A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen: An Analysis

During the 19th century, women were expected to obey their husbands, while men had full authority over family, financial matters, and general decisions. Henrik Ibsen, a Norwegian playwright, wrote the play, A Doll’s House, based on the societal norms of his time period and incorporated his criticisms of the way women were treated and the ability of men being able to be so powerful and controlling. Henrik included multiple characters in different situations to describe how they interacted within society and the way society views them during this time period. In A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen uses different relationships between Torvald and Nora, the involvement, and symbolism to criticize men’s dominance over women and expectations of women and …show more content…
In the play, Ibsen gives a small background story about Kristine in Krogstad and Kristine’s conversation. For example, Kristine explained, “You mustn't forget I had a helpless mother and two younger brothers. We couldn’t wait for you, Nils…” (63). Kristine married another man with much wealth to support her family. By Ibsen including this vital information, the audience can get a better understanding at how the dependence of a man is crucial for a woman’s survival within society. While she may have loved Krogstad unconditionally, she had to do what she had to do. Even though, once her husband died, she still had to fend for herself, her ill mother, and her siblings. By Ibsen showing this side of Kristine, he shows how women are fully capable of fending for themselves, both in their personal and financial life. Ironically, she ends up getting together with Krogstad and shows her need to be a mother figure by saying, “I need someone to mother, and your children need a mother. We two need each other.” (65). Ibsen uses this to show that it’s also okay for women to be mothers and support their family, but they should also not be treated like their below a man. They are human after all, just like