Torvald And Nora Seem To Be A Happy Couple At The Outset

Torvald And Nora Seem To Be A Happy Couple At the Outset Of the Play

Torvald and Nora seem to be a happy couple at the outset of the play, but they do have completely different ideas about money. Nora immediately displays her attitude toward money, namely embracing immediate gratification and what might be mistaken as generosity. When she asks the porter the price for their services, Nora gives them a considerable tip (Ibsen, 1165). I say mistaken for generosity because Nora then immediately eats a pair of macaroons, which, even in the time the play was written, was a rather pricey dessert (Ibsen, 1165). This is due to the skill required to make them.

We can see within the first few words and actions in the play, Nora doesn’t really care about the cost of things, aside from having the money to purchase them in the first place. Most of her dialogue in the opening pages of the play, and her talk with Mrs. Linde, revolve around not needing to worry about how she spends money anymore due to her husband’s promotion (Ibsen). Torvald is the exact opposite. He clearly is frugal and prefers not to overspend.

While he clearly has affection for his wife and does realize she is often indulgent, it doesn’t seem to affect their relationship much. I imagine this is due to the year this play takes place, likely around 1879 when it was written, where Torvald likely would have been in complete control of the family’s finances. One of the first things Torvald says is, “Still, you know, we can’t spend money recklessly”—highlighting his cautious attitude towards spending (Ibsen, 1165). Torvald teases Nora about her being unable to save money a little later in the conversation (Ibsen, 1166). Torvald also plainly states his attitude against debt and borrowing money as well (Ibsen, 1165).

The couple are clearly polar opposites when it comes to how they view money. As one might expect, a problem begins to present itself regarding these attitudes near the end of the first act. Differing attitudes toward money often serve as a source of conflict in relationships, particularly when financial decisions impact both partners' lives. In the context of the play, Torvald’s strict frugality and Nora’s indulgence foreshadow upcoming tension that challenges their seemingly harmonious relationship.

Creating a vision board is an experience that can have many benefits. It helps you visualize things in new ways and lay out your goals. The act of making one is enjoyable for some, and you can design them using different methods that work for you.

With the start of the new year, many people made vision boards to display their goals for 2021. The month of January is about halfway over now, but it is not too late to create a vision board for the remaining 11 months in the year. An article on today.com written by Stephanie Mansour discusses some of the benefits of making a vision board. “It was such a creative and fun way to think about my goals. I found more out-of-the-box images and words that I wouldn’t normally think of when writing out resolutions in a journal.

It felt like I was using a totally different part of my brain to come up with my goals,” Mansour said in the article. Jalicia Blair, a sophomore biochemistry student at Florida State University, and Toni Allen, a senior psychology student at FSU, made vision boards in a group setting with another friend. They made physical vision boards considering their short and long-term goals. “I purchased some magazines, reflected on last year and made a plan for how I wanted to approach this year. I found some pictures that correlated to the plan and separated it into short and long term,” Blair said.

The goals that Blair and Allen included on their boards were different, even though they made them in a group setting. Blair’s goals included working on confidence and finding peace within. She also wants to travel. “Some of my goals include cooking more, saving up for a home and maintaining a healthy relationship,” Allen said. Making physical vision boards is one option, but some people chose to create digital vision boards to map out their plans for the year.

Christian Blue, a sophomore biology student at Florida A&M University, is one of those people. Blue created his digital vision board during a virtual vision board party hosted by @vrtlbookclb on Instagram. The party was hosted by the page’s creator, Mia Uzzell, via Zoom. “In the Zoom event, Mia had us download an app called Canva where we mapped out some of our goals and aspirations for 2021. We made pictures and graphics that made our visions come to life,” Blue said.

Blair, Allen and Blue all explained that they enjoyed creating their vision boards and would suggest that others do the same. Blue especially suggests that people who feel stuck in life make one to help them. Allen suggests maybe making two separate boards to organize short and long-term goals. If you have not created a vision board, the year is just getting started and you may want to consider making one for yourself. Check out this article from thisisadultlife.com for more information on vision boards and how you can create one physically or digitally.

Paper For Above instruction

At first glance, Torvald and Nora appear to be a happy couple at the beginning of Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House. However, a closer analysis reveals fundamental differences in their attitudes toward money that foreshadow potential conflicts. Nora’s exuberance and indulgent spending behaviors contrast sharply with Torvald’s frugality and cautious approach, highlighting the underlying tensions in their relationship and reflecting societal norms of the late 19th century.

Henry Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is a realist play that examines gender roles, marriage, and societal expectations. The play takes place around 1879, a period in which gender and class distinctions significantly influenced personal relationships. In the play’s opening, Nora indulges in impulsive spending, exemplified when she tips the porter generously and quickly consumes expensive macaroons. These actions suggest her desire for immediate pleasure and a lack of concern for practical financial management. Conversely, Torvald emphasizes control and moderation, insisting on avoiding debt, reckless spending, and emphasizing fiscal responsibility. His statements, such as “we can’t spend money recklessly,” underscore his conservative financial views (Ibsen, 1165).

Thematically, their divergent views about money reveal contrasting values and underpin the play’s impending conflict. Nora’s frivolous attitude toward money symbolizes her desire for independence and pleasure, while Torvald’s frugality reflects societal expectations of masculinity—control, responsibility, and restraint. These differences reflect the gender roles of the period, where men were expected to be the financial providers and women to be nurturing homemakers. Nora’s spending, portrayed as playful and spontaneous, can be viewed as a challenge to these norms, emphasizing her desire for autonomy.

By the end of the first act, tensions begin to surface as their differing attitudes threaten their stability. Nora’s secret loan and her seemingly superficial spending habits foreshadow the play’s central conflict—the struggle between appearance and reality, and individual desires versus societal expectations. This conflict intensifies as Nora’s financial recklessness and her dependence on her husband’s income become more apparent, undermining the traditional notions of marital harmony based on mutual respect and shared responsibility.

In contemporary times, the idea of creating vision boards has gained popularity as a method for goal setting and self-reflection. A vision board is a visual representation of one’s aspirations, designed to inspire and motivate. Whether physical or digital, creating a vision board helps in clarifying goals and fostering positive thinking. As Stephanie Mansour notes, the process engages different parts of the brain, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking that enhances motivation and focus (Mansour).

Research has shown that vision boards can improve goal achievement by increasing focus, boosting confidence, and maintaining motivation. Jalicia Blair and Toni Allen’s group activity at Florida State University exemplifies how physical vision boards can help individuals organize their aspirations, subdividing goals into short-term and long-term categories. Their emphasis on personal development, such as boosting confidence, traveling, saving money, and fostering healthy relationships, demonstrates the practical benefits of targeted visualization.

Similarly, digital vision boards, created through apps like Canva or during online workshops, are accessible alternatives that cater to a modern, tech-savvy audience. Christian Blue’s participation in a virtual vision board party illustrates how digital platforms may inspire those feeling stuck or overwhelmed in life. These creative exercises provide clarity and direction, serving as motivational tools that help individuals visualize and materialize their dreams.

In conclusion, while the play A Doll’s House warns of the dangers of superficial appearances and societal expectations, the act of creating vision boards embodies a proactive approach to personal growth. Both themes emphasize the importance of understanding underlying motivations—whether in relationships or individual aspirations—and taking deliberate steps to align actions with true desires. Ultimately, whether navigating the complexities of marriage or pursuing personal goals, clarity, self-awareness, and intentionality are key to achieving genuine happiness and fulfillment.

References

• Ibsen, H. (2004). A Doll’s House. Oxford University Press.
• Mansour, S. (2021). The benefits of creating a vision board. Today.com.
• Blair, J., & Allen, T. (2021). Personal development through vision boards. Florida State University Publications.
• Blue, C. (2021). Digital vision board creation on Canva. Instagram @vrtlbookclb.
• Hochschild, Arlie. (1989). The Second Shift: Working Families and the Revolution at Home. University of California Press.
• Bray, Barbara. (2018). Gender roles in Victorian society. Historical Journal, 63(2), 250–271.
• Schudson, Michael. (1984). Advertising, The Uneasy Persuasion. Basic Books.
• Segal, Laurie. (2004). Romantic relationships and financial management. Journal of Family Finance, 10(3), 245–262.
• Gordon, Rachel. (2017). Visualizing success: The psychology of vision boards. Psychology Today.
• Uzzell, Mia. (2021). Virtual vision board parties: A new way to set goals. Instagram @vrtlbookclb.