In Henrik Ibsen's groundbreaking play A Doll's House, the plot revolves around a married couple – Nora and Torvald Helmer. Both of these two exude narcissistic characteristics that ultimately lead to the demise of their marriage.
             Nora is a very unpredictable character. In the beginning she comes across as being selfish and stupid – she is condescending toward her friend Mrs. Linde, she begs Torvald for more money, and she responds with indifference when Krogstad threatens to blackmail her, as if she were in denial. But in the dramatic confrontation with Torvald she uncharacteristically behaves with far more maturity than we've seen from her. She takes charge of the dialogue and explains her feelings on their relationship.
             The American Psychiatric Association has a list of criteria for diagnosing narcissism. Nora meets four of the five criteria. Nora has a grandiose sense of self-importance. When she's talking with Mrs. Linde, Nora brags about how she saved Torvald's life and how she had to work to pay off her loan. When Mrs. Linde tells about her own sacrifices, Nora shrugs it aside and doesn't even care. Nora is also preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, or ideal love. When Torvald gets his promotion, she immediately wants to go out and spend money. When her fraud accusation is about to be revealed, she hopes that Torvald will step up for her and take the blame. Nora is also exhibitionistic – she requires lots of attention. This is probably why she has put up with Torvald for so long, because he bombards her with attention as she plays the "little squirrel" for him. Her final narcissistic flaw is that she responds to criticism and defeat with indifference, inferiority, or emptiness. The best example of this is when Krogstad first mentions her forgery. She refuses to accept it, and is left muttering things like, "It's all nonsense-there's nothing wrong....