Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House - 1529 Words

Nora and Christina Switch Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House questions the gender roles of women in society through its characters, namely Nora Helmer and Christina Linden, before and after marriage. What are gender roles exactly? Gender roles are the combination is specific gender stereotypes that consist of the perceptions of the society of what an ideal male/female should act like (Lindsey and Christy). This paper aims to question whether the gender roles of Nora Helmer and Christina Linden of Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House are switched or not. The positions of both women as a daughter, a sister, an employee, a mother, a wife and a partner in the society are questioned. A Dolls House focuses on the relationship of Torvald and Nora Helmer, a†¦show more content†¦As a woman, a mother and a wife, Nora Helmer did technically fulfill her duties towards her family and the society. She diligently fulfilled all her obligations for a time being but at one point stopped and thought about wha t she wanted. As a woman, Nora was the perfect girl. To society, she acted as if she was the most modest and diligent wife there was and in truth, she was for a time being. The gender roles had changed only after her marriage. Nora Helmer had been treated as a doll for too long and eventually realized it herself. Once this realization came, she left the household and went on to become independent. This is where the switching of gender roles came in. The idea that Nora had more power is opposite to what Eagly and Steffen believes a stereotypical woman is – Women are more likely than men to hold positions of lower status and authority (735). The context of Nora as a character is very feminist due to the fact that she subverts all the traditional notions of what a woman as a wife and a mother should be. Before she left her family, she was depicted as an obedient and loving wife but at the near end of the play, both these qualities were reversed. She became the mother who had le ft her children and her husband to be able to educate herself. She became selfish and independent which is the reason why she was able to switch gender roles and be like similar to the traditional characteristics ofShow MoreRelatedHenrik Ibsen’s Symbolism in A Doll House695 Words   |  3 PagesA Doll House was written in 1879 by playwright Henrik Ibsen. Ibsen is known as the creator of modern realistic style drama. The play tells the story of a nineteenth century woman who breaks the chains of society that decide her role in life so that she can find herself. The woman, Nora, lives a relaxed and seemingly untroubled life until her husband Torvald Helmer becomes sick. 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In The EnglishRead MoreHenrik Ibsen s A Doll House Essay1501 Words   |  7 PagesHenrik Ibsen’s play â€Å"A Doll House† was set in the Victorian era, a time where women were highly respected. Women in this time period did not work, they had nannies to take care of their children and maids to take care of their homes. Many women had no real responsibilities, they spent their time having tea parties and socializing with their friends. Henrik Ibsen dared to show the realism of the Victorian era while everyone else would only focus on the romantic aspect. In the play, â€Å"A Doll House†Read MoreRights of Women in the Nineteenth Century and in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House1103 Words   |  5 PagesHenrik Ibsen, who was born in Norway but made his name internationally, was a painter as well as the one of most famous playwrights during the period of Realism. Ibsen’s plays are well- known by the themes of domestic and political issues and conflict in nineteenth century. Scholars call it â€Å"Ibsen’s problems play† (Henrik Ibsen, 650). In addition, in Ibsen’s plays, the general topics that are usually discussed are hypocrisy of the society, restriction of women, and the self-sacrifice. Under theRead More Noras Symbolism in Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House Essay973 Words   |  4 PagesNoras Symbolism in Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House      Ã‚  Ã‚   In every society power is the bringer of fortune and influence. In his play A Dolls House, Henrik Ibsen portrays, through the character of Nora, the power women are gaining in patriarchal societies. Nora, who symbolizes all women, exercises her power throughout the entire play. She cleverly manipulates the men around her while, to them, she seems to be staying in her subordinate role. In all three acts of the play Nora controls many