A Doll's House

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Ibsen often stressed the idea of society holding the individual as a prisoner, and his plays often show an individual breaking free form the bonds of society. In A Doll’s House, Ibsen uses the wife (Nora) who is oppressed and kept prisoner by her husband (Torvald) as a metaphor for the individual who is oppressed by society. When Nora finally leaves her husband and family to live on her own and for herself, it represents a person who breaks the construct of society to live freely. Ibsen is not supporting the abandonment of loved ones; he is simply supporting the individual’s right to be held prisoner by no one. Ibsen clearly shows that family is important by Mrs. Linde sacrificing true love to care for her elderly mother and young siblings. Rather, Ibsen’s message is that if your family makes you a prisoner, then you must leave your family. And if your society makes you a prisoner, then you must leave your society. He does not endorse putting ones pursuit of freedom above another’s, but rather endorsed putting personal freedom before society. Ibsen desired society in which none are oppressed and no ones freedom is compromised.

It is undeniable that A Doll’s House has aspects of feminism, but feminism is part of the broader theme of individualism. Ibsen strived to show people that their society does indeed hold people prisoner. A Doll’s House is Ibsen’s attempt to unveil a society that oppresses, and used the role of women in society as proof. The play is a feminist work, but it is much grander than just feminism. It is a work promoting true freedom and individual rights for all. It encourages the reader to break loose, be self reliant, think independently, and above all else, be your true self.

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Works Cited

Baseer, Abdul, Sofia Dildar Alvi, and Fareha Zafran. "The Use Of Symbolic Language In Ibsen's A Doll's House: A Feministic Perspective." Language In India 13.3 (2013): 622-630. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 7 Dec. 2016.

Ibsen, Henrik. “A Doll House”. The Norton Introduction to Literature eleventh edition. Mays, Kelly J. Print. Page 784-843.

Mazur, Ann M. "Victorian Women, The Home Theatre, And The Cultural Potency Of A Doll's House." Victorians Institute Journal 41.(2013): 10-34. Humanities International Complete. Web. 7 Dec. 2016.

Rahman, Rubina, and Hina Gul. "Conversation Analysis: Speech Acts In Ibsen's A Doll's House." Journal Of Humanities & Social Sciences (Pakistan) 22.1 (2014): 67-82. Humanities International Complete. Web. 7 Dec. 2016.

Annotated Bibliography

Ibsen, Henrik. “A Doll House”. The Norton Introduction to Literature eleventh edition. Mays, Kelly J. Print. Page 784-843.

This is the primary source for the paper (Ibsen).

Baseer, Abdul, Sofia Dildar Alvi, and Fareha Zafran. "The Use Of Symbolic Language In Ibsen's A Doll's House: A Feministic Perspective." Language In India 13.3 (2013): 622-630. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 7 Dec. 2016.

This source is an analysis of “A Doll’s House” from a feministic point of view (Baseer, Alvi, and Zafran).

This source will provide much insight into Nora and Kristine’s characters.

This is a peer reviewed journal.

Mazur, Ann M. "Victorian Women, The Home Theatre, And The Cultural Potency Of A Doll's House." Victorians Institute Journal 41.(2013): 10-34. Humanities International Complete. Web. 7 Dec. 2016.

This source speaks at length as to the role of Victorian women in the 19th century compared to Ibsen’s view of women (Mazure),

This source will be useful because it provides insight into the female characters’ roles in the play, and Ibsen’s motivation for crafting them.

This is a peer reviewed journal.

Rahman, Rubina, and Hina Gul. "Conversation Analysis: Speech Acts In Ibsen's A Doll's House." Journal Of Humanities & Social Sciences (Pakistan) 22.1 (2014): 67-82. Humanities International Complete. Web. 7 Dec. 2016.

This source is a detailed, line for line analysis of Act III, providing additional insight as to the relationship between Torvald and Nora as their marriage unravels (Rahman and Gul).

This source will provide much insight into the moral character of Nora and Torvald.

This is a peer reviewed journal.

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