Since the 1800’s, women around the world have been fighting to climb out from under the domineering hands of patriarchy. Male dominance was once seen as commonplace, and women were expected to set aside the silly dreams of a career or self- sufficiency. In Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, the negative effects of male dominance are clearly seen in the lives of Nora Helmer and her friend Christine Linde. The way these women were treated in the Norwegian society of the 1820’s led to weaknesses like submission in the presence of men, taking on multiple personalities in order to please others, and the inability to grow and prosper as an individual.
Nora Helmer grew up in a home where she submitted to the will of her father because he was the man of …show more content…
Christine and Nora are two examples of women who were a slave to their time period; they were brought up to think and act in ways that pleased those around them. Christine ends up finding sanctuary in her new beau Krogstad and in the final act she confesses that, “... life is so dreadfully empty and I feel so forsaken. There is not the least pleasure in working for one’s self,” she continues and pleads, “Nils, give me someone and something to work for” (1075). Instead of continuing to support and develop herself, Christine sacrifices her freedom. She chose a life of servitude while Nora decided to take an alternate route in the pursuit of self discovery. Nora finally sees Torvald for who he really is and Act III of the play is where Torvald scold his wife for being a “miserable creature,” a “hypocrite,” a “criminal.” He tells Nora that because of her actions he is now, “... in the power of an unscrupulous man; he can do what he likes with me, ask anything he likes of me, give me and orders he pleases- I dare not refuse” (1082). Does Torvald not realize this is how Nora has been treated her entire life as she bent to the wills of men and always tried to be a good daughter, wife, and mother? Torvald tells her she should focus on him and the children but she says, “I have other duties just as sacred… Duties to myself”
Nora Helmer grew up in a home where she submitted to the will of her father because he was the man of …show more content…
Christine and Nora are two examples of women who were a slave to their time period; they were brought up to think and act in ways that pleased those around them. Christine ends up finding sanctuary in her new beau Krogstad and in the final act she confesses that, “... life is so dreadfully empty and I feel so forsaken. There is not the least pleasure in working for one’s self,” she continues and pleads, “Nils, give me someone and something to work for” (1075). Instead of continuing to support and develop herself, Christine sacrifices her freedom. She chose a life of servitude while Nora decided to take an alternate route in the pursuit of self discovery. Nora finally sees Torvald for who he really is and Act III of the play is where Torvald scold his wife for being a “miserable creature,” a “hypocrite,” a “criminal.” He tells Nora that because of her actions he is now, “... in the power of an unscrupulous man; he can do what he likes with me, ask anything he likes of me, give me and orders he pleases- I dare not refuse” (1082). Does Torvald not realize this is how Nora has been treated her entire life as she bent to the wills of men and always tried to be a good daughter, wife, and mother? Torvald tells her she should focus on him and the children but she says, “I have other duties just as sacred… Duties to myself”