Gender Roles, Deception, and the Crumbling of a Marriage: An Analysis of Ibsens A Dolls House

Abstract

Instructor’s Name The Doll House is a play by Norwegian actor Henrik Ibsen written in 1879 as a realism theater in the characterizations of situations that happen in real life. The drama revolves around real-life struggles in love, marriage, and gender inequality. The characters and settings of the drama are relatable to the audience. In a social setting, the concept of love, gender roles, and marriage intertwine and define relationships in society. This discussion will focus on the analysis of the play ‘the Doll’s House,' showing how most marriages thrive on deception, gender stereotypes, money as a driving force for conflict, and control, threatening relationships. Society dictates men as dominant partners, and the story of Torvald and Nova, who are conventionally married. Torvald loves his wife but does not fully see her as an important person. He sees her as weak, subordinate, and docile in society. For him, it is all about her behavior and appearance and nothing more. Torvald could not lose from gender stereotypes, believing in manly independence and his right to control his wife playing a traditionally male role. Nova is pissed about being trolled as a ‘doll wife’ and her inability to find herself and her position in the marriage. “But our home has never been anything but a playroom. I’ve been your doll-wife, just as I used to be papa’s doll child.” The dominion ended the marriage, and Torvald painted a failed man while trying to derail his marriage. Torvald thinks of Nova as childish and careless and often calls her his doll. He thinks that Nova is extravagant and lacks the fundamental ability to manage finances as a woman properly. To him, Novas's appearance matters in building his reputation and beautifying his home....