The Relationship of Torvald and Nora

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The Relationship of Torvald and Nora

At the beginning of the play, Nora and Helmer seem to have a happy

marriage, although it is quite a childish relationship as Helmer often

uses diminutive language and names such as ‘songbird’ or ‘squirrel to

talk to Nora. However, by the end of the play Nora seems to have

changed. The way Nora speaks changes from being a young girl to being

like a woman. Finally, she leaves Torvald.

At the start of the play Nora speaks in a very childish manner. You

notice this when she says things such as ‘heaps’ and ‘the great blue

sky’. This shows that she is mentally naive. She says these things as

a child would say them. For example, the lines that she speaks have a

lot of exclamation points and as Nora says some things she jumps up

and down or claps her hands, this shows the childish way she acts.

Torvald speaks to her in very over-romantic language and it seems as

though maybe it isn’t real and their love is just part of a game. It

is so romantic it seems as though he is trying to convince himself

that he loves her. He says things such as ‘squirrel’, ‘lark’ or

‘songbird’. Songbirds are kept in cages so this may have something to

do with Nora’s situation as Torvald controls the way she thinks and so

she is caged in his world.

Torvald also acts very paternally towards Nora and patronises her.

Helmer uses the word ‘little’ a lot when he speaks to Nora. He calls

her his ‘little Nora’ or ‘little creature’ which shows that their

relationship seems to be more paternal than marital. Helmer treats

Nora like a daughter. This is really noticeable when he does things

like kissing her on the forehead or putting his arm around her. Helmer

and Nora play a game and Nora manipulates Hel...

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...lived by

performing tricks for you, Torvald.’ She also says that Torvald had

her as his ‘doll-wife’ and that Torvald played with her as the

children played with their dolls.

When she announces that she is going to leave him Torvald reacts at

first by trying to forbid her from leaving ‘I shall not allow it! I

forbid it!’ and since this doesn’t work Helmer tries to use religion

as an argument so that she doesn’t leave. Also, he suggests that

society will look on her badly, and then he pleads with her not to

leave and says that he’ll change for her. However, Nora had her set

view even though Helmer tried to use strength, religion and his sweet

charm to keep her at home.

In the end Nora leaves. She slams the door as she goes which shows a

symbolic cut between her former life and the life that she is about to

lead. She has finally left her Dolls house.

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