A Doll's House Gender Roles
iscuss the role of gender in act one of “a doll’s house" ,
The play "a doll's house "by Ibsen evolves around the position of masculinity and femininity. In the first act of the play, the gender struggle over ideological power is introduced by establishing fixed roles and standings of individuals to which they are bound to.
At first glance one focuses on the sexist gender role of the Nora and overlook that there is also a set stereotype according to which men have to behave. In the 1880 Norway, when the play was set, men were expected to be the bread-winner of the family and support the family financially, while the woman took care of the house and the family. Women have been expected to be submissive to the husband’s needs, and the man was expected to be assertive and tough. …show more content…
Torvalt shows himself to be competing with Nora’s dead father for her loyalty. In a sense, by keeping Nora dependent upon and secondary to him, Torvalt takes on the role as Nora’s second father. He treats her like a child, handing out money to her and trying to instruct her about the ways of the world. Also, Nora’s gift selections, a sword and a horse for her male children and a doll for her daughter, show that she reinforces the stereotypical gender roles that hold her in subservience to Torvalt. Nora sees her daughter the same way she has likely been treated all of her life, as a doll.
Torvalt’s belief that Nora’s lack of understanding of money is the result of her gender reveals his prejudiced viewpoint on gender roles. He says, “Nora, my Nora, that is just like a woman", highlighting how he reduces Nora to gender stereotypes. Torvalt is convinced that a wife’s role is to beautify the home, not only through proper management of domestic life but also through proper behavior and appearance. He quickly makes it known that appearances are very important to him, and that Nora is like an ornament or trophy that serves to beautify his home and his
The play "a doll's house "by Ibsen evolves around the position of masculinity and femininity. In the first act of the play, the gender struggle over ideological power is introduced by establishing fixed roles and standings of individuals to which they are bound to.
At first glance one focuses on the sexist gender role of the Nora and overlook that there is also a set stereotype according to which men have to behave. In the 1880 Norway, when the play was set, men were expected to be the bread-winner of the family and support the family financially, while the woman took care of the house and the family. Women have been expected to be submissive to the husband’s needs, and the man was expected to be assertive and tough. …show more content…
Torvalt shows himself to be competing with Nora’s dead father for her loyalty. In a sense, by keeping Nora dependent upon and secondary to him, Torvalt takes on the role as Nora’s second father. He treats her like a child, handing out money to her and trying to instruct her about the ways of the world. Also, Nora’s gift selections, a sword and a horse for her male children and a doll for her daughter, show that she reinforces the stereotypical gender roles that hold her in subservience to Torvalt. Nora sees her daughter the same way she has likely been treated all of her life, as a doll.
Torvalt’s belief that Nora’s lack of understanding of money is the result of her gender reveals his prejudiced viewpoint on gender roles. He says, “Nora, my Nora, that is just like a woman", highlighting how he reduces Nora to gender stereotypes. Torvalt is convinced that a wife’s role is to beautify the home, not only through proper management of domestic life but also through proper behavior and appearance. He quickly makes it known that appearances are very important to him, and that Nora is like an ornament or trophy that serves to beautify his home and his