Torvald is considered the antagonist of the show and the oppression of his wife Nora is shown through his idealism and ego. This man is seen as a male stereotype. While being brutal, stubborn, and petty-minded, Torvald becomes a non theatricalized version of himself, which juxtaposes the over theatricalized character of his wife. For the majority of the show, Nora has a streak of not thinking and being controlled, while Torvald is supposed to be the head of the household and do all the thinking and controlling (Moi 257-261). In Ibsen’s plays, an idealist motif takes place and is seen through Torvalds’s character with “anti-theatrical language, hypocrisy, pretense, and mask” (Moi 262). Throughout the show, Mr. Helmer thinks of himself as a hero that was
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Torvald, “Represents a social structure that has decreed an inferior position for women. He is a symbol of society: male-dominated, authoritative, and autocratic” (A Doll’s House 109). Torvald stereotyped his wife and used demeaning diction when using pet names throughout the show such as “Singing lark” and “Little spendthrift”, he even goes so far as to pat her on the head as one would a puppy, but never an equal (“A Doll’s House” 109). After calling Nora a “spendthrift”, he continues and stereotypes his wife by saying, “That is like a woman! [...] you know what I think about that. No debt, no borrowing”, as if all women were known to not keep up with borrowed money and overspend their husband’s earnings (21). Torvalds’s solution to the household problems, like overspending, are to set rules that are petty and …show more content…
Rules such as no eating macaroons (which Nora clearly disobeys) turns out to be even more destructive over Nora’s character and the Helmer’s household than Torvald initially expects (A Doll’s House 109). However, when Nora actually takes him seriously and urges him to read the letters, it not only raises her husband’s ego, but the audience is shown who is really in control of the house (Moi
Torvald, “Represents a social structure that has decreed an inferior position for women. He is a symbol of society: male-dominated, authoritative, and autocratic” (A Doll’s House 109). Torvald stereotyped his wife and used demeaning diction when using pet names throughout the show such as “Singing lark” and “Little spendthrift”, he even goes so far as to pat her on the head as one would a puppy, but never an equal (“A Doll’s House” 109). After calling Nora a “spendthrift”, he continues and stereotypes his wife by saying, “That is like a woman! [...] you know what I think about that. No debt, no borrowing”, as if all women were known to not keep up with borrowed money and overspend their husband’s earnings (21). Torvalds’s solution to the household problems, like overspending, are to set rules that are petty and …show more content…
Rules such as no eating macaroons (which Nora clearly disobeys) turns out to be even more destructive over Nora’s character and the Helmer’s household than Torvald initially expects (A Doll’s House 109). However, when Nora actually takes him seriously and urges him to read the letters, it not only raises her husband’s ego, but the audience is shown who is really in control of the house (Moi