Dolls House and Bernarda Alba

A detailed Summary of Dolls House and Bernarda Alba

Nora from A Doll's House, and Adela from The House of Bernarda Alba, were women who went against their male-dominated society. Both Russia and Spain were not open to a women's movement. They were highly oppressive societies for women and dictated a women's place is in the home. Even though both women were held down by their culture, they were able to free themselves by the end of the dramas, going against the social standards of the time.

Women were second class citizens in Russia. Women were considered more backward then men and ascribed a collection of negative qualities such as gossiping, nagging, and small-mindedness. Despite those negative qualities, their role in the household and family was important. The mistress or "gospozha" of the house could not be replace by any one else since without her, the house would be cold and inhospitable. Priviliges in matters such as divorce, inheritance, and lawsuits were applied to a small percentage of women; those of nobility, clergy and mercantile estates. Middle class (such as Nora) and peasant women continued to live under customary law. The majority of women needed the signature of their husbands to receive a passport which allowed travel outside their village

world again, and she's become his wife and his child as well. From now on that's what you'll be to me- you little bewilldered helpless thing." Everything was forgotten and Nora was no longer a "criminal" when the note was returned. Helmer's forgiveness was not going to put Nora back into her doll roll though. She now knew that she could survive on her own like her friend Kristine. She had seen how Kristine lived on her own and made her own money and it intrigued her. She also wanted to get an education and live her life the way she wanted to without a man telling her what to do. Nora confronted Helmer with how he had just told her she was not trustworthy enough to raise children and she had to to "take care of another job first." She told Helmer, " I have to try to educate myself. You can't help me with that. Ive got to do it alone. And that's why im leaving you now." Even though strict Russian society told women that their place was in the home Nora knew that she could achieve more if better educated. Nora finally looked inside herself and saw she was a strong women capable of attaining independence.

Nora finally realized the power she had over her own life at the end of the drama. She always had the will to live on her own, all she needed was the drive which Helmer provided for her in Act Three. After it was revealed that Nora was paying off a debt to Krogstad, Helmer was enraged. What Nora di

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Approximate Word count = 949
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English