Amelia Pedlow is Nora in the Guthrie Theater’s production of “A Doll’s House.”
BY ED FELIEN
Henrik Ibsen wrote “A Doll’s House” for a Danish theater in Copenhagen in 1879. It was part of the 19th century consciousness-raising literature of the early Women’s Suffrage Movement. The growing middle class of small business and professional people who went to the theater thought of themselves as enlightened and progressive. The struggle of a banker’s wife to find her authentic identity resonated with that audience.
It was a deliberate thesis play. It was meant to teach a lesson. And, it must be acknowledged, it made a significant contribution to raising popular consciousness about the rights of women. Danish women got the vote in 1915, three years ahead of Great Britain and five years ahead of America.
But that was 146 years ago. Is it still relevant today?
Only if you believe there is still work to be done before women achieve full equality with men.
The Guthrie production teaches us where the modern struggle began.
A Doll’s House runs through Sunday, Oct. 12.
Guthrie Theater
818 S. 2nd St., Mpls
guthrietheater.org
