A Doll's House

A House in Ruins

In Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House", the subject most important to the story is marriage. "Until death do us part" well, not always. Everywhere one looks, divorce is plaguing society. The treasured marriage vows have become nothing but a promise made to be broken. A Doll's House is a prime example of a relationship that didn't work. To keep a marriage alive and well it must hold onto certain qualities: love, communication, trust and loyalty. With these qualities, any marriage is bound to work.

Without love a relationship would never even begin. The basis for Nora and Torvald's relationship appears to be centered around love, but this was not exactly obtained. Torvald doesn't really love Nora in a mature way; he just looks at her as another child. He has many nicknames for his wife including "lark" and "squirrel" which are small animals and used as symbols of foreshadowing. By using these symbols, Torvald looks at his wife as being smaller than himself and therefore easy to control. He always refers to Nora as my something. "Is that my little lark twittering out there?" and "Is it my little squirrel bustling about?" (438) He emphasizes the 'my' which makes him think that he owns his wife and he is in control of her. Calling his wife names such as 'skylark', 'squirrel', and 'spendthrift', Torvald does not love his wife with the respect and sensitivity a man should. He gives Nora an allowance but thinks she spends it frivolously. "What are little people called that are always wasting money? It's a sweet little spendthrift. One would hardly believe how expensive such little persons are" (439) Here, Nora is referred to as a small subordinate creature once again. Torvald is so concerned about money matters, that he doesn't think twice about the way he treats his wife.

Torvald thinks of Nora as a child. He says, "And I would not wish you to be anything but just what you are, my sweet little skylark. But, do you know, it strikes me that you are looking rather--what shall I say--rather uneasy to-day?" (440) Nora feels like a child in an adult role because she is treated this way. "Hasn't Miss Sweet-Tooth been breaking rules in town to-day?" Not been nibbling sweets? Not even taken a bite at a macaroon or two?" (440) Nora is not allowed to eat sweets because Torvald tells her not to; another one of his rules for a child. But that doesn't stop Nora from eating macaroons. She refuses to be treated like a child and alternates her personality between 'Torvald's little skylark' and 'Nora the intelligent and strong woman'. The main area where Torvald shows his lack of love for Nora is the way he manages his house. Torvald is the owner of what he believes to be a perfect doll house. His wife and children live in this house and are treated like his little dolls under his control; so he thinks. Going against all odds of a woman in the late nineteenth century, Nora goes behind her husband's back, borrows a large sum of money, forges her fathers signature, and goes on to pay it off with hopes of Torvald never hearing of it. Torvald manipulates Nora, sure that he can never lose control over his precious doll house. Nora is the only partner who shows love for the other in this play. The balance of love needed in a marriage is not reached and this hurts the relationship between Torvald and Nora. But this is not the only factor that contributes to the breakdown of marriage.

Another key to a successful marriage is communication. This is definitely lacking in the relationship between Torvald and Nora. In this "doll house", Torvald thinks he is in complete control. But on the other hand, Nora seems to get her way and does as she pleases without much thought. She defies her husband's authority and now her marriage is on the rocks. The possibility exists that if Nora had informed Torvald of her plans to borrow money, a conflict such as this would have never happened. But this is unrealistic. Torvald is a stubborn man when it comes to money and he can never accept the fact that he would need help from one of his unintelligent dolls. These two never talked enough, and Nora says, "we have been married now eight years. Does it not occur to you that this is the first time we two, you and I, husband and wife, have had a serious conversation?" (490). The communication throughout their entire marriage was poor, as this quote illustrates. This one big fight can end it all, and Nora even thinks about taking her own life. This shows she is very fragile and unhappy. "You don't understand me, and I have never understood you either--before to-night.": (489) She understands completely now; Torvald has never actually come out and said how he looks