Nora's Stereotypes

The play A Doll's House, written in 1879 is about a woman named Nora Helmer navigating her way between her own life, marriage, and the anxiety of debts. Although Nora was able to choose herself over being a caregiver and wife it is still very stereotypical. Throughout this play, the three main women, Nora Helmer, Kristine Lind, and Anne-Marie fall victim to the social conventions of the time.
Women in this time were portrayed as unintelligent and irresponsible and Nora was no exception. Throughout the play she is seen as careless with money, being called a “Spendthrift” by her husband. When Nora was talking about money carelessly her husband responded “That is like a woman” showing that it wasn't just Nora that was portrayed as irresponsible, all women were harmed by this stereotype. Nora was also dependent on men her whole life to provide for her. First, she was dependent on her father for money and when he died she was dependent on her husband. Nora even told Mrs. Lind she

In the very beginning of the play when the characters are introduced she is introduced right after Torvald Himmler as “Nora, his wife” even though she is arguably the main character of the play. Torvald also talks down on Nora to show his superiority, calling her names like “poor little girl” and “featherhead,” while Nora does nothing to defend herself because she wants to be the perfect wife, and standing up for herself could sabotage her role as that. Torvald has ownership over Nora, calling her “All the beauty that is mine? All my very own?” (Act 3) and when Nora rejected Torvald he said “Am I not your husband?” because in being her husband it was assumed that he should have total control over her. He even made rules for Nora, like restricting candy. Nora had snuck a macaroon and Torvald said “Hasn't Miss sweet tooth been breaking rules in town today” (Act 1) further showing that women were living in a man's