Nora's Irrational Decision

The right thing for Nora to do would be the action that had the best outcome for everyone, and that is not what occurs at the end of the play. The most alarming outcome of her action is that she is leaving her kids without their mother, which will impact them for their childhood and likely the rest of their lives. When she is speaking to Torvald, she seems to be only worried about herself at this moment and is inconsiderate of Torvald and the children being involved in her decision.

HELMER: Before all else, you're a wife and a mother.

NORA: I don't believe in that anymore. (Ibsen 146)

Nora hardly acknowledges her own role in the family and how her departure will affects others. One may argue that she is standing up against her role as a wife because of how Torvald treats her like a child. This does not excuse her from completely violating her current role to the detriment of the entire family. Moreover, Torvald even realizes that he is part of the problem and attempts to mend the situation, saying,

HELMER: There's a gulf that's opened between us-that's clear. Oh, but Nora, can't we bridge it somehow?

NORA: The way I am now, I'm no wife for you. (Ibsen 148)

Nora does not appear to be attempting to mend the relationship. She calls themselves strangers and says to never send her anything, opting to completely isolate herself from her family. She cites the dilemma for her reason for her loss of love for Torvald, but the issue arose when she did not tell Torvald about what was going on and lying to him. The societal norms forced Nora into her own place and made it difficult for her to escape the dilemma she was in. But the letter from Krogstad revealing that she no longer owed money seemed to signal the problem was behind them, but Nora still made a remarkable decision to leave people that she is responsible for.