The Character of Torvald Helmer and Nils Krogstad in A Dolls House Ess

Torvald Helmer is the least likeable character in A Dolls House, a play by Henrik Ibsen. Torvald is sometimes portrayed as a sexist pig. Such a class period does an injustice to Torvald. There is more depth to his character if one follows the tinges that he had actively covered up for Noras father. The first hint came when Nora told Kristina that Torvald had given up his government post because there was no prospect of development. It may be that there was no opportunity for force backting ahead because promotion was disinclined in the bureau, but it may hit been because his most intimate co-workers (those who would have used the familiar Du with him) were aware of what he had done. While the management did non prosecute him (just as Krogstad was not prosecuted), those acquainted with the incident could prevent his advancement into an office where his larcenous tendencies could do real harm. A second hint is that Helmer saw Krogstad as a threat to his new post in the savings bank he seems to think he has a by rights to be familiar with me. Did he suspect that Krogstad knew the one awful inscrutable that could destroy him? The third hint follows that trail Krogstad expected that Nora had sufficient make for to persuade her husband not to dismiss him. Why did he cerebrate this unless he had some suspicion of her past influence? A progress hint comes when Helmer remarks I pretend were secretly in love--engaged in secret--and that no one dreams that theres anything between us. Why does he want that? Is this not a reference to the conflict of interest regarding her father? Lastly, after reading Krogstads letter, close to immediately Noras father comes to mind he exclaims, So this is what I get for condoning his fault I did it for your sake, and t... ...e Artist. Coral Gables, Florida University of Miami. Koht, Halvdan. 1971. Life of Ibsen. New York Benjamin Blom. Meyer, Michael. 1971. Ibsen. A Biography. Garden City, N.Y. Doubleday and Company. No rtham, John. 1965. Ibsens Search for the Hero. Ibsen. A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Prentice-Hall. Notes 1. Clurman (1977115, 117). Brandes (196477-78) The man is soundly honourable, scrupulously upright, thrifty, careful of his position in the eyes of strangers and inferiors, a congregation husband, a strict and loving father, kind-hearted. . . . 2. Brandes (196449) says that Ibsen views Helmer as a stupid and abhorrence man, whose stupidity arises solely from his self-righteous egoism. 3. Clurman (1977115-116) presents the traditional interpretation of Krogstad a round the bend man driven to hardness.