Norwegian Socio-Economic Class Structure in 1879 &

Traditional Roles of Men and Women

Nikpreet Singh, Muaz Abdul-Aziz, Julian Stanley, Tiffany Ma

Ms. Brewington; Period 222 September 2015

Contents

Norwegian Socio-Economic Structure

Characters and Classes

Traditional Roles of Women

Traditional Roles of Men

Discussion Questions

Norwegian Socio-Economic Structure

● Patriarchal society

○ Women were dependent on men, marriage, and motherhood

○ Gender bias

● Conservative, formal

Characters and Classes

UPPER CLASS

UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS

LOWER CLASS

MIDDLE CLASS

● “Bourgeois respectability”

○ Financial success, upward mobility,

freedom from financial debt, secure

family

Traditional Roles of Women

Patriarchy; women were expected to stay in the home and be housewives.

Women were represented as passive and open to exploitation by men.

They were seen as the nurturing figure, responsible for bearing/raising children. Many Norwegian women hired maids to raise children.

Overall purpose for women was to appease the men.

Nora: "Tell me, is it really true that you weren’t in love with your husband? Why did you marry him then?"

Mrs. Linde: "My mother was still alive, but bedridden and helpless, and I had my two younger brothers to look after. In all conscience, I didn’t think I could turn him down" (2191)

Traditional Roles of MenMen were seen as powerful and responsible of the public sphere, rather than confined to the private sphere.

Men were seen as the financial backbone of the family.

"You're joking, my little Nora! You won't—you won't? Am I not your husband—?" (3.143)

Do you agree?

"I would gladly work night and day for you […] But no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves." (3.345)

Would most men agree?

What’s more valuable: honor or love?

Discussion Questions

1. How does the patriarchy affect Ibsen’s technique in writing the play? Cite specific examples.

2. In 1879, the Norwegian society feared change in the social structure. Fill in the Venn diagram. What were the major changes in the socio-economic structure from 1879 to 2015?

3. Is Ibsen’s work more of a repudiation of the traditional roles of men and women or an acceptance and glorification of them? Find quotes to support your answer.

How does the patriarchy affect Ibsen’s technique in writing the play? Cite specific examples.

Ibsen used this technique to show the oppression of women in marriage. Even though he believed that women should only fulfil the roles of mothers and wives, he knew about the injustices in marriage.

“You and I both would have to transform ourselves to the point that-- Oh, Torvald, I’ve stopped believing in miracles...That our living together could be a true marriage” (2233).

Nora is a typical wife and mother, but by the end of the play, she realizes that she has been disillusioned with her husband.

In 1879, the Norwegian society feared change in the social structure. Fill in the Venn diagram. What were the major changes in the socio-economic structure from 1879 to 2015?

● “Nora, Nora, how like a woman! No, but seriously, Nora, you know what I think about that. No debts! Now, now, the little lark’s wings mustn’t droop. Come on, don't be a sulky squirrel” (2187).

○ Women are granted the same rights and opportunities as men○ Men are not always the head of the house

Other examples...

● Similarity: Middle class holds the most people (then and now)● Difference: Upper class (rising up the social ladder)

Is Ibsen’s work more of a repudiation of the traditional roles of men and women or an acceptance and glorification of them? Find quotes to support your answer.

It could go both ways, one could consider the play an acceptance of the patriarchy because the first half of the story shows Nora accepting her condition, but one could consider it empowering women because of the way that Nora resolves her conflict at the end of the story

.

Works Cited Boundless. "Class Structure in the U.S. - Boundless Open Textbook." Boundless. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2015.

Cron, Shannon. "Menu." Theater 271. WordPress and Portfolio, n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.

"JiffyNotes: Doll's House, A: Summary: Historical Context." JiffyNotes: Doll's House, A: Summary: Historical Context. N.p., n.d. Web.

20 Sept. 2015.

Kim, Jae Hyun. "Class Recorder Notes." Sfs.haikulearning. N.p., 19 Feb. 2013. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.