Analyzing Gender Representation and Role Reversal in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House in light of Speech Act Theory

Abstract

This paper investigates the functional use of language to highlight gender specific traits and power asymmetry patterns in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. It applies functional approach to the text, which is based on Speech Act Theory. It studies and unfolds recurring patterns of dominance of Helmer and Nora by tracing acts, moves, exchanges and transactions in the conversation. The results obtained from the analysis are enlightening as there is a role reversal in the play and the acts, moves and exchanges which are peculiar to Helmer (in Event 1) are taken over or adopted by Nora towards the end of the play as she liberates herself from moral subjugation and social oppression (Event 2).  This study shows that while Nora’s sex remains the same, her gender changes towards the end of the play, when she slams the door. The present study is a contribution in the field of Language and Gender which began with the frameworks of deficient to dominance and difference. But the study tends to move away from an Essentialist (deficient) framework to Constructionist one, that is, gender is not a fixed entity, but a fluid social construct residing in interaction. The study shows that gender is a process which is neither complete nor consummate and we are not automata destined to perform the sex roles assigned at birth. Rather, we can defy the unjust social order by constructing and defining our own gender. Thus, the study has a liberating tendency as it helps to identify hierarchical relationships.