His family is concealed within his jacket, close to where his heart is supposed to be; in this way he is able to maintain his ideal family image for the onlooker. Nora becomes "a doll-wife...and in turn the children have been [his] dolls" (1608).

Torvald categorizes his family, as if they were another of his projects, like another deadline, another project that he has to manage.  With his family and all of their problems safely tucked inside his jacket, he is free to present whatever appearance appeals to him, because, after all, when crisis comes, "happiness doesn't matter, all that matters is saving the bits and pieces, the appearance" (1606)