FREE ESSAY ON DOLL'S HOUSE, MINOR CHARACTERS

DOLL'S HOUSE, MINOR CHARACTERS

There are three minor characters in the play, but they each have a very important role.
Kristine Linde was a childhood friend of Nora's. She has a major effect on events that
happen in the play. She is the first character to see that Nora is not a child. Nora is
just acting to fit into the role Torvald has made for her. She is a savior for Nora. She
has gone through many tough times so she has much more real world experience than Nora.
Kristine's past was very rough, but the things she has lived through make her the strong
person she is. She once had true love, but made the mistake of leaving it for stability
and money. She suffered because of the choices she made and is much stronger because of
them. At a young age Kristine sacrificed her happiness to take care of her dying mother
and two younger brothers. Her life did not really start until her family no longer needed
her. Kristine also has a big effect on the changes Krogstad makes in his life. These two
had a prior love that still lingers into the present. Kristine helps Krogstad improve his
life. This change benefits Nora's life in many ways. Kristine's hard life was something
that most women did not have to experience many years ago. Like Nora, she also had an
empty marriage. This ended when her husband died, but his death only forced her to work
for a living. Kristine was a foil to Nora; she experienced hard work and a troubled, but
independent life. Nora was weak, frail, and only knew how to live by other people's
Stevens 7 rules. She helped Nora become a stronger person; this strength helped Nora live
her meaningless life to start over. Kristine has already gone through all the things Nora
is about to face. Finally, Kristine was a good friend to Nora. Kristine helped Nora fix
her dress when Nora was helpless and did not know what to do. She also fixed the
situation between Nora and Krogstad. In many ways Kristine helped Nora fix her life
(Sortland).
Another minor character was Krogstad. He provides much of the conflict in the play. He
starts off as a cruel and pitiless man, only looking out for himself. During the play
Krogstad completely turns around. He no longer only cares about his money and fortune.
Kristine helps him become a better person. Krogstad is a foil for Torvald. Torvald is a
stubborn man, unwilling to change. Torvald has a superior attitude, while Krogstad
reveals the truth, reforms, and becomes a better man. Krogstad is a manipulator, but this
deception evolves into the truth. All of the bad things Krogstad tried to do to Nora
ended up helping her. The position he put her in made her realize that she needed a
change in her life. Krogstad tries to clean up his reputation and improve his social
standings so that he can be a better father to his children (Mazurak).
The final minor character is Dr. Rank. He has the equivalent of a love affair with Nora.
Everything is there, including the emotions; the relationship is only lacking physical
love. Dr. Rank is someone Nora can talk to. He is available emotionally while Torvald is
not. Nora can confide in Dr. Rank, but not her own husband. The Helmers were fond of Dr.
Rank's presence, especially Nora. Dr. Rank did not present himself as superior. He looked
at Nora as an equal, and that is something that Torvald never did. Dr. Rank truly loved
Nora. He did not think of her as a doll or plaything (Magill). Stevens 8 Each of the
characters in the play has a specific relationship with another character. There are
business relationships, relationships of love, and relationships between friends. Nora
and Krogstad's relationship is strictly business. Nora borrowed money from him to take
care of Torvald when he was sick. Nora knows that women are not supposed to borrow money
and she knows that Torvald would not approve of her borrowing money. It was not only
inappropriate for Nora to borrow this money, but she also forged her father's signature
to get it. This puts Krogstad in control of their relationship. The agreement they had
started out very simple, but when Krogstad is about to loose his job he will do anything
to keep it. It was very convenient that he had "dirt" on the wife of his new boss
(Mazurak). Nora and Dr. Rank also have a caring relationship. It may not have been a
totally honest one, but there were feelings involved. Dr. Rank was secretly in love with
Nora for most of the play. It was not until he became very sick that he told Nora his
true feelings. Nora may not have felt the same way as Dr. Rank, but she did enjoy his
company. He was the only man who did not see Nora as inferior.