‘’a doll’s house’’ a major emphasis was laid on humanism and gender roles

When Henrik Ibsen wrote the play ‘’A Doll’s House’’ a major emphasis was laid on humanism and gender roles. This play to a great extent depicts both the character of Nora and Torvald Helmer. These concepts played a great role in literature at that point in time and can be linked to the contemporary world too. During that era, there was a wide gap between men and women and patriarchy was every household’s key component and women who tried to go against her husband’s will was not considered a perfect wife. Nora is unsure of what to do and has to rely on her husband for literally every decision she has to make for herself, which in last can be seen that she finally realizes her potential and decides to move out of Helmer’s nest. This contradicts the lines on which play is based, that is Nora could have decided to stay at her house only but now being an independent woman.

When the culture and context of the play are analyzed, the decisions seem more appealing. At that time period, women compared to men had far fewer rights and leaving or divorcing was nonetheless a sin. Parting ways were meant women being an expatriate and made lead a life that was full of society’s taunts. Throughout the play, it was clear that Nora knew the consequences of Helmer knowing about the debt she had to repay. She tried her best to hide the truth by adhering to whatever her husband told her to do. Finally, she makes up her mind to commit suicide as she thought that ending life would be better rather than living a life that would be spent on divorce and on top of that provocations by the society.

However, if the idea of attempting suicide doesn’t look that realistic, more knowledge gives a better understanding that it was likely to treat women in much more brutal manner. Women in all this couldn’t do anything but to follow whatsoever men tell them to do.

As in relation to context and cultural aspects of the drama, Nora ’s intellection seems more pragmatic and fits within the lines on which the play is based upon.