Sacrificial Role of Women in A Doll´s House by Herik Isben

The role of women has changed significantly throughout history, driven by women who took risks in setting examples for others to follow. Henrik Isben, author of A Doll's House, said “ A woman cannot be herself in society of the present day, which is an exclusively masculine society, with laws framed by men and with a judicial system that judges feminine conduct from a masculine point of view” (Innes 147). This proves that Isben was aware of male dominance in society during that time period. In his drama, “A Doll's House,” it deals with gender favoritism and male dominance.

Women are looked at as less than males, and males are to be far superior because society thought male to be the better gender. “A Doll's House,” by Henrik Isben describes the sacrificial role of nineteenth century women , men in society and in the household.

In A Doll's House, Ibsen paints a bare picture of the sacrificial role held by women of different economic and financial standards in his society. The play's female characters demonstrate Nora's assertion that men refuse to sacrifice their integrity. In order to support her mother and two brothers, Mrs. Linde found it necessary to leave Krogstad. She left her true love, Krogstad, to marry a richer man. These are some of the sacrifices that women have to make to provide for there family. The nanny had to abandon her own child to support herself by working as Nora's children sitter. As she often told Nora, the nanny considers herself very fortunate to receive the job as the sitter, since she was a poor girl who was left astray. Isben concerns about women in society are brought up throughout the play. He believed that women had the right to develop their own individuality, but only if they made a sacrifice. Wo...

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...on as a disgrace to society because women are not expected to leave there husbands. Nora proved that she can withstand enormous amounts of pressure and that she is capable of doing things when she is determined. She is eventually freed from that doll ouse, as she calls it, and it allows her to leave without being afraid to learn about her and the world around her.

Work Cited

Ferguson, Robert. "Ferguson (1996) Henrik Ibsen: A New Biography." Ferguson (1996) Henrik Ibsen: A New Biography. N.p., 15 July 1996. Web. 06 May 2014.

Isben, Henrik. "A Doll's House and Other Plays." Google Books. N.p., 1 Jan. 2010. Web. 06 May 2014.

Innes, Christopher. "A Sourcebook on Naturalist Theatre." Google Books. Routledge, 2002, 15 Apr. 2002. Web. 04 May 2014.

Kaufman, Gayle. "Do Gender Role Attitudes Matter?" Do Gender Role Attitudes Matter? N.p., Jan. 2000. Web. 06 May 2014.