Societal Norms In 'Torvald Helmer' By Henrik Ibsen

Torvald Helmer, like his wife, is a victim of 19th-century societal norms, and this societal pressure resulted in Torvald’s antagonist attitude and misogynistic beliefs against Nora, his wife. Torvald, a well-off man who has recently been promoted, is no saint when it comes to his prejudiced views against his wife, Nora, and her role in their home. When the play begins, he addresses her with names like his “little skylark,” or “little squirrel,” in fact many of the pet names are prefaced with the word “little” (Ibsen 46). His own diction is indicative of his view of Nora. In his eyes, his wife is the weaker one in the marriage and he has the dominant role. His wife is someone who is below him, a “little” animal who needs control, guidance,

At this time, men and women had different roles and were presumed to have different personality and physical traits. Men were strong, women were weak. Torvald was taught to act a certain way based on what society deemed men should be like. Torvald even tells Nora, “I’ll guide you and teach you. I wouldn’t be a man if this feminine helplessness didn’t make you twice as attractive to me” (Ibsen 107). What is noticeable about Torvald’s statement is that he says “ he wouldn’t be a man.” Is he not a man already or is there a societal requirement that he must possess in order to be considered a man? This kind of wording is evidence of how societal norms can shape how someone perceives themselves. Torvald feels that he has to “guide” and “teach” Nora because he is “a man.” This is what society deemed men should do - control their wives. Even Torvald’s statement to Nora that “there’s no one who gives up honor for love,” (Ibsen 113) before Nora acknowledges that women do that every day, shows that there are certain generalizations Torvald has learned from society. Torvald could never imagine himself sacrificing his honor because he was taught that as a man, he is supposed to be strong, courageous, and dominant. He does not know why he would have to sacrifice anything in the first place, as he is so used to automatically being in control. This is the mentality that society engraved into its individuals. In reality, Torvald