A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen and Trifles by Susan Glaspell - Essay Example

English 102: Drama: 19 July 2007: Why 'A Dolls House' by Henrik Ibsen (1879) and 'Trifles' by Susan Glaspell (1916) Retain their Relevance and Significance in Society Today Both plays portrayed married women who appeared to have accepted lives of subservience to the needs and demands of domineering men. Nora, Ibsen's heroine, got herself into debt and used fraud because she loved her husband deeply, and would do anything to make him well and happy. Minnie Wright submerged her personality to be a dutiful farm wife, living an empty and lonely existence. By looking first at 'A Doll's House', then 'Trifles', this essay will show that both women's strength of character and lifechanging decisions, escaping repressive gender roles, provide insight into the situation of many women today. They are models that remain significant and relevant in the 21st century. 'A Doll's House' (Ibsen, 1879): Nora seemed a silly, flighty young wife, happy to answer to Torvald: "Has my little spendthrift been wasting money again" (Act 1, p.1). Like a little bird, or small furry creature, needing protection, Nora was in agreement with him, repeating how happy she was, hiding her sweets because he did not permit her to have them. Her concern with money and wealth appeared materialistic, an impression overturned during exchanges with Mrs. Linde and Krogstad. The scrimping, saving and secret work, showed initiative and desire not just to conceal, but to repay the debt. The husband had the real power, and Nora's only power lay in her sexual attraction and apparent helplessness. The stark reality of the situation and the view of women, was clear in his attitude after Krogstad had tried to blackmail Nora: "Almost everyone who has gone to the bad early in life has had a deceitful mother." (Act 1, p.19-20). The affect on Nora "[pale with terror] "Deprave my little children Poison my home [A short pause, then she tosses her head] It's not true. It can't possibly be true." (Act 1, p. 20), showed how little self-belief she had and how much her husband controlled her, physically, financially and emotionally. Mrs. Linde also denied herself and married a man for money in order to support her mother and siblings, a dutiful but empty existence. Left a penniless widow, she was however, more independent, seeking to work and finally to be part of an equal partnership with Krogstad. She was the catalyst that opened Nora's eyes to the reality of her sham marriage and to Torvald's true character. His behavior reflected the norms of that society, but there are still men today who would react in the same way, if they found their wife to have gone against them in matters of money and reputation. He reactions woke Nora to reality and caused her to take the drastic step of leaving them all. "I have other duties just as sacred Duties to myselfI believe that before all else I am a reasonable human being - just as you are" (Act 3, p. 18) Her decision to leave, even when aware of what she would suffer in that society, was a brave and honest one; Nora had to find her true self and to stop living a lie, and this is what makes the play relevant today. Eight years waiting for a miracle were long enough, so Nora asserted her right to be a person. 'Trifles' (Glaspell, 1916): Minnie Wright, in a stark, loveless relationship, spent a long time doing her duty, as Nora had. The bird motif emphasized her fragility and what she had lost through her marriage. "She was kind of like a little bird herself - real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid - and fluttery. How-she-did-change." (Mrs. Hale, p. 11) Minnie was the little dead bird, the evidence and motive for murdering a harsh, cruel man, as Mrs. Hale explained to the sheriff's wife: "No, Wright wouldn't like a bird - a thing that sang. She used to sing. He killed that too." (p. 13). Like Nora, she had no financial independence, but did her best to be a good wife, as the "trifling" items like preserves, bread making and quilting symbolized. Her life was more lonely and fearful than Nora's, nobody called, she had no children or comfort, other than the little bird. The men's dismissive and condescending attitudes were expressed in how the Attorney and sheriff spoke to the women, and about Minnie Wright's messy kitchen. The sheriff said: "Can you beat the women! Held for murder and worrying about her preserves." and Hale's response summed it all up "Well, women are used to worrying over trifles." Mrs. Hale contrasted their views in responding to the dirty towel comments, with great irony and deeper meaning: "Men's hands aren't always as clean as they might be." (p. 5). The behavior of the men drew the two women together in defense of Minnie and in recognition of the suffering of some women in their society. Mrs. Hale expressed the situation thus: "I know how things can be for women ---We live alone together and we live far apart. We all go through the same things - it's all just a different kind of t the same thing." (p.14) Understanding of Minnie's life, along with the men's attitudes, caused them to hide the evidence of a motive. It was the dismissive contempt of the men that caused them to miss it. Minnie, like Nora, decided to take her life back, to be free to be her own person and escape from a mean, cruel man and dreadful existence. She and Nora, in different but drastic ways, took control of their lives. These brave and dangerous decisions to escape repressive gender roles are what make the two plays so relevant today. Men, in taking the role of master, also lost out, and the messages still stand that only with equality can people live happy lives. Though much time has passed since these plays were written, and male and female roles have changed in society and different views are held, there are still people who believe that men should be in charge and women must do as they are told in order to survive. The lessons in 'A Doll's House' and 'Trifles' teach us the dangers of such attitudes and the need for equal human rights for all. Works Cited Glaspell, Susan Trifles 1916. 18 July 2007 http://www.repeatafterus.com/print.phpI=7492 Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll's House 18 July 2007 http://clasiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/hibsen/bl-hibsen-doll.htm Read More