Parallels In A Doll's House Analysis

According to dictionary.com, feminism is the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men. Throughout history and even in present time, women have been subject to unequal treatment by their male counterparts. For example, in the biblical story of Adam and Eve, Eve is born from Adam’s rib, showing that Adam is the dominant figure in the narrative. Even today, there exists in certain professions a gender pay gap. Similarly, the way in which women are depicted in Beloved by Toni Morrison and the short story The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Stetson indicates that women are able to thrive independently and take on masculine roles, while men are able to experience feminine attributes.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “Feminism is the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.” Today there are millions of feminists, compared to the 1900's, where feminism was very seldom. During the early 1900’s, slavery and the domestication of women (no matter what race they were), was very common. Beginning in

Deborah Tannen Author of “Sex, Lies and Conversation” says “Men tend to talk less at home and this pattern is wreaking havoc with marriage” (Tannen, Sex, Lies and Conversation:1) also says “If their husbands don’t adapt, the wives may look to their friends or family for that kind of talk” (Tannen, Sex, Lies and Conversation:3). In the play we can see, Dr. Rank a close friend of Torvald visits almost every day in their house. He knows Nora never gets enough accompany from her husband and takes that advantage to get more close with her. He is the first person ever to tell Nora that there are others who can easily give up their life for her and made her to realize how important she can be. Interestingly, Nora welcomes Dr. Rank and says “I always have an hour to spare (Ibsen 870)”. In fact, her relationship with Dr. Rank helps us to understand that there definitely lies a distance between Torvald and Nora. For Nora, Dr. Rank is the only person she is able to reveal her true self. Nora feels she can speak with Dr. Rank in a way she can never speak to Torvald. She could also talk more seriously with Rank and by the same time feels so relieve around him. Dr. Rank also is the most important character for Nora's transformation who acted as an adviser for her, helps her to realize her personal feelings. On other side, Nils Krogstad, Torvald's childhood friend

His promotion also chracterizes him as being increasingly pompous and seeing his wife as an object. By referring to her as his, “songbird,” and speaking to her as if she is child, Nora’s departure is well evidenced. Nora exemplifies this condescending idea further when speaking with Torvald before she leaves as the author writes, “ Doesn’t it strike you that this is the first time we two, you and I, man and wife, have talked together seriously?” By revealing this to Torvald, Nora explains why she is

Feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social and economic equality to men. In the nineteenth century, different things were expected between men and women. Men were supposed to go out and work, make money and put food on the table for the family. The women were expected to stay home, cook, clean, sew and take care of the children and a lot more homebound. The women were not allowed to vote or be seen doing anything taboo.

Nora’s marriage has been a sham ever since the start. By the standard of modern day, she has legitimate ground to leave her husband Torvald. Because Torvald only cares about his image, he treats Nora as an object rather than a wife, Nora has never been taken seriously by her husband, and Torvald only loves her for her appearance. Torvalds image is of great importance to him considering now he is a bank manager, and he will not allow anything standing in his way to ruin this image this includes his wife. All of Nora’s life has been controlled by a male figure, first her father which just transitioned to her husband. Towards the end of the play suggests he never actually loved Nora, it was in fact just an act to have more control over her, and to prevent her from leaving.

Feminism was coined in the early 20th century. It is a women’s movement with the focus of gender relationships. There has been many different waves of feminism in the United States throughout history. Liberal, Radical, Marxist and Cultural Feminism are just a few examples. Within the different waves of feminism, there has also been racial inequality.

Although Nora is secretive about the crime she committed, which is forging her father’s name in order to borrow money; she does it to save her husband. During Act I when Nora is speaking to Mrs. Linde about someday revealing to Torvald about the secret loan Nora exclaims: “One day I might, yes. Many years from now, when I’ve lost my looks a little. Don’t laugh. I mean, of course, a time will come when Torvald is not as devoted to me, not quite so happy when I dance for him, and dress for him, and play with him.” (Act I, pg. 12). This quotation shows that even early on in the play Nora understands the reality of her marriage, and her existence to Torvald. Therefore, Act I is merely an introduction to the overall overarching theme of independence. Act I shows the obedient side of Nora, until later scenes when she reveals her independence. Torvald attempts to oppress his wife, but his actions do not stop Nora’s independent thoughts from forming.

Morality is defined as a recognition or belief that explains why some behaviors are bad or good. In simple words, morality refers to values relating to the distinction between wrong and right or good and bad. Few morals are easily accepted and are only questioned by some fringes of society who might disagree with such morals. These individuals on the fringes can be bad or good. The ones who reject socially accepted moral does not necessarily mean that they are good persons. Thus, one can say that each individual has morals that are different from each other (Joseph).

The definition of feminism as stated on Dictionary.com is: The doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men. This definition is meant to include every woman - no matter her outward appearance or her essence. Yet, women of all ethnicities are degraded and pushed to be mentally lower than the male species. Earth has become a hierarchy of inequality.

Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House was a controversial play for its time because it questioned society's basic rules and norms. Multiple interpretations can be applied to the drama, which allows the reader to appreciate many different aspects of the play. This paper examines how both Feminist and Marxist analyses can be applied as literary theories in discussing Ibsen's play because both center on two important subject matters in the literary work: the roles of women in a male-dominated society, and, the power that money has over people.

Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” is a controversial play focusing on the marriage of Nora and Torvald Helmer. The play is filled with symbols that represent abstract ideas and concepts. These symbols effectively illustrate the inner conflicts that are going on between the characters. Henrik Ibsen’s use of symbolism such as the Christmas tree, the locked mailbox, the Tarantella, Dr. Rank’s calling cards, and the letters allows him to give a powerful portrayal to symbolize aspects of characters and their relationship to each other.

The definition of feminism is very elusive. Maybe because of its ever-changing historical meaning, it’s not for certain whether there is any coherence to the term feminism or if there is a definition that will live up to the movement’s variety of adherents and ideas. In the book “No Turning Back,” author Estelle Freedman gives an accurate four-part definition of the very active movement: “Feminism is a belief that women and men are inherently part of equal worth. Because most societies privilege men as a group, social movements are necessary to achieve equality between women and men, with the understanding that gender always intersects with other social hierarchies” (Freedman 7).

Ibsen uses the characters in A Doll House to Demolish the idea that men are to be the financial caretakers of a family or wife. In the play a lawyer named Torvald thinks he has to take care of his frivolous and innocent wife Nora, but he does not know that long ago when he was sick Nora saved his life by forging her fathers signature to get a loan. The play tells us that since she took out that loan to take Torvald to Italy she has been taking on multiple jobs and saving every penny to pay off the loan without him knowing it ever existed. When she is threatened by the crooked bank clerk Krogstad instead of coming to her rescue Torvald turns on her. With the help of her old friend Mrs.Linde , Krogstad forgives her loan and Torvald says everything can go back to normal. After seeing that Torvald is not the man she thought he was she feels she has to go alone to discover who she really is and trusts that their nurse Anne-Marrie will care for her children.

In A Doll’s House, by Henrik Ibsen, symbols and motifs are used to portray the strengths and conflicts experienced by Nora Helmer. As the play progresses, the symbols and motifs begin to manifest her downfall. Examples of symbols and motifs used are the christmas tree which symbolizes Nora’s physical and mental state throughout the play, Nora’s definition of freedom, and the use of letters throughout the play.