Rejection of Patriarchy in Hedda Gabler and A Doll’s House: A Feminist Literary Analysis

Abstract

This research investigates the mechanisms of oppression faced by women within patriarchal structures by examining Henrik Ibsen's A Doll’s House (Nora Helmer) and Hedda Gabler (Hedda Gabler). It posits that rigid social conventions actively restrict the female characters' personal autonomy and identity. Ibsen offers a critical perspective on the erosion of female individuality under masculine hegemony. Specifically, this study contrasts Hedda’s psychological detachment—often attributed to the lack of maternal influence—with Nora’s infantilized existence as a doll subjected to paternal and marital control. By adopting a feminist theoretical framework, this research explores the divergent trajectories of Nora and Hedda, highlighting how both protagonists navigate, or ultimately succumb to, male-dominated social orders. The analysis is grounded in a close reading of the original texts to reveal the profound complexities of these two characters and the disparate outcomes of their search for agency.