing everyone else into dangerous cycle of disillusioned lifestyle. Ibsen uses this to symbolise the oppressive nature stressed on how idealised married life was expected, forced, and became a limiting factor on women since they were unable to pursue higher

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Gender Roles Essay

    437 Words  | 1 Pages

    She has no freedom and is expected to comply to every one of her husband's wishes. Torvald controls their relationship like a puppeteer and his marionette. Nora herself admits that she is nothing towards men and only exists to pleasure them: “You and Papa have committed a great sin against me. It is your fault that I have made nothing of my life” (Ibsen 111; act 3). Gradually, she sees that her innocent, childish relationship with her father becomes the same innocent, childish relationship with Torvald.

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Women Essay

    946 Words  | 2 Pages

    For almost all of human history, women have struggled to gain equal footing with men. Widely viewed in society as the inferior, and even fragile sex, one may almost think women are a whole separate species. In Henrik Ibsen’s play, A Doll’s House, he criticizes the treatment of women in a married relationship status. Ibsen explores the social issue of womenś degradation in married relationships by portraying the main character, Nora, as a wife that is consistently talked down to and dehumanized, treated as a possession rather than an independent being, and exploited - all by her husband, just like many other women during this time period and even in modern society.

    Read More

  • A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

    746 Words  | 2 Pages

    A Doll House, written by Henrik Ibsen, is a dramatic play about a man and a woman’s marriage. Nora, the protagonist, is trapped in the norm, she is a housewife and does what is instructed. Torvald, Nora’s husband, is the contributor of the family, yet can be portrayed as Nora’s puppet master. After eight long years Nora realizes she is not happy in life and wants to discover what exactly she seeks in life. Nora leaves behind Torvald and her children to find true happiness.

    Read More

  • Plight Of Women In A Doll's House

    1469 Words  | 3 Pages

    Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House highlights the second-class citizen status of Norwegian women in the late nineteenth century. Ibsen uses the main character, Nora Helmer, as an example of the plight of women and their need for equal rights and independence. In Clement Scott’s review of the play, he describes Nora as “a child-wife compounded of infantile tricks and capriciousness, a frivolous and irresponsible young person who does not hesitate to fib, and can, at a pinch, condescend to forge; a wife of eight years ' standing who changes from a grown-up baby to an illogical preacher; a woman who, in a fit of disappointment, in spite of appeal to her honour, her maternity, her religion, her sense of justice, leaves the husband she has sworn

    Read More

More about A Doll's House Women Essay

Open Document