Doll House

             The term "foil" is defined as "To prevent from being successful; thwart." It means that someone is to stop someone from doing or achieving something. In Doll House, the foil to Torvald Helmer is his employee, Krogstad.
             Torvald and Nora are about to enjoy another Christmas holiday and more wealth in Torvald's promotion when Krogstad comes into their lives with hopes of getting Nora to convince Torvald to let him keep his job.
             Torvald's friend, Dr. Rank, makes some remarks of Krogstad in the Act 1. "You don't know him. The roots of his character are decayed," He says to Nora on Christmas Eve.
             Krogstad's blackmailing of Nora starts the downfall of the marriage between Nora and Torvald. As she boasts of her influence over her husband, although limited, shows her desire to feel useful and important, but this is to the contrary of her position in the Helmer household.
             Torvald denies his wife's request to not fire Krogstad, knowing what kind of person he is. "I honestly feel sick, sick to my stomach, in the presence of such people," he says to Nora. He doesn't know his comment also speaks of Nora, who, like Krogstad, also committed the crime of forgery in the loan for their trip to Italy. Slowly, but surely, Nora's doubts of her marriage lead to the ending of it.
             Ibsen's use of the title Doll House shows meaning because is often treated as a doll by Torvald, as he always wants to come home to a "happy and welcoming" home, as he says, and this adds to Nora's unnerving feeling.
             The blackmailing of Nora by Krogstad seems like a small part of the story, but this leads to the end of Torvald's marriage to Nora, who angrily walks out on her children and husband because of her distaste of her role and Torvald's treatment of her.