|
memnoch: I would argue (and i suspect that Ibson was implying this) that one is not capable of being a good parent or spouse if he or she is unhappy. One of the reason we have so many unhealthy families (and by extension individuals) may be societies attitude that your obligation to others is greater than your obligation to yourself. Obviously this becomes much more complicated when children are involved -- in an ideal world people who do not like themselves would not reproduce but obviously this in unenforceable. I don't think that Nora was a very effective mother before leaving -- one would hope (and the ending of the play implies) that once she gets to know herself she can return to and be a much more effective mother to her children. The lesson that the play teaches is not that every unhappy woman should leave their family but that as a society we should stop actively raising unhealthy women. No one is asking you to like Nora or to support her decision but to respect the story as a commentary on society.
|