Depiction of Women - General Vision and Viewpoint

A Doll's House

In Ibsen's A Doll's House Ibsen depicts women in a modern and realist way. The relationship between Nora and Christine Linde is a key cornerstone of the play. The two characters contrast each other throughout the text and their relationship is filled with underlying tension. They are both depicted in different ways with their polar opposite situations and personalities. Ibsen shows two different options available for women in society at that particular time; to be independent and work oneself, or marry, be a housewife and have children.

 Nora took the marriage and housewife option. Nora is the perfect wife, in Helmer's eyes. She is compared to the beautiful decorations hung throughout the house; temporary, fragile and Helmer's possession. She is solely dependent on her husband, he enjoys exploiting his position of control over her and likes her weakness and fragility. Throughout the text we see how Helmer exploits his position in the household. His successful career and position as the sole earner gives him a sense of control and dominance. Nora struggles internally with this, and her lack of power upsets her, This is why when presented with the option of finding away to save her husband and family, she took it, without pausing to think of the consequences. She equates money with power and her indiscretion gave  her a sense of purpose and power which she craved. Similarly, Christine also equates money with power. However Christine is already in a position of control  as she is independent and controls her own affairs.

Nora married for love, or what she believed  to be love whereas in contrast Christine married her late husband out of necessity, in an desperate attempt to be able to provide for her mother and young brothers. When he died she was left with nothing, forcing her to make her own way in the world, in a society that belittled women and provided them with little opportunity to succeed. Ibsen here shows modern ideas, depicting a new era of women, independent and self-providing. Christine herself enjoys the feeling that working gives her, she has been providing for herself and her family for so long that it gives her satisfaction, she knows of no other way to live now, and it is now her role in  life in her opinion. However Nora and Christine are similar in how they both had to use their intuition to provide for themselves and their family. Nora was desperate to save her husband and get him the best possible care by whatever means necessary as was Nora. However in their first meeting at the beginning of the play, their is some underlying tension between them as they discuss their lives, which is seen in Christine's slightly condescending attitude towards Nora. Christine thinks that Nora knows little of the 'worries and hardships of life', and Nora strives to prove her wrong. Their is a lack of sincerity and empathy in their relationship as seen through how they sympathise and patronise one another. I think that some of Christine's condescension towards Nora stems from jealousy, seeing how comfortable and successful Nora's life apparently is.   

Christine continuously manipulates Nora throughout the text to further her own agenda; to get a job. She shows another side to her character. Ibsen shows the depths that people can go to, to better themselves and their quality of life. In doing so he also depicts women as more than how society portrayed them at that time, strong characters with ideals, future aspirations and ambition. 

In "A Doll's House" Ibsen frequently uses symbolism to depict Nora. He compares her to the Christmas tree as she is on show, a possession of Helmer's that has no real purpose to him other than be decorated and displayed.  

King Lear and Rear Window 

Shakespeare's "King Lear" and Hitchcock's "Rear Window" all depict women of differing personalities in various situations. Shakespeare writes about three different sisters; Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. The way Shakespeare depicts women could be seen through two alternate views. On one hand he could be seen as depicting the women in the play as deceptive and selfish, all against each other. However it could also be seen as Shakespeare depicting women who are strong and determined. Goneril and Regan are not afraid to go after exactly what they want, even if it means hurting one another in the process. Cordelia in another way is portrayed as a strong woman, who stands up for herself and challenges her father by refusing to answer him. The sisters are all headstrong but divided in their quest for independence. In contrast to this, the women in "Rear Window" are united. Hitchcock depicts the women in a modern way similar to Ibsen in "A Doll's House". Lisa is a working girl like Christine Linde in ADH. Lisa is self-sufficient and successful and her hard-working image portrays a new era of feminist upheaval at that time, in post war America where men were returning from war to find that their jobs had been done by capable, powerful women in their absence.

King  Lear and "Rear Window" are similar as they depict women who take care of or provide for men rather than the opposite. Both Lear and Jeff are invalids who are relying on women to care for them. Lear is at the mercy of his daughters, who each have their own hidden agendas, and Jeff is trapped in his apartment with only Stella and Lisa for companionship. After Lear gives up his land and power to his daughters he is left with nothing and as his mind gradually starts to go he relies on Goneril and Regan to take him in. However Goneril and Regan are focused more on their own livelihood. They are in battle against each other for Edmund's affections and this overrides any concern they have for their father. In contrast to "King Lear", Lisa in "Rear Window" is happy and obliging to cater for Jeff in his invalid state. She is a strong women with her own life and independence. Therefore what all the women in both the texts have in common is that they are  portrayed as dominant characters as opposed to supporting roles in the background.

Thirdly the women in both of these texts ( RW and KL) , are determined to maintain or pursue their relationships. Lisa strives to have a future with Jeff as both Goneril and Regan do with Edmund. The contrast is that Goneril and Regan are willing to do whatever it takes, even if that means hurting one another, or their husbands. Lisa offers to get Jeff a job with her magazine, hoping that he will stop his vagabond lifestyle and settle down with her. This shows how Lisa is pro-active and intuitive. However despite her best efforts, Jeff remains unconvinced of her proposal. Nevertheless Hitchcock shows the audience another side to Lisa.

Hitchcock also uses symbolism to portray Lisa's character, as Ibsen does in "A Doll's House". Lisa is repeatedly associated with light throughout the film, turning on lamps and lights whenever she enters a room. This helps depict an atmosphere of hope and positivity around her character.