Role of Women in “Maisie Dobbs” and “A Doll’s House” Essay Example

In today’s society, Women have opportunities to get higher education, high paying jobs, and have freedom. This wasn’t always the case though. In the late 19th century and early 20th century women were very restricted with their lives. They could only get a certain amount of education, they weren’t given the same chance as men for jobs, and were usually at home taking care of their children. But in “Maisie Dobbs” and “A Doll’s House” this wasn't evident. In “Maisie Dobbs” the main protagonist, Maisie Dobbs, was able to conquer challenges such as being a servant, attending Cambridge University, and being a nurse through World War 1. She was then able to become a well known detective in London. In “A Doll’s House”, Nora Helmer starts the story off as a happy trophy wife who acts submissive to her Husband Torvald Helmer. As the story progresses Nora realizes that Torvald doesn’t truly love her as much as she loves him and wants to leave him. Christine Linde is another character in “A Doll’s House” who moves to the same town as Nora. She comes to town after her husband and mother’s passing and asks Nora if Torvald can give her a job to which Nora tells her he can. How exactly did these women break the clichéd presented by their societies? These women challenge the stereotype of being a woman because Maisie is respected in her profession, Christine supports her family, and Nora causes a shift in the hierarchical power structure of a family. 

Maisie is able to get a job that is predominantly occupied by men and is still able to be a notable detective. A man that needs Maisie’s help comes to her thinking she is a man and tells her that he only came to her because she is a highly recommended detective (Winspear 17). Women during the early 1900s didn’t have the opportunity to get high quality jobs such as being a detective. Maisie was able to achieve this, but not only that, she was able to become well known in this profession. She was able to break the “women label” and attain a high status as a detective.

Christine breaks the stereotype of being a woman during her time period by financially supporting her family. Christine tells Nora that she only married a wealthy man so that he can provide money for her mother and brothers, but then he died and the money was all gone. This caused her to get jobs and support her family by herself (Ibsen 1346-1347).  At first Christine felt that marrying someone with great money would help solve her issues. But when he passed away she was left with no money and had to start working to help support her dying mother and her brothers. In society during those times, women typically were getting money from their husbands, but Christine breaks that stereotype by being able to get her own job and be able to provide her family with money. 

After Nora tells Helmer her true feelings about their marriage, Helmer still wants to be with Nora and that causes a change in the structure of the family. Nora talks about how she wants to leave Helmer cause he is selfish and doesn’t truly care for Nora, Helmer responds by saying that he will change so that they can still be together (Ibsen 1388).  Nora shows that she doesn’t want to be with Helmer anymore and Helmer can’t accept that. Even after showing his true selfishness, he still wants to be with Nora despite the fact that she doesn’t want to be with him. In society, during these times, the husband was the head of the family and wouldn’t conform to his wife, but in this scenario Nora is causing Helmer to want to change and be a better husband for her. 

In conclusion, these women did the unthinkable in their society and broke the conventional role of women. Maisie was able to become a pronounced detective in her city, Christine was able to provide funds and living needs for her mother and brothers, and Nora was able to make Torvald question if he has been a good husband. All of them were able to surpass the expectations of women in their time period and become significant.