Escaping The Doll’S House
The author of A Doll’s House is Henrik Ibsen a Norwegian playwright. It premiered at the royal theater In Copenhagen, Denmark on December 21st, 1879. The play takes place in a Norwegian town in 1879. The format of this document is a three-act play. This document is about a struggling couple who argue over her (Nora) Husbands sexist ways. (Torvald). Nora constantly feels the pressure to be perfect in her own home; due to her husband. She feels that her husband treats her as she is a doll. Explaining why she feels trapped in her own home, describing it as “the dollhouse”.
Ibsen wrote this piece to shine a light on the sexist ideals’ women have been stuck in since the beginning of time. This document has been used and will continue to be used as a model for women's rights. The short passage included a very revolutionary argument between Nora and Torvald. During this time period, it was almost unheard of for a wife to speak this way to their husband because they were seen as the “dominant” or the “breadwinner”, because of this, wives were afraid of voicing their thoughts, in fear of retaliation. But, in this document Nora shows no fear towards her husband; she tells him that she finally realizes what he has done to her and to her life. “ Yes, it is so, Torvald. While I was at home with father he used to tell me all his opinions and I held the same opinions. If I had others I concealed them, because he would not have liked it. He used to call me his doll-child and play with me as I played with my dolls. Then I came to live in your house. ” She is comparing her father to Torvald; saying that her father used to treat her like she would treat her dolls, and now that she is married and living with Torvald, it is as nothing has changed.
Henrik Ibsen wrote this document to educate people on the unrealistic ideals that women had to follow in this time period. Many English classes, including my own, as a source for sexism in the early ages. The credibility of this document is without a doubt, trustworthy. He touches on a subject that would have never been thought of to talk about; the overbearing male dominance in a regular household. And how many women living in similar situations have felt trapped in their own homes due to their own husband's ways of sexist reform. In my own eyes, this document is one of those most influential pieces I've ever read.
Reading the own pain that Nora has to suffer in for so long is heartbreaking, it is also very relieving when she finally escapes finding her true happiness. Being a woman, it is refreshing to read a document such as this so ahead of its time; there are many women who are still stuck in their homes with their sexist husband. Forced to be perfect and being crushed under their unrealistic ideals. So, for this to be written over 100 years ago, it is truly revolutionary. It is also very saddening that change has taken so long to take its course. It wasn't until women were finally seen as something more than a household object or something pretty to show off that we had voices. This document is something I hope that every woman reads once in their life, and they pass that onto their children so that they know the hardships many of them before they were born suffered. I know that this piece will continue to inspire women everywhere, and maybe open peoples closed minds on the topic of sexism in the 21st century. The analysis of this document has shined a light on many important topics that are not talked about as much as they should be. There have been many years of the fight for women's rights. There should be no fight. Written in 1879, this document was way ahead of its time. Putting ideas in people's heads about women and how they are more than just objects. This will forever be one of the most important documents ever written; one step closer to equality for all.
