Patriarchal society and gender inequality have played a large role in world culture since the 1800s. Men and women both played different roles. Men's roles most likely included earning money for the household and living a controlling lifestyle, while women were not allowed to work outside the home. They were confined to staying at home and performing “housewife” tasks which included cleaning, cooking and childcare. Women were not given the respect they deserved and were simply seen as property. If a woman tried to defend herself, she would be replaced by men. Most of the culture was dominated by men and women did not play a sufficient role in men's daily lives. Patriarchy is “a system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is the head of the family and descendants are counted along the male line” (Oxford Dictionary). So, to what extent is it really possible for women to break away from the patriarchal society of the 19th century? In the novel Awakening by Kate Chopin and the play A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, patriarchal society is strongly emphasized in both works. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Both works are similar, but there are also distinct differences in the two works that set them apart. Kate Chopin and Henrik Ibsen are different authors with different views and opinions, but the novel The Awakening and the play A Doll's House are similar. They were both written at a time when male dominance was a significant part of society and women were nothing. These works were written during the Victorian era, where women led more secluded lives at home while men went out when and where they wanted and had all kinds of freedoms ("Gender Roles of the Victorian Era for men and women). . Men didn't have to answer to anyone, but the same courtesy did not extend to women. If women tried to do what they wanted, they would be frowned upon. Women of that era were shy and insecure compared to men. Women were not allowed to speak out and were not allowed to have an opinion on anything. Overall perfect women would be “pure and clean” (“Victorian Era Gender Roles for Men and Women”). During the Victorian era, it was allowed for men to have sex with other women, but this did not apply to women. Women were looked down upon if they had sex with other men and were considered prostitutes ("Victorian Gender Roles for Men and Women"). Women were also not allowed to remain single as they needed protection from men due to their weakness. Women's roles have changed dramatically since the 1900s. Women now have the freedom to do whatever they want and are accountable to no one but themselves. Women today face no restrictions, unlike the women in The Awakening and A Doll's House. The protagonist of The Awakening, Edna and the protagonist of A Doll's House, Nora are similar in the sense that they are both part of the patriarchal society, but they are also different. The biggest similarity between them is that they both feel trapped and waiting to befree and saved. The biggest difference between the two characters is that Edna in The Awakening lives in the present and remains alone: ​​“Even as a child, she had lived her own little life, all within herself. Very early on, she had instinctively apprehended the double life – this exterior existence which conforms, the interior life which questions” (Chopin, 13). In this quote, Edna lives a life that she likes to keep to herself. Nora, in A Doll's House, lives in an imaginary world, which she created herself: “I don't believe in it anymore. I believe that above all I am a reasonable human being, just like you I am – or, in any case, that I must try to become one” (Ibsen, Act III, 68). In The Awakening, Edna Pontellier's rules and expectations are based solely on the fact that she is a woman. The Victorian era saw fit for Edna to just be a housewife, but Edna has dreams of her own. She dreamed of being artistic and in control of her financial and sexual freedom, but that wasn't the case. At one point in the novel, Edna finally speaks up stating that she is not her husband's property and defends herself by saying that she can give herself to someone whenever she wants, and meanwhile , Robert does not understand what she is saying: "You have been a very, very stupid boy, you waste your time dreaming of impossible things when you talk about Mr. Pontellier freeing me! I am no longer part of the property of Mr. Pontellier, whom I can dispose of or not, I give myself wherever I want if I said: “Here, Robert, take her and be happy,” I would laugh at you both” (Chopin, 108 years old) Another moment, Edna speaks for herself and bluntly mentions the feminist movement: “Has She,” asked the Doctor, smiling, “has she frequented a circle of pseudo women recently? -intellectuals, superior super-spiritual beings, my wife spoke to me about them, that's the problem", interrupted him. Mr. Pontellier, she didn't hang out with anyone. She has abandoned her Tuesdays at home, has thrown away all her acquaintances, and goes for walks alone, moping on the trams, getting on them after dark. I tell you it's special. I don't like it; This makes me a little worried” (Chopin, 66 years old). In A Doll's House, Nora, throughout the play, attempts to escape the male domination of her husband, Torvald. Nora's husband constantly dehumanizes her and makes her feel like her existence is pointless: “Torvald: Is my little squirrel busy? » (Ibsen, Act I, 2), by calling Nora a squirrel, her husband shows no respect for her or her feelings. Torvald also assumes that all men are perfect and that women are flawed: “Torvald: It's like a woman! But seriously, Nora, you know what I think. No debt, no borrowing. There can be neither freedom nor beauty in a family life that depends on loans and debts. So far we have both courageously kept the right path and we will continue the same path for the little time still necessary for there to be a struggle” (Ibsen, Act I, 2). Torvald stereotypes all women by saying that all women are the same and that they all spend money and men don't. Women in the 1900s had many responsibilities and Nora took them on without question: “Nora: Tell me, is it really true that you didn't love your husband? Why did you marry him? Mrs. Linde: My mother was alive then, bedridden and helpless, and I had to support my two younger brothers; I therefore did not think I had the right to refuse his offer." (Ibsen, Act I, 8). Women of the time made many sacrifices for their family and Nora also had to make one to get married in order to provide for the needs of her family Another distinct similarity between Edna and.