feminism theme Flashcards
(21 cards)
interpreted
as a defence of feminism and that made Ibsen seem a male traitor
the play is claimed to be
advocating women’s liberation, a matter still under discussion
sympathetic portrayal of women
one who refuses to obey her husband, leaving her home and her children caused a sensational impact when it was first released
Ibsen
called himself “more of a poet and less of a social philosopher” and that he wasn’t “even sure what Women’s rights really are”
Nora represents
the middle class, 19th century daughter and wife, who is protected from hardships of the outside world
expect to suppress her own desires, in favour of her husband’s
theme
of self-liberation throughout the play
Nora and Helmer
are victims of their socials roles as husband and wife
in an attempt to behave with social conventions, their marriage is based on an illusion
their relationship
both deceive each other and themselves, both consciously and subconsciously
Helmers actions
show Nora that he is subservient to petty, social values which to him are more important than his feelings for his wife
Nora’s protector
once the danger has gone, he tries to be her protector again
“I shall watch over you”
the law
Nora is shocked to find out that she is a criminal for trying to save her husband’s life
Helmer’s nicknames for her
skylark, squirrel, squanderbird, songbird, little bird and little creature
demeaning and dehumanising
body language
“tiptoes across to her husband’s door and listens”
“takes her playfully by the ear”
“plays with his coat buttons”
“wags his finger”
basis of feminist movement
is that the western world is fundamentally patriarchal
created by men and judged by men
women were thought
to be unintelligent and many accepted that
western literature
often reflects the masculine bias
female characters
can be viewed as models of the “second sex” idea by writer Simone de Beauvoir
Mary Wollstonecraft
18th-century revolutionary writer, argues in her essay ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Women’ that women are taught “outward obedience” from infancy
Wollstonecraft argues
that men try to secure the good conduct of women by reducing them to a state of innocence and childhood, seen with Nora and Torvald
the female figures in the play are
depicted as socially and psychologically dependent on men
Mrs Linde had to leave a man she loved to support her family and the Nurse had to give up a child conceived out of wedlock to get a job
expectations of women
The play plays with our expectations of the women, we expect Nora to be happy and incident, but it turns out not to be the case.