Abstract

In the play "The Pillars of Society," written by Henrik Ibsen, the social interactions that exist between men and women are analyzed in this inquiry. The first part of the investigation focuses on male characters who, within a patriarchal society, exercise hegemonic dominance and oppress female characters. The female characters come off as being reticent, quiet, and submissive. The second part of this investigation delves into the question of whether female characters who defy prevalent patriarchal authority have a revolutionary role in the narratives they inhabit. They are opposed to institutions that were developed by men and have resulted in women being silenced and marginalized in society.
Ibsen's female characters emerge to challenge accepted cultural notions about femininity and domesticity because of their dissatisfaction with those who maintain the patriarchal status quo. They engage in a struggle to validate their place and identity in the society as men's equals. In this action-packed drama, the three main female characters, Lona, Martha, and Dina, raise a revolutionary banner in open defiance of male superiority over women. They come out on top, whereas the male characters in the story come out on the losing end of the fight. This study analyses the voices of these major female characters within the perspective of feminist theory advanced by scholars such as Kete Millett and Sylvia Walby.

Key words: Engage, Patriarchy, Oppression, Liberation, Protest, Authority.