In the late nineteenth century, women were held to a certain role by society. In a time where they could only do a limited amount of activities and needed the superior male, whether it is the father or the husband, to give permission to do another number of things. In the play write "A Doll's House", by Henrik Ibsen, a woman named Nora borrows money to save her husband's bad health. Nora falsifies her father's signature and is confronted by the loaner who is in want of his jobs' security. After a ton of running around and hiding and thinking, Nora decides she doesn't need anyone to look over her.
In the nineteenth century women were discriminated against. They were used as property and were not treated as an actual human being with feelings and emotions. A male authority figure was always needed so the father would be responsible unless the woman was married, leaving the responsibility with the husband.
Title page in the manuscript of A Doll's House, pl...
English: Detail of photograph taken in 1900 of Hen...
English: Norwegian writer Henrik Ibsen photo portr...If a woman were to work, the money earned would be held or taken by that male figure. When a husband died all his belongings went to either his father or one of his brothers, including his wife. Unless the one getting his belongings let the wife continue to live in that house, she would either be kicked out onto the streets or would be the wife of that brother; if he were to receive the property. Not until the latter part on the nineteenth century did some women see this as being wrong and immoral.
Nora was a typical nineteenth century wife, did whatever her husband wanted, kept the children in order, up kept the house, and was not able to do things for herself. When her husband, Torvald, got sick, though, she had to figure...