She was not the shallow, doll baby that the first impression gives of her. She was very mature and devoted in many ways. She went to great lengths to obtain money for a trip so her husband could regain his health. And, although she borrowed the money from a person of questionable integrity and forged her father's name on the note, she did it for her husband's life. The fact that she had been making the payments out of money she could squeeze from her expenses and working at some odd job, says much for her mature attitude. This mature attitude was concealed from all except for one person, Dr. Rank. Rank was the only one who knew that she was a serious person under the costume of her frivolity. He was able to confide in her about his death. This was something he could not disclose to Torvald because his ."..refined nature (couldn't) stand anything hideous" (Act III 920).
Her actions with her own children can also be explained from the actions of her father and husband. Since she had never been treated any way except as a doll or plaything, she did now know how to be a real mother to them. Just as any child learns from examples set before him, so did Nora learn only the fun and games of rearing children. The nurse was there for all the serious work; Nora just had to love and play with