Relationship of Nora and Torvald (opening scene)

In the opening scene of the play ‘A Doll’s House’ by Henrik Ibsen, the relationship of Nora and Torvald is portrayed through the effective usage of stage directions and the use of dialogue.  Nora and Torvald’s relationship is illustrated as one of full of deception, of uneven balance in power, these has arisen because Nora is somewhat ‘afraid’ of Torvald’ and this is due to the differences in the social hierarchy as a result of gender differences. At the very beginning, Nora’s careless attitude towards money forms a stark contrast with that of her husband’s, ‘keep the change.’ It is almost as though Torvald focuses on building his status on the foundation of money and consequently is unable to be generous like Nora. In a society of today where women are liberated and are emancipated from the restrictions society  and especially men, places on them, Nora and Torvald’s relationship seems unusual, Torvald is the dictator of the family. It is not ‘husband and wife relationship’ but his references to Nora as ‘Miss Sweet Tooth’ conveys rather, a child/father relationship. The use of the possessive pronoun ‘my’ and the use of ‘little’ in the pet name Torvald has for Nora, ‘my sweet little skylark’ furthermore emphasises this idea of a child/father relationship. Nora understands her position in the family, she believes that Torvald wants to control her in such way that she is ‘caged’. In Tovald’s opion, Nora is submissive to him and that she never dares to ‘[go] against’ his wishes. However deception is soon apparent, conveyed by the incident of the macaroon. Torvald questions Nora through a number of playful accusations, this questioning is done in a manner that would indicate a child/father relationship. Torvald asks in an condescending tone ‘didn’t little sweet-tooth just look in at the confectioner’s?’, the diminutive ‘little sweet-tooth’ is used to emphasises a woman’s low status in society, that she must be controlled by her husband in order to survive in the world of unbalanced power, of injustice towards women and of their loss of independency. Though seemingly unbelievable in our modern society today, this is in fact a very conventional way of life in the 1900s. The repetition of ‘no’ in the Nora’s responses following Torvald’s degrading questions and remarks simply shows dishonesty. By doing this, Nora wants to please Helmer, who in return will offer her the independence she cherishes.