Gender Definition and the Need for Equality

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how in the Victorian era, the concept of women being equal to men or thinking of their self-worth was an outrageous idea and how such is the theme behind one of the most controversial plays of all time by Henrik Ibsen called "A Doll's House". It looks at how "A Doll's House" represents a battle between a masculine and a feminine kind of conscience and how Ibsen especially shatters the traditional views on what role a woman is supposed to play in the house and in society as a wife, mother and as a woman in general.

From the Paper:

"Nora herself is not aware of who she is or how she feels. She is subservient to Torvald, yet manipulates him to get her way. At the same time, she feels the need to be recognized and understood as something more than just a trophy to her husband. We see this when in her confrontation with Christine she feels the need to be recognized for her cunningness and courage to work without her husband's knowledge and earn money to pay of her debts. In her heart she wants to be appreciated by others for more than just being able o dance for Torvald. Perhaps recognition by others would mean re-assurance of her self worth in her own mind as she herself is insecure about who she is."

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