Throughout his play, A Doll's House, Henrik Ibsen's shows the reader a portrayal of a marriage that has lost all emotion and romanticism. Nora and Torvald Helmer are a married couple who act as if each is merely the other's object of affection. Torvald's playful banter and Nora's love of money often get on each other's nerves. For these and other reasons, Nora and Torvald Helmer's marriage is untrue, as the reader sees through the episodes of Nora's lie to her husband, Helmer's lack of concern for his wife, and the final episode in which Helmer discovers Nora's lie.
One instance that proves the untrue marriage is the fact that Nora forges her father's signature to earn money for Helmer's medical needs. Nora does not tell Helmer the truth because she is afraid that Helmer will be very upset with her and possibly leave her. Mrs. Linde realizes that Krogstad has lent Nora the money and is shocked. .
"MRS. LINDE. Nora- it was Krogstad who lent you the money! NORA. Yes, and now Torvald will know all about it.I only want to say this to you, Christine- you must be my witness. MRS. LINDE. Your witness? What do you mean? What am I to-? NORA. Then you must be my witness, that it is not true, Christine" (44-45). .
As shown in the following passage, Nora seems that she would be extremely disturbed if Helmer found out about her deceit. If Nora and Helmer's marriage were true, she should have felt more comfortable telling him the truth. A lack of honesty is a clear sign of a suffering marriage.
Another instance that proves an untrue marriage is Helmer's lack of concern for Nora. Although on the surface their marriage seems to be perfect, it is only a show. Helmer treats Nora as if she were only a trophy. It is true that he gives her money, but only because he wants her to believe that he is a generous man. This is shown by the following passage: .
"HELMER. You are an odd little girl. Very like your father.
