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 reading does an injustice to Torvald. There is more depth to his character if one follows the hints 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 in that respect was no prospect of advancement. It may be that there was no opportunity for getting ahead because promotion was slow in the bureau, but it may have been because his most intimate co-workers (those who would have used the long-familiar Du with him) were aware of what he had done. While the management did not 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 s eems to pretend he has a right to be familiar with me. Did he suspect that Krogstad knew the one awful secret that could destroy him? The third hint follows that trail Krogstad evaluate that Nora had sufficient influence to persuade her husband not to dismiss him. Why did he believe this unless he had some suspicion of her past influence? A further 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, almost immediately Noras father comes to mind he exclaims, So this is what I get for condoning his work shift 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. Northam, 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 thoroughly honourable, scrupulously upright, thrifty, diligent of his position in the eyes of strangers and inferiors, a faithful husband, a strict and loving father, kind-hearted. . . . 2. Brandes (196449) says that Ibsen views Helmer as a stupid and evil man, whose stupidity arises solely from his pharisaic egoism. 3. Clurman (1977115-116) presents the traditional interpretation of Krogstad a soft man driven to hardness.