When given the task of connecting the play, A Doll’s House, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. You’d think that men and women would be equal now that we’re in the 21st century and have made all sorts of breakthroughs, yet for some reason complete equality is yet to be achieved. I find that the expectations of women in society must change before men and women can truly live equally. For my first example I found the song, “Independent Woman”, by Destiny’s Child. The song connects to the play in that it is about women who choose to be independent. Being independent is definitely a choice because in the play as well as modern life most women who marry and have kids end up depending on the husband’s salary. Despite the social norm, the song says that being independent is a better lifestyle. Although she says, “I worked hard and sacrificed to get what I get/ Ladies, it ain’t easy bein’ independent” the message of the song is that freedom and independence is more important. Rather than live under the wing of her husband, Nora chose to leave her family and start living for herself. For Nora, facing the risks of living independently is better than forcing herself to be subservient to her husband.
For another connection I used the song, “Just A Girl”, by No Doubt because it captures the way that Torvald views Nora. In the song she says, “I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite/So don't let me have any rights” and this relates to Torvald’s perspective because he sees her as some “pet” that must depend on him and obey his every command. During those times it was essential for the husband to make all the money, while the wife would stay home with the kids. The lines, “So many reasons for me to run and hide/I can't do the little things I hold so dear” reflect how Nora felt because she would constantly break Torvald’s rules to feel some freedom before she decided to finally leave. Although a woman leaving her husband and children is looked down upon in society, Nora made the right choice to leave because her life before was not worth living.
“No woman is required to build the world by destroying herself” -Rabbi Sofer
I included this quote in my blog because I think it displays an important message of the play. The sacrifice that women make is a large theme that is shown through the female characters. Mrs. Linden shows this when she works for her two brothers and Krogstad. Even the maid made sacrifices because she had to give up her children to work for the Helmers. Finally, Nora shows the theme of sacrifice by working hours and hours to pay back Krogstad for the money she used to save Torvald’s life. Sacrifice from women continues to exist, as they are made to play housewives in today’s society.
The final modern example found was the song, “Stronger”, by Brittany Spears. Among the lyrics she says,” I’ve had enough I’m not your property as from today, baby/You might think that I won't make it on my own”. Like Nora she feels fed up with the man she depended on and left after being sick of being treated like property or even a toy doll. The point of the song is that woman can be strong and pull their own weight. Nora left not only because she could take care of herself, but because she wanted to. The thing she wanted most was independence and some freedom, which she could not get at home and is the reason why she left. The whole point of this blog I guess is to say that women have skill and right to live independently.
