Ibsen often stated that his work and characters really represented human beings that he knew. In a speech to the Christian students in 1874 he stated... “All I have written... I have mentally lived through. I have also written on the opposite, on that which to introspective contemplation appears as the dregs and sediments of one’s own nature” (Gallienne, XXVIII). A Doll’s House and Hedda Gabbler both were written with an internal motive to explore personalities within a social context.

Ibsen consistently denied the accuracy of being labeled a feminist, he was definitely sympathetic to the womens’ rights issues.

In Norway, Ibsen witnessed the development of a woman’s movement in the 1880's. It was financially necessary to be middle class and to provide for a daughter who was not married. Women, at that time, were barred from receiving an education or any dignified employment.

Ibsen’s plays expressed the struggles of people to bring their lives into harmony with their convictions. It was important to Ibsen that women achieve a balance between self and individuality. One’s personal identity as apposed to animality was displayed by overcoming obstacles which prevented the individual’s development. Usually that which constitutes individualism causes one to be at odds with what would be expected by society.

One may describe Ibsen’s motivational theme in these two plays is that of confinement. Not only pertaining to the physical, but also emotional, financial, social, and psychological. The play’s depiction of the characters of Hedda and Nora determine whether they are able to break free of the confinement through motivation and change, or whether they remain confined. For Ibsen, Women’s roles are mostly determined by the male with whom they are enjoined. Nora is Ibsen’s portrayal of truth. She is abl to leave her situation without worries or cares about what people would say upon reading A Doll’s House. One feels that Nora is the personification of what Ibsen feels that a woman should be like. On the other hand, Hedda, lack inner truth and this characteristic causes her to miss all of the false targets that she sets up for herself. Ibsen disapproves of Hedda’s constant fear of being a part of a scandle. Hetta did not acheive change. She remains committed to a life of tameness and regularity. She is afraid to change and avoids acts which are daring. Her idea of letting herself go is: “I stand here idly and shoot into the blue sky.” A truly free person like Nora is capable of participating in the battle between freedom and slavery.

It is interesting that in Hedda Gabbler Ibsen employs Thea as an opposite character. Thea represents freedom and independence. Through her, Loveborg is able to grow and change. By referring to their manuscript as their child, Ibsen has presented the reader with the idea that it was born of the union between individuals that have freed themselves from their environment’s preconceived notion. (Fjelde 133)

Ibsen states that women are judged by masculine law as if they aren’t women but men. A woman could not be herself in a modern society. Ibsen believes in the theory of Carl Jung who said that a true liberation can only come from within. Individuality is related according to Ibsen to power and money. Money represents freedom to spend what one wishes or to free oneself from worry. (Mitchell 111) Ones ability to achieve financial success and independence were shifted by ones sex. Women were looked upon as being housewives

Some topics in this essay:
Hedda Tasman, Norway Ibsen, Doll’s House, Gabbler Ibsen, Nora Torvald, Carl Jung, Ibsen Torvald, Slowly Ibsen, Brecht Ibsen’s, Ibsen Ibsen, hedda gabbler, gabbler ibsen, hedda gabbler ibsen, doll’s house, ibsen feels, ibsen feels woman, ibsen woman, children nora, male dominated, married women, modern society, society ibsen,