The Role Of Women In The Doll's House

1436 Words6 Pages

The status of women in society must be considered in reference to the time and place in which one is reviewing that status. A woman’s status is dependent upon the cultural and social environment in which they reside and must be understood in regards to that environment. When comparing two societies and how women are viewed within those societies, one should not make judgments based upon the society in which one is currently living but rather should view them strictly within the time and place the comparisons are being made. Gender roles are based upon societal expectations and are based on that society’s values and beliefs and are produced by individual interactions and the environment in which they exist (digitalcommons). In the play by Henrik Ibsen, “The Doll House,” the actions take place in the late 1800’s in Norway and involve the relationship between Nora and Torvald, a married couple with children (Ibsen). This essay will compare the role of Nora, as a wife and mother, to the role of women in the United States in the Twenty First Century. Although the differences between the societies of Nineteenth Century Norway and Twenty First Century United States are very noticeable and obvious, the real comparison may be that there are similarities that still exist in how women respond within their personal relationships. A review of Nora’s role in the play will show that her responsibilities and her actions in response to those gender defined responsibilities will show

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