Question

read the passage from a doll’s house.
helmer: because such an atmosphere of lies infects and poisons the whole life of a home. each breath the children take in such a house is full of the germs of evil.
nora: coming nearer him are you sure of that?
helmer: my dear, i have often seen it in the course of my life as a lawyer. almost everyone who has gone to the bad early in life has had a deceitful mother.
nora: why do you only say—mother?
helmer: it seems most commonly to be the mother’s influence, though naturally a bad father’s would have the same result. every lawyer is familiar with the fact. this krogstad, now, has been persistently poisoning his own children with lies and dissimulation, that is why i say he has lost all moral character. holds out
how does the author use the character of helmer to develop the idea of gender inequality?
○ by rebuking deceitful mothers, helmer demonstrates the belief that women’s primary responsibility was raising children.
○ by saying that mothers and fathers share the responsibility of influence over children, helmer demonstrates the idea of gender inequality.
○ by dismissing nora’s opinions of krogstad, helmer demonstrates how women’s beliefs were oftentimes ignored.
○ by saying that he is physically ill in krogstad’s presence, helmer demonstrates the belief that men are inferior to women.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option A: Helmer focuses solely on deceitful mothers as a corrupting influence on children, even when Nora questions why he only mentions mothers. This reflects the 19th-century gendered belief that women's primary role and responsibility was child-rearing, and that their failures in this role were the main cause of harm to children—directly illustrating gender inequality in assigned parental and moral responsibilities.
2. Analyze Option B: Helmer only briefly acknowledges fathers could have the same negative influence, but centers his argument on mothers. This option contradicts his actual focus, so it is incorrect.
3. Analyze Option C: The passage does not involve Nora sharing opinions about Krogstad that Helmer dismisses; the conversation is about parental deceit's impact on children, so this is irrelevant.
4. Analyze Option D: Helmer never claims to be physically ill around Krogstad, nor does he suggest men are inferior to women. This option is factually wrong.

Answer:

A. By rebuking deceitful mothers, Helmer demonstrates the belief that women's primary responsibility was raising children.