Ibsen's play, A Doll's House, seems to still be one of literature's most important works in that it is relatable not only to past generations, but also to the present generation and those that will follow. This play covers several different topics. These topics mainly pertain to issues within a marriage. For example, this play clearly illustrates the difference in gender roles in a marriage, as well as how secrets are kept from spouses. These themes are viewed in marriages across generations and it is what clearly exemplifies why this play is still pertinent to today's society. Though many rights and ideals have changed concerning gender roles within marriages since this play was written, there are still gender related themes that present themselves in marriages today that mirror those illustrated by the play. The main idea here is that men are the bread-winners of the family, the ones that provide for the wife and children. While this idea has diminished greatly over the years as women have left the homemaking behind and entered the working world, there are still hints of this in marriages today. Many men today feel that it is still their obligation to provide for the family as the play portrays Helmer doing for Nora. Men are sometimes still seen as the giver and manager of the household funds as Helmer is to Nora. As the play begins Helmer is seen cautioning Nora about her spending asking her if his "little spendthrift [has] been out throwing money around again" warning her that they "can't go squandering" (lines 22-23, 26). This is a common theme still seen in households today, thus proving the play's validity among societies and why it is still an important piece of literature in today's world.
Another trend seen in A Doll's House, reinforcing the notion that it is a valid work in our society, is the idea of keeping secrets from one's spouse. Many spouses can admit to keeping a secret from his or her spouse at one point or the other because he or she thought it was for the greater good. Nora neglected to tell her husband about the anonymous funds because she did not want him to worry about paying for the treatment; she thought she had the situation under control. It is only when her source begins to blackmail her that Nora fears her husband will be upset upon learning the truth. Nora expresses her fear when Helmer begins to open the mail saying "The letter! Oh, Torvald, no!" (line 373). When Helmer ultimately finds out about the money he exclaims "Then it;s true what he writes? How horrible! No, no, it's impossible--it can't be true" (lines 430-431). Almost every spouse in today's society can relate to these emotions, whether they are like Nora who feels bad for lying to her husband or like Helmer who feels betrayed by his wife's actions. This extremely real aspect of the play makes it relatable to those who read it whether they read it shortly after it was published or if it is tomorrow. The ideals portrayed in the play remain the same across contexts. It is simple: though we think we live in a progressive time, gender roles and keeping secrets are prevalent issues in marriages, making this play pertinent to today's society.
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