family relationships in "a doll house"
Torvald Helmer, one of the main characters in the play, is somewhat “fair”. He prides himself on making a comfortable living for himself and his family, and achieving high status in society, all through honest and hard work. His wife, Nora, is a moral woman, so much so that at the opening of the play, she had this childlike innocence and naivety. Her worst lie could easily have been her sneaking macaroons, disobeying her husband’s rules against sweets.
It is emphasized that a father is obligated to lead a moral life in order to establish an exemplary lifestyle for his children. Throughout their marriage, Nora and Torvald have tried to make sure they raise their three children in that kind of environment. With the way they defend their moral beliefs, it seems that they have fulfilled their responsibility as parents quite well. It remained that way until Nora revealed that at the time her father was on her deathbed, Torvald fell ill. She was forced to borrow enough money to travel to southern Italy, where Torvald was able to restore him to health. She committed two crimes: first, she borrowed money without her husband’s consent, and second, she forged a signature. The second crime she was guilty of mirrored that of Krogstad, and it was likely that she would follow her fate. Krogstad became a moral outcast in society for his felony and lost his career as a lawyer along with his credibility. He was left with nothing but a tainted name.
To justify Krogstad’s dismissal from the bank, Torvald revealed to his wife his dislike for a corrupt man like Krogstad. Torvald explained how Krogstad passes his immorality on to his children, “…Because an atmosphere like that infects and poisons the whole life of a home…And for years this Krogstad fellow has been going home and poisoning his own children with lies and deceit.”
Nora believed that she too would bring a similar corruption to her children, bringing destruction to her entire home. Nora’s innocence and morality shone through when she was willing to sacrifice her life or leave her home so that her husband would not suffer the consequences of her crime, and also, to uphold the purity of their children. her. However, Torvaldo was blinded by rage and by his sensitive concern for what society would think, so he forbade her to raise his children; he could not trust them under the care of a “tramp woman”.
In a parallel situation, Dr. Rank has fallen ill and is getting worse at times, a disease is ravaging his body. In the days of his prime, Dr. Rank’s father had enjoyed the many mistresses of him, now Rank has received the punishment. Dr. Rank considered it an injustice “to pay for someone else’s sins. Yes, indeed, it is all a joke! My poor innocent backbone must pay for my father’s amusements.” The disease he has, wasting of the spine (syphilis), is an abiding symbol of his father’s depravity and indulgence. Rank possessed the physical representation of his father’s lifestyle: it is what he had inherited.
As we see in the cases of Nora and Dr. Rank, parents can easily pass on their corruption to their children. Nora’s case, however, is a mere abstract notion that Torvald manipulated her into thinking. However, a father must remain moral for the proper upbringing of his child.