During the Victorian period women lived in a time defined by gender inequality. Women had barely any social, legal, or political rights that western women now a days take for granted. In the 19th century the outside world became a place for men, while a private domestic sphere became better “suited” for women. During the time a new ideology was encouraged by literature and the media called “the cult of domesticity”. The cult of domesticity stated that there are four attributes a woman should have to be the “Angel in the Household”: piety, purity, be submissiveness, and domesticity. In Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House, he writes about what he believes the “expectations” for women as the “Angel in the household”, the role of society has on
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Nora in the beginning of the play fulfils the society 's view for women as she is a devoted wife and mother. Her role in life is restricted meeting the needs of her children and husband, keeping a nice home, and pleasing her husband. Although Ibsen doesn’t verbatimly write that there is anything wrong with that lifestyle it is clear that there is danger in ignoring one’s personal needs and wishes. In the end of the play when Nora leaves her husband and children she will going against society which during the 19th century meant you were shunned from society. When Torvald is arguing with Nora when she explains to him that she is leaving he brings up society asking her if she doesn’t “understand the conditions of the world in which you live”(Ibsen), Nora replied, “No, I don’t. But now I am going to try. I am going to see if I can make out who is right, the world or I” (Ibsen). It is evident that Ibsen believes fulfilling ones needs and self fulfillment is more valuable than that of societies no matter what the …show more content…
Although Ibsen said "Whatever I have written has been without any conscious thought of making propaganda .... I am not even quite clear as to just what this woman 's rights movement really is." (Ibsen: Letters and speeches) it is evident that this is false because of the way he transforms Nora 's character. Nora’s father did not allow her to find herself all he did was show her how to become the perfect “angel” because of this Nora did not know how to be happy with the life she had since she did not know who she was. This is evident in the end of the play when Nora tells Torvald "... our home has been nothing but a play-room. I 've been your doll-wife here, just as at home I was Papa 's doll--child"(Ibsen). In the end of the play Nora realizes that her husband has never loved her she decides to leave to find herself and not only be recognized as a mother and a wife but as a woman. In my opinion the reason Ibsen decided to write the ending the way he did was to show that when a woman knows who has control over her own life and has matured, she will be find a true connection between man and woman. This can be compared to Wollstonecraft A Vindication of Women 's Rights when she says “I do not wish them to have power over men; but over themselves.”
The 19th century was forward with technology but very backwards with the rights of woman. Most of media and literature did not help the cause
Nora in the beginning of the play fulfils the society 's view for women as she is a devoted wife and mother. Her role in life is restricted meeting the needs of her children and husband, keeping a nice home, and pleasing her husband. Although Ibsen doesn’t verbatimly write that there is anything wrong with that lifestyle it is clear that there is danger in ignoring one’s personal needs and wishes. In the end of the play when Nora leaves her husband and children she will going against society which during the 19th century meant you were shunned from society. When Torvald is arguing with Nora when she explains to him that she is leaving he brings up society asking her if she doesn’t “understand the conditions of the world in which you live”(Ibsen), Nora replied, “No, I don’t. But now I am going to try. I am going to see if I can make out who is right, the world or I” (Ibsen). It is evident that Ibsen believes fulfilling ones needs and self fulfillment is more valuable than that of societies no matter what the …show more content…
Although Ibsen said "Whatever I have written has been without any conscious thought of making propaganda .... I am not even quite clear as to just what this woman 's rights movement really is." (Ibsen: Letters and speeches) it is evident that this is false because of the way he transforms Nora 's character. Nora’s father did not allow her to find herself all he did was show her how to become the perfect “angel” because of this Nora did not know how to be happy with the life she had since she did not know who she was. This is evident in the end of the play when Nora tells Torvald "... our home has been nothing but a play-room. I 've been your doll-wife here, just as at home I was Papa 's doll--child"(Ibsen). In the end of the play Nora realizes that her husband has never loved her she decides to leave to find herself and not only be recognized as a mother and a wife but as a woman. In my opinion the reason Ibsen decided to write the ending the way he did was to show that when a woman knows who has control over her own life and has matured, she will be find a true connection between man and woman. This can be compared to Wollstonecraft A Vindication of Women 's Rights when she says “I do not wish them to have power over men; but over themselves.”
The 19th century was forward with technology but very backwards with the rights of woman. Most of media and literature did not help the cause