A Doll’s House
“A Doll’s House” is one of the plays done by Henrik Ibsen and brings out the issue of conventional gender roles in the 19th century. The play is presented around Nora, the protagonist, and her husband, although other characters are also included to develop the story. Women are seen as inferior beings that should be left at home, although their power to control the house is revealed sarcastically. The title, “A Doll’s House,” could be interpreted to mean that women, although seen as dolls, have the power to own and direct matters of a household. Henrik Ibsen brings out the patriarchal nature of the society in the 19th century, with women being overlooked despite their role in maintaining households.
The play begins with the event where Nora is taking care of her ailing husband. The lack of financial ability pushes Nora into taking a loan to aid in the treatment of her husband. However, the loan is taken out secretly, and the issue of male dominance is brought out. The only reason that could make Nora take out a loan secretly was that her husband would not support her decision. Besides, Nora was not employed, and her husband would not allow the commitment to pay a loan alone. Also, the caring nature of the female gender is seen in the way Nora risks taking out a loan and later uses her household savings to payout without the knowledge of her husband. Nora was aware that her husband’s health was crucial in the welfare of the household and thus prioritized it. Generally, Ibsen attempts to bring out the hidden positives of the female gender hidden by the struggles that they have to undergo in a patriarchal society.
Women have been given demeaning roles in society, although they have taken any chance given to them to ensure that everything is in order. When Nora’s husband falls sick, she knows that she had to do something despite her position in society. Also, Nora knew that the institutions were not different from society, and she had to forge her father’s signature to access a loan. The forgery is later used as a tool to threaten Nora to seek favor for another man. Women are portrayed as caring individuals who do not pay attention to what society will take of them as long as they do the right thing. For example, Nora accepts the treatment she receives from her husband, even after taking out a loan to finance his treatment. Also, the unappreciative nature of Nora’s husband brings out the picture of the male chauvinists in the society who do not take time to appreciate the female gender. Also, Nora suffers intimidation at the hands of Krogstad, who threatens to reveal Nora’s secret if Nora does not convince her husband to rule in Krogstad’s favor. Therefore, Ibsen uses his work to bring out the role of women in a society that does not appreciate them.
In sum, the patriarchal nature of the society in the 19th century forms the central theme of Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House.” Ibsen attempts to bring out the hidden positives of the female gender hidden by the struggles that they have to undergo in a patriarchal society. Generally, women are presented as important people in society, even where society does not appreciate them.