Fricke 1 Lisa Fricke Dr.

Horvik THEA 180 2 Mar 2011 Adolphs House There is a war plaguing the couples of Henrik Ibsens world, a war of oppression based on gender. The real reason for this battle is that women are starting to discover the state of their oppression in marriage. The women will dress, laugh, and be fanciful all in a way to deceive their husbands; to make their partner happy. Underneath all of those dainties those stands a person. A person with intelligence, caring, and ambition, a person who does not deserve the oppression offered her by the man who loves her. In A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen (1879), the role of the oppressed women is played by Nora. A woman who is described by her husband Torvald as little (397) and with animal names such as; lark, squirrel, (397) and spendthrift (398). The most important thing he refers to her as though is my [] (397, my italics). Constantly he refers to her in these degrading ways, making comments about her lack of intelligence, how small and insignificant she is, and comparing her to jittery animals. Torvald is very wrong in doing this, because as the audience sees from the play Nora has been saving her money wisely, allowing Torvald to degrade her so that she can get what she wants, and proving to be able to lead and manage a secretive life. That is, until her friend Mrs. Linde makes sure that Helmer Torvald finds out what his wife has been up to. The character Mrs. Linde clearly displays how a woman of society should act when around men. She does not allow Nora to lead a secret life of

Fricke 2 independence and believes that Nora should be one with her husband and follow everything that a husband says she should do. Mrs. Linde also shows how a woman in this society should sacrifice her own personal needs to benefit others. For instance, when she decides not to marry her love, Krogstad, and does what she can for her mother. The nurse of the children, Anne-Marie, also displays this same kind of sacrifice when she gives up her own children only to make sure that they will not lead poor lives. Nora asserts in Act three that even though men believe the labels of a woman are what makes a woman such as; wife and mother, women must learn that the most sacred duty of all is the duties to [ones] self (424). It is not a womans place in her home that defines her, for a woman is not a doll. A womans place should be of the world and independent while a dolls place is a little house owned and bought for someone elses amusement. Henrik Ibsens play shows something of universality. Some people who are oppressed have no idea they are oppressed since society seems to accept and force the people into categories. This is clear whether it is the people of the Jewish religion under Adolph Hitlers power, whether it is the homosexuals under heterosexual influence, and whether it is a woman in a controlling husbands household. This play shows an oppressed persons discovery of their condition and their rebel against the power. Ibsen shows this in Noras most moving line in the play: I have to stand completely alone, if Im ever going to discover myself and the world out there. So I cant go on living with you. (432, my italics)