Comparing how gender is portrayed in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House to the role of women in the 21st century is somewhat of an easy task. Although times have changed tremendously since A Doll's House's time, the way women are treated and expected to behave still have very similar characteristics to today's society.
Torvald and Nora Helmer have been married for several years and, on the outside, their marriage seems rather happy. They have 3 kids, a nice home, and a steady income since Torvald has just attained the position as director of the Joint Stock Bank. Nora, unfortunately has a secret she has been keeping from Torvald. A few years earlier, Torvald became very ill and was advised by his doctors to resort to a warmer climate until he …show more content…
We see that Torvald thinks very little of Nora and women in general. Ibsen also hints at the comparison of Nora to a doll. Hence, a dolls house. Nora is unfortunately trapped in this said "doll house" which is her physical home. Nora is not taken seriously by her husband nor other people in her life. This fact is evidenced by her childhood friend Mrs. linde's comment saying, "How kind you are Nora...for you know so little of the burdens and troubles of life...My dear! Small household cares and that sort of thing!--You are a child, Nora" (Ibsen). This is when it is first apparent that Nora begins to get frustrated with societies views of …show more content…
They were often mistreated and thought of as having the mentality of a child which is seen when Torvald describes Nora as"you think and talk like a stupid child"(IBSEN). Although these comments are not as blunt now as they were in Ibsens time, the treatment of women continues to differ compared to men in today's society. As mentioned above, women are often "trapped" when they begin families at an early age. They are seen as no longer being able to enjoy their lives because of the burden of having to maintain a household. If a woman has children without having a husband, it is often looked down upon. They are either seen as being stuck raising her children or as just another struggling single mother.
Torvald and Nora Helmer have been married for several years and, on the outside, their marriage seems rather happy. They have 3 kids, a nice home, and a steady income since Torvald has just attained the position as director of the Joint Stock Bank. Nora, unfortunately has a secret she has been keeping from Torvald. A few years earlier, Torvald became very ill and was advised by his doctors to resort to a warmer climate until he …show more content…
We see that Torvald thinks very little of Nora and women in general. Ibsen also hints at the comparison of Nora to a doll. Hence, a dolls house. Nora is unfortunately trapped in this said "doll house" which is her physical home. Nora is not taken seriously by her husband nor other people in her life. This fact is evidenced by her childhood friend Mrs. linde's comment saying, "How kind you are Nora...for you know so little of the burdens and troubles of life...My dear! Small household cares and that sort of thing!--You are a child, Nora" (Ibsen). This is when it is first apparent that Nora begins to get frustrated with societies views of …show more content…
They were often mistreated and thought of as having the mentality of a child which is seen when Torvald describes Nora as"you think and talk like a stupid child"(IBSEN). Although these comments are not as blunt now as they were in Ibsens time, the treatment of women continues to differ compared to men in today's society. As mentioned above, women are often "trapped" when they begin families at an early age. They are seen as no longer being able to enjoy their lives because of the burden of having to maintain a household. If a woman has children without having a husband, it is often looked down upon. They are either seen as being stuck raising her children or as just another struggling single mother.