Dolls House and Pygmalion Comparative Essay - 1758 Words

Comparative Essay on the Extreme Transition of Two Powerful Women Several years ago, men had little respect for women because of their gender. Females were not given the rights they deserve. They were controlled by their fathers, then handed straight over to their husbands. Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion have occurrences that show similarities between the two female protagonists, Nora Helmer and Eliza Doolittle. Nora and Eliza are comparable in several different ways because both go through experiences with powerful outcomes ultimately transforming their lives throughout the play. From the start both women are young and naà ¯ve. Torvald and Mr. Higgins completely controlled and take over both women’s lives by†¦show more content†¦Nora and Eliza are disrespected through the entire play by the men they are dependent on the most. Mr. Higgins and Torvald complete controls Eliza’s and Nora’s lives, giving them absolutely no freedom to live the life they deserve. Torvald and Nora do not have the typical husband and wife relationship. Torvald treats Nora how a protective father would treat his daughter, she considers herself a doll living in his doll house. Nora obeys everything Torvald says and he makes all of her decisions. Nora is always stuck in the house with absolutely nothing to do except play with the children. In the end of the play, Nora tells Torvald how she feels about the way he treats her. â€Å"I mean that I was simply handed over from Papa to you.† (A Doll’s House, pg 111) Torvald treats her exactly as her father did, and now that he is not around, Torvald finds it necessary to act as a father figure instead of a husband. Torvald gives Nora nicknames such as â€Å"little squirrel.† These names represent Nora’s false self. Torvald acts as if she is a small child that wants a pet name. After Torvald found out Nora borrowed the money from Krogstand, he went completely ballistic. â€Å"You’ve destroyed all my happiness, you’ve ruined my future . . . and I have to sink to such depths of agony all because of a thoughtless woman.† (Doll’s House, pg 105) Nora borrowed the money out of love to save her husband’s life, but he does not understand or take that into