Nora's Stereotyped Social Role

A Doll's House recognizes women and men by their stereotyped social role. Women are represented as sacrificial and traditional roles such as housekeeping and following men's authority. While men are providers and supporters of the entire household not needing to sacrifice anything. A Doll's House is about Nora Helmer living as a doll in the doll's house and finally comprehending that her husband is not worth her love and all her sacrifices and feels everyone should be equal. Nora once secretly borrowed a large sum of money so that her husband could recuperate from a serious illness. She never told him of this loan and has been secretly paying it back in small amounts by saving half from her household allowance. Her husband, Torvald, thinks …show more content…
Nora's character symbolizes women of her time, who were thought to be housewives and live without worries. Nora was not a typical woman compared to her time, except the delight in material wealth. Torvald labeled Nora as a "spendthrift" and pampered her with money. Nora is objectified by Torvald like, "Is it my little squirrel bustling about?". It seems as if Torvald dehumanized his wife and controls her with his money. Similarly, Nora is entirely dependent on Torvald for her money, her food, and her shelter, although she’s keeping a huge secret. This secret is the only thing that individualizes her from other women in her time. Furthermore, A Doll's House represents the male traditional gender role. Men are meant to be providers and have the burden of supporting the entire household. For example, when the nurse comes in with the children Torvald seems to think a father doesn't typically hang out with his kids at all. Torvald comments, "Come along, Mrs. Linde; the place will only be bearable for a mother now". In addition, Nora dependence on Torvald supplying her with money, food, and shelter, without him Nora would be more like a traditional women with different levels of freedom and