A Doll's House

During the time Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House was publicized, the start of the feminist movement was already present. Women of that time period had very limited rights and their place in society belonged inside the home. Based on their economic background women were either homemakers or worked in low paying jobs such as factory workers, to support their family. Due to growing industrialization, urbanization and the flourishing economy the role of women was starting to shift once women realized there were more opportunities for them outside of the home. Women at the time were taught to be submissive to men, tend the children until their husband came home, and abide by the Cult of Domesticity to create a haven for their family. When Nora, the protagonist of A Doll’s House, walked out on her husband at the end of the play, her exit was known as “the door slam heard around the world,” which was a very strong example of the emerging feminist movement. The ending of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House shocked many people because during the time the play was written, it was not typical of a woman to walk out of her house on her own. When Nora walked out, the shock produced a wave of emerging feminists which later led to their unity in fighting for equality between the sexes. However, the ending of the play is somewhat unclear. Some may believe Nora left her family and never came back while others think she would go back eventually. Though this ending is shocking, there is still some space left for those who want to believe that Nora went back home to be with her family once again.