Fundamental characteristics of individuality include self-reliance, independence, and freedom from any form of external control. Throughout Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House," the character Nora Helmer is treated as property rather than a human being. She's a delicate housewife who is dominated over by her husband Torvald Helmer, and has no knowledge or experience of life at large. Nora's decision to leave the Helmer household served as a bold gesture of escaping a sheltered lifestyle and setting forth on the path of individuality.
             Throughout Nora's life, she's been sheltered and prevented from knowing anything outside the boundaries of her comfort zone. Nora's childhood of submission to her father was directly followed by a marriage comparatively of the same nature. However, Nora adapts and is happy with this life due to the fact that she knows of nothing else (Simonds).
             Nora has been eight years the wife of Torvald Helmer, and is the mother of three vigorous children. She is her husband's doll. He continually refers to her with silly pet names such as "his little squirrel," and provides for her every fancy (I.6). This establishes that Torvald sees Nora as inferior to him. It's almost as if he treats her as a child rather than his wife. Their disputes and interactions are often petty, and their conversations trivial. Therefore no basis for a mature, adult relationship between the two exists.
             Although Nora's life appears superficial, she loves her family the only way she knows how to – ideally. Nora's ideal love is making sacrifices, and expecting something in return (Simonds). Feeling as if it would be an expression of love, Nora made a "sacrifice" and committed a crime in efforts to save her husband's life. She kept this crime a secret for a long time, and when it finally surfaced, Torvald became angered. Instead of co...