Women’s rights in the late 1800’s

Women’s rights in the late 1800’s

A Doll House gives us a true insight into the roles for men and women during the late 1800’s. This is why the play has been said to be able to take place in any and all suburbs. At this point in history, the roles of gender were mainly consistent across the world. Men vs. women in economics, social status, gender rights, marriage and divorce, and occupation can best describe this.

During the late 1800’s women had no economic rights once they were married. Honestly they had little before they were married as well. All of their property before marriage automatically became their husbands when they got married. All of their money, furniture, anything they had previously becomes their husbands the moment they get married. Their husbands could do or say, whatever they wanted with it. Even in death they could leave it to someone other than their wife. Women did not have the right to borrow money or buy property without their husband. This is the main reason for all the secrecy and panic in A Dolls House. Nora borrows money from the lawyer by forging her father’s signature. She then repays it over time by asking for money from her husband for random things such as clothes and presents. It does not even matter that the reason she borrowed the money is due to the face that her husband was sick and he needed to move to warmer climate in order to recover. She did it all to save her husband. Mrs. Linde says “Nora! It was Krogstad who lent you the money?” Nora said, “Yes, and now Torvald will know all about it,” Mrs. Linde says, “Believe me, Nora, that’s the best thing for both of you.” Nora says, “You don’t know the whole story. I forged a name.” The name she is referring to is her fathers. T...

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...a job most likely means she is a widow. During the civil war, even some married women took on jobs while the men fought. In addition, after the war ended about thirty percent of women were widowed due to men dying during the war. Women working simply became less rare but still separated from men and men occupations. Still as of 1900, only one out of six working women were married.

In conclusion, The Dolls House shows the shift in society at the time. Society was changing all around the world and that is shown through the characters in the play. Nora represents the women empowerment and the capability to make decision and to leave a man. Mrs. Linde shows the rights and difference in treatment for a widowed woman. Torvald shows us how women were seen and treated during this time frame. The whole play shows how characters changed with the outside society.