A Doll's House Research Paper

Today’s women would say they would like an equal partnership in a marriage (something), but historically this was not always possible. In 1870’s Norway, Henrick Ibsen A Doll’s House takes place, woman where not allowed decision making privileges or any other equal freedom. Nora, the protagonist showed signs of being independent by taking out a lone, and having side jobs, but yet she cannot even enjoy a cookie without her husband’s approval. In the 1800’s women were considered property to the men in their lives. After marriage, women did not have to right to own property, keep a wage, or sign contracts. They were considered second-class citizens and were expected to restrict their interests to the home and family, and were encouraged not to have a job and a career (National Women’s History Museum). Women had little to no freedom, according to Kelley Smith, “Some even compare the conditions of women in this time to a form of slavery. Women were completely controlled by the men in their

She wasn’t allowed to have a job because her husband worked, therefore, she wasn’t in touch with the outside world since all her duties were inside the house. She is expected to do what her father and/or husband tells her to do. Such as to stop spending so much money on things. Nora had a bunch of gifts delivered to her home for Christmas and the kids and her husband, Torvald yells at her and says, “Nora, Nora, how like a woman! No, but seriously, Nora, you know what I think about that. No debts! Never borrow” (Ibsen). He was stating that they can’t spend more than the money that Torvald makes so they don’t have to borrow money from people and no be able to pay them back. Another example of limited freedom and decision making that Nora had, was when she wanted to take out the lone. She wasn’t allowed to take out a loan without her father’s permission or her