In the play "A Doll's House" there are good reasons to dislike Torvald but is he deserving of some compassion and understanding?

Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House was first performed in Denmark in 1879. While the play itself was groundbreaking in its portrayal of women's roles in marriages, the male characters were very much reflections of their times. Though modern readers may have difficulty with the patronizing way Torvald behaves toward his wife, Nora, this was typical for the times. He calls her names like his little "squirrel" and "songbird" and he reprimands her for sneaking macaroons and spending too much money. In effect, he treats her like a child. He expects her to look pretty and to perform for him, and does not talk to her very much about important topics like work or politics. For 19th century audiences, however, Torvald's behavior was typical. This is how many men acted toward their wives at the time. Modern readers should take that into consideration when viewing Torvald as a character, which might make them feel more compassionate toward him.