In Henrik
Ibsen’s play, A Doll’s House, presents many context and views that reflects the
society in his time. One of them is feminism. Feminism is an approach to sex
and gender equality. A feminist movement is a movement against the
stereotypical definition of woman created by men. Meanwhile, a feminism
criticism in literature examines language and literature by exposing how these
reflect masculine or feminist ideology. Although, there are clear feminist
ideology in A Doll’s House, Ibsen argues that it was not a feminist criticism
but rather humanism. In an interview with Ibsen, he disclaims “the honor of
having consciously worked for women's rights.” Instead, he claims “to me it has
been a question of human rights.”
The human rights
in this play were specified at the female gender. In the 19th
century, women were treated poorly. It was so horrific that they were to be
compared as “a little better than slaves”. Instead of being controlled by
owners, women obeyed under the men or the husbands. One of the feminist at the
time had described the equality of women:
"Under
exclusively man-made laws women have been reduced to the most abject condition
of legal slavery in which it is possible for human beings to be held...under
the arbitrary domination of another's will, and dependent for decent treatment
exclusively on the goodness of heart of the individual master." (Florence
Fenwick Miller, 1890)
In the context
of the play, Torvald views Nora as little more than a beautiful ornament of his
home. He constantly calls her wife various animals/pets name. This is a form of
dehumanizing of his wife.
HELMER:
"Is that my squirrel rustling?" (Act 1 pg 24)
Nora had to hide her macaroons from Torvald
because if he found out he might think she is spending money on excessive
things. Nora’s liberty to buy things at her will is extinguished. Torvald has
controlled all the spending of the house. Torvald view female as incapable of
handling serious matter. Besides Nora that showed feminism criticism, Katherine
also was criticized in a feminist point of view. Katherine was in need of money
to support her family, and the only way to obtain money was to offer herself in
marriage.
NORA:
"Tell me, is it really true you didn't love your husband? Why did you
marry him, then?"
MRS.
LINDE: "Well, my mother was still alive; and she was helpless and
bedridden. And I had my two little brothers to take care of. I didn't feel I
could say no." (Act 1 pg 32)
Work
Cited
- Cavedon, Jackie. "Nineteenth-Century European Feminism." Guided History. BU Blogs, n. d. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.
- "Feminist or Humanist, the Nature of Henrik Ibsen." StudyMode.com. StudyMode.com, 06 2008. Web. 06 2008. <http://www.studymode.com/essays/Feminist-Or-Humanist-The-Nature-Of-153358.html>.
- "What is Feminism?." Eastern Kentucky University. Eastern Kentucky University. Web. 23 Feb 2014. <http://wgs.eku.edu/what-feminism-0>.
- Delahoyde, Michael. "Feminism." Literature. Washington State University. Web. 23 Feb 2014.
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