Analyzing the Helmers' Relationship in A Doll's House Act I

This assignment analyzes the opening act of Henrik Ibsen's 'A Doll's House,' focusing on the relationship between Nora and Torvald Helmer, and the central issues presented. The student's response explores the initial impressions of their marriage, highlighting the power imbalance and Torvald's condescending behavior. The analysis delves into the themes of love, marriage, deceit, and societal expectations, supported by specific quotes and examples from the text. The assignment also contrasts Nora's situation with that of Kristine Linde, emphasizing the differing approaches to love, marriage, and independence. The student cites supporting evidence to analyze the characters' attitudes toward the issues of duty, responsibility, and gender roles, providing a comprehensive understanding of the act's complexities.

Running Head: A DOLL’ HOUSE
A Doll’s House
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

Question 1- What are your first impressions of the relationship between the Helmers? Do
Nora and Torvald seem to share an equal partnership in their marriage?
My first impression on Nora is that she is a woman having many aspects and she appears
to be a perfect wife and perfect mother. Notably, this impression is diminished with the progress
of the play when her husband shouts on her wastefulness. On the other hand, Torvald appears
immediately as a doting husband but after a few moments he is found to be treating his wife the
way through which a father would treat his daughter when she is going through an unsuitable
path:” Isn't it your duty to your husband and children?” (Tornqvist and Egil 1995). With the
progress of the play, I have found that in the beginning Nora and Torvald share a conventional
and middle-class marriage going through the standards of the time. Torvald on the other hand is
the man of the house and the breadwinner of the family who treats Nora as a little child who
needs protection from the world around. He also uses a variety of pet names for his wife that is
condescending: “I’ve been your doll-wife here, just as at home I was Daddy’s doll-child.” (Act
III) “. I have found that Ibsen has made and attempt of showing the condition of women in the
society and it is not unreasonable to infer that this is an uncommon arrangement. Moreover, it is
an arrangement to which the women who are married confirm without any question. Nora does
not show any such sign of resentment towards the patronizing manner of her husband Torvald.
Thus, it is for sure that they are not sharing an equal partnership in their marriage because it is
where one person is dominated by the other.
Question 2- What central issues are addressed in the first Act?
Torvald Nora Kristine Krogstad
Issue 1- The
theme of love

and marriage is
also shown as the
focal point of the
First Act where
the marriage of
Nora and
Torvald is
described along
with the marriage
of Mrs. Linde.
Evidence/quote Torvald uses
diminutive pet
names for his
wife such as
“little squirrel”,
“lark” and
“songbird”. He
also calls her
“little girl” and
“little one”
having
maintained the
atmosphere of
Nora is the
protagonist of the
play and appears
as innocent as a
child and
entertains the
pampering
(dominating)
attitude of
Torvald. At last
she find the way
of getting free
from the
. This marriage is
a contrast to the
marriage of Mrs.
Linde which
happens by the
end of the play
showing that
marriage and
love are founded
on the
materialistic
expectations
(Wharton 2019).
A rich lawyer
holding a
position in the
bank of Torvald.
He achieves his
goals through
unethical ways.
However, he is a
family man who
does everything
for his family
and children.

subordination
which is more
appropriate to a
father than for
husband
oppressive
condition.
My interference Torvald’ attitude
is reflected and
permitted in
every word his
picks to call
Nora and his
nature of
objectifying
Nora is crucially
evident in his
diminutive pet
names for his
wife. Helmer
have presented as
a happy couple
who lead a
blissful life after
marriage. The
Ibsen is found to
be painting
picture of the
women of all
economic classes
of the whole
society (Dubost
2020). In the
general sense, the
female characters
of the play
exemplify the
assertion of Nora
that even men
can refuse
sacrificing their
integrity but
women do
For supporting
her two brothers
and her mother
Mrs Linde seems
to be abandoning
her penniless but
true love and
marriage the rich
man Krogstad.
Nora on the other
hand is found to
be a dominated
partner by her
husband and the
society. The
rekationship
between love and
marriage is well
The individual
and the social
fabric are also
portrayed in the
play which is one
of the most
significant
themes of this
piece. The
actions of an
individual are
seen as a
response to the
community or
the society they
live in.

usage of the pet
names by both
the couple for
each other shows
that there is an
involvement of
love which is
opposite to Mrs
Linde’s life
sacrifice it : “
Hundreds of
thousands of
women have”.
reflected over
here.
Issue 2- Another
issue is
deceitfulness in
relationships that
appear to be
perfect in the
first glance.
Quote/ evidence Torvald is asked
by his loved wife
Nora for money
for buying
something for
her also suggest
that she does
In the First Act,
Nora was found
to be showing off
the presents she
had brought for
the children. She
appears happy
“ the self-
effacing Kristine
Linde”.
“ two partners of
equal
importance”.

want to take
decisions for
herself. Torvald
does not entrust
her with the
money showing
that there was an
imbalance of
power in their
marriage (Wang
2016).
and represents
the happiness of
the family having
Nora performing
the role of a wife
and mother. Her
selection of toys
shows that she
buys into the
traditional
gender roles as
she buys doll for
the daughter and
sword and horse
for the boys.
My interference The treatment of
Torvald of Nora
as a helpless
child contributes
to the isolation of
Nora from
reality.
She is fitted into
the general rules
and accepts that a
girl should be
going into the
role of a wife and
mother where the
boys should be
Kristine on the
other hand is a
contrast to Nora
placing a
laudable example
for her. She
rejects her
genuine love to
The relationship
between
Krogstad and
Kristine is just
the opposite of
the Nora and
Torvald.

strong and
powerful. Nora
has served as a
symbol of
women of that
time the woman
who were
dominated and
learnt to be
content with
modern society
having no care
about the world
where they live.
help her family.
She is an
independent and
mature woman
and addressed as

Reference
Dubost, T., 2020. Wilder as a Playwright-in-the-Making: Adapting A Doll'House. Thornton
Wilder Journal, 1(1), pp.81-95.
Shah, A.R., 2016. The Concept of Feminism in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll's House. International
Multidisciplinary Research Journal.
Tornqvist, E. and Egil, T., 1995. Ibsen: A doll's house (Vol. 1). Cambridge University Press.
Wang, Q., 2016. Before Marriage, Within Marriage, and After Marriage—Kristine Linde in A
DOLL HOUSE. The Explicator, 74(2), pp.69-73.
Wharton, A., 2019. Doll's House/Dollhouse: Models and Agency. Journal of American
Studies, 53(1), pp.28-56.