Henrik Ibsens A Doll’s House :: A Dolls House Essays

Henrik Ibsens A Dolls HouseIn A Dolls House, Henrik Ibsen reveals how hostelry and potency hinders the development of individuality. By examining how Noras father treated her, the way Noras husband talked to her, a womans social expectations, and the social status of women, Ibsen sets onward the image of a stiffed woman, trapped in an unhappy marriage. Noras father treated her as if she was just a little play doll. He modest her and treated Nora like a baby. Referencing to her father, Nora illustrates this by saying, . . . He called me his little doll, and he played with me just the way I played with my dolls. Then I came to stomach in your house . . . I was passed from Papas hands to yours,(Act III 1120). The way Torvald, Noras husband, talked to her showed how he degraded and belittled Nora. He talked to Nora as if she was insufficient to him. He implied that he was a better person due to his social status. In Act III of A Dolls House, Torvald shows his vulgar and implement al manner towards Nora by saying, Oh, you think and talk like a stupid child,(Act III 1123). A womans social expectations were to stay at home, and understand the offspring. It was thought that women had to depend on men for everything. What ever the woman wanted to do, had to be approved by the male spouse. Oh, I wish Id inherited more of Papas qualities, exemplifies Noras urge to become more powerful (Act I 1074). At that time, womens status in society was a step below those of men.Women could not vote, open their own bank account, or have a management position. In some extreme cases of the womens low status, they were told to marry the man whom their parents told them to marry. Torvald depicts how men were thought to be higher than women are by claiming, . . . but no man can be evaluate to sacrifice his honor, even for the person he loves,(Act III 1123).