How are women marginalized in A Doll’s House? English AL ‘Word count: 999 1206-102 1+ The pecribed question st Which social groups are marginalize, exchuded ot silence within the tex? + Thetitle ofthe text for analysis: A Dol's House by Henk Ibsen 1+ The part of the couse fo which the task refers: Prt 3 Literature Texts & Contents ‘Points that explain the fous ofthe task: © plore how women were presented inthe 198 century © plain why injustice inthe inequality of power and opportunites betwoon genders exists inthe play ‘© Explain how struggles of women ofthe Victorian era wore a result of patiarchal society 106-142 2‘The vahes of the Vidorian era encompassed bourgeois morality and parca ideology in which women played a subservient role to men. In cesponse fo the ules sd conveations adopt by Northern European soviet, Ibsen wrote A Del's House, in which he suggested tat society was unfir and esting. While our soil context ‘may have changed since the 19" century, the universality of the issue of gender ‘quality persists, Alhnugh sovity has become more flexible in terms of the independence and job epportunities offered to women, a division between genders in {ecm of roles remains in certain counties and euturs, ‘One way in which Ibsen marginalizes the main female characters Nora and Mrs, Lind 4 Doll's House is through the belting and patronizing dialogue directed at (hem by the male charters. Torvalds relationship with Nora appears to be rather paternalistic as he addreses Nora with diminutive pet names such as “tle squire” 8), ass his auttority in the household. Moreover, Torvald dominates the ‘majesty of conversatior, and the contrast in lengths of dialogue, until the last hall of | the lst ct, reflects the ative position of women in society ‘The social structure of Buropean society also imposes the political, economic and legal marginalization of women. During the 19% century, men were viewed as bing the breadwvinners of the family. Standards were set for middle class behaviour in which men were to be feld up asthe superior being in the household, and women, “spent,” (24) as demonstrated in A Doll's House by Nora's obsession with hhaving “lots and fots of money." (24) thsen criticizes these societal values by highlighting the prevalence of male dominance an the distegan expressed towards 1206-142 awomen. Difference in male and female attitudes to spending is at the level of ‘comedic stereotyping but there are indications of deeper issues beneath the comic surface ‘Women were exclude fom decision-making and inprtant matters. Ibsen uses Nora as an unconventional protagonist to challenge Vieorian sociiy's definition of ‘woman as hee actions eppose scital an gender noms, intuling handing debs, ‘which typically perceived as a man’s duty, Mrs, Linde has atonal fantion as 4 confidante, but alo plays a mow active role as she is much moe independ Although the two fem characters, Nor and Mis. Linde ate shagpy contested, Mes. Linde is also submissive and turns to Torvald for helps he “ay be able to find some job for [her)." 42) However, Torvald teas her very easly a seis etively ‘unimportant 10 him, and this demonstrates tha the reliance of women on men for financial resources also marginalized them, as there was a disregard for women ‘concerning monetary control and employment, [Nora takes pride in her involvement in obtaining & pecuniary advantage as she believes it proves her capability as an independent woman and shows tha she isnot “completely uses,” (36) delaeating the way in which she i regarded by oes because of er gender. Individual freon fs a thematic focus in A Doll’ Howse. “Torvald encourages Nora o be confident wit regards physical appesrance,tling coters to “take good Kok" (8S) at his “most treated possesion” (87, reinforcing the social norms where women were objects of desir, This suggests that they were exposed to limited oppotunitos and tt individual expressions were diamissed as ‘only male opinions were respected, The objectification of Nora ws a “dol-wite” 98) 1206-142 4symbolizes a prison bit on patriarchy in which women are bound and confined (0 {he house to perform tei "sacred dates” (100), and in which “ist and foremost [Nova is) a wife and mothe.” The repression against women i elected in he seeet indulgence in macarons" (27), which is representative of her hidden desite for indepenence and to be “fre” (78). However, there isa hicrarchical shift as the act progresses, demonstrated by the increasing strength inthe power of Nora's dialogue land she embodies the characteristics of being an unteadtional woman by breaking societal conventions in which women were expected to yield to men. Towards the end ally ‘acknowledged by Torvel when she says, “'ve a lotto say to you” (97). Although ‘of the play in the third sct, Nora begins to display some independence and is ‘here is tll uneven tumtsking between er and Torvald, she domiotes the volume ia ‘the conversation, through the use of the imperative phrases such as “don't ineupt (97) and an increasingly assertive tone, which foreshadow hee rising to power ‘and begining to take coxtl inthe relationship, Despite this, Torvald tells Nora shes “bind” as she has “no experience ofthe work” (09). This wunerability was present in women during this et, a5 they Were vewed as Uuninllgent and avrg no conceen with the public sphere, Arguably, this vulnerability fs « product of the women being tested as insignificant beings and lesser than men, as men were presented with more opportunities than women and ‘were seen as more influeta ‘To conclude, the female characters in A Doll's House were marginalized by the ‘values and restitions imposed by a soviety domsinated by men. The patriarchal social structure resulted in women’s roles revolving around the household and they were 1206-142 5perceived as having no concem for a realistic approach to life. A Doll's Howse ‘caresses Ibsen's beliefs of individualism and freedom, Ulimately, Nora isa strong character who, by defying Torvald has the opportunity to explore het identity. On the ‘other hand, Mrs. Linde serves as an example of women’s dependence on men, as she identifies Krogstad as someone to “Tive for (84), highlighting men’s power in society ‘8 Mrs. Linde fels that without a husband she cannot be content in lif. The contrasts between the two wom offer diferent perspesive towards gender inequality and {he marginalization of women, While the play is offen regarded as a feminist Statement, Nora's chance and actions excood this and display not only the universality of er strugle but lo rebellion against social standard as the play ends ‘with Nona a dignified weman with her own five will, 1296-142 6Wy risbiy eee 4) WORKSCITED MG freee 4 Co Th poo winks t sen, Henk, Michae\ Leverson, Meyer, Nick Worrall, and Non Wortll. A Del's Howse, London: Methuen Prats, 2008, Prin 206-142 7