Character Analysis Of Torvald In 'The Doll's House'

“Torvald is so absurdly fond of me that he wants me absolutely to himself, as he says.” This quote is said from Nora to a close friend of hers in the play The Dolls House by Henrik Ibson, and it is a perfect encapsulation of how perspective changes the reading of a story. While a neutral reader would see this line as bad but understandable, A female young adult reader growing up in a time and setting where she has taught to be comfortable about her sexuality would have a very different impression of this line. This female reader would judge TorvaldTovald much more harshly and more lasting than the average reader
It is an irrefutable fact that Torvald treat Nora like a child, and this reader would be offended by this. For an example close to

This is clear first when Torvald and Nora are talking, and this exchange happens, “Torvald. I would gladly work night and day for you, Nora — bear sorrow and want for your sake. But no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves. Nora. It is a thing hundreds of thousands of women have done,” (III). While a neutral reader will be more focused on Nora’s response, this reader would instead be focusing on Torvalds statement, and the fact that he needs to be told this seals his fate in the eyes of this reader. No matter how much he changes, the fact that this had never occurred to him before, in the eyes of this reader, makes him utterly irredeemable. This hold even after the end when Torvald says “The most wonderful thing of all —?” (III). This refers to Nora’s statement that in order to get them back together the most wonderful thing of all would have to happen. While this statement would give the normal reader the impression he could get back together with Nora, in the eyes of this reader he can never be redeemed, because he still has not done anything or made any action to show that he will genuinely try to