Backlash: Criticism And Feminism In A Doll's House

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Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House has stood the test of time as a piece of feminist literature. This is not only because of the controversial subject matter of a Norwegian woman leaving her family in the 1870s, but also because, Nora the seemingly mild mannered mother and housewife actually has a strong sense of self, and pride when it comes to being able to help her family. However, as time passed Nora has been picked apart by critics and scholars when it comes to every facet of her character. This includes how Nora acts as a wife, a mother, and it even includes what she has eaten during the play. However, even though many scholars and critics agree, there is one thing that often goes unnoticed, and that is the other women that are present in …show more content…

Templeton argues that Nora is “voicing the most basic of feminist principles” when she realizes that she has “higher duties” than being a wife or a mother (Templeton 32). Of course, Templeton is referring to Nora’s sense of self and the pride she holds when it comes to the fact that she singlehandedly saved her family, even if she did so illegally. Now, despite Nora being brave enough to take on such a risk, she can be seen as a “child” to several people, including Mrs. Linde because even though she has had to work, she has not worked as hard as other women in the in the play. According to Mrs Linde “a little needle work and such” never hurt anybody (Seagull Reader 193). Seeing Nora through this sort of lens can make her seem rather selfish, and maybe a little naïve, compared to the other …show more content…

Mrs. Linde had to leave her loving fiancé behind in order to enter into a loveless marriage with a wealthier man that is no deceased all because she had to take care of her sickly bedridden mother and her younger brothers. Then, despite being wealthy the business fell apart after Mr Linde passed, which left Mrs. Linde to pick up the pieces, and get by day to day with any sort of odd job she could find (192). All though the heart of the play itself is for women’s rights and the fight for equality, because if women taking out loans was not illegal none of this would have happened. It still displays the fight for equality in an unbalanced way, because all though Nora and Mrs. Linde are forced to work, they are both in completely different situations, and Nora may even have more ground to stand on compared to Mrs. Linde. These “minor” characters have an effect on feminism because despite the desire for equality, they are stuck in the caste pf the middle class, so they do not necessarily have the choice to embrace themselves and truly do what they desired. Which, for Mrs. Linde was to marry her former

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