A Doll's House Foils

Like most literary works, A Doll’s House includes several character foils that help contrast one another. The two most notable foil pairs are Torvald and Krogstad, and Nora and Kristine. In both cases each character should be expected to occupy a similar role in society, but instead sharply contrasts the other morally and physically.

Torvald and Krogstad are both middle-aged males. They were childhood friends that were well acquainted. However, in their present situation, Torvald is the new high-placed manager at the bank while Krogstad works an insignificant position under Torvald’s command. A job is representative of social standing so one can initially see that Torvald is meant to contrast Krogstad in their positions in society. Torvald has a well settled home with Nora and the children she bore him; Krogstad was left by Kristine years prior and is alone. Torvald adheres strictly to gender roles and abhors anything that is not “beautiful,” while on the other hand, Krogstad does what he needs to survive and feed his children. These foil traits help the audience picture the characters as Ibsen would want them to. For instance, Torvald’s high position and stellar home indicated that he is very pre-occupied with appearances and his reputations in society. He works for what he was taught was the ideal life and refuses to accept that it is correct for one to overstep legal boundaries for something as petty as emotion and the greater good. Krogstad, however, is more willing to do what is necessary to survive. He cheats the law not because he wants to, but because he believes that it is necessary to bend the rules if it means being able to feed his children.

Nora and May are similarly foils. They are similar in the fact that they are both middle-aged women in a male-oriented society. They both had to make sacrifices to “save” the ones they love. Nora had to work to repay the loan that saved Torvald and Kristine had to leave her lover to marry to be in better financial standing. After this, however, come significant polar differences that create the foil. Throughout the play, Nora is representative of the “inside.” She symbolizes the home life of the 19^th century woman. She represents protection, safety, youth, and innocence. Kristine, meanwhile, is a symbol of the “outside” world. She is often described as being dressed in a travel or outdoor coat. Unlike Nora, Kristine represents experience and wisdom. The common association of innocence/experience can be felt through the tangible difference in age between Nora and Kristine. Despite being the same age, it feels as though Kristine is much older, almost like Nora’s mother. This relationship is reminiscent of William Blake poetry on innocence vs. experience.

Ibsen’s inclusion of these foils served the important function of emphasizing each character’s traits through contrast. When in the same scene as Kristine, Nora appeared even more child-like and innocent. Similarly, Krogstad’s character helped exemplify the importance Torvald places on public appearance and social values.