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I think it's debatable that Torvald loves her -- he only loves the *idea* of her, a cute wife that he can come home to and dress up and show off to his friends -- while i agree that an argument can be made that she should stay for the sake of the children I don't think you can argue that she should stay for the sake of her relationship with Torvald. Were this a story about real people in 2004 one could recommend marital counseling or shared custody of the children but this is a story that takes place long before either of those options is available.
She has to leave because this is not real life, it's a play, it's social commentary, the big statement needs to be made. You can wish for a more positive message but i'm not sure that one was available at the time. I'm also not sure that children are better off with a mother who has no sense of self -- and, it's obvious that Nora (and arguably Torvald as well though at the time this was expected behavior for fathers) has spent years pawning her children off on the nanny, while I'm sure her leaving would not positively influence the children I can't say that her staying would either. This story cannot be judged on modern standards -- its a whole different world.
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