The Breakup of a Family In Henrik Ibsen's play, A Doll House Ibsen describes the perfect family and the conflicts within it. Ibsen examines the normal life of the Helmer family through the eyes of his wife, Nora Helmer. He faces a series of tests as he progresses through the show and with each test he realizes that something is missing in his life. Ibsen examines the struggles within the house. Ibsen opens the play with the perfect house where Nora is planning Christmas and how she is planning every detail without worrying about her own needs. Torvald asks Nora, "what have you thought about for yourself?" (Doll 1). Nora responds that she "just doesn't want anything." (Doll 1). Nora shows her selfless attitude as she prepares to provide all these great gifts to the family and nothing to herself. When Torvald pushes Nora to choose something, she chooses money so that she can spend it on things for others and not for herself. The playful nature between husband and wife shows the perfect bond between them. The Hellmers are a middle class family and since Torvald got a promotion and a raise, they can afford to spend more. They no longer have to worry about money. They also plan a Christmas dinner where they invite the sick Dr. Rank and then Nora's friend Mrs. Linde. Nora convinces Torvald to try to see if he can get Mrs. Linde a job at the bank because she is having a hard time. The relationship Nora has is amazing and creates a perfect family life for her. Nora's life begins to fall apart with the arrival of Krogstad as Nora begins to fear him. The life Nora had now begins to slowly change as more and more people are added to the mix of visitors during the Christmas holidays... halfway down the paper... I had a serious conversation. Nora explains her sorrows as she has never been understood by any man. Nora leaves while explaining her life. He closes the door and there is no certainty that he will return, as Torvald realizes. Torvald gains hope when he realizes that if he changes into a better man he might have hope of getting Nora back. Ibsen writes his play A Doll House to explain the life of a housewife and her difficulties with her own actions. Ibsen examines the void in the lives of Nora and Torvald as they lived a dream in a dollhouse. Both awaken and realize this void and so now Torvald struggles to make amends in the hope of getting Nora back, possibly, and thus restoring a new happiness in their lives. Ibsen examines this conflict as a rock that breaks the image of this perfect life and reveals all the imperfections in the lives of those around him.