Social Problems In Henrik Ibsen's 'A Doll's House'

831 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Social conflict of ibsen's doll house

Nick Pant
Mrs. Black
English II Honors
11/17/2014
ADH Analysis Susan B. Anthony once said “I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand” (http://www.brainyquote.com) Anthony was fighting for the independence of women and equality between both men and women. In Henrik Ibsen’s Norwegian play A Doll’s House, a similar idea is shown all throughout the work. A main social problem in the play is that women have no power in society because they have limited education; therefore Nora committed the crime of forgery, lied to her husband, and almost committed adultery. To begin with, an example of women having no power in society is their lack of education. …show more content…

For example, women are expected to always speak with integrity; however Nora is the complete opposite. “Not even a nibble at a macaroon? No, Torvald I promise you honestly”(Ibsen 143). This dialogue between Nora and Torvald validates that she has no power because she has to lie to get what she wants; in this case, its macaroons. A second example is where Mrs. Linde and Nora are speaking to one another and she chatters, “Good Heavens, no! How could you think so? A man who has such strong opinions about these things! And besides, how painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald, with his manly independence, to know that he owed me anything! Good Heavens, no! How could you think so? A man who has such strong opinions about these things! And besides, how painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald, with his manly independence, to know that he owed me anything!”(Ibsen Act 1). This quote shows that if Torvald found out that she made her own decisions, he would be furious; therefore she keeps it a secret. Putting all of this together, this proves that women have no power in society because Nora has to lie to get what she wants and if she makes her own decisions they have to be kept a

Show More
Related

  • Individualism In A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

    1417 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Romantic movement of the nineteenth century in Europe involved those who wished to express their disapproval of industrialism. Romantics focus on individualism as well as images and ideas created by the imagination. Romantics are very centered around a certain beauty and power of nature as opposed to material objects. Romantics stay away from the more realistic part of life, this is greatly expressed in Romantic literature and art. Specifically, in Arthur Rimbaud’s “Ophelia” it is evident to see the fascination with nature as well as the individual. He states, “On the calm black wave where the stars sleep/ Floats white Ophelia like a great lily,/ Floats very slowly, lying in her long veils . . .”(891). Here there is evidence of a Romantic’s

    Read More

  • Essay On Feminism In A Doll's House

    767 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Ibsen's A Doll's House

    1853 Words  | 4 Pages

    5. Ford, Karen. "Social contrains and painful growth in A Doll's House". Expanded Academic ASAP. Methodist College , Fayetteville , NC . 30 Octuber 2005

    Read More

  • Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House

    1192 Words  | 3 Pages

    Phylogeny versus misogyny, arguable one of the greatest binary oppositions in a work of literature, is present in Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 Norwegian play A Doll’s House. The title itself suggests a misogynist view, while the work mainly consists of feminist ideology, as Ibsen was a supporter of the female as an independent, rather than a dependent on a male. Nora knew herself that her husband did not fully respect her, and this became a major conflict in the play as Nora progressively became more self-reliant in the play. Ibsen created Nora to give an example for all women, showing that they are more than what their husbands make of them. The misogynistic views in the play can be seen through Nora’s husband Torvald, due to the fact that he believed, as the majority of males did at the time, that women were not equal to them socially. This opposition caused a major conflict between the couple that progressed throughout the stage production.

    Read More

  • Change and Conflict in A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen

    1083 Words  | 3 Pages

    It sometimes takes a lifetime to change yourself, but changing in response to what other people want, without considering your own needs could be much more challenging. In a world without any flaws all people would be treated equally and with the same kind of respect. On the other hand, in the world we live in, almost all situations we find ourselves in have the potential to become a conflict. A Doll's House, a play by Henrik Ibsen, is an exceptional example of a conflict that exists as women are seen as possessions and not individuals by men. Ibsen uses the Christmas tree, macaroons, tarantella, and the doll’s house as symbols in A Doll’s House to express the flaws in a society that requires women to be the subservient and docile servants of men.

    Read More

  • Rebellion Against Society in Ibsen's A Doll's House

    681 Words  | 2 Pages

    An underlying theme in A Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen, is the rebellion against social expectations to follow what one believes in their heart. This theme is demonstrated as several of the play's characters break away from the social norms of their time and act on their own beliefs. No one character demonstrates this better than Nora.  Nora rebels against social expectations, first by breaking the law, and later by taking the drastic step of abandoning her husband and children.

    Read More

  • On Ibsen's A Doll's House

    9638 Words  | 20 Pages

    I say this because there is no doubt that A Doll's House has long been seen as a landmark in our century's most important social struggle, the fight against the dehumanizing oppression of women, particularly in the middle-class family. Nora's final exit away from all her traditional social obligations is the most famous dramatic statement in fictional depictions of this struggle, and it helped to turn Ibsen (with or without his consent) into an applauded or vilified champion of women's rights and this play into a vital statement which feminists have repeatedly invoked to further their cause. So in reading responses to and interpretations of this play, one frequently comes across statements like the following:

    Read More

  • A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen: A Character Analysis

    583 Words  | 2 Pages

    From Henrik Ibsen’s play, “A Doll’s House”, The lives of Nora, Torvald, and their three children seem to be normal in the beginning until Torvald begins to talk to Nora. Since Torvald believes that as the man in his own home, he has the advantage of doing whatever he wants such as teasing and ordering his wife around as if she was a useless toy (perhaps a doll?). I began to feel sympathetic towards Nora for her character is vulnerable to Torvald. He would call her strange pet names such as “squirrel” or “songbird”, and even order her around to do ridiculous things such as practicing the “tarantella” so she can perform for guests. One part that came to my attention was the scene where Torvald blames Nora’s actions on her own father. He tells Nora, “Ah well, one takes you as you are. It runs in the blood. It’s

    Read More

  • Gender Roles in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House

    643 Words  | 2 Pages

    Henrik Ibsen’s famous play A Doll’s House was first published in 1879 and contains elements and characters that appear to support feminism, and drew attention from the women’s rights movement. However, Ibsen himself said that he was not a feminist; rather, his play is about the human nature in general, and is not specifically about women’s rights. Over the years, this was the view that most scholars used to interpret the play, but more recently scholars have produced an opposing argument. Margaret Stetz, one such scholar, writes that “To call Ibsen a feminist playwright or to describe A Doll’s House as a drama in favor of women’s rights is no longer controversial” (150). The most obvious example of Ibsen’s view on gender roles is the relationship between Nora and Helmer and, more specifically, Nora’s self-discovery at the end of the play.

    Read More

  • On Ibsen's A Doll's House

    9635 Words  | 20 Pages

    I say this because there is no doubt that A Doll's House has long been seen as a landmark in our century's most important social struggle, the fight against the dehumanizing oppression of women, particularly in the middle-class family. Nora's final exit away from all her traditional social obligations is the most famous dramatic statement in fictional depictions of this struggle, and it helped to turn Ibsen (with or without his consent) into an applauded or vilified champion of women's rights and this play into a vital statement which feminists have repeatedly invoked to further their cause. So in reading responses to and interpretations of this play, one frequently comes across statements like the following:

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Sacrifice Analysis

    2126 Words  | 5 Pages

    Henrik Ibsen paints a sad picture of the sacrificial role of women throughout all social economical classes in his play “A Doll House”. The story is set in the late 19th century and all minor female characters had to overcome adversity to the expense of love, family and self-realization, in order to lead a comfortable life. While the main female protagonist Nora struggles with her increasingly troubled marriage, she soon realizes, she needs to change her life to be happy as the play climaxes. Her journey to self-discovery is achieved by the threat of her past crime and her oppressing husband, Torvald and the society he represents. The minor female characters exemplifying Nora’s ultimate sacrifice.

    Read More

  • The Controversial Theme of A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen

    1998 Words  | 4 Pages

    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 an influential setting to develop a controversial theme.

    Read More

  • The Symbolism of the Christmas Tree in the Transformation of Nora

    1074 Words  | 3 Pages

    The idea of equality for women has been the subject of countless books, speeches, and performances for decades. The concept of a world in which a woman can be considered equal to a man is not a new concept in today’s society, but it was in that of 19th century Norway. This is the world of noted playwright Heinrik Ibsen, a forward thinking individual with ideas that challenged the restrictions of society time and time again. A forerunner in the women’s rights movement, Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House offers a commentary much before its time on the dangers of a patriarchal society through the evolution of its protagonist, Nora. In his play, Ibsen uses the Christmas tree to symbolize the growing empowerment and independence of Nora, as well as the steady deterioration of Nora and Helmer’s marriage.

    Read More

  • Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House: A Realistic Drama

    1220 Words  | 3 Pages

    Societal problems prevail throughout the history of the world and exist within all countries, regions, and cultures. The controversial aspects in societies are based on a large variety of subjects, and have to be identified in order to cause societal change. Therefore, Realism is the portrayal of difficulties in societies that are depicted in everyday life, which includes common situations and actions. Realism allows authors to describe and emphasize the incompetence of some aspects within communities, while enabling writers to call for societal reform. Henrik Ibsen portrays and addresses the concepts of Norway’s society in the 19th century in A Doll House, which is a tragic play translated by Rolf Fjelde. Ibsen desires to challenge assumptions as well as rules of Norwegian life, and most importantly wants to depict society accurately, as he meticulously incorporates everyday life. Therefore, A Doll House represents a Realistic drama due to the issues involving women, illnesses, and laws within the play, while conveying Ibsen’s desire of controversy and change in Norway’s society.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House

    2013 Words  | 5 Pages

    sure the children don’t see it till it’s decorated this evening”(Ibsen 892). There is also a

    Read More

More about Social Problems In Henrik Ibsen's 'A Doll's House'

Open Document