Henrik Ibsen Gender Roles

“I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves” (Mary Shelley Quotes).Throughout history, women have been seen as inferior to men. Within almost every developing civilization and society, men have possessed power over women. As history has continued, women have continued to be suppressed by the power held by men. This continuous oppression of women has established various gender roles which have trapped women into playing predetermined roles throughout their life times. Although these roles have been slightly altered as time has continued, it is clear that roles were present throughout history. Within the play, A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen utilizes diction, symbolism, and indirect characterization to show that women were

For example, in Act III Helmer says, “What, not look at my most treasured possession? At all this wonderful beauty that’s mine, mine alone, all mine.” (Ibsen 176) In this sentence, Helmer is referring to Nora. Ibsen’s use of the word “possession”, suggests to the reader that during this time period, women were thought to be no more that things in which men could use and manipulate for their own entertainment or to satisfy their own personal needs. The wife was a “belonging” of the husband and was under his complete control. This point is further reiterated later on in the sentence when Ibsen uses the repetition of the word “mine”. This word, again, shows the same relationship explained before in which the wife is thought to be a possession belonging to her husband. The word “mine” suggests that no one else but the husband has power over her. The use of diction within this sentence showcases the relationship between man and wife. Ibsen makes it clear to the reader the presence of the overwhelming power of men over women within these relationships by using words which reflect this

For example Nora asks “ He was rich then, was he?” and Mrs Linde responds (referring to her husband) “ Quite comfortably off, I believe. But his business was unsound, you see, Nora. When he died it went bankrupt and there was nothing left” (Ibsen 146). This piece of text shows us as readers, that Mrs. Linde had to face the realistic consequence of gender roles for women during the 1800’s. Mrs. Linde's husband provided for her while Mrs. Linde simply took responsibility for taking care of the house and children. Men held so much power within the relationship that a woman was almost helpless without her husband. Therefore, when Mrs. Lynde's husband died she was forced to figure out how to provide for herself. This point is made clear in the next sentence when Nora asks “What did you do?” and Mrs Linde responds, “ Well, I had to try to make ends meet somehow, so I started a little shop, and a little school and anything else I could turn my hand to. These last three years have been just one endless slog for me, without a moment's rest.” When Mrs. Linde's husband died she was left with close to nothing and had very little opportunity to support herself now that she was on her own. Mrs. Linde had to sacrifice a lot to get herself back on her feet because she had been forced to rely on her husband for so long. Ibsen exposes this