Masculinity In A Doll's House

In the book A Dolls House , the character Torvald, or Helmer, is seen to not be very morally sound. The biggest idea that he values is reputation and how he appears to others. It is important for him to seem to have the perfect life and family to society. Like having the perfect stay at home wife, kids, and be seen as the typical “ bread winning man ”. Reputation is also as important to him, and he would do anything to not let anyone ruin it or make him lose his position that he is to soon have at the bank. His motives are also to have Nora always have to come to him when she needs something, or mainly to just have a huge dependance on him. One of the themes Helmer represents is masculinity. He best represents it in his actions and dialogue. For one, he tries to be a typical husband who is seen to make and provide the money. But with Nora around he sometimes tend to be emasculated. This is best shown in the statement by nora when she says, "How painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald, with his manly independence, to know that he owed me anything!" . Helmer further more validates the concept of masculinity in his mentioning in the following quote, “ The NURSE comes in with the children. […]

HELMER: "Come along, Mrs. Linde; the place will only be bearable for a mother now! ”. This specific quote explains his thought that men

In one side it shows how he wants other people to see him, which is an important aspects to remember about him. While in the other side shows other words that either describe him, his actions, his dialogue or the things he values. The things written include, oblivious, reputation, clueless and ignorant. Some statements that best describe him that are mentioned include, “ wants nora to depend on him ”, and “ teaches nora like a doll/ kid ”. In the back is also written names of characters in which Helmer associates with, they include, Dr. Rank and