Answer:
- By revealing attitudes related to spending and saving that men held during the Victorian era.
Explanation:
The character of Tolvald Helmer is from Henrik Ibsen's play "A Doll's House". Here, the setting and the characterization of the play all resonates with the social and domestic issues of that time.
While Torvald appears to be strict and miserly about how money is spent, his wife Nora seems to have no qualms about borrowing or spending money. Some cases may be for useful needs and requirements, but at times, they were used for some fancy stuffs, not really important and needed for the family. Besides, Torvald feels that it is below himself and uncalled for to ask for money to someone, or even take it on loan. He wants to be independent and manage his domestic affairs independently.
Thus, the characterization of Torvald as a spendthrift by the author is a revealation of the attitudes relating to the way money is spent and also saved by the men during the Victorian period.
