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Society's expectations of gender roles
Society's expectations of gender roles
Studying gender roles in literature
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The world is filled with strong, independent women who struggle everyday for equality. Unfortunately, even today, many countries still view women as second class citizens.
Women, and their lives, play a major part in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House where men dominate in society. Nora and Mrs. Linde are two women who struggle in their lives as they sacrifice themselves for the pleasure of others.
In the beginning of the play, Henrik Ibsen presents to us a view of women in the 19th century. Long before women had a right to vote, or even own property, they were subservient to their husbands or fathers. For example, Nora., always wanting to please her husband, accepts him comparing her with a little animal and even seems to identify with this image. Nora appears completely submitted to her husband, ready to accept whatever he would say or do.
There are many hints to Nora’s awareness to a women’s struggle and recognition for their strength, and intelligence. Nora speaks of the unnoticed sacrifices thousands of women make on a daily basis for others. As it is for most women who are starting over Nora, has no carefully thought out life direction. Nora is acting out of respect for herself. She realizes the only way she will ever be happy is by finding out who she really is. She wants to experience a life outside of a doll house.
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Nora's passionate sense of herself, her absolute refusal to live a life where she is not in control of her actions. There is about her actions something grand, defiant, and totally free, values all the more precious given...
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...ll, hockey, and basketball games, even though she was exhausted from working all night. Thanks to my mother, I have faced many hardships with dignity, and the strength to pick myself up and move forward.
I believe her sacrifice and sense of responsibility had a huge influence in my own life. Behind every strong woman there is another strong woman who had an enormous influence in their lives. I also believe behind every strong woman there is a weak overbearing man who forced them to become that way. Thankfully, these women did not wait for the male dominated society to give them their equality and independence.
...ome from different worlds, yet they still share the same type of sadness and pain in their everyday lives. What Nora does is considered courageous in that time in history, where women were not treated as equals and were always looked down on and ignored. Women speaking out and taking matters into their own hands was unheard of and often risky. They want to be independent so they do what they believe is necessary to accomplish and reach their goals, so that they can once again be happy for eternity.
After she reveals the "dastardly deed" to her husband, he becomes understandably agitated; in his frustration he shares the outside world with her, the ignorance of the serious business world, and destroys her innocence and self-esteem. This disillusion marks the final destructive blow to her doll's house. Their ideal home including their marriage and parenting has been a fabrication for the sake of society. Nora's decision to leave this false life behind and discover for herself what is real is directly symbolic of woman's ultimate realization. Although she becomes aware of her supposed subordinateness, it is not because of this that she has the desire to take action. Nora is utterly confused, as suggested by Harold Clurman, "She is groping sadly in a maze of confused feeling toward a way of life and a destiny of which she is most uncertain (256)." The one thing she is aware of is her ignorance, and her desire to go out into the world is not to "prove herself" but
The nineteenth century brought about the results in cultural, political, and socio-economic transformations which distinctly affected the underlying changes in the roles of women, especially in Great Britain. Throughout the era, the private sphere was reacted positively and negatively, gender roles were developed dynamically, and general expectations shaped the way of living. As a result of Industrial revolution, Britain was successfully approved to be the world's most greatest economic power and had changed society and social life. Particularly, Moreover, the separate spheres shaped by 'inherited' characteristics of gender purposely characterized the condition of women's living that were totally different from men's. The images of victorian
Unwilling to accept her supposed role in society, Nora wanted to figure out whether women should live under the guidance of men or if they should make decisions based on their own knowledge. Nora could not tolerate abiding by the rules of her male-dominated society. It took much fortitude for Nora to rebel against the views of the majority of people, and to reflect on the information she got herself instead of letting it be determined by another.
Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll House examines a woman’s struggle for independence in her marriage and social world. Through the use of character change, Ibsen conveys his theme that by breaking away from all social expectations, we can be true to ourselves. When Ibsen presents Nora Helmer, we see a “perfect” wife, who lives in a “perfect” house with a “perfect” husband and children. The Helmer children have a nanny that raises them. By having the nanny, Nora has the freedom to come and go as she pleases. Torvald Helmer, Nora’s husband, will begin a new job as bank manager, so they will be rich, which will make her “perfect” life even better. Torvald even calls Nora pet names like “my sweet little lark” (Ibsen 1567) and “my squirrel” (Ibsen 1565). These names may seem to be harmless and cute little nicknames, but the names actually show how little he thinks of her. “Torvald uses derogatory diminutives to address Nora” (Kashdan 52). Torvald talks down to her. Nora is “regarded as property rather than a partner” (Drama for Students 112). He isn’t treating her like a real person. In Torvald eyes, she isn’t an equal. “Nora is viewed as an object, a toy, a child, but never an equal” (Drama for Students 109).
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
A Doll?s House presents a revolutionary change for Norway in the 1880?s. During this time period women were seen as second or even third class citizens, and though numerically this is not true, a minority . Ibsen presents his character Nora as a plaything, sorely manipulated by the men in her life. As the play pro...
According to her husband Torvald, Nora is childish even though she is his wife but however she is loving but little that he is aware that she’s unpredictably a strong and an independent woman. As the plays moves forward readers will highly realize that Nora’s persona shifts from that of everyday playful trophy wife seen by Torvald and friends to someone who is highly self empowering and a willing woman.
...s House could have easily been written in 2014 as it still speaks about the evolution of women and their struggle to be heard. This remarkable play and its productions, speak a truth about women and the quiet sacrifices they make for the sake of family. Henrik Ibsen’s desire and curiosity towards equality for women is a testament that many can receive understanding from.
In Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House, a drama written in the midst of an 1879, middle-class, suburban Europe, he boldly depicts a female protagonist. In a culture with concern for fulfilling, or more so portraying a socially acceptable image, Nora faces the restraints of being a doll in her own house and a little helpless bird. She has been said to be the most complex character of drama, and rightfully so, the pressure of strict Victorian values is the spark that ignites the play's central conflicts. Controversy is soon to arise when any social-norm is challenged, which Nora will eventually do. She evolves throughout the play, from submissive housewife to liberated woman. It seems as though what took women in America almost a century to accomplish, Nora does in a three-day drama. Ibsen challenges the stereotypical roles of men and women in a societally-pleasing marriage. He leads his readers through the journey of a woman with emerging strength and self-respect. Nora plays the typical housewife, but reveals many more dimensions that a typical woman would never portray in such a setting.
The nineteenth century was truly a different time for women and what their assumed roles in life would be. Henrik Ibsen’s play “A Doll’s House” is an examination into those assumed roles and a challenge to them. It was a time of obedience and inequality and in the first act each character is shown to portray these qualities. However, the characters in this play have multiple layers that get peeled back as the story progresses. As each new layer is revealed the audience is shown that even with the nineteenth century ideals, the true nature of each character is not quite what they appeared to be initially.
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...
...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.
Henrik Ibsen published A Doll House in 1879, which was a time period of intense debate over women’s rights. Ibsen believed in the equality of people; consequently, the play displays the unjust inequality between men and women during the 19th century. Women were expected to fulfill the roles of a daughter, wife, and mother. However, to conform to the standards of the time women would repeatedly sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of men (Shahbaz). Nora attempted to fulfill the roles society expected of her, but she could not. Henrik Ibsen demonstrated how a woman has a duty to herself first by showing the negative effects of restricting women to the subservient roles of a daughter, wife, and mother in A Doll House.
Henrik Ibsen wants to make in his play. He wants to let society know that the women are living in a masculine society and that society will not always win in the battle of humans versus society. On page 1403, the book says, “A woman cannot be herself in the society of the present day…” With using society’s customs, deception, and symbolism Henrik Ibsen is able to make his point. With social customs, Henrik Ibsen challenges the way the woman are suppose to act. In the beginning of the play, society would have been happy, however as the reader reads on society’s ideas are pushed aside and Nora becomes her own person. Henrik Ibsen uses deception to show society what they force the people to do. For example, the reader sees that Nora has to lie about everything because society will not take her the way she is. To her, she sees nothing wrong with borrowing a little money to save her husband, but society will not have it. For example, Helmer says, “Now you have destroyed all of my happiness. You have ruined all my future. This horrible to think of!” (1395). He also says, “… The matter must be hushed up at any to appease him some way or another.” (1395). These quotes go to show that society will not take what Nora has done save to her husband’s life very well. Finally, Henrik Ibsen uses symbolism to help get his point across. With symbolism, the reader sees a connection between the tree and Nora. When the tree begins to lose it decorates, Nora loses her cover up too. The reader begins to see the real Nora and how she does what she thinks she has to do. Henrik Ibsen is able to win his battle of society versus humans in A Doll