A Shift of Women’s Role in Henry Ibsen’s "A Doll’s House"

Henry Ibsen’s A Doll’s House incited controversial social issues inside the play itself that it gained bad reactions and critics from the society when it was performed. The play brought up social issues, including a shift of the role of women, which was very close to the term “feminism”. When the play was first played (in the end of 19th century), the society still held the patriarchy culture, which hindered the movement of feminism. At that time, the power of a father or husband was absolute; this was the rule of the society. A woman was not allowed to have a job to develop her individuality without the permission of a father or husband. A woman was also not allowed to vote, divorce, or leave the house without the permission from the husband or the father. In addition, a woman was also considered as a property of the husband. We can see from how Torvald called Nora skylark, squander bird, little songbird, and singing bird. In addition, Torvald also gained control over his wife by disallowing Nora to eat macaroons (Helmer: Not a little nibble at a macaroon?) (p. 1238). However, what I like to discuss here is whether the female characters (Nora, Mrs. Linde, and Anne Marie) really disobeyed the society’s rule or they were forced to do so.

To begin with, I will analyze the disobediences each female character did. Nora began the play fulfilling a role that society required for women – that of dutiful wife and mother (Nora: Hide that Christmas tree away, Helen. The children mustn’t see it before I’ve decorated it this evening…..) (p. 1235). Her role was also restricted to activities such as taking care the family, meeting the needs of her husband and children, ensuring everything was perfect around the house, and singing and dancing prettily and seductively for her husband. There is nothing wrong with such duties, but this does show that the status of women in the family is lower than men’s status.

However, Nora bravely broke the rules of the society when she, without Torvald’s permission, got a job and worked. Nora also broke the rules when she decided to leave her husband, children, and the house since she realized that Torvald no longer cared for her and that he preferred to keep his well reputation in the society (Helmer: You have ruined my whole future..…People may think that I was behind it – that it was I who encouraged you!....) (p. 1277). Nora preferred to outrage the society (she did not care whether the society would underestimate her), and stigmatize herself. Therefore, by looking at those two actions, Ibsen placed Nora as the character representing a woman who became the victim of the patriarchal society.
It seems that Nora fought against the society rule by having a job, leaving the children and her husband. However, we have to know the reason behind Nora’s decision to break the rule. Nora did that not only for the sake of herself, but also for her husband and her children. For example, Nora got a job and worked to pay the debt even though she did it without Torvald’s permission (Nora: And then I’ve found one or two other sources of income. Last winter I managed to get a lot of copying to do….) (p. 1244). Nora falsified his father’s signature to go to Italy also for the sake of her husband, since Torvald need some vacation and rest from his work to cure his illness (Nora:… The doctor said he’d have to go to a warmer climate.) (p.1241). It meant Nora saved Torvald’s life though Torvald himself did not know how dangerous his illness was.

In addition, other female characters who also broke the society’s rule were The Nurse (Anne-Marie) and Mrs. Linde. These two characters broke the rule by working as a maid (the nurse), as a teacher and a clerk (Mrs. Linde). However, compared to Nora, Mrs. Linde and Anne Marie were freer to use the money they earned since they had neither husband nor father. The nurse had to work since she had to survive and live her daughter. Mrs. Linde had to work because her husband left her nothing and that she had to support her mother and brother (Mrs. Linde: Well, I had to try to make ends meet somehow, so I started a little shop, and a little school, and anything else I could turn my hand to….) (p. 1242). Thus, we can also understand that the society also limited the jobs for women. The jobs of the nurse and Mrs. Linde were considered as bad jobs. This is very distinctive from the male characters’ jobs. Rank worked as a doctor and Torvald worked as a bank manager.

In conclusion, by focusing on the role of the female characters, Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is about the role of women in patriarchal society. I think Ibsen used Nora's secessions, as an example to illustrate that society's expectations of a woman's role in society was incorrect. Ibsen also illustrated that despite Nora doing the right thing it was considered wrong and not allowed by society because she was a woman. For example, the forgery of her father’s signature could be considered wrong; however, we have to be critical of the possibility that Nora was forced to forge for the sake of Torvald’s life. The same as Nora, Mrs. Linde and Anne Marie were also forced to work to support the mother and brother (Mrs. Linde), and the daughter (Anne Marie). Therefore, we can conclude that disobediences to the society’s rule done by the female characters in the play were because of the condition that forced them to do so.