Henry Ibsen's play "A Doll's House" portrays many of the marriages of that period. Not only was it frowned upon to talk about these marital problems, it was also unheard of. Husbands and wives of this era performed an act of perfect and happy marriage, regardless of the circumstances. This in itself proves that disillusionment is inevitable and that coming to the realization that something is not what you thought it was can be one of the most difficult, yet liberating, things that can happen in an individual's life. This was especially true of Nora Helmer. The disillusionment in her marriage has made her want to find out who she really is. Before he could discover who he was, he had to go through a hard path of realization. To be disillusioned is to be disappointed, and to be disappointed an individual must have prior expectations. Nora believed that her marriage was concrete and real. She wanted nothing more than to please Torvold and be the best mother she could be. Nora was naive and inexperienced when it came to serious matters. From an early age she should have performed an act of perfection. Nora showed many different sides of her character throughout the play and Ibsen let the audience see glimpses of the person she was meant to be. She was enterprising, courageous, strong-willed and rebellious; Foreshadowing the general demise of his false persona. All these unspoken traits were hidden by the deed he did with Torvold. Nora had a role in his marriage, she was obedient and would meet Torvold's every need. Even risking his own integrity to make sure Torvold is taken care of. Nora takes out a loan to save Torvold's life, and without the right knowledge, she has no idea how much risk she has taken to h... middle of paper... place for a long time without learning or self-discovery. In an instant Nora realizes that Torvold is not the loving, selfless husband she once imagined. Nora learned the hard way that she couldn't trust Torvold to take care of her and that she would have to start taking care of herself. With the knowledge that her marriage was a lie and she had been an active participant in that lie, she leaves her family behind so she can learn about herself and the world around her. This bold and courageous action shows Nora's growth as a character. It is only when he leaves the "dollhouse" that he becomes fully aware of who he is supposed to be. It took her husband abandoning her in a time of need for her to realize that everything was not as it seemed. Disillusionment proved to be an overall positive path to self-discovery for Nora Helmer.