THEME OF THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN A DOLL'S HOUSE

Women’s roles have always been in the shadows of men hence the saying, ‘behind every successful man, there is a woman.’ Going by this trend, women have always been overlooked in major decision making. To this day, America has had over 40 presidents but none is a woman.

Henrik Ibsen believed that women have the responsibility to develop their individuality; nevertheless, their role has always been self-sacrificial. In society, women have never been seen as equals in their contribution to family and society. This is the reason why Helmer finds it absurd that his wife can advise him not to fire Krogstad. He believes that it is embarrassing to kowtow before one’s wife. It will taint his image.

Women did not have the authority to conduct business or transact in their own money. When Helmer fall’s sick, Nora is devastated. On the one hand, her husband is afraid of debts and according to the doctor, really needs a holiday to get better. On the other hand, her father is very sick and on the verge of dying. Yet she needs to save her husband for the sake of her children. Having no other male relative, Nora forges her father’s signature and secures the loan necessary for her husband’s treatment.

Just like many other women, Nora had not had a decent education and did not really understand the implications of her forgery until when Krogstad pointed it to her. According to her, she thought she could get away with forgery.  She was wrong.

Nora envies Mrs Linde’s freedom. Such women had the opportunity to get jobs and their money did not go to their husbands. Nonetheless, opportunities open for women had limited freedom and the pay was extremely low. Women were offered jobs like clerical work, a domestic worker and teaching. Such jobs did not offer intelligent women opportunities to exploit their potential fully.

Women characters in the play are sacrificial lambs for their families. Mrs Linde was in love with Krogstad, but she chose to marry a rich guy in order to provide for her mother and her two brothers. Nora’s forgery was to protect her ailing father and at the same time secure her husband’s health. Nora’s Nurse has to leave her own children in order to look for a low-paying job for their own sake. Interestingly, the nurse considers herself lucky for getting a job yet she got her child out of wedlock. In this society, women were indicted for getting children out of wedlock as if they were Virgin Mary!

The play does not as much offer solutions to women’s trepidation; however, Nora’s realization that she is not part of her society is a glimmer of hope to women outside there. Nora realises that marriage is a trap and the only way she can regain her own identity is to let go of her children and begin the journey of self-realization. As an independent woman maybe she could equal and maybe rival men in their thinking and setting up standards that run the society.