Shallow_Torvald

Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” is a play shining a light on the problems of gender equity. The play places Nora and Torvald who live together as a married couple with children. All is going well for them it seems, especially with Torvald’s new job. That is until Krogstad comes in with a compromising matter which could change things forever. In this play Torvald’s character is self-centered because he is selfish, controlling and ignorant of how to treat women with respect and dignity. Torvald whose selfishness outshines that of any other character in the play compromises his relationship with Nora. “Now you have destroyed all my happiness, you have ruined all my future!”(62) Torvald disregards the fact that Nora has saved his life. Instead he thinks about how the fraud will affect him. He blames Nora for ruining his life. But as soon as Krogstad returns the bond to them he ‘loves’ Nora all over again. Since he would no longer be harmed. Nora then realizes that Torvald cares for himself first before all others. During the eight years of their marriage Torvald had complete control over Nora, disregarding the fact that he was ill and did not know of Nora’s loan. Torvald controlled what Nora could or could not eat, restricting her from any sweets such as macaroons. Nora had to hide the fact that she ate them in fear of Torvald getting angry towards her, he also brought in money in which Nora wanted as much as she could get. This makes Nora act childish and beg for more money. This gives Torvald the feeling of superiority and makes him more controlling of her. Torvald has is infused in his head that nothing can be done in the house or family if he wasn’t in charge. He believed that no man should be influenced in any way by his wife. Torvald lives to be in charge. When it comes to understanding women Torvald is completely ignorant. “That is like a woman!” (4) Torvald speaks of how typical it is of a woman to not know of business matters such as loans. But yet he does not know Nora had taken out a loan in order to save his life, and she slowly but surely pays it back. He treats Nora as if she was a child, which sometimes makes her act childish since she is so used to the treatment. Torvald never took Nora seriously he acted if she was his play toy. He always talked down towards Nora claiming that she was little, foolish and always wasting money. If Torvald knew how to treat a woman with respect, his marriage would have been more successful and he could’ve appreciated Nora for who she was. Torvald an arrogant man who always thinks, for himself, treats women unequally and is a dominating man. Torvald has always looked out for number one, which he thought was himself. He wanted to control everything around him, if it wasn’t under his control it was worthless. The way he treated Nora was in no way possible for him to keep his marriage with her. In life when there is a perfect balance of respect and gender roles, I think society will be open for many opportunities whether it be giving women more jobs and teaching men other roles.