From the beginning of Act One, Torvald's habit of addressing his wife, Nora, by her pet names is indicative of his personal convictions about gender roles in the domestic sphere. Torvald takes a protective stance towards his wife; he views Nora as someone who needs his masculine help and direction.
In Act One, Torvald invariably addresses Nora using terms that highlight her diminutive size and helpless condition. She is his 'little skylark,' 'little featherhead,' and 'little squirrel.' Torvald scolds Nora indulgently about her spendthrift ways, and he admonishes her to be careful about wasting money. Torvald views his wife as an innocent and child-like woman who is charmingly oblivious to the intricacies of money management.
It is Torvald who sets the tone for all the couple's interactions; when Nora pouts after his pronouncement of 'no debt, no borrowing,' Torvald proceeds to humor her with a generous cash gift for their housekeeping needs. Basically, Torvald's use of pet names for his wife cements his dominant position in the marriage. Because he views her as an innocent, Torvald does not castigate his wife for her seemingly spendthrift ways; he rationalizes that his wife is merely an 'odd little soul' who has inherited her spendthrift tendencies from her father.
Because he views himself as the preeminent intellectual and moral authority in the marriage, Torvald also insists on monitoring his wife's eating habits. He addresses her as 'Miss Sweet Tooth' when he interrogates her about committing a nutritional faux pas. In short, Torvald's use of pet names for Nora indicates his perception of his wife as the weaker partner in their marriage; as the husband, Torvald holds himself responsible for guiding and protecting his wife, whether she likes it or not.
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