Feminist / Historical Criticism Unite Within Individual Desire and Group Responsibility

Feminist/Historical Criticism Unite Within Individual Desire and Group Responsibility

Henrik Ibsen, author of A Doll House and Arthur Miller, author of Death of a Salesman, explicitly demonstrates great conflict between individual desire and group responsibility. Many characters in both texts portray a role of narcissism and selfishness. However, digging a bit deeper, its inevitable to find the true existence of these motives are not out of selfishness, but instead due to the prior responsibility toward a group or partnership. By examining history and the distinct roles of both men and women, it becomes clear that Ibsen and Miller both portray a great understanding of individual and group relations.

Since early times women have been uniquely viewed as a creative source of human life. Historically, they have been considered intellectually inferior to men as well as major source of evil and temptation. For example, in Greek mythology, it was a woman, Pandora, who opened the forbidden box and brought plagues and unhappiness to mankind. Early Romans described women as children, forever inferior to men. The attitude toward women in eastern culture was more favorable. Women were not deprived of property rights or individual freedoms by marriage. Certain religions required obedience of women toward men. Women had to walk behind their husbands. Women could not own property. Widows could not remarry. In both the east and the west, male children were preferred over female children. From a young age, women were expected to be perfect dolls. They grew up with aspirations that they would grow up to marry a perfect man that would be everything they ever dreamed about. Men marrying at that time still seemed to have romanticized dreams. Once married women would feel disappointed that they did not have this perfect relationship, they’d delve into becoming the ideal mother and wife. They worked to become what they had been taught by society was their job. Husbands went off to work and expected the wife to do all the things their mothers had done for them: cook, clean take care of the kids and always look like a doll all at the same time. Divorce for her represented a life of solitude, so this option almost always went unconsidered.

Nevertheless, when women were allowed personal and mental freedom, women made significant achievements. During the Middle Ages, nuns played a very vital role in the religious life of Europe. Aristocratic women gained from power and prestige. Whole eras were influenced by women rulers. From here, women have forwardly progressed into modern day mothers, workers, business women, success leaders, political figures, and even inspirations for the opposite gender.

Although women have stepped up the ladder on the power scale, men have not receded, nor is it expected that they will ever back down from power. Society has men and women both trying to obtain power equally and fairly, however difficult it may be for each gender. Henrik Ibsen exemplifies the individual power of both a man and a woman throughout his play, The Doll House. For instance, Mrs. Kristine Linde admits to Nora her lack of love toward her past husband. This concept, at first, perplexes Mrs. Helmer, as she cannot imagine why she would have given consent for the marriage had Mrs. Linde not loved her husband. Mrs. Linde became a widow and is left with absolutely nothing. No children, no money, “not even a sense of loss to feed on.” With great curiosity, Nora continues to probe as to why she was married to Mr. Linde without loving him. Finally, she explains about her sick, bedridden mother and her two unstable brothers that she felt responsible for at the time. Mr. Linde had a business going, however shaky it may have been, and she felt content with him. At the time of proposal, Mrs. Linde, “in all conscience, didn’t think [she] could turn him down.” Kristine accepted this proposal in order to continue caring for her sick relatives and watching over them. With her husband’s income by her side, she knew she would be able to continue aiding her family. This was an individual act in which Kristine