How is Gender presented in ‘A Doll’s House’ and Rossetti’s poems?

Gender has been a prominent factor in the construction of countless societies,

predominantly in the 19th century. The gender dichotomy that permeated society and was
used to its advantage to allocate certain roles and expectations on its members. Throughout
much of English literature the gender or an individual would equate with specific human
traits. Men would be associated with strength, logic and stability, whilst their counterparts
would be associated with weakness, capriciousness and imagination. This gender divide has
divided and fractured many societies yet Ibsen and in some cases in Rossetti’s poems has
shown to dilute these rigid expectations, providing us with women rebelling their long-
standing role or being “pious, patient and frugal.” Both texts could possibly be exposing
society for overlooking male weaknesses and flaws In attempt to place emphasise on their
positive attributes which allow them to stay in control.
Ibsen uses stereotypical gender attributes in the characterisation of Nora and Helmer.
However, he then reverses the stereotypes in the final scenes of the play, depicting the
problems of misjudging female nature and limiting their independence and opportunities as
a result of their supposed inherent weakness. As a pioneer of realistic social drama, Ibsen
was concerned with presenting realistic social settings and therefore depicted the rigid
gender divisions prevalent in bourgeois society. It’s for this reason Ibsen may have
presented Nora as a willing member of their dysfunctional family whose purpose is to exist
solely for the pleasure for her husband and his personal decadence. It’s arguable that Nora
is aware of her role as a ‘doll wife’ as she expresses multiple times that her role is “to dress
up and play the fool” for Torvald. Nora could perhaps represent the plight of all women
whose assigned all her duties and obligations by patriarchy. However, Schlueter, proposed
that Nora was “deceitful and manipulative from the start” from little acts such as secretly
eating macaroons behind Torvalds’s back. Therefore, not abiding to the rules expected of
women. In the patriarchal social framework, women are represented by a set of self –
sacrificing and subservient attributes. However, in the play’s denouement, Nora’s epiphany
occurs as she realises she has been a conformist for too long and realises the necessity to
cultivate her full identity. The slamming of the door is thematically significant as it
symbolises her revolt against her husband. Similarly, in Maude Clare we witness Maude
Clare risking public censure as a fallen woman as she exposes Sir Thomas for his disloyalty.
Those who break away from the expected behaviour are labelled as “deviant” or “fallen”
which Rossetti was heavily involved in during her time in Magdalene Penitenary for women.
Like Nora, one interpretation is that Maude Clare had experienced entrapment as she is
confined by the suffocating gender expectations. This could be interpreted through the “half
of the golden chain” the chains could symbolise prior control over Maude from male
oppressors. Therefore, Maude Clare may not only be calling out Sir Thomas for his disloyalty
but also speaking out against social expectations of women. Therefore, both writers may be
overtly criticising the gender expectations of women and the disbelief from others when
women righteously break away from them.
In both texts the ideology that men are the dominant gender is shattered as male weakness
is exposed as we see men struggle to maintain a veneer of dominance and control. Gender
constructions and expectations have fractured society, alienating women whilst idolising the
role of men who were seen to acquire the desirable qualities or independence, action and
self interest. However, Rosetti and Ibsen destroys the assumption in her poems, depicting
that men and women’s weaknesses are human traits not gender traits. In the time Ibsen
was writing ‘A Doll’s House’ the newly liberated country of Norway had been freed from the
Danish control. As a result gender distinctions were becoming less definitive as they saw an
influx in ideas regarding political and personal freedom. In A Doll’s House, Ibsen alludes to
Torvald’s weakness and childlike nature as Rank explains that Torvald “ is so fastidious, he
cannot face up to anything ugly”. This suggests that Torvald is sheltered from the realities
from the world, subverting the stereotypical “strong and brave man.” However, one
interpretation of this is that Torvald shelters Nora from the realities of the world just like he
is in an attempt to ‘contain’ her to maintain his control over her. Ibsen could have done this
to expose male weakness, criticising the rigid gender expectations which prohibit the idea of
equality amongst men and women. Torvald’s child-like nature is also exhibited as we learn
of Torvald’s decision to fire Krogstad. Torvald condemns Krogstad for calling him on his
“Christian terms” and making “no attempt to conceal is when others are present.” Torvald’s
decision to fire Krogstad stems ultimately from the fact that he feels threatened and
offended by Krogstad’s failure to pay him the proper respect, highlighting his trifling petty
nature. Similarly, in No Thank You John, Rossetti simultaneously presents us with an
independent women who asserts that women have a right to say no and claim
independence and agency for herself whilst depicting the weak and forceful nature of men.
The very first line, “ I never said I loved you” is a blunt statement spoken to the unnamed
listener, which is contrary to what is often seen as the Victorian feminine ideal, meek and
submissive. The unheard listener seems to make a “desperate attempt” to pursue the
speaker, to which she says “I’d rather say no to fifty Johns”, giving the speaker strength and
profound assertiveness to the character. The listeners fleeting attempt to pursue the
speaker despite her resistance could highlight men’s desire to stay in control and maintain
subjugation over females. In the Victorian era women weren’t expected to focus too
obviously on finding a husband and usually had very little say in who they would be married
to. Additionally, the fact that we don’t hear male in this poem could further emphasise their
failed attempt to control women, instead highlighting the weak, insignificant nature of men.
Both Ibsen and Rossetti overtly display male weakness to possibly expose society for placing
to much emphasise on the ‘admirable’ aspects of men, disregarding the flaws of men.