Throughout history women have been treated inferior to men. General society would not allow women to express their true thoughts and feelings. What divided these women was how they respond to this treatment. Most women would cower before the power of men, but a choice few speak out. In the stories "Antigone" and "A Doll's House", Antigone and Nora fight against the force of society. They stand up for what they believe and do not let society control them, as many of the women in their time did. However, Antigone and Nora go about expressing themselves to the authority of the time in different ways. Antigone is steadfast in her decision from the beginning of the story, while Nora must come to see how the relationship with her husband is affecting her life before standing up to him and society at large. .
Antigone is a strong woman who knows what she stands for. She will give anything, even her life, to uphold her morals and values. When Antigone finds out her brother has been killed and will not receive a burial she is deeply saddened. She knows that it will be death to anyone who tries to burry him, but she must defend her beliefs, "But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy," (Sophocles 694). Amazingly, she shows no sign of respect for the king's command: In her heart, she knows the command is wrong. She goes to her sister Ismene for support in burying her brother, but her sister is intimidated by the male authority and will not help Antigone. Ismene, wishing to prevent Antigone from burying her brother, tries to intimidate her by saying, "Impossible things should not be tried at all," (Sophocles 695), but Antigone does not waver. She goes against the king's will, the society that obeys the king's laws, and her only living relative because she knows she must always fight for what she believes in.
Nora wants the respect of her society but does not know how to obtain it.