The Feminist Movement in A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen Essay examples

Although Nora is secretive about the crime she committed, which is forging her father’s name in order to borrow money; she does it to save her husband. During Act I when Nora is speaking to Mrs. Linde about someday revealing to Torvald about the secret loan Nora exclaims: “One day I might, yes. Many years from now, when I’ve lost my looks a little. Don’t laugh. I mean, of course, a time will come when Torvald is not as devoted to me, not quite so happy when I dance for him, and dress for him, and play with him.” (Act I, pg. 12). This quotation shows that even early on in the play Nora understands the reality of her marriage, and her existence to Torvald. Therefore, Act I is merely an introduction to the overall overarching theme of independence. Act I shows the obedient side of Nora, until later scenes when she reveals her independence. Torvald attempts to oppress his wife, but his actions do not stop Nora’s independent thoughts from forming.

During this period, women were subjected in their gender roles and were restricted over what the patriarchal system enforced on them. Everyone was brought up believing that women had neither self-control nor self-government but that they must capitulate to the control of dominate gender. The ideology that “God created men and women different - … [and they should] remain each in their own position.” (eHow, Ibsen's Influences on Women's Rights) is present in A Doll’s House with Nora’s character, as she is seen as the ideal women during the Victorian Era, who is first dutiful as wife and mother before to her own self. Whenever Torvald gives Nora money, she spends it on her children so that they are not “shabbily dressed” (Act 1). Though she loves her children it is all the more shocking when she leaves them.

Ibsen wrote this play in 1879. It is a three-act play with prose dialogue. The play takes place in the 19th century in Europe. It is a play about a woman, who struggles to find her own identity. The main point is women need treated as humans and not dolls. Women need to know their place and that they have rights. They also have duties as a wife and mother. As a wife, they need to be trustworthy and as a mother, they need to be role models. As do husbands need to respect their wife and know that, they have their own opinions and titled to them. Women cannot be good wives and role models to their children, if they do not know who they are and what their roles are in life. Ibsen uses the symbolism in his setting to show various

   In his play, A Doll's House, Henrik Ibsen depicts a female protagonist, Nora Helmer, who dares to defy her husband and forsake her "duty" as a wife and mother to seek out her individuality. A Doll's House challenges the patriarchal view held by most people at the time that a woman's place was in the home. Many women could relate to Nora's situation. Like Nora, they felt trapped by their husbands and their fathers; however, they believed that the rules of society prevented them from stepping out of the shadows of men. Through this play, Ibsen stresses the importance of women's individuality. A Doll's House combines realistic characters, fascinating imagery, explicit stage directions, and

Can you imagine a relationship where power controls the household? A husband is usually the one that brings home the money and therefore makes all the decisions in the family. Although sometimes men can push the limits and act out of conduct. Ibsen stated, "A woman cannot be herself in the society of the present day, which is an exclusively masculine society, with laws framed by men." With these assumptions, women are forced to find their own identity and go against societies view. In Ibsen's play, "Doll House," he uses symbolism, characterization of both Nora and Torvald, and irony to demonstrate the gender roles in that time of society and that breaking away to find your own identity is the only way out.

To begin with, in Act I, Nora is presented as a wife who has no control over money. She just spends all of Torvald’s money: “oh yes,Torvald, we can squander a little now” (Act I, Ibsen). Ibsen presents Nora as a wife who only begs for money and is very materialistic. Therefore, the reader’s initial impression of Nora is not very positive. She fits the typical housewife

Nora Helmer and Kristine Linde represent the role of women in Henrik Ibsen’s, A Doll House. Their lives had always been in parallel. In the beginning of the story Nora lives a very happy life and has the role of a loving wife, while Kristine is a lonely widow. As the story develops; Nora Helmer and Kristine Linde emerge as contrasting characters; one goes on to liberate herself, while the other comes to security.

By the end of Act Three, both Nora and Mrs. Linde have entered new phases in their life. At the end of the play, Nora goes from being dependent on Torvald to being independent. At the beginning, Nora was asking her husband Torvald for money and at the end, when he would find the note Krogstad left him, he becomes angry at her. When he calls her horrible names, she sticks up for herself and says, "we 've been married now eight years. Doesn 't it occur to you that this is the first time we two, you and I, man and

Safak explains this deeper by saying, “Nora demonstrates her strength in the last act of the play and she distinguishes herself from the other members of her gender, who follow a mob mentality in the general frame of the traditional woman perception” (Safak 144). Nora did something for herself that would have been unspeakable in her time of living during 1879. Women were supposed to be dependent on a man for safety, security, and money, which Nora relied heavily on in the beginning of the play. Now, she ventures out of the normal comfort zone of ladies and states, “No, that’s exactly it. You don’t understand me. And I’ve never understood you either- until tonight. No, don’t interrupt. You can just listen to what I have to say. We’re closing out accounts, Torvald” (Isben 866). This bold decision to move on with her life, without the help of a man, is respectable and courageous of Nora.

The character of Nora goes through the dramatic transformation of a kind and loving housewife, to a desperate and bewildered woman, whom will ultimately leave her husband and everything she has known. Ibsen uses both the characters of Torvald and Nora to represent the tones and beliefs of 19th century society. By doing this, Ibsen effectively creates a dramatic argument that continues to this day; that of feminism.

First is the contrast between Torvald and Nora during this time period. In the first act of the play we get a sense of how the Helmer household is run. We learn that Torvald is totally in charge of the finances. He is the primary money maker and the total master of the home. Nora, Torvald’s wife, is treated like a child. Torvald treats her like a plaything, managing everything she has access to. “Yes, very- that is, if you actually hung onto the money i give you, and you actually used it to buy yourself something. But it goes for the house and all sorts of foolish things, and then i only have to lay out some more.” (page 787). Nora is all but brainwashed to his authority. She is not even allowed to have access to the mailbox, nor is she allowed to consume any kind of sweets as her husband forbids it. “Helmer ‘My sweet tooth didn't make a little detour through the confectioner’s?’ Nora ‘No, I assure you, Torvald-’

Torvald was like Nora’s father figure. He was the one who took care of her, focused on the work, and made all the decisions in their relationship. He also decided how their money was spent. Not only did he control their money, but he even controlled what she ate, like a father controls his little child not to eat too many sweets. Torvald approaches Nora by saying, “Hasn’t Miss-Sweet Tooth been breaking rules in town today?” (pg. 166). This shows she has a set of rules she must follow and if she breaks them she could get into trouble with Torvald. This reinforces the patriarchal marriage. Furthermore, in the same scene, she begs Torvald for money, like

This attitude is best expressed when he says, "I had to grab hold somewhere; and I dare say that I haven’t been among the worst." This light juxtaposition which affects Nora and Krogstad’s relationship, combined with Nora’s secretive borrowing and money-saving practices creates a lasting impression of her desire that no one, including Helmer, discover her debt to the bank. This clashes directly with the initial portrait of a childlike, carefree and oblivious woman that Nora "was" at the beginning of the play. Nora’s personality slowly changes from a two-dimensional figure to a fully developed and captivating woman who can independently take care of herself and her family without the guiding hand of a man at her side. This is illustrated by her handling of the debt crisis up to the point that her husband finds out. The prevailing belief in nineteenth century society was that women could not handle affairs suited only for men, such as the management of finances or similar tasks and occupations. Ibsen’s Nora progresses from an innocent, apparently oblivious bystander to the her world’s events to a character who has the courage, determination, and intellect to undertake those tasks that Victorian society prohibited for women. Krogstad’s demeanor and attitude toward Nora also reveals certain important aspects of their relationship, and thus her personality. For example, while Torvald figuratively and

In these first interactions the audience notices Nora’s nonchalant attitude towards Mrs. Linde’s problems, and instead boasts about her husband, Torvald, and his success in the work sphere. Mrs. Linde mocks Nora and states “You haven’t known much trouble or hardship in your own life.” (Ibsen, Act 1). The use of this single line creates an atmosphere in which Nora must prove herself, affronted she “(tosses her head and walks across the room)” (Ibsen, Act 1). Thereafter, she launches into a theatrical disclosure and justification of all her secret activities that were unheard of during the early nineteenth century such as: firstly attaining a loan without her husband’s consent, second a woman saving her husband’s life was considered very demeaning, finally a woman of her stature paying off a debt, such things a woman is not expected to do.

Later in the play things start getting complicated for Nora. Her husband Torvald had become Mr. Krogstad boss at work, and Torvald wanted to fire Mr. Krogstad. This is when Mr. Krogstad starts to blackmail Nora. He wants Nora to stop Torvald from firing him. If she does not, Mr. Krogstad was going to tell Torvald her secret. This should have been the perfect time for Nora to tell the truth to her husband, but she believed that telling Torvald the truth will ruin their relationship. Nora says to her friend Mrs. Linde “Torvald, with all his masculine pride – how painfully humiliating for him if he ever found out he was in debt to me. That would ruin our relationship. Our beautiful, happy home would never be the same” (Iben 802)