A Doll's House

Attitudes of men towards women:

Torvald- (Shovenist)

• 'The squanderbird's a pretty little creature, but she get through an awful lot of money. It's incredible what an expensive pet she is for a man to keep.'
• 'Aha! So little Miss Independent's in trouble and needs a man to rescue her, does she?'
• 'If rumour got about that the new vice-president had allowed his wife to persuade him to change his mind...'
• 'I shall think of nothing but you- my poor, helpless little darling.'
• 'My child shall have her way.'
• 'What, not look at my most treasured possession?'
• 'I pretend to myself that you're my secret mistress...'
• 'Wretched woman!'
• 'It was simply in your inexperience you chose the wrong means. But do you think I love you any the less because you don't know how to act on your own initiative?'
• 'feminine helplessness.'
• 'It means she has become his property in a double sense...she is now not only his wife but also his child.'
• 'Your duties toward your husband and children.'

Women rising rising above men:

Christine/Mrs. Linde:

• 'I thought it my duty to destroy all the feelings you had for me.'
• 'There's no joy in working just for oneself. Oh, Nils, give me something- someone- to work for.'
• ' I need someone to be a mother to; and your children need a mother.'

Nora:

• 'Oh you're always right, whatever you do.' (Humouring him.)
• 'Don't look at me like that, Torvald!' (Demanding, standing up to husband, traditionally must 'submit' to him)
• 'Never see him again. Never. Never. Never. Never see the children again.' (women walking out, unusual at the time, breaks traditional roles.)
• 'Let me go! You're not going to suffer for my sake. I won't let you!' (demanding.)
• 'No, don't interupt me. Just listen to what I have to say.'
• 'It's something I must do myself. That's why I'm leaving you.'
• 'It's no use trying to forbid me any more. I shall take with me nothing but what is mine. I don't want anything from you, now or ever.'
• 'My duty towards myself.'
• 'I don't really know what religion means.'
• 'I don't love you anylonger.'
• 'I don't accept things from strangers.' (Disowns Torvald.)

Contrasts in attitudes to 'A Woman of No Imporance':

Krogstad: 'It's the old story, isn't it - a woman chucking a man because something better turns up?'

Mrs. Arbuthnot: 'The woman suffers, the man goes free.'