Women were valued very little by nineteenth century society. The treatment of these women was also extremely negative; they were expected to stay home and fulfill domestic duties. Literature of this time embodies and mirrors social issues of women in society. Henrik Ibsen uses Nora Helmer in A Doll House to portray the negative treatment of all women throughout society during the nineteenth century. Many women characters throughout American literature reflect the same conflicts and attitudes of Nora in Ibsen's play A Doll House.

The role of a woman was inferior to that of a man, especially in marriages. The main duties of a woman were centered around the home. They were expected to fulfill their domestic duties, such as caring for the children, cooking washing, and cleaning the household. She had the responsibilities of dealing with a household and she almost always had children to care for, which required strength and knowledge; however, being able too fulfill marital duties and satisfying her husband brought satisfaction to some married women.

In the play A Doll House, Nora too finds happiness in keeping her husband pleased. She always 'play-acts' for Torvald, and she enjoy

Jane Harwood, mother and wife in Lydia Sigourney's "Intemperate," is also put down by her husband, James. On their journey to a new home, James is speaking to a neighbor when he says the following about his wife when he is asked to carry the baby and not allow her to carry the burden alone: "...She makes the children so cross, that I never have any comfort of them" (Sigourney 74). James is disrespectful towards his wife and does not pride himself in speaking well of her even though he should, especially to strangers.

...come here so I can show you everything I bought...new clothes for Ivar here--and a sword. here a horse and a trumpet for Bob...And here I have dress material and handkerchiefs for the maids. Old Anne Marie really deserves something more. (Ibsen 784)

In Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "Mrs. Beazley's Deeds," Mrs. Beazley's dilemma involves her spouse selling land and property that was left to her by her father. Although her signature is required on the legal documents, she only signs them because she feels that she is made to by her husband. When Miss Lawrence asks her why she continues to let her husband sell the property and why she continues to sign her property away, Mrs. Beazley responds: "Let him!--Oh, well you ain't married! Let him! Miss Lawrence, you don't know men" (Gilman 511). Mr. Beazley also tells Mrs. Beazley "what do you women know about business, anyway! You just tell him you're perfectly willing and under no compulsion, and sign the paper...," which reiterates the fact that men dominated most economic issues (Gilman506).

Some common words found in the essay are:
Changed Mind, Perkins Gilman, Angel Shoulder, Sigourney's Intemperate, Doll House, House Nora, Beazley What's, Miss Lawrence, Beazley's Deeds, House Torvald, solomon 1, doll house, nineteenth century, charlotte perkins, fulfill domestic, beazley's deeds, women nineteenth century, yellow wallpaper, gilman charlotte, elizabeth stuart, gilman charlotte perkins, ibsen 784, play doll house, celia changed mind, fulfill domestic duties,
Approximate Word count = 1962
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)