Feminism and A Doll's House

Feminism and "A Doll's House" In the globe, feminism is a common practice in the social customs of both developed and developing nations. This is because, in both cases, there has been an apparent similar portrayal of women, who have gone through various phases of social levels compared to the consistent social dominance, which is evident in almost every society in the globe. Feminism seeks to know why women continue to play a subordinate role in most human social settings.

In addition, the idea of feminism shows concern in respect to how the women's lives have changed in history. It also asks why women's experiences differ from those of men, whether the variations may have arisen due to historical or social construction. In addition, feminism involves the belief in the social, economic, and political equivalence of the genders. Although research suggests that the practice originated in the West, currently, it is a worldwide phenomenon, represented by various organizations devoted to activity to seek women's rights and interests.

Historically, the Western history suggests that women were confined to the domestic field; while, on the other hand, public life belonged to the men. For instance, in Europe, women had no right to own property, study or take part in public life. Additionally, at the end of the 19th century, in some parts of Germany, men had the rights to sell their wives (Casad and Alian 282).

The issue is still rampant because as late as the early 20th century, women in Europe and in the United States were not eligible to vote or hold elective offices. The concept of feminism is not universal because it involves other aspects including liberal, radical, and womanist issues. However, owing to the information provided above, in all the aspects, there are common attributes. First, there is identification that women receive different treatment compared to men, and they occupy a subordinate role in the society.

Second, the feminists perceive gender and subsequent roles as social constructs; therefore, they believe it is possible to change, differently from the earlier values placed by the community. Third, feminism suggests that it is possible for women to be autonomous and self-dependent. The concept of feminism still exists to date, but has a new name. Currently, modern feminist movements are known as "waves." This is because women comprise half of the globe's population, and the large percentage hold a subordinate role as compared to men.

Moreover, compared to men, the women experience inequalities in all aspects of life including socially, politically, and economically and in domestic realms. For this reasons, feminism has managed to create or disclose some of the issues relevant to intergroup relations including feminist identities, stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against women, rejection owing to dominance, and general action including social change (Casad and Alian 282-285).

Although women believe in feminist ideals, they are hesitant to accept the label "feminist." This is part of the third wave movement, in which women are fighting hard to uphold the rights they managed to achieve during the second wave, but this is still a struggle. Even though women might have achieved much prosperity in the workplace, their roles at home are similar to those of their grandmothers.

During the 1990s and '80s, numerous conservative groups tried to undermine the accomplishments of the second wave, representing feminists as furious, anti-male, lesbian and so on. When one considers this or such negative representations, it is possible for them to comprehend why feminist women choose not to embrace the label "feminist." Relationship between feminism and "A Doll's House" Feminism was a movement that addressed the unfair treatment of women in society, a situation manifested in the roles played by women in the society.

Similarly, in the play, there are many hints concerning the roles outlined by the society and how the females were treated at that time in history. Additionally, a keen look at the play, or evaluation of the play, it is evident that the author believed in the roles of society, fair treatment between genders and the concept of feminism. Therefore, A Doll's House is a play that makes it apparent the situation of things at the time in history and the belief of the author concerning the underlying issues (Sprinchorn 118).

In the past, women strove to achieve the goals set by their society, the same way Nora Helmer is a direct contrast with other women in the play. For instance, she is trapped in her physical home "dollhouse," whereas her husband has built a life for her and their children. We further see her discovering her role in the "dollhouse," which the society and her husband has forced or found it suitable for her, and the need to free herself, at any cost.

This is the same concept outlined by the "feminist" women (Finney 89-105). They later came to realize that men and the society were using them, they had actually used the women as dolls, or puppets, who were to obey their "master's" say. On the other hand, we see Anne Marie, the Helmer's nurse, who is a contrast to our main character Nora. Anne was Nora's childhood nurse, but eventually became her Emmy, Ivar, and Bob's nurse.

However, for her to survive in the same society, she gives up her daughter for adoption, saying that she was obliged, that is if she wanted to become Nora's nurse (Shafer 31-34). This is the same case, in real life, where we have women fighting for the welfare of other women, including themselves, and others who simply give up. As per Nora, she refers Anne Maries "tragedy" as life because she chose to accept the role society placed on her, which she had an option to contest.

Although to some extent it is debatable that both Anne Marie and Nora helmer events are similar, they are also contrasting. Bothe women accept their position in the society, when Torvald explains to Nora concerning a deceitful mother will poison the child, she agrees, but eventually decides to abandon her dollies. Just as Anne, she complacently accepts the status given to her by the society, she allows her husband to choose a position for her, showing a side of neither Nora, which the reader might nor capture.

However, her decision to leave her husband and her children, suggests realization of what the society tries to push on her, but later makes a real transformation. Summary: A Doll's House A Doll's House talks about Nora, who awakens from her unexplored life characterized by wifely comfort. Throughout her entire life, her father of her husband Torvald either ruled her.

In such situations, Nora finally questions the basis of all she had believed in when she borrowed money from Krogstad, through forging her father's signature, which she used to pay for a trip to Italy for medication purposes for her husband. Since the event, Nora has been looking for ways to pay the loan. The play opens on Christmas Eve, and we find Torvald being promoted as manager of the bank, a position that will see him receive a huge salary and acquire substantial power.

On the other hand, when Nora learns of this she thinks that it will be easy to pay the loan, but this is short when Krogstad learns that Mrs. Linde was to get the managerial position. An angry Krogstad approaches Nora, and blackmails her on grounds that if she does not convince her husband to let him keep the position as promised, he is going to reveal Nora's secret.

On the course, Nora is unsuccessful in this attempt because her husband suggests that he will send off a termination notice prepared for Krogstad. This comment worries Nora further, who opts to alter their marriage for the better, including a possibility of committing suicide. In addition, we see Nora conversing and flirting with Dr. Rank, who later confesses the love he has for Nora, prior to her asking for financial assistance. However, Krogstad interrupts their conversation, and Nora asks the doctor to leave her with Krogstad.

In their conversation, Krogstad suggests that he will keep her secret, but he insists on giving her husband a note explaining the matter. Nora objects to the idea, but Krogstad manages to put the note in Torvald's letterbox, which creates another tough situation for Nora. Although she manages to keep her husband away from the letterbox, this will not be forever (David and Lynn). We also see Mrs. Linde and Krogstad re-uniting, they were old lovers. Mrs. Linde suggests that she would take care of Krogstad and his children.

On the other hand, Torvald and Nora come into the room, and Torvald confesses the desire he has for her. The doctor interrupts the sweet moments; he came to say farewells to the two as he covertly explains to Nora. After leaving, Nora is able to tell Torvald to cease pursuing her by reminding him the ugliness of death, which had come between them in a bid to reveal Dr. Rank's secret. When she sees that Torvald had collected all the letters, she confirms her earlier option of committing suicide.

As Nora was leaving, Torvald had already read the letter from Krogstad, and was infuriated by the contents. He accuses Nora of making his life ruined and makes it known that he planned to leave her, an opposing suggestion to his earlier claim. The house cleaner interferes with another note from Krogstad, on reading, Torvald becomes overjoyed because Krogstad reconsidered the bond. On knowing this, Torvald tells Nora that the challenge was finally over suggesting that he has forgiven her.

However, when Nora sees Torvald's true personality, she makes it known to him that she has never loved him, and opts to become independent, to explore the world alone. Feminism in "A Doll's House" Since the publication of A Doll's House, there have been numerous studies on the literature, and the feministic elements evident have reputed the author as "feminist writer." The first publication of A Doll's House was in 1879. It deals with the distressing lives of the middleclass women in a society, which is entirely patriarchal.

The play occurs in the drawing room owned by Torvald Helmet. From the beginning, we are introduced to Nora, Torvald's wife whose first conversations take place with the porter who brings the Christmas tress inside the house. Her third conversation takes place when her husband calls her from the room and asks, "Is that my little lark twittering out there?" (Ibsen 4).

In this line, an evaluation reveals the existence of patriarchal elements associated with a woman, which are "My" "Little" and "Lark." "My" refers to the aspect or concept of belonging, which is a part of the male gender. In the case, a woman is a possession, property, which the man owns. The father, brother, husband and the son are her possessors and owners, who have a final control of her life. The feelings, desires, notions, and ideas do not add up to any value.

She has and will continue to lead her life according to the framework created by her possessors (Finney 89-105). A Doll's House constitute of hundred of such phrases where Nora serves as a possession Torvald Helmer, for instance, the following clauses makes it apparent; Is it my little squirrel bustling out? (4), When did my squirrel come home? (4), has my little spendthrift been wasting money again? and, my dear littler Nora (5).

In the above, "little" refers to something tinny, and in the play, it refers to one who can never attain self-sufficiency and always depend on other people for survival. Notably, "squirrel," "songbird," "skylark" are worth noticing. In my evaluation, Torvald feels that Nora is not a human being with a brain or personality (Kristeva 115). However, he feels she is a bird or a squirrel, a beautiful creature meant to make a man smile, or be happy.

These are just but many forms of feminism or aspects outlined in the feminist movements. The society comprises male dominance, where men rule, posses, supervise and subservient. In addition, patriarchy develops the notions of man's powers and woman's subordination based on the cultural concepts (Kristeva 15-116). Feminism aimed at achieving equality for females. However, in the play, it is apparent that the phrases suggest that the male is more powerful, or equipped than the woman. The phrases further suggest the man's desire to rule over the woman.

During the start of the play, one can see Nora's desire for macaroons and Torvald's objection against the confectionery. "Hasn't Miss Sweet Tooth been breaking rules in town today?" (Ibsen 7). This statement makes it apparent that in the house there are rules formulated by Trovald. At first, we see Nora and Torvald in a unique relationship, which appears as entirely loving. It was expected by the society that a woman should love her husband, and that is what Nora was doing.

In addition, Torvald does not let Nora become successful on her own, ass it was the custom during the time. Torvald baby talks his wife, which suppresses Nora's intellectual desire. For instance, we hear Torvald asking, "Is that my little lark twittering out their?" The statement sets up the relationship between Torvald and his wife. Such a demeaning phrase may be the main cause of Nora's final decision to leave her husband; however, others may argue otherwise. In the play, several things bring rise to Nora's resistance, which she portrays.

When thoughts of how she could escape and make a better life alone came to her mind, she never looked back (Templeton 28-40). In the last several scenes, there were apparent transformations occurring in the life or personality of Nora. She is no longer Torvalsd's little lark, neither is she Torvald's baby squirrel. She has the feeling that makes her think she will be better once she lives her husband and children. This suggests that she was free through self-actualization, and escaping the dollhouse will be her success.

In this context, it is evident that Nora has acquired the attributes of the modern woman. In addition, although the setting of this play was far much behind time, one can conclude that Ibsen was far much beyond time, or ahead of time. This is because the play will give and has given women a voice, and an opportunity to stand for themselves no matter the cost, a concept that most modern women will agree. In the play, Mrs. Linde assists Nora in various ways.

One can see Nora confiding in Mrs. Linde concerning her secret loan from Krogstad, and later concerning the plan she had to ruin her life by letting Torvald know all her lies. In the end, we see Mrs. Linde telling Krogstad to give up, and let Nora and her husband to settle their issues on their own, which removes her help or assistance aspect. However, when one evaluates the decision she made, it will be evident that she is helping Nora, after all.

This is because afterwards, when everything happens, Nora Helmer realizes that she had been living in a dollhouse throughout her life and has allowed all men to define her. The desire, realization and the drive to leave her husband qualifies this play as full of "feminist" elements, which trace in all the feminist journey, or movements. The action cannot be termed as selfish because her decision to leave her husband portrayed womanhood, in the modern society, leaving her family to explore her identity (Freedman 4).

She was actually exchanging the real doll with a practical doll. In such a piece of literature, the author gave,.