- What do you believe to be the three most important facts about 19th century Norway? I think it is important that we know that at this time, Norway was beginning to industrialize. This means that factories and things like such were beginning to be built at this time- which could possibly mean getting rid of the aristocrats’ land and buying them to build said factories. It is also important that we know that many people were very over-aware of money and where their money was going to and what they would spend it on, this can show us how many people in this time may be very uptight about funds and this could create a more strict and stressful environment for the characters in the story. Finally, it is essential that we understand that expectations of being upper-middle class were also forming. This fact adds on to the stressful environment because the upper-middle class of 19th century Norway had to constantly maintain a good reputation so they would not be looked down on or less respected as wealthy people. An extra important fact that we should know is that at this time, women do not have much of a say in what goes on. They are expected to be a good housewife and do all the work in the house and are expected to do everything for their husbands. This gives us the perspective of the women in the play and their struggles with gender inequality.
- Why do you think the concept of respectability became more important as the middle class expanded? I think the concept became more important because as the middle class expanded. That meant there were more people and with more people of the same status, they could easily bond together and all have an alliance with each other to get equal benefits. With more people, there is more power. Hence, if you happened to disrespect one person in the middle class, the entirety of the middle class could come for you.
Background of “A Doll’s House” | Theater 271. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://pages.stolaf.edu/th271-spring2014/background-of-a-dolls-house/
