'There, there! My little singing bird mustn't go drooping her wings, eh? Has it got the sulks, that little squirrel of mine?' " (560). This is spoken from her husband Helmer as he hands her notes of money. These occurrences emphasize the facets of a relationship in which women play a dependent role: finance, power, and love. Ibsen attracts ones attention to these examples to highlight the overall subordinate role that a woman plays compared to that of her husband. The two sides of Nora contrast each other greatly and accentuate the fact that she is lacking an independence of will.
             In the twentieth century, families continue to rise for the same purposes, although changes have been made to which independence has been presented to each member. The only function of the family that continues to survive all change is the provision of affection and emotional support by and to all its members, particularly children and young adults. Instead of a husband and wife relationship, The Horse Whisperer carefully details the evolving relationship between both an independent mother and daughter. Grace's mother, Annie Maclean, has a career dedicating her time running a magazine corporation that specializes "in hip, brutal profiles of celebrities more accustomed to adulation" (36). This strongly affected Grace while growing up, and as a result, in "myriad minor ways, it was her father that the girl first turned" (41). The novel does not present details related to their relationship, yet it conveys emptiness. In the beginning Grace expresses little and/or no emotion towards her mother. Annie provides insight into the relationship when she recalls a conversation between her and her daughter: " 'Why don't we ever do this?' Grace said, not looking up. Annie answered, rather too tartly,
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