ENGLISH DRAMA ANALYSIS

GENDER DISCRIMINATION ON WOMEN IN VICTORIAN ERA

AS SEEN IN HENRIK IBSEN’S A DOLL’S HOUSE

A research paper submitted as a requirement to fulfill the final test assignment in

the English Drama course

Supervisor :

SYAHRUNI JUNAID, S.S, M.Pd

Arranged by Group 1 ( AG34 ) :

A. SAENAB SAKIAH (40300119052)

AMELIA RAMADHANI (40300119062)
NURFAIDAH (40300119085)

ENGLISH AND LITERATURE DEPARTEMENT

ADAB AND HUMANITIES FACULTY

ALAUDDIN STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF MAKASSAR

2021
 PREFACE

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,

First of all, the writers are very grateful to ALLAH SWT, because of his

bless and grace, the paper entitled “Gender Discrimination On Women In Victorian

Era As Seen In Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House” can be finished on time.

Alhamdulillah.

This paper is a requirement to fulfill a final test assignment in the English

Drama course from SYAHRUNI JUNAID, S.S, M.Pd as the lecturer of English

Drama in Alauddin State Islamic University Of Makassar. The writers would like

to express the deepest gratitude to Maam Syahruni Junaid, S.S, M.Pd and Ms.

Ariana for all the guidance to complete this paper. This paper talked about the

gender discrimination on women in Victorian era in one of Ibsen’s play A Doll’s

House.

However, the writers realizes that this paper is not perfect at all, therefore

we would like to accept any suggestion and constructive correction to make this

paper better.

Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Samata, June 24th 2021

Writers

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE ...........................................................................................................................i
TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................ii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................1
A. Background .....................................................................................................................1
B. Problem Statement ..........................................................................................................3
C. Objective of the Research ................................................................................................4
D. Significant of Research……………………………………………….…………...…....4
E. Scope of Problem………………………………………………………………...…......4

CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW .........................................................................5

A. Previous Findings…………………………………........................................................5
1. Definition of Drama ....................................................................................................7
2. History of Drama…………………………………………………………………......8
3. Genre of Drama…………………………………………………………………...….9
B. Women Role in the Victorian Era…………………………………………………..…11
C. Gender Concept and Discrimination…………………………………………………..14
1. Definition of Gender and Sex.……………………………………………………....14
2. Gender Discrimination………………………………………………………….......17

CHAPTER III METODOLOGHY OF RESEARCH ...................................................23

A. Type of the Research .....................................................................................................23
B. Data Resources…………… ..........................................................................................23
C. Technique of Collecting Data........................................................................................24
D. Technique of Data Analysis……………………………………………………...……24
E. Research Instrument………………………………………………………………...…25

CHAPTER IV FINDING AND DISCUSSION .............................................................26

A. Drama Script Structure of A Doll’s House………………………………………...…..26
B. Gender Discrimination Analysis on Women in A Doll’s House……………………....38

CHAPTER V CONCLUSION………………………………………………………....49
BIBLIOGRAPHY

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 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background

Drama is an imitation of life, a cultural mirror and a shadow of truth. Drama is defined

as an essay of prose and poetry that presents dialogue, pantomime or fiction that contains

conflict to be staged. Drama is likewise as a prose composition which can be adapted to

be witnessed on a stage that the story is told through dialogue and action, and presented

with the help of motion, costumes, and decorative backdrops like the real life, according to

Aristotle. He also said that every tragedy in a drama must necessarily have six elements

according to which the quality of a tragedy is determined: (1) plot, is a series of events

that move the storyline; (2) character, is figures who are taking the role of a drama; (3)

thought, what the tragedy proposes to achieve an imitation and then tell us as the audience;

(4) spectacle, is the visual aspects of the stage that need to be presented to add the dramatic

element of a show; (5) diction is a speaking style, how the characters are build the emotional

dialogue on the stage; and (6) music, to create a certain atmosphere among the audiences,

so that their imagination can develop.

Budianta ( 2002 ) stated that drama is a literary genre where verbal physical appearance

that showing conversations or dialogues between characters. A drama is literary work or a

composition that describes human life and activities with all appearances various actions

and dialogues between group of characters ( E.R. Reaske, 1966 : 5 ). Drama is a story of

life which is presented by the performance on stage based on the script. The characters have

to explore the roles that they took, in order the messages or moral value in a drama can be

conveyed to the audience. There are many kind of drama genre; comedy, tragedy,

tragicomedy, musical drama, fantasy, romance, history and melodrama.

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 One of Henrik Ibsen’s play is A Doll’s House published in 1897 in Norwegia. It’s one

of his famous work of all time. The first performanced of this play was in the Royal Theater,

Copenhagen, Denmark, on December 21st, 1897. In this era, the nineteenth century was a

period of immense changed in the social .and economic structures of society. In addition,

the expectations of what it means to be the upper middle class were also forming during

this period of time or in other way we called it Victorian era, which included financial

success without debt, upper class social mobility, good moral judgement, and a strong

secure patriarchal marriage.

The Ibsen’s play told about Nora Helmer as a middle class housewife who had taken a

loan without her husband, Torvald Helmer consent in order to save his life. But at the end

of the story, her husband finally know about it. This story told us about how Nora, as a

housewife is treated in her household. She was treating like “a doll” by her own husband.

However, as she navigates Victorian gender roles and dismantles the illusions that plague

her marriage, she realized that she was no longer to be anyone’s “doll”, eventhough for her

father.

In Victorian era, every women were seen at least by the middle class, as a part of

domestic environment, they didn’t have a freedom and always being in lower position in

society. This stereotype requires them to provide a clean house for her husband, providing

food, and to raise their children. Women’s rights were absolutely limited in this era. They

were controlled by her husband physically and even mentally. To ensure the slavery of

women, many things have been misused such as tradition, religion, and codes of morality.

One of the most debated era in the history of woman struggle against the gender

discrimination is the Victorian era. Every women were forced to lead a passive dictated by

the norms of Victorian gender ideology which applied at the time.

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 When a Victorian man and woman married, the rights of women were officially given

to their husband. Under the law, married couples become single entity represented only by

a husband, puts him in control of all property, income and money. In addition to losing

money, their right and material items for their husband, Victorian’s wife became a property

for their husband.

Gender discrimination is an injustice attitude, behavior and actions that reflect doing

by someone based on individual’s sex categories. The victim of gender discrimination is

commonly experienced by women. Gender discrimination was led by gender differences

where woman as an irrational, weakness, emotional, and motherhood person was always

positioned in the domestic area, while a man who is brave, strong, and rational is positioned

in public area and always could be a leader. Then, gender differences itself as a reaction of

the social construction of gender. As it is said by Fakih (1996, p. 8), gender is identical

characteristics of women and men that are constructed about socially and culturally.

Every types of gender discrimination are coming from the stereotypes in the social

community. These stereotypes mean to giving a labeling for someone or group which based

on the wrong and heretic assumption. O’Brien (2009, p. 379) argued that women’s

stereotype could be divided into three part. The first one is women are stereotyped as a

mother who provides and supports many things, vulnerable, dependent, and weak. The

second is women were stereotyped as child who are immature and incompetence person.

These view causes some people to neglect women’s intelligence and competence. And the

last is women are considered as a sex objects. It is also a factor that could lead to other

gender discriminations, such as sexual harassment and sexual assault.

B. Problem Statement/Research Question

1) How does gender discrimination on women in Victorian Era as seen in Henrik Ibsen’s

A Doll’s House ?

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 2) How does women in Victorian Era react after faced gender discrimination as seen in

Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House ?

C. Objective of The Research

1) To know how gender discrimination on women in Victorian Era as seen in Henrik

Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.

2) To know how women in Victorian Era react after faced gender discrimination as seen

in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.

D. Significant of Research

The results of this research are expected to be able used as a reference for reading text

in order to people who want to increase their knowledge about women discrimination in

Victorian Era.

E. Scope of Problem

This research focuses on analyzing about women discrimination in Victorian Era as

seen in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, a nineteenth century’s play. In this research, the

writer used a theory of gender discrimination.

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 CHAPTER II

LITERATURE REVIEW

A. Previous Findings

The writer realized that the importance of previous findings are to understand the

background of the research problem theory, to know the research objectives of the previous

research and justify the reason for selecting the research problems. These followings are

the general description of the previous findings result ( the researchs used the qualitative

descriptive analysis method ).

There are 3 thesis which has the same topic as this research topic. The first one is

entitled The Roles As Woman In Hendrik Ibsen’s A Doll House written by Andi Jaihutan

Silitonga, a student of Letters’ Faculty of Darma Agung University. He investigated the

role as woman in A Doll’s House play. The focuses of this research are how a women apply

their roles in the family environment, as a wife, as a mother for their children and also as a

member of society. In analyzing the data, he applied two theoretical approaches, instrinsic

and extrinsic approaches. In his research, he used the qualitative method of collecting the

data, which is similar to this research.

There are many roles of woman that he analyzed of his research, they are Nora’s role

as a mother, Nora’s Roles as a Wife, Nora’s Roles of Looking for Additional Revenue,

Nora’s Roles in Giving Support to her Husband, Nora’s Roles in Giving Love on her

Husband, Nora’s Roles in Respecting Husband, Nora’s Roles in Giving Love on her

Children, Nora’s Roles in Managing Household Finance, Nora’s Roles in Giving Comfort

on her Children, Nora’s Roles in Giving Entertain to Others, Nora’s Roles in Providing

Support to Other, etc. In his research, he focused on the main character, Nora as his object

to analyze. Unlike the previous research by Andi Jaihutan Silitonga, this research will show

5
the gender discrimination that the woman characters faced in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s

House.

The second one is entitled Nora’s Struggles For Life Independence In Ibsen’s A Doll’s

House: A Feminist Study written by Destarina Intan Pravitasari, as the student of English

Language And Literature Study Program, Faculty Of Languages And Arts at Yogyakarta

State University. In her research a study of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, she used a

viewed from feminist perspective. How to find and describe the women’s problem of the

play, the struggles of gaining the women independence and to find the significant meaning

that causes the success of the woman character represented in the play are the objectives of

her research.

She used a qualitative study that applying content analysis method. Then, classifying

and categorizing the collected data to find the inferences. She found three important points

as the result of this research. They are the objective of research such as women’s struggles,

women’s problems, and the significant meaning that causes the success of the women

characters in the play. The first is women’s struggle against the patriarchal and the weak

stereotypes of women. The women’s problems as the second point are because of the strong

patriarchal and the weak images of women during the era. It is related to the present

research that the writer want to analyze about the stereotype of gender discrimination in the

play. And the last is the significant meaning that causes the success of the women

characters, the women in the play are independent and capable. She concluded that Nora as

the representation of a capable and independent women in general.

The third thesis is entitled Image Of Woman In Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House written

by Hendrizal Rasyid, as the student of English Letters Department, Letters and Humanity

Faculty of State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. His research divided into

two parts to be analyzed, the first one is analysis the instrinsic of drama and the second is

6
analysis the feminism in A Doll’s House’s play by applying the feminist literary criticism.

He used qualitative method, through a descriptive analysis explanation. He quoted a

statement from Soenarjati Djajanegara in Kritik Sastra Feminis that to get the description

of the characterization and behaviour of the women, there are two ways how to apply the

feminist literary criticism. Firstly, it’s important to identify the women character in a work;

and the secondly, we look for the position in society that they have. And after those ways,

we should know their objective in life.

According to the result analysis of this research, the image of woman represented by

Nora as the main character reveals in variations. The writer found that she is a beautiful

and lovely lady in physically, she also positioned as a domesticated woman. But, she is

courageous and independent at the same time. Nora chose to have a freedom rather than as

a doll’s house. The theory of feminism that the writer used focus to analyzing the gender

inequality, such as the discrimination, patriarchy, objectification, stereotyping and

oppression.

1. Definition of Drama

Drama is one of literary genre that served by doing performance on the stage. It is

the reflection, adaptation, and even recreation of reality. According to Martin Esslin

in Anatomy of Drama, he has the following definitions, but the most unique meaning

is drama can be seen as the manifestation of the play instinct as in children who are

playing like mother and father. Drama is a story of life which is presented by the

performance on stage based on the script that the writer made. The characters have to

explore the roles that they took, in order the messages or moral value in a drama can

be conveyed to the audience.

According to the Dictionary of World Literature, a drama means all the

performances that use expressions. Drama is literary work that is structured to describe

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 life and activities using various actions, dialogues, and what the characters play. A

drama is full of acting that can amaze the audiences. It is a work that designed for

theatrical stage. Therefore, when we are talking about drama, it will not separated from

the aspect of creative composition (Endraswara,2011:265). The story in a drama

contains of a conflict and emotions that aim to influence people as the audience.

A drama essentially, only consists of a dialogue. Meanwhile, the performance was

only used as a guide by the director and the cast. Without being staged, a drama can

remain understandable and enjoyable. Surely, that understanding and enjoyment of the

drama is more leading to the aspects of drama as the characteristic of literary genre

and not as a work of stage. “Draomai” the term of Greek, means do, apply, or act. A

drama means an actions. In today’s life, the drama contains a wider meaning of being

reviewed as one of the literary genres, or the drama as an independent arts branch

(Herman Waluyo,2002:2).

2. History of Drama

The origin of drama is exist on the dominant of humans to religious, just not in

England but in other Countries. In ancient greek and rumawi the religious of them

related with the ceremony. The causes of develp of drama is about which is the a big

part from the bible was written the language that the mostly people did not understand.

And at the time to made the people understood it, that is why the new method was

making to teach the contents of the bible through alive pictures. They took characters

according to the bible to performance.

In the middle ages, drama performances were performed through musical

performances. Musical performances will begin and the priests will tell stories with

song-like strains, and eventually music will become independent and drama will

become a secular spectacle of the church. So gradually the drama is presented outside

8
 the church or presented in the open courtyard. Meanwhile, drama development in the

Elizabethan era lbecame the best period of literature in history, because many themes

and types of drama emerged such as revenge, romantic comedy, court comedy and

etc.Entering the 19th century the development of drama just like in the Elizabethan era,

many types of drama emerged. Especially heroic dramas where interest in this drama

has more serious concepts even though it has comedic elements and slowly dramas like

this lead to over-emotional spectacle. At the beginning of this century, the 20th until

today many dramas have stories of rebellion, and it is believed that in the past the

tragedy of a drama must be followed by the Aristotelian principle that in it the hero will

experience terrible suffering, but over time it is not always used anymore.

3. Genre of Drama

There are four main genre of drama as follows:

1. Tragedy

Tragedy is drama that an usually the main character protagonist which has

tragic's end. And the result make the viewer felt pity and has afraid feel within, and

made leave the theater with feeling touched and destroy. Examples of plays from

Shakespeare the king lear.

In the drama tragedy invites a lot of emotion, while the emotion in tragedy

according to Aristotle is sadness and fear. Grief in Aristotle's definition is a feeling

of pity that arises for the misfortune of others that he should not feel, while his

definition of fear is a feeling of fear that they have for themselves if they describe

it happening to him. And if the two feelings are mixed it will produce audience

satisfaction.

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2. Comedy

This concept is came from ancient greek, comedy is the kind of drama that have

funny concept to make people or viewers laugh, the tunes is flat and dominants the

end of this drama is happy for example, like Shakespeare’s drama a midsummer

night. According to Aristotle's poetry, he said that comedy originated from the

festival of joy. Which means a funny imitation, which comes from ugly, but that

this type of skit is good and causes pleasure or happiness. Aristotle believed that we

humans often make mistakes and consider it fun. But he's not saying that comedy

isn't always wrong.

3. Tragic-comedy

This kind of genre is a combination between tragic and comedy that at the

beginning of drama, it has sad feeling but the end of it was happy and another it

also have serious impression but appear humorous. One kind of tragic comedy’s

example is the faithful shepherdess by Fletcher's. According to Wilpert (1969:795)

when a heavy suffering merges with humor in the same material is not on occasion

side by side but more closely encompasses one of the elements and reasons for

explanation as times change.

4. Melodrama

Melodrama appered for the first time in 18 century and became popular in 19

century . this type of drama does not like other that talk and focus on story only,

but it more focused to raise up the audiences feeling and mostly romance for

example, like Pygmalion by rousseau.

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B. Women Role in the Victorian Era

The term role in general in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) is a set of behaviors

that are expected to be possessed by people who are domiciled in society. Meanwhile,

Soerjono (2002) defines the role as a dynamic aspect of position (status), if a person carries

out his rights and obligations in accordance with, then he can be called carrying out a role.

As for another opinion regarding the definition of role according to Riyadi (2002),

interpreting the role as an orientation and concept of the part played by a party in social

opposition to that role, an individual or organization will behave according to the

expectations of people or their environment. Based on the exposure of experts regarding

the definition of the role above, then simply the role can be interpreted as a series of certain

attitudes in the form of rights and obligations arising from certain positions.

Meanwhile, the notion of roles in gender is a series of attitudes in society whose

implementation is separated by gender between men and women where society generally

identifies men as breadwiners who are masculine and physically described as strong and

workers. hard. Meanwhile, women are identical with their role as homemakers who are

feminine and have full rights and obligations in taking care of everything related to

household chores such as cooking, washing, and taking care of children and husbands at

home. Thus, it can simply be concluded that gender roles are social contructions that are

built based on the perspectives formed by society and not on the biological differences

possessed by each individual.

As for the role of women in the Victorian era as described by Henrik Ibsen in his play

entitled A Doll's House, it illustrates that at that time, women's space for movement was

very limited and only focused on home and kitchen matters. In the drama A Doll's House,

Ibsen tries to explain how limited the movement of women in social life was even to just

socializing with others and the pressure and discrimination they faced as one of the impacts

11
of the strong patriarchal culture at that time. Although the Victorian era is often identified

as a glorious era, the brilliance that is felt does not entirely touch all levels of society,

especially for people of the lower middle class as experienced by Nora Helmer, the main

character in this drama. Other than that, This drama also depicts the dependence and

helplessness of women towards men which makes it difficult for them to be independent

and is always haunted by fear and anxiety every time they want to make their own

decisions. The gender inequality that was so visible certainly also had an impact on the role

and position of women in society at that time.

Based on some literature and research related to the role of women in the Victorian era,

it can be seen that the role of women at that time as follows:

1. Women as the angel in the house

This term is taken from a long poem written in 1845 by Conventry Patmore in which

he used the term "The Angel in the house" to describe the ideal woman in the Victorian

era in her role as an ideal and pure wife and mother who dedicates all time and energy

for the sake of the family, such as taking care of all kinds of household needs, starting

from taking care of kitchen needs, washing, and taking care of children and serving

their husband. In addition, this term also describes the role of women as wives who are

loyal and always subject to the wishes and words of their husband. Although Patmore's

poem is not classified as a pure invention of the era, but the poem has clearly provided

an overview of the life and role of Victorian women, especially the lives of middle class

women.

2. Women as the household general

“The household general' is a term taken from a book by Isabella Beeton in 1861

entitled Book of Household Management which contains an extensive guide to running

a household in the Victorian era. This phenomenal book by Beeton begins with general

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 chapters on the duties of the “mistress”, the housekeeper, and the cook. There also

follow chapters on the kitchen itself, “marketing” (choosing good-quality produce at

the market), and an introduction to cookery. There is even a specially crafted chapter

on proper cooking that can satisfy Victorian husbands. So in general, this book by

Beeton provides an overview of the role of women at that time where they were fully

responsible for household affairs besides that, the social conturctions formed in society

at that time indeed required women to become a “household general” in order to fulfill

the expectations of their role in society as a homemaker.

3. Women as the domestic worker

During the Victorian era the life of a working-class man's wife tended to be

more uncomfortable than the life of an upper-class wife. Working class wives have a

big responsibility in managing family finances, even though at that time they spent a

lot of time at home and taking care of household interests mostly and did not work like

most men, but they were also the ones who had to be careful in managing family

financial expenses. In addition, for women from the lower middle class who cannot

afford to hire maids, all work and household needs will be directly charged to them. In

other words, women in the Victorian era had to work extra to fulfill all their duties and

obligations.

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C. Gender Concept and Gender Discrimation

1. Definition of Gender and Sex

Gender comes from the Middle French "gendre" which is taken from the Latin

"genus" which means kind or type. Meanwhile, in English gender refers to the genitals

or reproductive organs, two different sexes between men and women. The term gender

in the dictionary first appeared in the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English,

8th edition, 1990 is a grammatical classification of nouns and other words related to

them which are generally related to the two sexes and the absence of gender or

neutrality.

Meanwhile, in Webster's New World Dictionary, gender is defined as the visible

difference between men and women in terms of values and behavior. If we look

carefully, we will realize that the term gender contained in the dictionary does not

directly explain the difference between gender and sex, so that it often creates

misconceptions of usage between that two terms where the concept of gender is often

equated with sex. Therefore, to understand the concept of gender, the first thing to

understand what is the difference between sex and gender itself.

There is so much literature and research that discusses gender and sex issues in it,

such as books by Mansour Fakih, Arief Budiman, Kamla Bashin, Mosse and many

more. The core of the various literature sources found explains that sex refers to the

genitals or biological reproductive organs that are owned by men and women from

birth, so sex is a differentiator between men and women based on their respective

biological conditions.

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 This is certainly different from gender which is a differentiator that distinguishes

men and women based on their character, role and position in society. Meanwhile,

Astiti argues that gender is a social relationship between men and women in which

thoses social relations between men and women in daily life can be formed and

changed.

Robert Stoller, as one of the first to develop the term gender, also suggests that

gender is a socially constructed behavioral difference between the behavior of men

and women, named differences that are not from God's provision but through a long

social and cultural process. The definition of gender is more socio-cultural in nature,

through cultural and social processes and not a definition that comes from the

biological physical characteristics of an individual. In other words, gender is shaped

and made by the community so that its roles and functions can change along with the

times and conditions of society in certain areas. While sex is not a cultural product

made directly by the community.

To understand the concept of gender, it is very important to understand and know

the difference between the terms gender and sex itself. Hilary M. Lips (1993) in her

book Sex and Gender defined gender as cultural expectations of men and women. For

example, men are often described as physically and mentally strong and tend to think

rationally. Meanwhile, women are often described as gentle, polite, compassionate and

tend to be emotional. These traits and characteristics are interchangeable. For example,

not infrequently we find women who are similar to men such as strong, tomboyish and

rational and in other case today, not a few men at this time who are like women like

gentle and emotional even today we often encounter both men and women wearing

clothes that are almost the same as each other Changes in these traits and

15
characteristics, according to Mansour Fakih (1999) can occur from time to time and

from one place to another. Changes in these traits and characteristics prove that gender

is changeable based on the culture of society.

Defined gender in society is also determined directly by society itself which

regulates the relationship between men and women. In general, men are often

described as masculine gender which is synonymous with strength, power and

toughness. Meanwhile, women are described as feminine gender which is weak, gentle

and polite. However, these relationships do not necessarily become absolute

correlation. This is certainly in line with the opinion of Rogers (1980) who argues that

gender is not universal, but varies from one society to another, and from time to time.

Gender is not synonymous with sex and gender is the basis of the division of labor

throughout society.

In addition, as stated by Oakley (1972) in Sex, Gender and Society, gender is a

differentiator that is not seen from biological conditions and is also not God's

provision. The biological difference that is meant here is the difference in (sex) which

is God's provision and therefore definately different. Meanwhile, gender is the

behavioral differences between men and women that are socially constructed, where

those differences are not God’s provision but are created by humans both men and

women through a long social and cultural process.

Based on the explanation above, it can be concluded that gender is a role between

men and women which is the result of socio-cultural construction. Where a role or trait

is attached to men because it is based on habits or culture where usually these roles

and traits are only carried out or owned by men and so are women. A role is attached

16
 to women because it is based on habits or culture which ultimately forms a conclusion

that the role or character is only carried out by women.

2. Gender Discrimination

Basically, gender differences are not a big problem as long as the differences

referred to here do not trigger gender inequality. But in reality, the conditions that

occur in society is the opposite. Gender differences tend to cause a gender inequality

in both men and women. However, when compared to gender inequality experienced

by men, women are the ones who are most at risk and often become victims.

According to Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) discrimination is the

difference in treatment of fellow citizens based on; skin color, ethnic group, economy,

religion, and so on. Fulthoni (2009) in his book Memahami Diskriminasi explains that

discrimination is an unfair and unequal treatment difference that is carried out to

distinguish individuals, or groups based on distinctive attributes such as race, ethnicity,

religion or social class membership. In the United Nations declaration it is also

explained that discrimination is a distinction, exclusion, restriction or choice of race,

color, descent or ethnic origin or national origin, which aims or refers to or reduces the

recognition, acquisition or exercise of human rights and freedoms. fundamentally, on

an equal footing in the political field, economic, social, cultural, or other areas of

community life. In addition, Ihromi (2007) defines discrimination as treating

individuals differently based on factors of race, religion, gender. So it can be concluded

that discrimination is an act of discriminating individuals or groups based on certain

characteristics they have.

The definition of gender discrimination is an injustice with different attitudes and

treatment towards fellow human beings based on gender. Gender which is still often

misunderstood by people who still think that gender is the same with sex and do not

17
fully understand that gender is a cultural construction that discusses the characteristic,

position and role of men and women in society is one of the triggers that causes social

inequality so that it triggers the emergence of social inequality. the emergence of

discriminatory actions against both men and women. It is just that women tend to be

the main targets of gender discrimination.

The tendency of women to be the target of such discriminatory actions is in

accordance with the opinion of Muchidi (2001) which states that gender discrimination

is manifested in various forms of injustice, especially to women. Each of these

manifestations of gender discrimination is inseparable, interrelated, and influential. As

stated by Riant Nugroho (2011) in Gender dan Strategi Pengarus Utamaannya di

Indonesia, there are at least five manifestations arising from the existence of gender

inequality as follows:

1. Marginalization

According to Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) marginalization is a

limiting effort. Murniati (2004) explains that marginalization means placing or

shifting to the periphery. Meanwhile, according to Mansour Fakih (2008) the

process of marginalization is a tantamount to impoverishment. This is because the

marginalized people are not given the opportunity to develop themselves.

Likewise, women tend to be marginalized and become victims of gender inequality

compared to men. There are several differences in the type and form, as well as the

place and time as well as the mechanism of the process of women's marginalism

due to these gender differences. In terms of sources, it can come from government

policies, beliefs, religious interpretations, traditional beliefs and customs or even

scientific assumptions.

18
 Efforts to limit the movement of these women, do not only occur in the

workplace but also in social life and most commonly in patriarchal society. In

addition, many efforts to marginalize women come from the sphere closest to the

women herself, the household. This marginalization of women is also reinforced

by customs, culture and religious practices that still hold a strong influence in

society.

2. Subordination

Subordination is an assessment or assumption that a role performed by one sex

is inferior to the other. Where the values that exist and develop in society have

become a differentiator and separator separating the roles of men and women. This

attitude places women in a position that is not more important than men, and is

often accompanied by the assumption that women are emotional human beings and

tend to be irrational because women are considered to always prioritize feelings

over thoughts, so there is a perception that women will not be able to suit the

position as head of the household or leader in society.

Basically, this subordination of women begins with the division of labor based

on gender which is then associated with the function of women as mothers which

are identical with gentle, caring and emotional. However, this ability possessed by

women is used by some patriarchs as an excuse to limit the space for movement

and the role of women in society.

3. Stereotypes

Stereotypes are basically assumptions about someone based on previous

experiences or beliefs. Meanwhile, according to A. Samovar and E. Porter (2000)

explains that stereotypes are perceptions or beliefs held about groups or individuals

based on opinions and attitudes that were first formed. According to Myers (2005)

19
 in the Applied Social Psychology & Social Problems, a stereotype is a form of

belief held by a person or a group about the personal attributes that exist in a

particular group. In other words, a stereotype is a negative labeling or tagging of a

particular group or gender. One example of stereotypes that are still inherent in

society to this day is the stereotype of women who are often described as

housewives whose main function is only to take care of household needs and

children and their husband and are not required to work other than taking care of

all household needs. Meanwhile, men are often seen as a breadwiner figure who

work to meet the financial needs of the family. In addition, it is not uncommon for

women who work to be paid less than men in the same position and work.

4. Violence

Violence is behavior that involves physical and psychological force intended

to hurt, damage, or kill. According to the World Health Organization (WHO),

violence is the use of physical force and power, threats, or acts against oneself, an

individual or a group of people (society) that result in or are likely to result in

bruising or trauma, death, psychological harm, developmental disorders, or

deprivation.

According to Elly M. Setiadi (2020) in her book Pengantar Sosiologi explains

that there are two definitions of violence as follows:

 Violence in narrow sense

Violence in a narrow sense refers to actions in the form of attacks,

destruction, physical destruction of a person or property or something that

potentially belongs to another person. In other words, violence in a narrow

sense refers to attacks that are personal in nature directed at the victim that are

carried out intentionally, directly and consciously and structured.

20
  Violence in broadest sense

Violence in a broad sense refers to physical and psychological actions

carried out by a person or group of people, either intentionally or

unintentionally, directly or indirectly, personal or structural.

Based on the definition of violence as described above, it can be

concluded that violence is an attack on a person's physical or mental integrity

that can be carried out directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally,

personal and structured. Violence against humans can come from various

sources. One form of violence that is still frequently encountered today is

violence that targets a particular gender caused by gender bias. Violence

caused by gender bias is called gender-based violence (GBV). Gender-based

violence is violence directed at someone because of that person's gender or

violence that affects people of a particular gender disproportionately.

5. Workload

Workload is a number of processes or activities that must be completed by a

worker within a certain period of time. Meanwhile, Meshkati (2004) defined

workload as a difference between the capacity or ability of workers and the

demands of the work that must be faced. Workload is something that is felt beyond

the ability of the worker to do his job. In other words, a person's ability to do work

as expected is different from the actual capacity or performance that is actually

owned.

This view is in line with that stated by Gibson and Ivancevich (1993) which

defined workload as pressure as an unadjustable response, which is influenced by

individual differences or psychological processes named a consequence of each

21
extreme action (environment, situation, event). who make too many psychological

or physical demands) against someone.

There is an assumption that women are diligent and caring, so they are not

suitable to be the head of household or leader that leads to the assumption that all

domestic work is directly becomes the responsibility of women. Consequently,

many women have to work hard to keep their household clean and tidy, so that

women are vulnerable to psychological pressure because indirectly, they are

required to work extra to meet these expectations. Worse yet, according to Julia

Cleves Mosse, women's work around the world is undervalued. Women's domestic

work was not included in the census form because women's work was not taken

into account. In other words, women’s work tends to be seen as something trivial

and unimprtant because it does not have a statictical track record like other works

which are generally done by men.

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 CHAPTER III

METODOLOGHY OF RESEARCH

A. Type of the Research

The type of this researcher is qualitative descriptive analysis. The qualitative method is

used to research on the natural object, where the researchers is the key of instrument

(sugiyono,2005). I addition, cresswell (1994) also stated that a qualitative study is defined

as an inquiry process of understanding a social or human problem, based on building a

complec, holistic picture, formed with words, reporting detailed views of informants, and

coundected in a natural setting.

Based on Nora’s character who become a victim of gender discrimination by her

husband and Victorian society in common, we decided to use this kind of method to analyse

the gender discrimination phenomena on women in Victorian Era as seen in Henrik Ibsen’s

A Doll’s House by analysing the script of the drama. As described by Lexy j Meleong

(2007:6) qualitative researcher is research which is purpose to understood phenomenon

about what the subject researcher passed through like: Behavior, Perception, Motivation,

Action etc. Holisticly and descriptioned in form of word and language. .

B. Data Resources

This researcher data is concrete in word, exspression, sentence and discourse which

exist in script of A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen.

The Data Sources Of This Research Were dividing into two types, the primary and

secondary source.

a. The Primary Source

The prime data cource of this research Is The Script A Doll’s House which is

contains 138 Pages, a play written by a Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen In 1978

23
 b. The Secondry Source

The researcher also used several additional references as the supporting

information in analyzing data. the supporting data of this researchers were taking from

internet like journals, papers and articles.

C. Technique of Collecting Data

Here are several steps that researchers did to technique of collecting data :

1. For the first thing researchers looked for the script in English of A Doll’s House

2. After found it, the script was readed comprehensively so it would not became

missinterpretarion to understand.

3. Chosen the datas rellevan will use and irrelevan would be replace example : looked for

the dialogues was related with the discrimination the reseacher’s subject.

4. Looked for the references from internet namely : journal, article and papers to

developing more ideas.

5. After the data was recollect the researchers made a connection between the description

and theory to got the results.

D. Technique of Data Analysis

Within analyzed data used which according with the qualitative reseachers as follow:

This method analyze gave us to focusing in analyzing of nora’ character in play a doll’s

house, so there were 4 steps in technique of data analysis as follows:

1) reading the script of play repeatly to comprehension more it of drama.

2) wrote and highlight all the dialogues which related with the discrimination of nora’s

character passed through in the play.

3) After that, collection in a data and analysis according the theories was used.

24
 4) Made an interpretation appropriate the researchers comprehension that the theory

before and made the end of result.

E. Research Instrument

Research instrument is defines as a tool or facility used by the researcher in collecting

the data (neamun, 2007:283). So we could say that the research instrument is stuff or tools

the researchers used when the collected the data and made the researchers more easly to

finish the research : there are some of instruments used in this research such as:

1) Kuota data, phone/computer and internet networks.

Kuota data was used on the phone to made the phone connection with the internet, and

we could use phone or computer and good networks will make the research keep run

fastly.

2) Printer

The researchers prints the script to easly readed by researchers.

3) Pen/pencil

To highlight the dialogues related to discrimination on the script of a doll’s house.

4) Journal, articles and papers

Those tools are used to made the resarchers easly to understood the play of a doll’s

house and helping them to developing ideas from others references.

25
 CHAPTER IV

FINDING AND DISCUSSION

A. Drama Script Structure of A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen.

1. Theme

Theme is the main idea in a script. In other words, the theme is the basic of the

story or the basic that builds a story. According to Stanton and Jenny C, in a story there

is a meaning contained and that is what is called a theme. In the drama A Doll's House,

Ibsen's themes is based on what was happening in the 19th century at that time. They

are about money and power and a woman’s worth.

Money and Power

Torvald Helmer has just been appointed to be a manager of the bank who

previously worked as a lawyer in the story. In the 19th century, industrialization was

held by a role like Torvald. So in the story, he has power over the people who are under

him. In the story, he gives the opportunity to work in a bank to Mrs. Linde, a friend of

Nora.

Nora. And only think ! she has taken this long journey on purpose to speak to

you.

Helmer. To speak to me !

Mrs. Linden. Well, no quite…

Nora. You see Christina is tremendously clever at accounts, and she’s so

anxious to work under a first-rate man of business in order to learn still more…

Helmer (to Mrs. Linden). Very sensible indeed.

26
 Nora. And when she heard you were appointed manager – it was telegraphed,

you know – she started off at once, and – Torvald dear, for my sake, you must

do something for Christina. Now can’t you ?

Helmer. It’s not impossible. I presume you are a widow ?

Mrs. Linden. Yes.

Helmer. And have already had some experience in office-work ?

Mrs. Linden. A good deal.

Helmer. Well, then, it’s very likely I may find a place for you.

Nora (clapping her hands). There now ! there now !

Helmer. You have come at a lucky moment, Mrs. Linden.(act I, page 29-30)

A Woman’s Worth

In the 19th century, women were not given the freedom to do as they pleased.

Even ownership rights do not exist on her. As a writer, Ibsen wants women's rights to

be developed individually by themselves. However, the community does not agree with

this view. In the story told that, Torvald often calls his wife, Nora with “a special call”

that he made. My lark, my squirrel and little rogue. Which is makes Nora as a woman

completely subordinated by her husband.

Nora. Yes; he is at home. (she begins humming again, going to the table on the

right).

Helmer (in his room). Is that my lark twittering there ?

Nora (busy opening some of her parcels). Yes, it is.

Helmer. Is it the squirrel skipping about ?

Nora. Yes.

Helmer. When did the squirrel get home ?

27
 Nora. Just this minute. (Hides the bag of macaroons in her pocket and wipes

her mouth.) Come here, Torvald, and see what I’ve bought.(act I, page 3)

There is one more female character in the story, Mrs. Linde. She is a widow,

her husband died 3 years ago. However, she has a degree of freedom above Nora

because she is not tied to anyone. She deserves to work and the money that she earns

to support herself.

Krogstad. Had you any thought of me ?

Mrs. Linden. I must have work, or I can’t live. All my life, as long as I can

remember, I have worked; work has been my one great joy. Now I stand quite

alone in the world, so terribly aimless and forsaken. There is no happiness in

working for one’s self. Nils, give me somebody and something to work for.(act

III, page 90)

2. Plot

Plot is the structure of the sequence of events in the story. It moves the storyline,

from the beginning of the story, to the climax, until to the end of the story. The events

in the story are interconnected to form a pattern or sequence.

The drama tells the story of a wife, named Nora, who keeps a secret from

her husband, Helmer. The secret was about her illegal loan to pay for her

husband, who was so ill that he had to be brought to Italy at that time. Nora

told her husband that the money used for medical treatment was borrowed

money from her father, but that was wrong. Nora lied. However, Nora's lies

were discovered by one of the bank employees, whose name was Krogstad. Why

is Nora lying? Because she knew that her husband, Helmer, really hated and

28
 avoided borrowing money. However, because Nora said that on behalf of her

father, Helmer accepted it.

On act 1, comes a woman who is Nora's old friend. She is Christina. She

lives alone because her husband has died and does not have a job. Knowing

that, Nora plans to tell her husband, because at that time Helmer had just been

promoted to head of the Bank. And Helmer agreed. However, that coincided

with Krogstad's dismissal from office. Because Krogstad knows Nora's secret,

he tries to threaten Nora. He asked Nora to talk to her husband, give him a

chance to keep working. But, Helmer can't do that, for reasons of evil that

Krogstad has.

Once upon a time, Krogstad received a letter of dismissal at the office,

because he did not accept it, he went to Nora's house with a letter / proof of

Nora's illegal loan. He put it on the house's mail post. Later, Helmer gets the

letter and gets angry with Nora. Torvald told her that you are capable of being

a wife and mother. He also said that he no longer wanted to run a romantic

relationship with Nora. But, one day, her husband realized and apologized to

Nora. However, Nora had the thought that her husband was not the husband

she wanted, there was no affection and her marriage was a lie. So that at the

end of the story, she left her husband and her three children.

3. Exposition

Exposition is the introductory paragraph of the story. In this section, the

characters are introduced. At this stage, the description of the character, setting,

atmosphere and problems that will be faced by the character is told.

Drama started on a winter day, Nora Helmer had just entered her house after

she came home from shopping for some parcels for Christmas.

29
 (A whatnot with china and brie-a-brac. A small book-case of showily-bound

books. Carpet. A fire in the stove. A winter day.) (act I, page 1)

(A bell rings in the hall outside. Presently the outer door is heard to open. Then

Nora enters, humming contentedly. She is in outdoor dress, and carries several

parcels, which she lays on the right-hand table.) (act I, page 2)

When she arrived, her husband Torvald Helmer was in his room. He realized

Nora's arrival by hearing his wife's humming.

Nora. Yes; he is at home. (she begins humming again, going to the table on the

right).

Helmer (in his room). Is that my lark twittering there ?

Nora (busy opening some of her parcels). Yes, it is. (act I, page 2-3)

When Torvald found out that his wife had been shopping, he bullied her a little.

He says we can't waste the money.

Nora. Just this minute. (Hides the bag of macaroons in her pocket and wipes her

mouth.) Come here, Tirvald and see what I’ve bought.

Helmer. Don’t disturb me. (A little later he opens the door and looks in, pen in

hand). “Bought,” did you say ? what ! all that ? has my little spend-thrift been

making the money fly again ?

Nora. Why, Torvald, surely we can afford to launch out a little now ! it is the first

Christmas we haven’t had to pinch.

Helmer. Come, come; we can’t afford to squander money.

Nora. Oh yes, Torvald, do let us squander a little-just the least little bit, won’t

you ? you know you’ll soon be earning heaps of money.(act I. page 3)

30
 The dialogue above shows the next problem that will be faced by the character.

When Torvald found out that his wife had borrowed so much money. He was very angry

with his wife for borrowing money without his consent. Torvald is a man who hates

debt.

Nora. If anything so dreadful happened, I shouldn’t care whether I was in debt

or not.

Helmer. But what about the creditors ?

Nora. They ! who cares for them ? they’re only strangers.

Helmer. Nora, Nora ! what a woman you are ! but seriously, Nora, you know

my ideas on these points. No debts ! No credits ! Home-life ceases to be free

and beautiful as soon as it is founded on borrowing and debt. We two have held

out bravely till now, and we won’t give in at the last.

Nora (going to the fireplace). Very well-as you like, Torvald. (Act I. page 4)

4. Conflict

It is a conflict or problem in the story. There are 2 types of conflict, namely

external and internal conflicts. External conflict is a problem that occurs between

figures and something other than himself, while internal conflict is a problem that

occurs between the character and itself. In the story of A Doll's House, an external

conflict is a conflict used in the story.

The conflict that appeared was when Nora borrowed a large amount of money

for her husband's treatment, she made a mistake because she faked her father's

signature. And this is known by one of the bank employees named Krogstad. He made

that mistake to threat Nora.

31
 Krogstad. Tell me Mrs. Helmer; do you happen to recollect the day of his death?

the day of the month, I mean ?

Nora. father died on the 29th of September.

Krogstad. Quite correc. I have made inquiries, and here comes in the

remarkable point---(produces a paper) which I cannot explain.

Nora. What remarkable point ? I don’t know---

Krogstad. Your father died on the 29th of September. But look here, he has dated

his signature October 2nd ! is not that remarkable, Mrs. Helmer ? Can you

explain it ?

It is noteworthy, too, that the words “Oct. 2nd.” And the year are not in your

father’s handwriting, but in one which I believe I know. Well, this may be

explained; your father may have forgotten to date his signature, and somebody

may have added the date at random before the fact of his death was known.

There is nothing wring in that. Everything depends on the signature of course it

is genuine, Mrs. Helmer ? it was really your father who with his own hand wrote

his name here ? (act I, page 39)

5. Compilation

Compilation is the time when the new issue facing by the character. In this

section the conflict starts to occur and will lead to the climax section. In this drama, the

compilation part is when Krogstad threatens Nora by going to tell Torvald through a

letter he will store in the mailbox.

Krogstad. Besides, it would be very silly when the first storm is over, I have a

letter in my pocket for your husband.

Nora. Telling him everything?

Krogstad. Sparing you as much as possible.

32
 Nora. (quickly) he must never have that letter. Tear it up. I will get the money

somehow.

Krogstad. Pardon me, mrs. Helmer, but I believe I told you---

Nora. Ooh, I’m not talking about the money I owe you. Tell me how much you

demand from my husband.(act II, page 74)

6. Climax

Climax is the highest point of the plot structure in the story. In this section, the

conflict peaked and caused the main problem in the story. In the drama A Doll's House,

the climax occurred when Torvald had read a letter from Krogstad, and was angry

when he found out all the truth. He scolded his wife and said harsh words to her.

Helmer. Nora !

Nora (shrieking). Ah !

Helmer. What is this ? do you know what is in this letter ?

Nora. Yes I know. Let me go ! Let me pass !

Helmer. Where do you want to go?

Nora (tries to get free). You sha’n’t save me, Torvald.

Helmer (falling back). True ! is it true what he writes ? no, no it cannot be true.

Nora. It is true I have loved you beyond all all else in the world.

Helmer. Pshaw! No silly evasions.

Nora. Torvald---!

Helmer. Wretched woman! What have you done?.

Helmer. Oh, what an awful awakening! During all these eight years---- she who

was my pride and my joy---a hypocrite, a liar---worse, worse--- a criminal. Oh!

The hideousness of it ugh! Ugh! (act III, page 106-107)

33
7. Resolution

Resolution is a part where the solution to the problem is carried out by the

character in the story. The conflict began to subside and finally resolved. In this drama,

Torvald felt happy because he survived and invited Nora to improve the situation.

Helmer (by the lamp). I have hardly courage to. We may be lost, both you and

I. ah ! I must know. ( tears the letter hastily open; reads afew lines, looks at an

enclosure; a cry of joy.) Nora ! Nora ! I must read it again. Yes, yes, it is so. I

am saved ! Nora, I am saved !

Nora. And I !

Helmer. You too, of course; we are both saved, both of us. Look here, he sends

you back your promissory note. He writes that he regrets and apologizes—that

a happy turn in his life--- O, what matter what he writes. We are saved, Nora !

No one can harm you. Oh Nora, Nora ! I’ll just see---- (glances at the I O U.)

No, I won’t look at it; the whole thing shall be nothing but a dream to me. (act

III, page 109)

8. Decision

At the end of the story, Nora made a decision. In making this decision, she has

thought as well as possible. She felt that all this time she was not loved by her husband

always got injustice. Nora felt that all her husband's treatment to her was just like a

false treatment.

Helmer. Why, my dear Nora, what have you to do with serious things ?

Nora. There we have it ! you have never understood me. I have had great

injustice done me, Torvald, first by father and then by you.

34
 Helmer. What ! by your father and me—by us who loved you more than all the

world.

Nora (shaking her head). You have never loved me ! you only thought it amusing

to be in love with me.

***

Nora. I must stand quite alone to know myself and my surroundings; so I cannot

stay with you.

Helmer. Nora ! Nora !

Nora. I am going at once. Christina will take me in for to-night-----

Helmer. You are mad. I shall not allow it. I forbid it.

Nora. It’s no use your forbidding me anything now. I shall take with me what

belongs to me. From you I will accept nothing, either now or afterwards.

Helmer. What madness !

Nora. To-morrow I shall go home.

Helmer. Home !

Nora. I mean to what was my home . it will be easier for me to find some opening

there.(act III, page 115-116)

9. Characterization

Characterization in literary works is one of the intrinsic elements in a story that

play a key role in building and animate the characters. Characterization is the process

of giving the characteristics and behavior that the author wants to convey through the

characters in a drama or story given. Through characterizations, the audience or reader

of drama and stories is expected to be able to identify the nature and role of each

character being told. In drama, the characterization process can be identified through

dialogues between characters in the story and monologues that describe the nature and

35
condition of the characters in the story. In the drama A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen,

the characterization process of the characters can be identified through dialogue

between characters and monologues in the drama script.

The characters in the drama A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen include:

1. Nora Helmer

Nora Helmer is the main protagonist and central character in Henrik Ibsen's

drama A Doll's House. She is described as a young Victorian woman from the

middle class family who is described as living during the reign of Queen Victoria

in the 19th century. Nora is the wife of Torvald Helmer, a recently promoted bank

employee and also a lawyer. They are said to have three children during their eight

years of marriage. In this drama, Nora is described as a cheerful, energetic wife and

housewife who loves Christmas very much she also loves her husband the most.

However, Nora often gets discriminations from her own husband such as being

treated unfairly, considered unimportant and often called by animal names, such as

skylark, squirrel, my lark and little rogue.

At the beginning of the drama, Nora is described as an ideal woman in the

Victorian era where the image of a woman at that time was always attached to the

house and all household matters and also as an obedient wife, but as time went on

she added to the problems she faced and the treatment she received from her

husband who always blamed and looked down on her began to make Nora feel

oppressed and uncomfortable with Torvald's domination over her.

The pressures and conflicts she faces slowly begin to shape Nora's character and

sensitivity to what is really going on around her. She began to realize that her

husband didn't really love her and only thought of her as a "doll" who could be

played with freely. With all the discomfort and pressure she faced, Nora became

36
 depressed and even tried to commit suicide. However, she undoes that and at the

end of the drama she finally become fully independent and able to muster up the

courage after realizing everything that has happened to her so far is not right and

finally chooses to leave her husband, Torvald with all his toxicities.

2. Torvald Helmer

Torvald Helmer is Nora's husband, he is described as a hard worker by

profession as a lawyer and as a newly promoted bank employee. Trovald is a person

who is temperamental, selfish, discriminatory towards his wife, Nora and is very

concerned about his career and reputation in society as well as other people's

assessment of him. He is an oppressive, bossy and stingy husband with his own

wife.

3. Nils Krogstad

Nils Korogstad is a colleague of Torvald's where the two are in competition for

a promotion at the bank where they are both work. In the early part of the play,

Krogstad is portrayed as the main antagonist character in the drama which is

dishonest and immoral.

After Torvald fires him from his job at the bank, Krogstad begins blackmailing

Nora, who borrows money from him using his dead father's fake signature in order

to save the life of her husband, Torvald. Krogstad uses this to blackmail and force

Nora to persuade her husband to hire him again. However, after Krogstad married

Mrs. Linde, a widow who was also his former lover he slowly changed his attitude

for the better.

4. Kristine Linde

Kristine Linde or Mrs. Linde in the drama A Doll's House is another protagonist

character who is portrayed as a widow whose husband died several years ago and

37
 they have no children. Linde is Nora's longtime friend and Korgstad's former lover

before she married her late husband. At the end of the story, Linde and Korstag

finally reunite and decide to get married.

5. Dr. Rank

Dr. Rank is Torvald and Nora's best friend who works as a doctor. He is

described as a friendly man but dying of tuberculosis for a long time. Dr. Rank is

also described as a lonely man and chooses not to marry because his health

condition does not allow him to enter married life. Nonetheless, Dr. Rank once

confessed his love for Nora.

10. Dialogue

The type of dialogue in Henrik Ibsen's drama A Doll's House consists of the

main dialogue between the characters and a narrative in the form of a monologue which

is written to provide explanations for the drama in each act in the drama. The play script

of A Doll's House consists of the intrinsic elements of a literary work in the form of

story and drama in general such as: theme, plot, dialogue and characterizations.

B. Gender Discrimination Analysis on Women in A Doll's House Drama

1. Gender and Marginalization

In simple terms, the marginalization of women is a limitation of their space and

opportunity to develop. Where this process of marginalization occurs due to cultural and

psychological barriers that develop in society, so that women become marginalized and

become victims of gender inequality. In Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House, the Victorian

era takes place from the 18th century to the early 19th century. Most historians describe

this era as a glorious and progressive period marked by the massive expansion of the

working middle class caused by the rapid growth of cities and the economy as well as the

38
industrial revolution which provided opportunities and employment opportunities for

many people.

However, the opportunity to work and develop at that time, as depicted in the drama

A Doll's House, prioritized men over women where in the Victorian era, women were

identified only in the realm of the house and kitchen, so they were valued unsuitable to

contribute to physical work such as development and industry. In addition, the form of

marginalization of women in the drama A Doll's House is characterized by the limited

space for women to even make personal decisions. As it is known that the process of

marginalization of women caused by gender inequality can come from various sources,

one of which is government policy.

In the drama A Doll's House, one form of marginalization of women is the

government policy in the Victorian era which did not allow women to apply for loans

alone without the consent of their husband or adult men appointed as “women guardian”

such as father and brother. This happened as a result of the social construction of the

Victorian society at that time where most women did not have jobs so they did not earn

money because they only spent time at home all day to take care of all household needs.

Therefore, women are often considered financially incapable of even fulfilling their own

needs, especially if they have to pay off large loans. This process of marginalization,

experienced directly by Nora Helmer who is the main character of drama.

Mrs. Linden: Of course you couldn't borrow it.

Nora: No? Why not?

Mrs. Linden: Why, a wife can't borrow without her husband's consent.

Nora: (tossing her head). Oh! when the life know a little business, and how to set

about things.

then-

39
 Mrs.Linden: But Nora, I don't understand.

Nora: Well you needn't. I never said I borrowed the money. Perhaps I got it another

way (Throws herself back on sofa) I may have got it from some admirer. When one

is so attractive as I am.(Act I. page 19).

In addition, one of the other forms of marginalization of women in the drama A

Doll's House is the limited space for women who are only in the house and other

household matters and even to make a personal decision which is not considered as

household matters. As seen in the dialogue below, when Nora and Torvald went

shopping together. Torvald was so restrictive of what Nora could and could not buy and

only allowed her to buy household items and not what Nora actually wanted and

needed.

Helmer:”What do they call the birds that are always making the money fly?”

Nora:”Yes I know-Spendthrifts, of course. But please do as I say, Torvald. Then I

shall have time to think what I want most. Isn't that very sensible now?”

Helmer (smiling):”Certainly; that is to say,if you really kept the money I gave you,

and really bought youself something with it. But it all goes in housekeeping, and for

all sorts of useless things, and then I have to find more.”

Nora: "But, Torvald-"

Helmer:'Can you deny it, Nora dear? (He puts his arm aroud her.) It's a sweet little

lark; but it gets through a lot of money. No one would believe how much it costs a

man to keep such a little bird as you.” (Act.I. Page 6).

2. Gender and Subordinate

The term subordination is generally a position. In the realm of gender and sex,

subordination is defined as an assessment of a position or perception that a certain role is

40
performed by one gender which is lower than the other. The assumption that women are

gentle, compassionate and emotional triggers negative prejudices that actually doubt

women's abilities. Because cultural construction in society tends to portray women as soft

and emotional figures so that they act and think irrationally, making women's position in

society is often considered low and below men, so they tend to be treated unfairly and

not appreciated.

In the drama A Doll's House, one form of subordination to women is their existence

which is often underestimated because they only hold responsibility for household

matters which are considered not to be taken into account and appreciated, so that women

tend to be underestimated and unappreciated. Like the treatment Nora received from her

husband, Torvald Helmer who often calls Nora with "special calls" taken from animal

names, to mock and demean his own wife such as: my lark, my squirrel and little rogue.

Nora. Yes; he is at home. (she begins humming again, going to the table on the

right).

Helmer (in his room). Is that my lark twittering there ?

Nora (busy opening some of her parcels). Yes it is.

Helmer. Is it the squirrel skipping about ?

Nora. Yes.

Helmer. When did the squirrel get home ?

Nora. Just this minute. (Hides the bag of macaroons in her pocket and wipes her

mouth.) Come here, Torvald, and see what I've bought.(act I, page 3).

In addition, gender subordination on Nora's character was also carried out by her

husband's colleague, Nils Krogstad, who underestimated Nora's position as an

unrecognized, ugly and lowly woman.

41
 Nora: “Now I have the courage for it.”

Krogstad: “Oh, you don't frighten me. A sensitive, petted creature like you-"

Nora: "You shall see, you shall see!"

Krogstad: “Under the ice, perhaps? Down in the cold, black water? And next

spring to come up again, ugly, hairless, unrecogzinable-“(Act.II. page 75).

3. Gender and Violence

Violence is a form of repressive action that aims to harm and injure both physically

and psychologically. Violence is an act that harms oneself, others and the environment.

In general, violence can be divided into two types, first is physical violence and second

is psychological violence. Physical violence is a type of violence that is carried out

frontally by physically attacking the victim directly which can cause physical injury to

the victim, such as hitting, kicking or slapping. Meanwhile, psychological violence is a

type of violence that is carried out by attacking a person's mental condition which, if

allowed to continue, will cause the victim to experience psychological disorders that have

an impact on the mental health.

In the drama A Doll's House, one form of violence against women is psychological

violence in the form of pressure, coercion and insults that are either aimed directly or

indirectly aimed at weakening a person's psychological condition such as making them

insecure, restless and scared. The form of violence received by the character Nora. in this

drama, in which Nora gets a lot of psychic attacks that she receives from the male

characters in this drama such as from her own husband, Torvald and her husband's

colleague, Nils Krogstad.

Krogstad: “He will do it ; I know him- he won't dare to refuse! And when I'm in,

you'll soon see! I shall be the manager's right hand. It won't be Torvald Helmer,

but Nils Krogstad, that manages the Joint Stock Bank.”

42
Nora: "That will neber be."

Krogstad: “Perhaps you'll-?”

Nora: “Now I have the courage for it.”

Krogstad: “Oh, you don't frighten me. A sensitive, petted creature like you-"

Nora: "You shall see, you shall see!"

Krogstad: “Under the ice, perhaps? Down in the cold, black water? And next spring

to come up again, ugly, hairless, unrecogzinable-“

Nora: “You can't terrify me.”

Krogstad: “Nor you me. People don't do that sort of thing, Mrs. Helmer. And, after

all, what good would it be? I have your husband in my pocket all the same.

Nora: “Afterwards? When I an no longer -?

Krogstad:”You forget, your reputation remains in my hand!

(Nora stands speechless and looks at him.)

Well, now you are prepared. Do nothing foolish. So soon as Helmer has received

my letter I shall expect to hear from him. And remember that it is your husband

himself who has forced me back again into such paths. That I will never forgive

him. Goodbye, Mrs. Helmer."

(Goes through hall. Nora hurries to the door, opens it a little, and listens.)

Nora: “He's going. He's not putting the letter into the box. No, no, it would be

impossible.(Opens the door further and further.) What's that? He's standing still;

not going downstairs. Is he changing his mind? Would he-? (A letter falls in box.

Korogstad's footsteps are heard gradually receding down the stair. Nora utters a

suppressed shrick; pause.) In the letter-box! (Slips shringkly up to the door.) There

it lies-Torvald, Torvald-now we are lost!”(Act.II. pages 75-76).

****

43
Helmer: "Nora!"

Nora (shrieking): “Ah-!”

Helmer: “What is this? Do you know what is in this letter?”

Nora: Yes, I know. Let me go! Let me pass!

Helmer (holds her back): “Where do you want to go?”

Nora: (tries to get free): “You sha'n't save me, Torvarld.

Helmer (falling back): “True! Is ir true what he writes? No, no, it cannot be true.”

Nora: It's true. I have loved you beyond all else in the world.

Helmer: “Phaw-no silly evasions.”

Nora (a step nearer him): “Torvarld!”

Helmer: “Wretched woman! What have you done?”

Nora: “Let me go-you shall not save me. You shall not take my guilt upon yourself."

Helmer: “I don't want melodramatic airs. (locks the door.) Here you shall stay and

given an account of yourself. Do you understand what do you have done? Answers.

Do you understand it?”

Nora (looks at him fixedly, and says with sniffering expression). Yes; now I begin

to fully understand it.”

Helmer: (walking up and down). Oh, what an awful awakening! During all these

eight years- she who was my pride and my joy- a hypocrite, a wild- worse, worse-

a criminal. Oh! the hideousness of it! Ugh! Ugh!”

(Nora is silent, and continues to look fixedly at him.)

Helmer: I ought to have foreseen something of the kind. All your father's dishonesty-

be silent! I say your father's dishonesty you have inherited- no religion, no morality,

no sense of duty. How I am punished for shielding him! I did it for your sake, an

you reward me like this.”

44
 Nora: “Yes- like this!”

Helmer: “You have destroyed my whole happiness. You have ruined my future. Oh!

It's true to think of! I am in the power of a scroundrel ; he can do whatever he

pleases with me, demand whatever he chooses, and I must submit. And all this

disaster is brought upon me by an unprincipled woman.”

Nora: “When I'm gone you will be free.”

Helmer: “Oh, no fine phares. Your father, too, was always ready with them. What

good would it do to me if you were “gone” as you say? No good in the world! He

can publish the story all the same; I might even be suspected of collusion. People

will think I was at the bottom of it all and egged you on. And for all this I have you

to thank-you whom I have done nothing but pet and spoil during our whole married

life. Do you understand now what you have done to me?”

Nora (with cold calmness): “Yes.” (Act 3. page 108).

4. Gender and Workload

A woman has a different workload with a man in the household. In the Victorian

era, a wife only has a role in the house, taking care of the house and taking care of her

husband and their children. And if she works, then the whole salary is not for her. While

a husband has a workload as a leader, the person who rules in the family. With the

difference in the workload given, a woman in the Victorian era often gets psychological

stress because of the demands of work that is considered to be perfect.

In the story of A Doll's House, it is clearly seen that Nora Helmer as a wife has

experienced a workload as mentioned above. She lives in a neighborhood where the

community adheres to the "Fater Familias", which means a husband becomes the head

of the household and as a leader in the family.

45
 Nora. Yes, indeed; a long way! But come here, and see all I’ve been buying.

And so cheap ! Look, here’s a new suit for Ivar, and a little sword. Here are a

horse and trompet for Bob. And here are a doll and a cradle for Emmy. They’re

only common; but she’ll soon pull them all to pieces. And dresse and neckties

for the servants; only I should have got something better for dear old Anna.

Helmer. And what’s in that other parcel ?

Nora (crying out). No, Torvald, you are not to see that until this evening.

Helmer. Oh ! ah ! but now tell me, you little rogue, what have you got for

yourself ?

Nora. For myself ? oh, I don’t want anything. (act I, page 5)

In the dialogue above, Nora bought his family members some items but none

for her. This proves that a wife, is more prior to the needs of his family members. In a

dialogue, when she told Christina about the money she had borrowed, which was the

beginning of the conflict in the story. She said honestly how she had to pay it. Besides

she had to do lots of household thing, she also looked for money to pay the loan she

took.

Nora. Well, and besides that, I made money in other ways. Last winter I was so

lucky- I got a heap of copying to do. I shut myself up every evening and wrote

far on into the night. Oh sometimes I was so tired, so tired. And yet it was

splendid to work in that way and earn money. I almost felt as if I was a man.

(act I, page 22)

One character in the story, Christina as a woman who also has a workload to

take care of her mother and brothers when her husband died 3 years ago.

46
 Nora. Oh! Don’t be angry with me!- now just tell me, is it really true that you

didn’t love your husband ? what made you take him then ?

Mrs. Linden. My mother was then alive, bedridden and helpless; and then I had

my two younger brothers to think of. I thought it my duty to accept him.

Nora. Perhaps it was. I suppose he was rich then ?

Mrs. Linden very well off, I believe. But his business was uncertain. It fell to

pieces at his death, and there was nothing left.

Nora. And then ?

Mrs. Linden. Then I had to fight my way by keeping a shop, a little school,

anything I could turn my hand to. The last three years have been one long

struggle for me. (act I, page 15-16)

5. Gender and Stereotype

Stereotype is often in view as a negative assumption given to a particular group or

in this case is a certain sex. This view has long appeared even when in the Victorian

era. The stereotype given to the woman at that time as a lower class and a homemaker.

A woman cannot decide something without her husband's consent. They are not given

freedom of opinion and have the right to live alone. Therefore, they must marry and

depend on her husband.

In the drama, there is a dialogue between Nora Helmer and Mrs. Linden who gave

a statement that a wife could not borrow without her husband's consent. According to

the writer, this is one of the gender marginalization and also stereotypes given to a

woman at the time.

Mrs. Linden. Then where ever did you get it from ?

Nora ( hams and smiles mysteriously). H’m; tra-la-la-la !

Mrs. Linden. Of course you could’t borrow it.

47
Nora. No ? why not ?

Mrs. Linden. Why, a wife can’t borrow without her husband’s consent. (act I, page 19)

Torvald gave a costume to his wife. He chose the costume by his opinion.

Because according to him, a wife does not have the opportunity to express her own

opinion. All authority is held by the husband.

Helmer. Was the dressmaker here ?

Nora. No, Christina… she is helping me with my costume. You’ll see how well

I shall look.

Helmer. Yes. Wasn’t that a lucky thought of mine ?

Nora. Splendid. But isn’t it good of me, too, to have given in to you ?

Helmer ( takes her under the chin ). Good of you ! to give me in to your own

husband ? well, well, you little madcap, I know you don’t mean it. But I won’t

disturb you. I dare say you want to be “trying on.”( act II, page 56-57 )

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 CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

After analyzing Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House based on gender discrimination theory

focusing on women character in the play, the writer concluded the study as follows :

1. Gender discrimination on women in Victorian Era as seen in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s

House, includes five manifestations caused by gender inequality stated by Riant Nugroho

(2011). They are marginalization, subordinated, stereotype, violence, and workload. In

Ibsen’s A Dolll’s House, woman character that experienced those manifestations

represented by Nora Helmer and Kristine Linde. Related to marginalization, Nora as a

Torvald’s wife didn’t have a a freedom to do something by her own way. Meanwhile the

subordinated, is defined as a position. How Nora’s position in the play existence by how

often she felt underestimated and unappreciated because she only hold responsibility for

household matters. The stereotype that found in drama is a wife cannot borrow without

her husband consent and all the authority is held by the husband. There is no chance for a

wife to speak up her opinion at that time. The next is about the workload. Nora and Mrs.

Linde have to care of their families. Because of the notion that women are diligent and

maintainer, so that they didn’t match to be a leader of the family. And the last

manifestations that faced by the woman character in the story is a violence. One form

violence against women in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is psychological violence in the form

of pressure, insults and coercion. Nora experienced it by the treatment of her husband,

Torvald. Her husband always snapped her because of a small problem and usually called

49
 her “My lark, my squirrel” that caused Nora to feel that she didn’t loved by her husband.

She only being her husband’s doll.

2. Discrimination of women based on gender in the Victorian era occurred was the culture

of social contruction that occurred in society. In this era women were considered to have

a lower position than men because of their affectionate, emotional and gentle nature,

making them low and invisible. that it was her husband who called her by animal names

and was also considered politically and economically incompetent. From the drama a doll's

house, we can see some of the treatment she gets from her husband who cannot express

his opinion personally. As a woman who is in charge of the house, she can't even buy

anything except for household use. Nora's presence in her own house is not only a doll by

her husband, a wife who according to her husband's will and someone who plays with her

child like a doll. The role that women got in the victorian era so that they did not get any

contribution from politics and economics was described where no one had difficulties

when their husbands made money borrowing without their husband knowing by using a

fake signature from his dead father. It is courageous no decision is taken that she has

something to be proud of and she earned her right as a wife to save her husband. And the

time came when it was discovered by the man who created all the insulting and insulting

quotes. Not apologizing for what he said, instead quoting “I have forgiven you”—will not

do anything sinful. This makes us realize that during the Victorian era, men were first and

foremost above women in taking the decision to leave her was a great courage and

awareness, that where women should have the same rights as men, she felt that the

household they lived was not just a doll house, and said that her father and her treatment

were different, treating her as someone who played with her doll.

50
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