A Doll 's House By Henrik Ibsen

Henrik Ibsen one of his most famous literature works “A doll’s house” and Kate Chopin’s short story “The story of an hour” portrays to the Victorian era, when women didn’t have rights at all. Both authors were born in an era where they saw or lived a women’s life, and many women faced many aspects in life, such as being submissive to their husband’s, they were viewed as possessions than as people, and they lived a life that they weren’t satisfied with during the Victorian age. Even though Ibsen did not live the life of a woman, he still saw how woman were being mistreated, in spite of being a male he knew that woman’s were taken for granted. Ibsen’s play corresponds to his point of view of how women were seen as manipulated as “dolls”, and Chopin’s story “The story of an hour” was based on how women values were not tolerated. Both literature works consist of two women that were easily maneuvered by their husband’s that have little concern for their beliefs or feelings. Both characters, Nora and Louise lived a life where their words are meaningless to men, their reputations were not important in a society where men were seen as superior than women. Both works of literature, “ A Doll’s house” and “ The story of an hour” uses similarities and differences aspects to portray to the Victorian era that resemble in their writings.

The feminine gender has long been one that has been repressed throughout history and forced to acclimate itself to a world dominated by men. Although major improvements have been made in the strife for equality, this continues to be a man’s world. In the short stories “The Chrysanthemums” and “A Rose for Emily,” as well as in the drama “A Doll’s House,” the protagonists are all frustrated women who are unfulfilled with their subservient lives. Partly imposed upon them by their setting’s historical and societal norms, they choose to either do something about it or continue to internalize their dissatisfaction.

At the end of Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House, protagonist Nora exiles herself from her home. She leaves her controlled environment, husband, and children to find her own identity. Nora’s relationship with her husband, her own morals, and assumed roles in society are factors that led her to her decision.

Ibsen 's play A Doll 's House centers on a stereotypical and comfortable family in the nineteenth century which, outwardly, has the appearance of respectability to which any audience can relate. There are many indicators that reveal that this family upholds a false image, such as the symbolic title “A Doll 's House". Nora is introduced as a "little Spendthrift" (p 6), which foreshadows future tension in her relationship. Torvald believes she is spending money frivolously, but she has actually secretly borrowed money to save his life, and is using the money he gives her to pay back her debt.

A Doll 's House by Henrik Ibsen, is a play that has been written to withstand all time. In this play Ibsen highlights the importance of women’s rights. During the time period of the play these rights were neglected. Ibsen depicts the role of the woman was to stay at home, raise the children and attend to her husband during the 19th century. Nora is the woman in A Doll House who plays is portrayed as a victim. Michael Meyers said of Henrik Ibsen 's plays: "The common denominator in many of Ibsen 's dramas is his interest in individuals struggling for and authentic identity in the face of social conventions. This conflict often results in his characters ' being divided between a sense of duty to themselves and their responsibility to others." All of the aspects of this quote can be applied to the play A Doll House, in Nora Helmer 's character, who throughout much of the play is oppressed, presents an inauthentic identity to the audience and throughout the play attempts to discovery her authentic identity.

Commonly, we see female characters in literature completely at the discipline of their male counterparts. However, some females challenge the notion that subservience to the patriarchy is absolutely ‘necessary’. A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen and Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd both create interesting female characters in Nora Helmer and Bathsheba Everdene respectively. Whether these women are truly either independent or dependent, is ambiguous in their pieces of literature.

Throughout the nineteenth century, gender assumptions were made stating that women were the substantially and intellectually the weaker sex. Due to this mindset, it was believed that women must always serve under male control. This belief caused most women in the nineteenth century to bask in an aura of oppression and repression. Feministic views’ commence from the awareness of the inequality of treatment that women faced. Many stories such as, The Yellow Wallpaper written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman , and the The Story of an Hour written by Kate Chopin , demonstrated the oppression that women endured and expressed women’s regression. However, only The Yellow Wallpaper and the The Story of an Hour are attributable to the play A Doll’s House through it’s use of symbolic symbols. In A Doll's House, Henrik Ibsen symbolic use of the letter box, tarantela, macaroons,and the Nora’s slamming of the door, exhibits a change in the

Mr. Krogstad, a former employee of Torvald is the leading antagonist in A Doll House. He clearly has an agenda and a lust for power. Krogstad’s lust for power gives the reader a sense of subtle rage because Krogstad only wants what’s best for him and his family but he exploits Nora for his own gain. Krogstad advances the plot by controlling Nora through a loan, while illuminating both main characters, and reinforcing the themes of confusion and lost love.

Long before the 20th century women were not as respected as today. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and “A Doll House,” written by Henrik Ibsen, are two perfect examples of what can happen when one tires to cadge a kindred spirit. Both women are faced with some hard times and are forced to look within themselves to figure out the true meaning of a fulfilled life. While the two come to this decision in different ways and also meet different fates, they realize they are more than just a doll or a pet to society, and choose a life of freedom over everything and anything else.

The author Henrik Ibsen used the play to elaborate on the irony of the 19th century culture of restriction of individual freedom and excessive adherence to ‘societal norm’ at all cost without paying attention or having recourse to the core values and norms that brings about individual happiness and freedom. Torvald Helmer tried to elucidate the abnormality of seeking individual freedom instead of societal norm when he inquired from his wife; Nora “…And you don't consider what people will say”. The society in Ibsen’s “A Doll House” is seen higher than the individual person, for one to fit in he or she must strictly adhere to what the society demands and not what the individual wants. Nora was quick to express her frustration on the demands of the society when she replied Dr. Rank thus “What do I care about tiresome Society?”. Even the eating of Macaroons was also forbidden by Torvald and Nora’s Father, Dr Rank could not hide his feeling upon the sight of Macaroons at Torvalds house when he inquired from Nora “What, macaroons? I thought they were forbidden here”, Nora who is also held by the claws of societal conformity had to lie to justify the possession of macaroons. The irony was played out when the same Dr. Rank enjoyed the macaroons after Nora placed it in his mouth. Ibsen’s setting of the play also portrays a society where a woman cannot be seen to go against not only the orders of her

In today’s society, people tend to act as someone they aren’t rather than whom they truly are, a lot like the characters in A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen. By understanding everyone’s individuality, communication among others will grow stronger and build greater relationships based on truth. If people actually accepted themselves for who they are as well as others, communication would cease to be a circus production with each person in their specified roles. Yet, this includes the acceptance from society as well rather than the promotion of clichés and what is viewed as “accepted”.

In “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen Nora’s character has traits’ of a narcissistic person. You can see these traits through her actions throughout the story. In the article “A Psychoanalytic Reading of Nora” written by Carol S. Tufts states values of a narcissistic personality one of these are “Grandiose sense of self- importance and uniqueness….” Nora can relate to this because when she decides to leave her family to go find her self, she is displaying this notion of self-importance. Nora also shows this when Dr. Rank confesses his love for Nora, when he is about to die and she gets upset with him because she needed his help and now she feels that she can-not take advantage of him.

“Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.” G.D. Anderson, the modern feminist who stated this quote, and Nora Helmer from Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House have similar views regarding the strength of women: it is overshadowed by the world’s inability to recognize it. In his revolutionary play A Doll’s House, playwright Henrik Ibsen exceeds his years by breaching the controversial subject of women’s rights. Although the protagonist, Nora Helmer, is a woman, Ibsen is concrete in his notion that his play is not based on feminism; instead, it focuses on humanism and what it means to be a human being. Nora and her husband Torvald perfectly portray these ideas as they embark

Since the beginning of modern history, humans have been living in a patriarchal society. While men went out and worked, women were typically confined to the home. In the first scene of A Doll’s House, by Henrik Ibsen, the narrator introduced the protagonist, Nora, and her husband, Torvald. Torvald and Nora were the stereotypical nineteenth-century couple. While Torvald worked at a bank, Nora was at home, caring for the household. The play took place around Christmastime, and the Helmers were shown to be preparing for the upcoming festivities. The household was bustling with joy as they celebrated Torvald’s new job promotion. As the plot thickens, numerous symbols were presented throughout the play. Three major symbols present within the play were macaroons, nicknames, and New Year’s Day. While macaroons represented Nora’s desire for independence, Torvald’s nicknames for Nora represented the couple’s relationship. Lastly, New Year’s Day symbolized a new start for both Nora and Torvald.

In Kate Chopin’s novel, “The Awakening”, Edna finds herself in a society where women were socially confined to be mothers and wives. This novel embodies the struggle of women in the society for independence along with the presence of women struggling to live up to the demands that their strict culture has placed upon them. A part of Edna wants to meet the standards of mother and wife that society has set, however her biggest desire is to be a woman free from the oppression of a society that is male dominant. Readers will find that the foundation of “The Awakening” the feminist perspective because of the passion that Edna has for gaining her own identity, and independence,