The protagonist, Nora Helmer, plays into the stereotype she has been treated like her entire life--a helpless, weak woman, unable to formulate her own ideas thus making her the ideal Victorian era wife. She accepts the thoughts and values of others. She responds to names such as "lark" and "squirrel" and even refers to herself as such. At the beginning of the play, as Nora arrives home from shopping, one can view the actress's flightiness and carefree spirit. And one can also witness the playful name calling. This juvenile response only furthers the drama as conflict arises in which Nora must make a very heavy decision on her own. She tries to use her innocent nature to deflect the consequences of her actions but to no avail. The knee-jerk response of her husband, Torvald, is the catalyst that pushes Nora to make a serious change. I suggest that it is this drastic break in stereotype and character development that makes A Doll House a success.
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