Womens Role in Society Analyzed and Debated in Henrik...

For various reasons, the role of women in society has been analyzed and frequently debated throughout history. Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is no exception to the rule. In Norway, and during the Victorian period in history, women’s responsibilities were simply to keep house or do small jobs on the side such as sewing or light secretarial work. Henrik Ibsen may have had several intentions when writing his play A Doll’s House, but the one that stands out so clearly is the role of women in the time period from which the play takes place and just how doll-like they were treated in Victorian society. Women during this period were by no means the decision-makers of their households. Husbands or fathers were the heads of the household and†¦show more content†¦The first act of the play A Doll’s House begins on Christmas Eve in Norway inside the house of the Helmer’s. We immediately see Nora entering the house with her hands full of pa ckages she has purchased while out shopping for her three children. Very soon after Nora arrives we meet Torvald, her husband enter the room from his study. It is immediately apparent that Helmer is domineering. He has various pet names for Nora (Squirrel, Skylark, Featherbrain, etc.). Nora begins to show Torvald what she has purchased when he begins to tease her about her spending. It is at this point that we learn that Torvald has recently acquired a new position at the bank where he is employed. Nora uses this as an excuse for her spending and says that they can now go ahead and spend a little more here and there, on Christmas, for example. Torvald scolds her for her lack of frugality and after a quick pout from Nora, Torvald hands her some more money to cheer her up and help stiffen her lip a bit. After showing Torvald what gifts she bought, Torvald asks what she would like for Christmas and Nora answers: money. Torvald accuses Nora of being irresponsible and unable to ma nage money correctly, claiming it runs in her family. Torvald says that it is primarily Nora’s father’s fault that she is so irresponsible with money because he never made her accountable for anything and this is the reason she is the way