Parsons 1

Tom Parsons

Mrs. Finkbeiner

World Literature

March 10, 2011

Torvald Helmer

In the play A Dolls House, by Henrik Isben all of the characters change their

values based in the situation they are in. However, Torvald Helmer remains the same

based on the morals and values that he practices. He believes that you should not borrow

money no matter the situation because life with debt isn’t worth it. He also likes to be in

control of his relationship with Nora and makes sure that everything is “perfect”. Even

though Nora has many flaws and has committed many wrongs while with Torvald he

thinks she is perfect and hasn’t done anything wrong. He also likes to be respected by

anyone underneath him socially and doesn’t like when people see him not being

respected by those people.

At the beginning of the play Torvald tells Nora “And I don’t wish you anything

but just the way you are-my own, sweet little song bird” (Pg. 145). This shows that

Torvald loves Nora very much but he also thinks that the man should be in control of

what happens in a relationship. At the end of the play however when you he realizes that

he hasn’t been in control of the relationship the only thing he thinks he can do is end the

relationship and not try and work things out with Nora.

Torvald believes that someone can not be free and live a happy life if they

are in debt, and he strongly hates borrowing money from anyone even if the situation

calls for it. He says “

 Parsons 2

Home life ceases to be free and beautiful as soon as it is founded on borrowing and debt”

(Pg. 143). After Torvald reads the letter from Krogstad he is extremely angry but Nora

thinks that he will be sincere with her and comfort her, but she doesn’t realize Torvald

true values.

At the end of the play when Torvald realizes that Nora has been in control of their

relationship the whole time with all of her lies it angers him because he wants to be in

control. Torvald is also extremely irritated because she borrowed money from Krogstad

and Torvald is against borrowing money no matter what.

Torvald is very naive when it comes to Nora and her being “perfect”. He is blinded be

Nora and all the wrongs she has committed. At the beginning of the play when Torvald

says “…But, I say-it strikes me-you look so, so-what shall I call it?-so suspicious to-day”

(Pg. 145) Then Nora goes on about how she doesn’t know what he is talking about and

then Torvald says “well, well, well; of course I’m only joking” (Pg.145). Torvald thinks

that Nora doing anything wrong is a complete joke and he doesn’t think she would make

a mistake.

Throughout the play Torvald is the only consistent character even though it may

seem that he is changed at the end. He thinks that you should never borrow money

because once you do life becomes a disaster. He believes that the man of the family

should be in control of every aspect of the relationship between him and his wife. Torvald

also likes to be respected by anyone beneath him socially and hates it when people see

that he isn’t respected. As you can see Torvald was the only constant character in A Dolls

house, by Henrik Isben.