A Doll's House

Nora’s Action as Act of Feminism College

Nora’s Action as Act of Feminism

In the play A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen portrays both the traditional roles of both males and females in the 19th Century. The character Nora in the play embodies the traditional female standard of the era, as she is submissive and limits herself to the male expectations. Later in the play, she makes a decision to be independent and reaffirming her identity and personality. There has been constant debate whether Nora’s actions are driven by notions of feminism or rather by selfishness. Ibsen himself claimed that the play is an overall description of humanity and not specific to feminism. Nora displays different attitudes in the play through the transition of her subservient nature to a more independent one. Some view her transition and deeds as a selfish act because she chooses to work on herself and later leaves her husband and children. Considering the fact that she was loyal and submissive to her husband, in the beginning, her actions are justified as acts of feminism and not selfishness. This analysis aims at examining the play to point out that Nora’s deeds are driven by concepts of feminism and not selfishness.

In the play, there are several indications that suggest the patriarchy...

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