Torvald Helmer, one of the main characters in the play, is somewhat “fair”. He prides himself on making a comfortable living for himself and his family, and achieving high status in society, all through honest hard work. His wife, Nora, is a moral woman, so much so that at the opening of the play, she had this childlike innocence and naivety. Her worst lie could easily have been sneaking macaroni, disobeying her husband’s rules against sweets.
It is emphasized that a father is obliged to lead a moral life in order to establish an exemplary lifestyle for his children. Throughout their marriage, Nora and Torvald have tried to make sure they raise their three children in that kind of environment. With the way they defend their moral beliefs, it seems that they have fulfilled their responsibility as parents quite well. It remained like this until Nora revealed that while her father was on her deathbed, Torvald fell ill. She was forced to borrow enough money to travel to southern Italy, where Torvald was able to restore his health. She committed two crimes: first, she borrowed money without her husband’s consent, and second, she forged a signature. The second crime she was guilty of mirrored that of Krogstad, and it was likely that she would follow her fate. Krogstad became a moral outcast in society for his felony and lost his career as a lawyer along with his credibility. He was left with nothing but a contaminated name.
To justify Krogstad’s firing at the bank, Torvald revealed to his wife his dislike of a corrupt man like Krogstad. Torvald explained how Krogstad passes his immorality on to his children, “…Because an atmosphere like that infects and poisons the whole life of a home…And for years this Krogstad fellow has been going home and poisoning his own children with lies and deceit.”
Nora believed that she too would bring a similar corruption to her children, bringing destruction to their entire household. Nora’s innocence and morality shone through when she was willing to sacrifice her life or leave her home so that her husband would not suffer the consequences of her crime, and also, to uphold the purity of her children. her. However, Torvaldo was blinded by rage and by his sensitive concern for what society thought, so he forbade her to raise his children; he couldn’t trust them in the care of a “vagrant woman”.
In a parallel situation, Dr. Rank has become ill and is getting worse at times, a disease is ravaging his body. In the days of his prime, Dr. Rank’s father had enjoyed his many mistresses, now Rank has taken his punishment. Dr. Rank considered it unfair to “pay for someone else’s sins. Yes, indeed, it’s all a joke! My poor innocent spine must pay for my father’s amusements.” The disease he has, wasting of the spine (syphilis), is an enduring symbol of his father’s debauchery and indulgence. Rank had the physical representation of his father’s lifestyle: it’s what he had inherited.
As we see in the cases of Nora and Dr. Rank, parents can easily pass their corruption on to their children. Nora’s case, however, is merely an abstract notion that Torvald manipulated her into thinking. However, a father must remain moral for the proper upbringing of his child.