Gender Roles In The Victorian Era

Gender roles in the 19th century between men and women were based on their specific traits given by the time period. Men are independent as women are dependent on them. Men are brave as women are timed. Men are powerful as women are seen to be weaker. “Marriage-laws have changed more drastically than human nature. There are still, even today, frustrated women who pine in domestic prisons where they can never really realize themselves... there are still--and long will be--wives kept as pets” (Lucas 130). Women who recognize this injustice and are determined to get equality will persevere in transforming gender stereotypes and motivate othr women in similar situations to do the same. Henrik Ibsen’s portrayal of feminism through Nora in “A Doll

The stereotypical roles for women were very unequivocal during the 19th century Victorian Era and often caused women to leave their married lives for independence. Women during the Victorian Era (1831-1901), were treated as less than men and partook in different roles as the stereotypical man. Richard D. Altick, in his book, Victorian People and Ideas, examines the outlooks of the intellectual, social, and theological crises one may encounter during the Victorian Era. The Victorian Era is an age where women “started to have separation of business premises from the home,...and encouraged to enter the money-making world” (Altick 51). This start of this movement encouraged women to become a self-sufficient with their own work ethics, which they may have never thought was possible because of their husband always being the dominant spouse. However, not all women were ready to take this leap

This stereotype is relevant in the lives of Torvald and Nora Helmer in A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen during the Victorian Era. The major characters are Nora Helmer, Mrs. Linde, Anne-Marie, Torvald Helmer, Dr. Rank, and Krogstad. It is evident that there are three main female roles and three main men roles, giving balance to the play. The three women in the play illustrate strength and pursue in what they believe in, whereas the men have times where weakness is portrayed, but vigor is always illustrated. Women during the time expressed kindness, compassion, and loyalty towards their husbands. On the other hand, men expressed audacity, respectability, and solemnity towards their spouse. Throughout the play, Nora and Torvald express their ideals as a married couple which causes complications and misdemeanors throughout their marriage and is ironic because their personalities express their real ethics at the end of the