Torvald Helmer Essay Example

Torvald Helmer Paper As soon as Nora speaks those words, she transforms into an independent woman, quite different from the doll (Ibsen 1017) that Torvald has made her out to be. Torvald, too, cannot escape his own reality. Torvald. Through most of the exposition, seems like a loving, devoted husband and father. He seems to be strong, virtuous, ambitions, and a man of integrity. After the party, Torvald makes a show of his devotion, telling Nora that he has wished [Nora] was in some terrible danger, just so [he] could stake [his] life and soul and everything for [her] sake. (Ibsen 1011) This illusion of devotion is quickly dissipated, however, after he gains news of Noras folly. His demeanor switches entirely from the loving husband to a cold, petulant man who cares only for his social image. He laughs at the possibility of losing his reputation to save Nora, saying that theres no one who gives up honor for love. (Ibsen 1017) Torvald, like Nora, is not the strong husband he was made out to be. Rather, he is a puny, egotistical man bound by the conventions of the society to which he belongs. Yet another character not to be taken at face value is the purported family friend, Dr. Rank. A kindly old friend of the family, Dr. Rank seems to be a wise, trustworthy advisor to Nora. He knows his place in the house, as a trusted companion to Nora. With knowledge of his impending death he even goes so far to say that [Mrs. Linde] will be my successor here in the house. We will write a custom essay sample on Torvald Helmer specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Torvald Helmer specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Torvald Helmer specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer (Ibsen 995) Despite his place in the household as a dependable friend, Rank is hiding something much more sinister. Rank has an ulterior motive in his frequent visits to the Helmer household. The lonely old doctor is too lonely for his own good. So lonely, in fact, that he lusts after Nora. He admits to her that [hes] loved [her] just as deeply as somebody else. (Ibsen 996) Dr. Rank, the supposed comrade and compatriot, is nothing more than a covetous false suitor, trying to steal Nora away from Torvald. Though the script calls for three actors to play Rank, Torvald, and Nora, it may have been more appropriate to call for six, one for each of their guises, and one for their realities. The three characters had ulterior motives abound. They were false to others, and to themselves, which is not unlike modern society. Today, there is still a mentality of publicly smiling while privately frowning that has only grown since the publishing of A Dolls House. It is a shame, really, that more people have not taken the advice Ibsen has given through Dr. Rank and Nora and Torvald Helmer. Torvald Helmer Essay Example Torvald Helmer Paper In the course of Henrik Isbens play A Dolls House, several characters undergo extreme transformations. These characters change and develop as the plot progresses and eventually show their true nature at the end of the play. The most evident and profound character development, is that of Torvald Helmer and his antithesis Nils Krogstad. As they are simultaneously developed, it becomes apparent that it is not the actual personality of Helmer and Krogstad that is changing, but merely the way they are portrayed and the circumstances (and their awareness of these circumstances) in which they are living. The character of Nils Krogstad was consistently developed throughout A Dolls House by both the dialect of other characters and his own actions and speech, as his character underwent the transition from a morally corrupt villain to a decent and even well liked man. Nils Krogstad first appears in Act 1 as a seemingly unimportant visitor wanting to discuss business matters with Torvald. His actions are nothing out of the ordinary and give the impression that he is a very polite individual. It is not until he leaves the room that a brief conversation between Nora and Kristine begins to expand upon his character. We will write a custom essay sample on Torvald Helmer specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Torvald Helmer specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Torvald Helmer specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Kristine first reveals that she used to know Krogstad many years ago when he was a solicitors clerk. Further discussion reveals that Krogstad is now a widower with many children whose marriage wasnt a very happy one (784). The tone of the conversation quickly changes as Dr. Rank joins them and reveals yet another aspect of Krogstads character. He makes it known that Krogstads past was one of moral affliction and corruption. He was offered a job at the bank out of pity, so that others would be able to keep an eye on him. According to Rank, Krogstad is rotten to the core (785). Later on in the Act, Krogstad does little to improve upon his poor reputation as he engages in a conversation with Nora that reveals he secretly lent her money and is now using that to blackmail her. He also admits to being in trouble in the past and explains that it has since ruined his reputation. In spite of the fact that Krogstad is in the act of threatening and blackmailing Nora, it is during this conversation that the reader gets the first glimpse of his good intentions. Krogstad claims that he only wants Nora to ensure that Torvald allows him to keep his job at the bank so that he can improve his status. Maintaining that the money is the last thing that he cares about, he states: my sons are growing up; for their sake I must try to win back what respectability I can (789). The next section of the play reverts back to degradation of Krogstads character as Torvald expresses his opinion of his former friend. Torvald does not sugarcoat his dislike of Krogstad; instead he is quick to disclose Krogstads crime of forgery. He continues by unveiling the fact that rather than admitting his guilt and taking the punishment, Krogstad dodged what was coming to him by a cunning trick (793). Torvald insists that a man with a crime like that on his conscience will always be having to lie and cheat and dissemble (793) even around his own family. In Torvalds mind, this makes his former schoolmate morally depraved because he has been poisoning his own children for years with lies and deceit (793). Due to all of his above-mentioned opinions, Torvald expresses his annoyance at the fact that Krogstad thinks he has every right to treat me as an equal (798). As the second Act nears its end and the third Act brings the play to a close, Krogstad undergoes his final stages of development. In conversation with Nora he begins to open up and tells her, even somebody like me has a bit of what you might call feeling (803). It is also here that one can begin to understand Krogstads motives and sympathize with him. He tells Nora: for the last eighteen months Ive gone straight; all the time its been hard going; I was content to work my way up, step by step (804). Krogstad then continues to express his dismay at being kicked out again.