During the Victorian era, women were not seen as equals to their male counterparts, but were more of a secondary figure in the household. Their job was to ensure the domestic side of the family was viewed by their husbands, and others, as neat and respectable. The women's role of caregiver ensured that they were expected to sacrifice everything that may distract from what was expected of them. If a woman sought to deviate from this norm, she had to be willing to give up all that had been afforded her and would come to shame.
In Henrik Ibsen' play, "A Doll's House," the role of women is revealed as being strong and sacrificial individuals, and Ibsen demonstrates this through the two main characters: Kristine Linde and Nora Helmer. Mrs. Linde's character is an old friend to Nora, who arrives hoping to find employment. Almost immediately, readers are shown that she is a strong woman not merely because of the role society has given to her, but for the struggles she has conquered and the responsibility she accepted to care for those close to her. .
By sacrificing throughout her life, Mrs. Linde was able to glean exactly who she. "You must not forget that I had a helpless mother and two little brothers. We couldn't wait for you, Nils; your prospects seemed hopeless then. (III.111) Through this line we learn of Mrs. Linde's role as the primary caregiver to her siblings. By accepting this role, she was forced to relinquish her love of one man and the wealth of another to fully tend to her family. While this sacrifice forever altered the course of her life, it also brought a freedom not typically allowed to women. Her life experiences taught her that while she sought independence, her search wasn't for it in the strict sense of the term. Instead, her freedom is found through the pursuit of helping others. While some could argue that a quest to find oneself is always a selfish one where others are forced to suffer, Mrs.
