Gender Inequality In A Doll's House

Nora Helmer in A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen is living in a society that idolizes men while objectifying women, classifying them as lesser individuals. Nora, having grown up in this society has developed a mask, hiding who she truly is: a self-reliant woman. She allows her husband to control her every action and gives in to the demeaning pet names he calls her. Ibsen develops Nora’s character throughout the play, allowing her to show her true colors in the final scene. Nora seems to live two separate lives; she is a loving and childish wife to Torvald Helmer while masking her independent self. Conforming to society’s stereotypical idea of a wife, Nora takes care of her children and performs daily chores, yet she questions if this is the life that she wishes to live as her dreams of becoming self-sufficient come to fruition highlighting the idea of gender inequality. When Nora is first introduced to the audience, she is depicted as an obedient, money-loving, trophy wife. When asked about her outing and if she has been eating …show more content…
When Torvald fell ill one year, Nora took matters into her own hands to gather money to pay for a trip that would save her husband’s life. Nora took out a loan from Mr. Krogstad, one of Torvald’s old schoolmates who has become rich. He became a social outcast when he was committed of forgery and is trying to maintain his job working with Torvald. However, because of social standards, a “wife cannot borrow [money] without her husband’s consent” (Ibsen 11) forcing her to forge her father’s signature to obtain the money. Nora also likes to work and earn her own wages because it is “like being a man” (Ibsen 13). While Nora still acts like an unknowledgeable housewife, she is beginning to develop into an independent woman unlike the wishes of