Gender Roles In A Doll's House

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If we dig deeper into Torvald's problems with his ego and attitude, we'll find that gender role, and his culture isn't the only reason for his arrogant ways. Torvald consciously or unconsciously played mind games a lot and dehumanized Nora so he can look in charge and kind of like her father. These are psychological problems, Torvald would regularly call Nora pet names like: "little squirrel, "little songbird," and "little skylark." In Act 1 of "A Doll's House" Torvald and Nora are in the middle of a conversation about sweets, and Torvald uses one of his tactics to get into Nora's head: TORVALD. (wagging his finger at her). Hasn't Miss Sweet Tooth been breaking rules in town today?
NORA. No; what makes you think that?
TORVALD. Hasn't she paid a …show more content…
(going to the table on the right). I should not think of going against your wishes.(Ibsen 356)
In this convo, we see Torvald manipulative schemes; he uses his words to get into Nora's head and to make her think she is a child obeying their parent. These are the mind games Torvald loves to play; he made the second between him and Nora as if he was the father and Nora was the children, and Torvald does this on a constant basis. It's Torvald motive to create scenes like this so he can control Nora. Author Erving Goffman talks about the mind and controlling:
Regardless of the particular objective which the individual has in mind and of his motive for having this objective, it will be in his interests to control the conduct of the others, especially their responsive treatment of him. This control is achieved largely by influencing the definition of the situation which others come to formulate, and he can influence the definition expressing himself in a way as to give them the kind impression that will lead them to act voluntarily in accordance with his own plan. (195-196)
Torvald knew how to control Nora; he knew the right words to say. It was all part of the mind games he was playing to get Nora to follow his
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