Ibsens A Dolls House being Dated Essay -- A Dolls House Henrik Ibse

Ibsens A Dolls House being DatedTo answer the above, one needs to be aware of when the drama was firstwritten (1879) and how audiences were shocked at Ibsens radicalperception of the social roles of husband and wife in spunk class night club at that prison term.The role of middle class women at that time was simple, they borechildren and kept house in a very clear manner, albeit with the aid ofa housekeeper or maid. They were subservient to men and wereconsidered accoutrements and playthings. This comes across verypowerfully in the manner that Torvald Helmer addresses Nora.The main thrust of the play has a lot to do with gender relations inmodern society. It offers us, in the actions of Nora, a changeof the view of women struggling to overcome a society governed whollyby men resistant to change. Although this has changed dramaticallysince, there are still many corners of society nowadays that stillcling to this belief and ethic. What was radical the case of this playwas that Ibse n chose to bring this into the open.My first impression of Nora was that she was a shallow figure, thatshe was a selfish, self subdued manipulative person with not a carein the world. We see as the play progresses that this is not the caseand her personality changes to reveal someone very different. The willto do right by her husband becomes evident as the play unfolds.We learn that life history then was very much the same as today, in thatmiddle class life was, in the main, affluent and agreeable, but onlyfor those that could operate within it successfully. For those whocouldnt life was brutal and unforgiving. We see that the Helmers arelooking forward to life being even more comfortable once Torv... ...n truly happy, she had onlyexperienced fun. That she had finally lost her love for him because ofhis reaction to Krogstadts letter outlining the dishonesty inobtaining the loan. No man can be expected to sacrifice his honour,even for the person he loves he exclaims. Millions of w omen haveshe retorts. She leaves, the play closes.What I gather from the play, the only clue to the epoch is that of someof the dialogue. I dont think the theme is dated at all. Consider,the need for social standing, still as potent today as then. Considerthe policy-making manoeuvrings, surrounding position in the workplace,very much still in place today. Consider the power of seduction andfinally, the strength of character a fair sex needs to stand up for whatshe feels is right even to her own detriment. Very powerful, verythought provoking and very, very enjoyable.