A Doll House Backlash

Living in a society where people are judged by their roles and behavior based on their gender. Where individuals are expected to behave in a certain way. Living in a society where males and females lives in a separated world. Under certain stereotypes and rules difference for each one. Is the term “Feminism” used wisely? well, think again. Feminism is defined as the belief in or advocacy of women's social, political, and economic rights, especially with regard to equality of the sexes. During the nineteenth century, this term was not commonly used. Women were supposed to follow society's expectations within marriage. They were supposed to be submissive to their husband and obey their husband commands. Women in marriage were treated unkindly
by their husbands, seen as a trophy and as a sexual object by their husbands. Men were the bread winner and often treated their wives as a doll or child who was supposed to be docile and without intelligence. In the play A Doll House written by Henrik Ibsen, the author uses language and imagery to show the uneven relationships of a husband and a wife. The speaker describes a married couple, whom are struggling to fit into society’s expectations on how a marriage should be. Nora is the protagonist of the play, who violated one of the society’s rules that portrayed what women can do from what they couldn't. She borrowed money, in order to save her husband Torvald Helmer’s life and kept it as a secret from him. Although respect is a valuable trait a woman can possess, they should not have to lower their capabilities and potentials. Nora as many more women should not be judged as a cause of bad decision, and have the right to work outside of the house and pursuit her happiness despite society’s expectations. In spite Nora’s decision towards the end, characterized her as a irresponsible mother. This paper will analyze data from various sources, criticizing opposing sides of this controversial issue. Gender role in the nineteenth century was an obstacle to women to accomplish personal fulfillment and happiness. In the play A Doll House Nora is excluded to pursue her happiness and/or rights. The lack of freedom and right were token way as a result of her gender role. Feminism is defined as the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. A the time this play was made it, women didn't have rights at all. They cannot work outside of the house.Were expected by the society to stay at the house doing the household duties. Taking care of the child and husbands. While the men, were the head of the house, and the breadwinner. In the critique “Parallels in A Doll’s House”, by William L. Urban, critiques how Nora was affected by gender role, and how gender role was an obstacle to her personal fulfillment. In his critiques, he discusses how the play had evolved from Ibsen’s original intent to how it’s today. First go all, he stated that “Most theater productions treat the play as Nora, using minor characters as foils for a leading actress”(Urban). Meaning that theater productions do not consider Nora’s character seriously. Within the play, Urban shows the parallels between Nora and Kristina, he argues that Kristina has learned a truth of the world, while Nora learns throughout the play. Indeed Urban criticizes that Nora chose Torvald by an intellectual rather than an emotional process. Which proof that back then women get married with a man, they even love, just as a cause of how society expected. Then female's feelings weren't into consideration, they have to marry someone they don't love, neither to fit into a social status or because that’s the way they were tough it should be. Urban emphases that Nora was a victim of her gender role “You see, there are some people that one loves, and others that one would rather be with.” She knows that she does not love Torvald, nor he her. However, Nora is really in love with Dr.Rank, “She finds Dr. Rank good company, sexually attractive, and most importantly, a true friend to whom she can open her soul with few reservations”.which make the situation even worse. As cause then women cannot ask for a divorce. Divorce was seen as a moral everyone must follow. Not to mention that Torvald is way older than Nora, Urban says “ She can see that physical attraction will not hold him much longer”. Another hint that lets the reader see that Nora is not truly in love with Torvald, he’s older than her. Besides Nora has morals and respect to herself as Urban says “Other women in Nora’s situation could easily become the doctor’s mistress-Nora suggest to Kristina that some “admirer” might give her presents- but Nora was still feeling a deep obligation to Torvald for having saved her father, and she was, after all, his wife”(Urban). His opinion about Nora, says a lot about her. Although Nora’s not in love with Torvald, she feels some kind of respect to him, other woman in her situation, and having her opportunity could easily become Dr. Rank’s mistress. But at least in this she’s loyal at her husband. Nora leave the house in order to save herself as a person, but now she was morally free to go into the world on her own. Urban argues that after all, and after she decided to leaves her home, Nora is conscious about gender role, and how she was a victim of it, and how she's prepared to face the world, if she is willing to work for it, he says;
“Nora must go out into the world and educate herself, which,in the context to the play,means to support herself. She has already discovered how much fun it is to support herself. She has already discovered how much fun it is to earn money, and she has been able to provide better clothes for her children and buy herself the occasional sweet. She knows she can do it, and now she must now do “My duty to myself””(Urban). She has already sacrificed enough for her father, husband and family, she must now be ready to do something for herself. Lastly, he argues that Nora’s father treated her as dolls and in the end forced the daughter "to sacrifice themselves to save the situation”. In the critique “The Doll House Backlash: Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen”, the author Joan Templeton critiques, an opposite side on how the author of A Doll House, Henrik Ibsen presented the theme feminism.
Templeton argues that the way Ibsen characterized Nora, is how he wanted her to be. He critiques that Ibsen didn't intend to write a play about woman;s rights “Nora’s conflict represents something other than, or something more than, women’s”(Templeton 28). Templeton says that maybe Ibsen wanted to express something else thru Nora’s character, something else, he wanted to say maybe how women were treated back then. Further, Templeton argues that Nora’s character in act one and two, change in act three, when she becomes the “newly fledged feminist” and that Nora is really a case study for female hysteria. Moreover Templeton eventually wraps up that Nora’s character flaws basically restrict her from represents women, but her represent the people as a whole. “Than women no less than men posses a moral and intellectual nature and have not only right, but a duty to develop it” (Templeton 33). Also Templeton argues that in one way or another, Ibsen were inspired to write A Doll’s House from a terrible event in the life of his protege, whom same as Nora, saved her husband’s life. “ Married to a man with a phobia about debt, she had secretly borrowed money to finance and Italian journey necessary for her husband’s recovery from tuberculosis” (Templeton 35). She as Nora worked
frantically to reimburse the loan. Torvald would have died if Nora had not forged. As a final point of Templeton’s critique that although A Doll’s House becomes famous in the feminist moment as a result of various interpretations, Ibsen never confirmed his new position as the face of a movement saying, “To consult men in such a matter is like asking wolves if they desire better protection for the sheep”. In the article “Gender Struggle over Idealogical Power in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House”, by Guo Yuehua.
The author points out that men are seen as the breadwinners into society’s expectations, they manipulated women. He argues that at first Torvald wanted to demonstrate his “ideological power”(Yuehua 81). In part one Stereotyping of gender roles, he recalls that ideology plays a crucial point in dealing with gender role. Men have a financial status higher over women, while women are not economically independent and have no other option that rely on their husbands for financial aid support. In addition, he stated that in the 19th century in Europe, the society’s stereotypes set that men were supposed to be the one responsible in their families and the ones in charged to provide all the necessities they may need. On the other hand, women were supposed to stay at home doing their cities of a good wit and mother. Moreover, he critiques how women were submissive to their men and, how they were treated by them. Torvald treats Nora as a child, because that is how he can manipulate her. By treating her as a child or as a doll, he can command her to do whatever he wanted from her, and make her feel inferior and she must need his support. In part 2 Man’s Manipulation of Masculine Power, Yuehua discuss that everything in the Helmer’s family, is under Torvald’s power, he sets up rules for his wife to follow. He control his wife eating sweets and proportions his wife household. And even the
mailbox is under Torvald’s care. Nora’s life is more as living in a jail, where nothings belong to her and rules she must follow. excluded from “ freedom of movement”. Nora’s decision towards the end of the play, characterized her as an irresponsible mother. Nora struggles with dishonesty. First of all she borrows money, and kept it as a secret form Torvald. And tun she leaves the house and her children. Perhaps she’s lying to herself and that is why she feels shameful and does the worst thing leaves her children. On one hand, she now has freedom what kind of mother leaves her children?. A Mother should be always next to their children, never give up on them. A good mother does not leave their child alone. Are always there for their child. A good mother should be able to survive harsh conditions. All kinds of harsh conditions. She leaves the house, without thinking about her babies. She didn't wanted to take the responsibility of carrying the child. In contrast, she leaves the house, without money, or place to stay, perhaps she didn't wanted, her child, to suffer, may be leaving Torvald with the child, will provide them, security, food, and love. After she is not leaving the child alone, she had left the nurse, Anna Maria, Nora’s nanny, as a cause she knew, she will take good care of them. In spite of, she were not mentally and physically ready to raise her child. She first must discover her true self in order to take the responsibility of being a mother and a model in her child’s eyes.