Written Task Dolls House Essay Example
Written Task Dolls House Essay Example

Written Task Dolls House Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (955 words)
  • Published: December 15, 2016
  • Type: Essay
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This essay discusses how Ibsen depicts women in his works and explores the reasons behind his specific portrayal. It also examines the influence of the societal context of Ibsen's time on his representation of women. The essay argues that Ibsen presents women as capable and independent individuals, reflecting his desire for society to accept this evolving role for women.

In analyzing Henrik Ibsen's play "A Doll's House," the text examines how women were portrayed in the context of their reality during that time period. It provides evidence and quotes from the play to illustrate Ibsen's perspective on this issue and explain why women were depicted as they were. A Norwegian playwright, Ibsen was deeply concerned about women's rights and human rights overall. Motivated by these concerns, he wrote "A Doll's House" in 1879, gaining significant recognition as a Norwegian dramatist. In this p

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lay, Ibsen conveys his belief that society treated women unfairly at that time. Women were typically expected to fulfill traditional roles as mothers and wives, remaining at home to care for children and handle household tasks. They sacrificed personal aspirations and goals to conform with societal expectations placed upon them.

Ibsen's purpose for the play was to demonstrate the importance of dismantling the stereotype that depicted women as lesser than men and to advocate for their equal standing in society. To accomplish this, he introduced various female characters who challenged societal expectations and debunked the belief in women's inferiority. Throughout the play, these women defy the prevailing stereotype, ultimately proving both men and society incorrect. This essay will delve into Ibsen's motivations for portraying women in this manner and analyze his deep concern regarding ho

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women were treated, a concern heavily influenced by societal norms and historical context during his time.

Throughout his life, the author was perplexed by a society that viewed women as unequal individuals. He found this notion absurd and could not fathom why women were subjected to different treatment. This lack of comprehension fueled his motivation in writing "A Doll's House," in which he symbolically compared society to an actual doll's house. The purpose of the play was to expose the mistreatment of women and prompt society to reconsider their societal role. The characters he crafted reflected the prevailing attitude towards women at that time, with Nora, the protagonist, initially portrayed as a submissive wife conforming to traditional gender stereotypes.

In Ibsen's play, Nora defies societal norms by revealing a hidden aspect of her personality. She is forced to make sacrifices to support her family while her husband, Torvald, is sick. To do so, she borrows money and deceives Torvald by falsely claiming that her father provided the funds. In order to repay the loan, Nora must take on secret work. When Torvald discovers her deception, he harshly criticizes her and condemns it as morally wrong. It is at this moment that Nora realizes Torvald's love for her was not genuine; instead, he valued the fact that she relied on him. Once Nora no longer depends on him to save his life, he cannot bear it.

Nora decided to leave Torvald due to his mistreatment of her. She felt exhausted from being treated poorly and believed that she had the ability to achieve much more. Nora expressed to Torvald, "I have been performing tricks for you... It's because of

you I've accomplished nothing in life." This highlights Nora's determination and places the blame on Torvald for her failures. She also acknowledges that she has spent her life acting as expected, fulfilling societal norms and expectations.

Ibsen demonstrates the limitations faced by women during that era, specifically Nora. She discovers her true identity and potential through deceitful acts towards her husband and society. Despite her misguided actions, Nora's primary objective is to safeguard her family, even if it means being dishonest. Ultimately, she realizes that her husband values his reputation more than all she has done out of love for their family. This reveals that he never truly loved her as an individual but rather loved the facade of a loving and obedient wife conforming to societal expectations. Nora learns that in order to genuinely love her children, she must first understand and love herself—an idea ahead of its time for a woman in the late 1800s. Concurrently, Christine Linde, Nora's friend who is a childless widow, proves herself capable of independence despite societal beliefs dictating that respectable women should be married and reliant on their husbands.

Like Nora, she too was once a "doll." However, this resourceful woman demonstrates that she is capable of taking action on her own. When Nora confides in Christine about her situation with Krogstad, Christine assures Nora that she will help dissuade him (and she succeeds). This is because Christine herself was once in love with Krogstad but chose not to marry him, opting instead to provide financial support for her ailing mother and family. In doing so, Christine proves that women can assert their autonomy and not be manipulated by

men as was often the case. They can exert influence over men for their own purposes, or even to aid a friend.

Nora and other women felt like puppets controlled by men and society. The play's portrayal of women implies that they have the ability to defy societal norms and challenge men. Ibsen firmly believed in equality for women, hence he depicted them as capable individuals. His intention was to encourage society to embrace this idea. In order to convey his message effectively, Ibsen resorted to creating a fictional play where women were portrayed according to his vision of acceptance in an egalitarian society.

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