Essay On Feminism In A Doll's House

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Recommended: Roles of Women in A Doll's House

Warren Milligan
English 1302-708
Professor Poissant
"A Doll House" by Henrik Ibsen:
Feminism and the Roles of Women
A Doll House, a play written by Henrik Ibsen, published in the year 1879, stirred up much controversy within its time period because it questioned the views of society's social rules and norms. "Throughout most of history... Wifehood and motherhood were regarded as women's most significant professions... The resulting stereotype that 'a woman's place is in the home' has largely determined the ways in which women have expressed themselves" ("Women's History in America"). Ibsen places many hints throughout his play about the roles of women and how they were treated in his time. Nora is perceived as a typical housewife; maintaining the house and raising her children. However, Nora had actually hired a maid to do all of those typical housewife duties for her. Nora was naive, and ambitious. She hid many secrets from her husband. The way women were viewed in this time period formed a kind of barrier that Nora could not overcome. Women should not be discriminated against just because of their gender and within reason they should be able to do what their heart entails.
Nora is perceived as a helpless women, who goes out and wastes money that was earned by her husband. To Torvald, Nora is merely a plaything, which could be what the title of the play, "A Doll House", was hinting at. He found her helplessness to be attractive, because he was the one that was in control. For instance, when they received the Bond from Krogstad, Torvolld said, "I wouldn't be a man if this feminine helplessness didn't make you twice as attractive to me" followed by "It's as if she belongs to him in two ways now: in a sense he's given her fresh ...

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...r independence from the extremely strict social norms and rules that weighed her down because of gender. All women deserve to be treated as equals and should be able to do what their heart desires. Ibsen created a work of art that continues to reach into our days with relevance that will be valid and true throughout the rest of history.

Works Cited
Ibsen, Henrik. "A Doll House" The Norton Introduction to Literature. By Kelly J. Mays. Eleventh ed. New York: Norton & Company, 2013. 1447-96. Print.
Brantley, Ben. "A Caged Wife, Desperately Spinning Her Wheel." The New York Times. The New York Times, 27 Feb. 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. .
"Women's History in America." Women's International Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. .

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