Nora’s Relationship with Torvald Essays

In the Bedford Introduction to Literature book, Carol Strongin Tuft wrote an article called “A Psychoanalytic Reading of Nora” there is a list of “narcissistic” qualities from the Task Force on Nomenclature and Statistics of The American Psychiatric Association (1226), to prove that someone actually is narcissistic, and these prove how Nora really is not a narcissist in any way, one of the qualities that it says is that the narcissistic person exhibits “interpersonal exploitiveness: takes advantage of others to indulge own desires for self-aggrandizement, with disregard for the personal integrity and rights of others.” So, in the play Nora begs her husband for money; which makes him think that she is a “spendthrift” (Ibsen A Doll’s House 1165),

Torvald doesn’t trust her with any money and with the little money that he does entrust her with he is afraid that she will spend it on Macaroons, a candy that he has forbid her to eat. He calls her his "little squirrel", "skylark", and he says she spends money very foolishly.

Torvald to look at something pretty. When the tree is stripp of its ornaments with its burnt down candle ends on it’s disheveled branches. It reflects how Nora’s is feeling stripped of her “decorations” and disheveled from Krogstead’s blackmail letter.

Nora begins to take offence to the words of Torvald. He refers to her as his most “prized possession”, and continues to say that he often imagines her as though she is his mistress, and she is a temptress. Nora continues to get offended, telling Torvald she doesn’t want any of this. Nora begins

Nora and Torvald's definition of “ being a human” are completely different. Torvalds definition of being a “human being” is trying to say that Nora is like society's human being. Society's stereotype that Torvald is trying to describe or symbolize is that she has to follow the man's ways, that the man of the house should always be right. That what the man does is what is correct for the family. Noras definition or symbol for saying “ before all else, I’m a human being” means that she is a real true human being that messes up and has dreams to become something else than a housewife.

Torvald also does not trust Nora with money, which exemplifies Torvald's treating Nora as a child. On the rare occasion when Torvald gives Nora some money, he is concerned that she will waste it on candy and pastry. In general, Nora’s duties are

She alludes to a child’s character when she says, “everything I think of seems so silly and insignificant” (26). Torvald replies with a condescending statement: “Does my little Nora acknowledge that at last?” (26). Torvald expects only childish talk from her. He even tells her she is “little,” like a child, and although he expects nothing more than child’s talk from her, he does expect to be obeyed.

When Krogstad threatens to expose the truth, Nora must use her craftiness to distract Torvald and sway him into letting Krogstad keep his job. Unfortunately, she is not able to change his mind, but she does succeed in diverting his suspicions of her motives. She praises him and lulls him into a false sense of security by telling him that "[n]o one has such good taste as [he has]" and then goes on to ask him if he could "take [her] in hand and decide what [she is] to go as" for the dance. She confesses to him that she "can't do anything without [him] to help [her]". These statements lead him to believe that he is the one to "rescue" her, when it is in fact Nora who is trying to rescue him from dishonour. Later on, when Krogstad puts a letter in Torvald's mail, explaining everything that Nora has done, Nora uses her charms once more. She pretends that she has forgotten the tarantella so that Torvald will spend all his time with her and think nothing of the mail that awaits him. Nora truly believes that by deceiving her husband, she is protecting him from worry. Because of Nora's deception, the person that Torvald believes her to be is quite different from the person she actually is. He believes that she is a "spendthrift," infatuated by expensive things when in reality, she saves her money to pay back Krogstad and buys cheap clothing and gifts. Torvald

This tone gives the statement a endearing and protective connotation. However, it illustrates how Torvald manipulates Nora to control her actions, revealing his dominating character and Nora's insecure and submissive characters are revealed. As Nora continues to be obedient, Torvald takes advantage of her; furthermore, Torvald does not want to discuss official issues with her, and teases her about her "silly and insignificant" character. The negative denotation of Torvald's diction emphasizes the abuse in the relationship. The lack of communication allows Torvald to continue abusing her. Abuse forces a person to stay in a relationship. It makes the victim feel unimportant and unloved. Open communication can bring equality and love to the relationship.

In Torvald's mind, she is his delicate little creature that he must protect, and without his guidance, he believes that she would be devoured by the world she is incapable of understanding. He treats her like a doll; for example, when Nora is talking with Mrs. Linde about the masquerade party, she says:

As Mrs. Linde and Nora continue with their conversation, Nora begins to question whether Torvald does love her. Nora begins to tell her story of how she was the one to raise the money for the trip to Italy and not Torvald. She reveals how she went to Krogstad and asked for a loan to help pay for the trip. When Mrs. Linde asked if Torvald knew any of this information Nora replied, "He's so strict on that subject ... with all his masculine pride how painfully humiliating for him if he ever found out he was in debt to me" (1194). Nora did not feel comfortable telling Torvald about the predicament because she did not want to offend him. Torvald is set on complying by his morals and the fact that Nora disobeyed them would dishonor her

is undoubtedly symbolic of her longing to be out of the control of Torvald and

Torvald is only concerned with, in regard to his relationship with Nora, how well she makes him look and what other people think about it. If he has a beautiful, obedient wife and joyful relationship, people will respect him. They’re relationship, on the outside appears to be happy. But, when you analyze their relationship, you see Nora is treated like a child in this relationship, but as the play progresses she begins to realize how phony her marriage is. Torvald sees Nora 's only role as being the subservient and loving wife. He refers to Nora as "my little squirrel" (185), “my little lark” (185), or “little spendthrift” (185). He only sees her as a possession. Torvald calls Nora by pet-names and speaks down to her because he thinks that she is not intelligent and that she can not think on her own. Whenever she begins

By saying all these things Nora is seemingly proving to Torvald that he has power over her. Luckily, Torvald is not incredulous and feels that Nora is being

Torvald cares not only about money, but also about his social status and reputation as well. When he finds out that Nora borrowed money from Krogstad with a forged signature, his love for her is suddenly completely gone, and he accuses her of destroying all of his happiness. Even though he is absolutely appalled by his wife's act, he insists that "it must appear as if everything between us were just as before—but naturally only in the eyes of the world"(3.242). Later, however, when Krogstad returns the bond with the forged signature and promises not to tell a soul about what happened, Trovald is suddenly able to love his wife again! He still only cares about himself, and this is portrayed when he jumps for joy exclaiming “I’m saved, I’m saved!” Nora is only an afterthought when it comes to his reputation. Their