Things Fall Apart and A Dolls House Essays - 1597 Words

Women have frequently been viewed as inferior to men throughout human history. This theme can be explored through works of literature and examples can be found in cultures of the past and present. In fact, there are many seemingly different cultures that share that one major similarity: the oppression and subjugation of women. Upon reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, it becomes clear that the primary reason for the abuse of women is the common cultural belief that women are secondary to men. This conclusion is further justified after reading A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen. Throughout history, many cultures have been heavily masculine based. There are countless examples of men wielding power over women.When women are no more than†¦show more content†¦Women are used as payment for the crimes of men, and like the innocent virgin who was murdered by the people of Umuofia, they suffer the consequences of uncaring men. In masculine based societies, men are under the misguided assumption that it’s acceptable to use women as a sort of perverse form of currency. In societies where men are perceived to be above women, women suffer many physical abuses, such as beatings. In such cultures, there is nothing the women can do about it, and men face no punishment. When Okonkwo blames one of his wives for killing a tree, although it remained alive,â€Å"Without further argument, Okonkwo gave her a sound beating and left her and her only daughter weeping. Neither of the other wives dared to interfere beyond an occasional and tentative, ‘It is enough, Okonkwo,’ pleaded from a reasonable distance† (Achebe 38). Okonkwo is drunk with his own power, and instead of admitting he is wrong, beats his innocent wife. He rules over his household with fear, and his wives have no power over him. It’s a controlling and painful environment for the women. These horrible abuses occur in today’s world as well. According to Kenneth Ro th, executive director of Human Rights Watch in Afghanistan, â€Å"Even the most horrific abuses suffered by women seem to elicit nothing more than a shrug from prosecutors, despite laws criminalizingShow MoreRelatedA Dolls House and Things Fall Apart Essay1603 Words   |  7 PagesHenrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, and Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, in the midst of difficult situations, gaining strength and support from family, friends, and religion, helps one to defeat challenges in life more efficiently than leaning on their own strength. Regardless of the distance between a vast majority of families, they come together to comfort one another in difficult times. A great example of this statement is the support Okonkwo, the main character within Things Fall Apart, who is proudRead MoreThings Fall Apart and A Dolls House on Gender Roles Essay1441 Words   |  6 Pagesidea that men are above women in society; this is evident in the novels Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. Sometimes, there is a misconception of the phrase, gender roles. It is an expectation within each gender, society has always seen a gap between men and women and their individual roles, proving that men have always been more dominant (Blackstone). As played through the novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe paints that the Igbo culture has hailed men as the dominantRead MoreThe Struggle with the Glass Ceiling Essay1167 Words   |  5 Pagesstill live in a patriarchal society. 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He explained to the group, quot;I must decline the honor of being said to have worked for the Womens Rights movement. I am not even very sure what Womens Rights are. To me it has been a question of human rightsquot; ( ). quot;A Dolls Housequot; is often interpreted by readers, teachers, and critics alike as an attackRead MoreA Doll s House By Henrik Ibsen1288 Words   |  6 Pages Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is based in the Victorian society of the 19th century. It assesses the many struggles and hardships that women faced because of marriage â€Å"laws† that were crucial during that time period. The society was male- dominated with no equality. Nora is the protagonist in A Doll’s House and the wife of a man named Torvald. This play is about Nora’s voyage to recognizing her self- determination and independence. She transforms from a traditional, reserved woman to a new, independentRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet And Henrik Ibsen s A Doll s House1400 Words   |  6 Pagesdespair or hope. Looking at William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House it is clear that both possess certain tragic aspects. The protagonists of both pieces’ experience suffering due to a similar flaw and both plays inspire feelings of pity and fear. Yet the main aspect that separates the two is the defi ning feeling the audience takes away at the end. While Hamlet ends in despair and unhappiness, A Doll’s House possess a hint of hope for the future. Yet if a tragedy instills a feelingRead MoreHenrik Ibsen s A Doll s House1291 Words   |  6 Pages002322- 3 Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is based in the Victorian society of the 19th century. It assesses the many struggles and hardships that women faced because of marriage â€Å"laws† that were crucial during that time period. The society was male- dominated with no equality. Nora is the protagonist in A Doll’s House and the wife of a man named Torvald. This play is about Nora’s voyage to recognizing her self- determination and independence. She transforms from a traditional, reserved woman toRead MoreEssay on Themes and Symbols in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House1296 Words   |  6 Pages(Ibsen 1491). Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House tells a story of scandal and deceit set in the Victorian era. Nora Helmer is married to Torvald Helmer and she feels more like his toy than his wife. Nora had to have Torvald to be able to do anything, because of when she lived. Nora borrows money behind her husband’s back (which is illegal at this time ) and tries to cover up everything she has done. Ibsen employs the use of many themes and symbols in his A Doll House to show the reader just how Nora was