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Ibsens Women as Patriarchal Women

"Its an exclusively male society, with laws made by men and with prosecutors and judges who
assess feminine conduct from a masculine standpoint. (Meyer, 476)
Ibsen the most renowned Norwegian playwright portrays women who are patriarchal women
with qualities depicting social constructionism they depict attitudes, behaviour, and actions
according to the traditional gender roles assigned not biologically but socially constructing them
into stereotypical women. Tyson states that By male women I mean, of course, a woman who
has internalized the norms and the values of patriarchy, which can be defined, in short, as any
culture that privileges men by promoting traditional gender roles. Thus, this cultural acceptance
firstly objectifies women reducing her to a weaker, dependent, irrational and submissive inferior
being, secondly, physical and mental oppression in the form of violence is experienced by her,
thirdly, further domesticating her to child-rearing with no right of reproductive technology and
lastly, Ibsens women work at the private and public sphere is never recognized by male
dominating society rather male constructed society intends to oppressed them into private sphere
in order to reinforce patriarchy. Ibsen addresses these issues in his play revealing the
discrimination and unequal status quo.Raymond Williams states that "Ibsen's plays expose the
great issues of the day as they work through the lives of ordinary people, in the politics of
marriage and the relations of parents and children" (13)
Portrayal of Patriarchal Women in The Wild Duck:
1. Objectification:
Ibsens famous heroine Gina is a typical model character of patriarchal order in The Wild Duck,
Ginathe protagonist has internalized her weaker position in the society reducing to an inferior
quality object.It is Mr.Werlewho jeopardizes her entire life with an affair while she works as

house hold for him. Furthermore, Gina is treated as an object to be used and then discarded to
marry Hjalmar to hide the mutual sin outside of wedlock; Hedvig is the result of this illicit affair.
Tyson argues in her feminist criticism that women, like Gina, are bad girls with whom "men
sleep, but they dont marry them; bad girls are used and then discarded"(90). In this way, Gina
subjected to male domination is transformed into patriarchal women who is expected to conform
to male decisions. Gina's weak decision makes her life bad to worse; she undergoes poverty,
hopelessness, domestication, and socially deprivation due to the committed sin. Therefore, she
typically behaves conforming to the traditional role assigned to men. Her tireless efforts in
private and public sphere display that she wants best for the household. At the disclose of the
secrete, Gina states "Don't talk about such things, Hjalmar me, who has all along wanted what
was best for you"(Ibsen,134)is a typical thinking of a patriarchal women. It is a direct outcome
of patriarchal women who has accepted her assigned role without a question. Gina is a punished
by male society for going against societal order as she is a weak entity who is dependent on male
assistance and is later on is humbly submissive to her husband.A related issue is how patriarchy
functions to undermine all women whether they are homemakers or work for play (Lindsey,
194). Mrs.sorby is another character bearer of patriarchal ideleogy showing signs of accepting it
as compared to resistance it. Mrs.Sorby is an elderly woman introduced to the reader as a
housekeeper an occupation generally associated with women to remain in their private sphere.
She is in introduced in the first Act serving as a host to the party of thirteen men at Mr.Welres
house. The guests seem to enjoy her jokes. She becomes the source of pleasure for men who seek
pleasure from ladies.Mrs.Sorby as a housekeeper promises to look after Mr.Welre after their
marriage and in dark days as he is going blind. Mrs.Sorby is being objectified by Mr.Welre as in
the time of trouble so that she can nurse him. Thus, in a patriarchal system women are meant to

sacrifice their lives for the sake of their husbands.Mrs.Sorby is true production of patriarchy she
ignores Mr.Welres previous affairs promising never to forsake him as is expected of a girl good.
At any rate I shall never forsake him; and what I can do is to look after him and care for him as
no one else can, now that he will soon be helpless(Ibsen,139).Mrs.Sorby is a vivid illustration
of a patriarchal woman in the play. This reduction is continued in the next generation when we
observe Hedvig following the footsteps blindly as she is being brought up by her patriarchal
mother. She shows signs of fragility, submissiveness andselflessness. Hedvig learns the
behavioural pattern and adopts the attitudes of good girls to display in the society and among
people. She anxiously waits for her father to bring goods for her when he returns; she helps him
get his coat out and lays the table for her family. She is reduced to the oppression as a bird
singing at his houseshe is as happy and careless as a bird, singing about the house, and so she
is flirting through her life. (Ibsen, 101).Hedvig depends upon her father for assistance to
educate her who has no time for such trivial issues. Hedvig is a selfless child and putting an end
to her life makes her a patriarchal girl of self-sacrifice.The patriarchal system is difficult to resist
without education as its roots are deep rooted in our culture and Hedvig is a patriarchal system
under production.
2. Violence:
Over one-third of all women are victims of some type of sexual coercion with a husband or
partner in their lifetime (Lindsey, 266). Ibsens women have evidently accepted traditional
masculine gender roles in a patriarchal society which in return has provided male with a liberty
to exercise power over females in the form of violence. Gina as a patriarchal woman endures the
violence bestowed upon her from the sexual partner who insincerely marries her off with his
partner's son. Gina, an embodiment of self-sacrifice finds the solution suggested by Mr.Werle

better for her future as well as for her child. Mr.Welre ties her with Hjalmar as he cannot put his
reputation at a stake. Gina, as a patriarchal woman scared of scandalous relationship, accepts the
assistance provided by Mr.Werle and begins to live a domesticated life within the four walls
cleaning and caring like an ideal patriarchal woman. Gina conforms to societal patriarchal
ideology.When men are granted permission to subordinate women in patriarchal societies,
sexual terrorism is a common result. Sexual terrorism includes intimidation, threat of violence,
and overt violence (Sheffield, 2007). Hjalmar is a patriarchal man who typically behaves to be
violent in his rude remarks and leaves the house upon discovery of the truth while leaving Gina
in despair. Gina: God forgive you, for saying such hard things about me (Ibsen, 154). Hedvig
become the soft target of violence bestowed upon her by her so-called father who abandons her
as he discovers that Hedvig is not his biological daughter. She weeps waits and worries for
Hajmalar assuming that he does not love her anymore.Hedvig (stands motionless for a moment
frightened and irresolute, biting her lips to keep back the tears. Then she clenches her hands
convulsively and says softly) (Ibsen,155). She goes on to the extent of sacrificing herself to
gain love of her father. Hajmalar mentally torches her to death is a form of domestic violence.
Thus, Hedvig has internalized self-sacrificing roles in a patriarchal society following their
elderly women.
3. Motherhood/Childern:
The representation of women by Ibsen reveals the bitter fact that females are good enough to
child rearing. As Coulson(1980:35) puts it "It is through culture defining biology that having
babies becomes a social disadvantage, that rearing children is women's work...."Women need to
take care of private sphere whereas it's the man job to deal with public sphere. Ibsen's females
are patriarchal women who are trapped within private spheres and this constitutes a world for

them. Gina's predicament in respect to motherhood has proved to be fatal as its due to child
rearing outside of wedlock which transformed her life to accept patriarchy with silence.
Mothers are revered, almost idealized, by their children and the mother-child bond is viewed as
a sacred dyad (Lindsey, 157). As a patriarchal woman sheattends to both the private and public
affairs of the house. Hedvigtherefore, is the sole responsibility of the mother. She teaches Hedvig
the same to remain submissive, dependent and fragile. Gina is imprisoned due to patriarchal
culture.
4. Reproductive Technology:
"Women have little if any control over this technology, which has been developed within maledominated hierarchies in patriarchal societies"(Ramazanoglu,74).In the play The Wild DuckGina
the bearer of patriarchal system, has been denied the access to participate and utilize the
reproductive technologies. She is assisted by a man to produce the child without question. Gina
is repressed due to her uncontrollable reproduction which has trapped her into a never ending
struggle. In other words patriarchy has engulfed her to lead an unsatisfactory life. If women were
given control over reproductive technology, Gina, would have led a satisfied life. In this
patriarchal world, women are said to be incomplete thus providing women with a notion that
application of reproductive technology is ineffective for motherhood. Women's hear say in
reproduction becomes a threat to patriarchy and for Ibsen's men. Gina's silence puts her into the
category of patriarchal women.
5. Womens work:
The idea that women sphere is a private affair is refuted by Ibsen's females in the play. Gina is
seen with masculine traits despite living in a patriarchal setup. Her domestic and public efforts
are not acknowledged by her husband but by Relling "And you have got you clever wife,

paddling about in her felt slippers with that comfortable waddle of hers, making everything easy
and cosy for you"(Ibsen, 124).Gina is domestically engaged as well as publically playing a role
of a photographer in the absence of her husband earning wages for the house. Shetruly is a
patriarchal production of Ibsen's play silently obeying orders from her husband as a patriarchal
woman.
Portrayal Patriarchal Women in A Doll's house:
1.Objectification:
It can be clearly observed in A Dolls House that Ibsen's women every action is tame with male
law for men convenience. Since women are governed in a patriarchal society so is her sexuality
socially constructed. She is considered a Bad Girl if she challenges the universal ways of the
society The expression of womens sexuality has been silenced or rendered abnormal expect
where it complements male needs (Millet 1997; Jackson 1984).Nora in the play A Dolls House
is taught to look pretty as it adds to the honour of the male. She is a typical female unconscious
of the behaviour and attitudes which patriarchal culture desires her to follow. Thus, Nora as the
good girl prepares for the big party which involves her dressing, make-up and dance supervised
by the dominated male. Helmer ensures his participation in the dress selection and preparation of
the dance. Patriarchal men as Helmer use his wife as an object in the gathering. Nora in return
portrays her patriarchal womanish traits by playing all kinds of tricks to amuse her husband. Her
dance becomes the source of arousing sexual desires in Torvald All evening Ive been longing
for you, and nothing else. And as I watched you darting and swaying in the tarantella, my blood
was on fireI couldnt bear it any longer(Ibsen,78)Thus, Nora is objectified as a charmer by
her husband after the Tarantella Torvald praises her charms Isnt she charming Mrs. Linde?
(Ibsen,56).Nora is a production of patriarchal cultural who displays the desired patriarchal role.

2. Violence:
Torvald and Nil are the two patriarchal men who become the source of violence and destruction
for Nora. They violence ruins Nora's life altogether. He threatened her at first of forgery and
threatens to inform truth about borrowing money from him to Torvald. Nora typically acts to
hide the truth from her actions. She behaves out of societal norms to save her family out of love
for Torvald but the patriarchal man denies all her efforts and blames her for destroying his
happiness (Ibsen, 63). After the discovery of the truth behind borrowing money Torvald further
punishes her with words"...a hypocrite, a liar-worse, worse-a criminal...No religion, no morality,
no sense of duty (Ibsen, 62-63). These words aid her in deciding what was best of her. Being
unsuccessful in this effort Nora works to find herself. Thus, both men like Nil target her to
violence and disturb her peaceful doll's house. Nora silently walks away from the patriarchal
world to make her destiny. Daly maintains in her book (extremist :17) that she saw womens
common situation as one of extremity, in which women were silenced, scarified, fearful and
controlled within the male violence of patriarchal society.
3. Motherhood/Children:
Motherhood remains the essence of a womens social and personal identity. A womens role is
ranked as mother first and wife second (Lindsey, 154). It is traditionally expected of women to
be good mothers to their children. In A Doll's House the protagonist is a patriarchal mother
engaged in child-rearing in private sphere working to keep peace and harmony at home. Nora
purchases goods for Christmas; plays hide and seek with her children and displays motherly
concerns for the children. At the end of the play, the bold decision taken by Nora compels her to
leave the house as she is said to be a bad influence on her children. These are the unbearable
words which a patriarchal woman cannot bear to hear. "But I shall not allow you to bring up the

children; I dare not trust them to you"(Ibsen,__). Nora being a patriarchal woman has to accept
what a patriarchal man has decided for her. She lets the children be with Helmer silently
accepting his decision and leaving to educate herself for good.
4. Reproductive Technology:
The patriarchal ideology paves the way for inequity among male and females ignoring womens
perspective on reproductive system. The control remains in the hands of the male as he is the just
master and female is her property. In A Doll's House, Helmer has the power over economy which
can be clearly understood the one having power controls reproductive system equally. Noras
father had powers over her and this power was simply transformed from her father to her
husband to control every other aspect of her life. "...Because you don't understand how to act on
your own responsibility?"(Ibsen,64). They treat her like a doll unable to make serious decisions.
Reproductive Technology being a serious matter cannot be decided by a little brain like
Nora.Oncemarried, the women find they have a clearly defined and essentially subordinate role
in relation to theirmen, whose property they legally and socially become (Thomas, 177).

5. Womens Work:
In a patriarchal social order, women are not the breadwinners as the public sphere proves
challenging for the women of 19th century. It is a norm that man would feel disrespected to
borrow money from women to run his house as women's work is not valued and respected as
compared to men. What is a pride and joy to Nora is disrespectful for her husband. To think of
his learning my secret, which has been my pride and joy, in such an ugly, clumsy way-that he
should learn it from you..."(Ibsen,). It is a patriarchal order that deprives women of public work
and men feel humiliated to seek women's wage or money.It is a truth Nora has been hiding that

she borrowed money to save her husbands life. Nora performs an act of forgery only to save her
husband's life. This income becomes fatal for the family as this sacrifice is never acknowledged
by her patriarchal husband .It is an order absorbed by Ibsen's Nora. how painful and humiliating
it would be for Torvald with his manly independence, to know that he owed me anything....
(Ibsen,58).
Patriarchal portrayal of Hedda Glaber:
1. Objectification of Hedda Glaber:
Women in patriarchal social order are objectified in both private and public spheres. In theprivate
lifewomen are the source of sexual pleasure and to bring forth offspring there is no other purpose
of these useless creatures. Men objectifies women for their pleasure but women are expected to
remain intact good girls had to remain uninterested in sexual activity, expect for the purpose of
legitimate procreation, because it was believed unnatural for women to have sexual desire
(Tyson,90). In public sphere women becomes the source of sexual harassment, rape and rape.
HeddaGlaber is a beautiful object meant to be of use to her husband George Tesmen. He marries
her for strong social footing in society. He is a scholar who remains busy in his research even at
the time of honeymoon. Hedda remains an unidentified object who is never explored her desires
are never questioned .She gets involved in activities not suitable for a wife she is objectified by
judge Brack who intends to powers over her by black mailing her. Despite heddas manly nature
she is unable to resist patriarchal programming. She cannot find a way to resist it and makes a
decision to get rid of her conventional life forever.
2. Violence:
In Ibsen's play HeddaGlaber, the protagonist is victimized to die by the violent society's
patriarchal set-up. The question that why Hedda kills herself is due to the fact that our male

dominated system objectifies women whenever they are found weak. Judge Brack has powers
over Hedda, and she cannot tolerate this dilemma and choses to end her life. Death becomes the
solution of the sexual advances Brack was making to trap Hedda. Hedda being programed to
think in a patriarchal realm was afraid of a scandal in society, and due to this pressure, she
chooses to die than to live a scandalous life.
Brack Well, Hedda, thered be a scandal!
Hedda A scandal!
Brack A scandal, yes the kind youre so deathly afraid of. Naturally,
youd appear in court you and Mademoiselle Diana. [. . .] Youll
have to answer the question: why did you give EjlertLvborg the
Heddas Silences: Beauty and Despair in HeddaGabler
Modern Drama, 56:4 (Winter 2013) 443
pistol? And what conclusions will people draw from the fact that you did give it to him?
Brack Well, luckily theres no danger as long as I keep quiet.
Hedda (looks up at him). So Im in your power, Judge. You have your
hold over me from now on.
Hedda is a modern woman of 19th century but she is after all a patriarchal women of Ibsen's
play.

3. Motherhood/Children:
Ibsen's woman Heddaconforms to patriarchal order while living in the system but at the same
time show signs of rebellions in her behaviour, action and attitudes towards others. She is a
General's daughter than her husband's wife so she hates being referred to the new family. This

hatred continues to grow while she is expecting the child. Hedda feels trapped into child-rearing
she cannot bear another attack on herself Some women suffer from postpartum depression and
may even reject the child. Hedda desires liberation from and to gain powers over others
especially Lovborg and longs to shape his life. In her severe jealousy Hedda burns the
metaphoric child of Lovoborg and Thea as she is devoid of love, marriage, and motherhood. She
can be defined as patriarchal women as she marries a man and expects his child in a conventional
way.HeddaGabler is repressed because of the traditions of Gablerism, which superimposesupon
the passionate disorder of life a code of civilized decorum. (Durbach, 15)
4. Reproduction Technology:
Hedda is expecting the child with hatred involved but at the same time her association with
patriarchal norms makes her rebellious. She is not in control of her own decision and life adds to
her frustration and suppression. She denies being pregnant when asked by Brack whether she is
having good news to share. Though, Hedda is rebellious in her behaviour with Tesmans aunts,
her attitude towards her husband is careless and artificial in nature, yet she is unable to get rid of
this reproduction dilemma which she has to undergo. She cannot take the decision herself as
society does not grant her permission. She willingly accepts the fact of her cowardice and is a
traditional woman who conforms to reproduction and cannot utilize reproductive technology to
avoid it as she wills.
5. Womens work:
Hedda the protagonist belongs to a bourgeois family with a grand life-style. She is a patriarchal
woman with no rationality and knowledge of the world around her. Her incapability to work with
her husband bores her while on the contrary Thea is passionate about research and the world
around her. Heddas work is never acknowledged as she displays an attitude of boredom towards

scholarly subjects. It leads her to ignore her husband.Mr. Brack, how mortally bored I have
been, and she even elaborates thatshe cannot stand living with her husband because he does
nothing but talk about the historyof civilization, morning, noon, and night (Ibsen, 74).
She depicts of a woman who never works and Hedda can therefore be never acknowledged for
her work for she displays an attitude of boredom towards universal advances which is typical
notion associated with patriarchal woman.
Thea in HeddaGlaber on the other hand is an opposite caricature of Ibsen's play
HeddaGlaber.Thea is a wife of a sheriff who has no interest in her who thinks of her as his
property.MRS. ELVSTED.Oh I really dont know. I think he regards me simply as a useful
property. And then it doesnt cost much to keep me. I am not expensive(Ibsen).She is woman
with interest in history and research. She inspires Lovoborgand her positive attitude paves the
way for him to publish an exceptional book which is well-received by the audience. She has a
positive influence on Lovoborgwhich drives them to develop a booktogether which is not
expected of a patriarchal woman.Hedda on the contrary burns the hard earned manuscript. Thea
is mercilessly asked to leaveLovoborgwhen Hedda hides the script.LOVBORG; I want to say
that now our ways must part.
You can be of no more service to me, Thea.Womens work in private and public sphere is never
recognized as a result, They face discrimination due to a combination of gender, age, and family
status factors (Weathers, 2001; Sano, 2009). Theais a weak, helpless and dependent on man for
success is the typical description ofa patriarchal Ibsen's women.
Conclusion:
This chapter concludes with that women in Ibsens play are the victims of objectification,
violence, Motherhood, reproductive technology and their twenty-four domestic responsibilities

are given no weightage due to the traditional gender roles socially constructed. Men rule over
one-third of the population suppressing women and banishing them of their rights and creating a
favourable world for themselves. The next chapter will deal with Ibsens women rejecting these
traditionally constructed rules empowering themselves to explore new arenas negating all rules
of thumb.

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