In "A Doll's House," Henrik Ibsen uses symbolization as he portrays one of the main characters, Torvald, as a spokesman for Victorian values. From the beginning of Act I, Ibsen characterizes Torvald as patronizing, authoritative, and a conformist. Through Torvald's nicknames for Nora, Ibsen conveys the Victorian ideology that men are superior to women. Torvald's pride and inability to see Nora as an equal cause much discontent within Nora's life, as her unhappiness and imprisonment serve as symbols of the effect of men on women during the Victorian era. While it is evident that Torvald practices dominance over Nora, Torvald's condescending mindset was not unusual for men during that time. Torvald asserts authority over Nora verbally, a method very commonplace for the Victorian era. In a non-chalant manner, Torvald refers to Nora as a "sky-lark chirruping" (Ibsen 1681), a "squirrel frisking about" (Ibsen 1681), a "little sweet-tooth" (Ibsen 1683), and a "little spendthrift" (Ibsen 1682). Rarely does Torvald call Nora by her real name, perhaps because she is not even "worthy" of such in his eyes. By giving her nicknames, Torvald ensures that Nora will believe that she is exactly what he tells her to be. As the husband, the dominant male figure, it is Torvald's responsibility according to Victorian values to be the supreme leader within a marriage, and thus treat Nora as secondary. "Nora and Torvald communicate only on the most superficial level; he speaks from the conventions of society but neither sees nor hears her..." (Henry). Though Torvald respects his wife on a certain level, there is an understanding in that society that the woman's say is certainly not the last or only. "Nice of you--because you let your husband have his way? All right, you little rogue, I know you didn't mean it that way..." (Ibsen 1705). It is assumed the husband's opinion is the only one of value and that the opinions of women carry very little value weight.