Questions for Exploration
- What are your initial impressions of the characters? How does it change in Act II?
- How are the characters used as symbolic representations of society?
- How does Ibsen set us up for Act II?
- In Act II, what happens between Nora and Torvald when the subject of Krogstad is re-introduced?
- What do you notice about the interactions between Nora and Dr. Rank? Why does Nora get thrown off? How does it differ from the conversation with Torvald moments before?
- What about Krogstad? How do their conversations develop? How does Krogstad's role as "villain" become complicated? They both hint at thoughts of suicide. Why? How does that create a sense of suspense and foreshadowing?
- What is "the most wonderful thing?"
- What questions do you have for me or our class discussion?
Major Quotations
Act I- That is like a woman! But seriously, Nora, you know what I think about that. No debt, no borrowing. There can be no freedom or beauty about a home life that depends on borrowing and debt. We two have kept bravely on the straight road so far, and we will go on the same way for the short time longer that there need be any struggle.
- No, indeed; I only feel my life unspeakably empty. No one to live for any more. (Gets up restlessly.) That is why I could not stand the life in my little backwater any longer. I hope it may be easier here to find something which will busy me and occupy my thoughts. If only I could have the good luck to get some regular work--office work of some kind—
- Do you still think I am of no use? I can tell you, too, that this affair has caused me a lot of worry. It has been by no means easy for me to meet my engagements punctually….. Well, then I have found other ways of earning money. Last winter I was lucky enough to get a lot of copying to do; so I locked myself up and sat writing every evening until quite late at night. Many a time I was desperately tired; but all the same it was a tremendous pleasure to sit there working and earning money. It was like being a man.
- However wretched I may feel, I want to prolong the agony as long as possible. All my patients are like that. And so are those who are morally diseased; one of them, and a bad case, too, is at this very moment with Helmer—
- The matter never came into court; but every way seemed to be closed to me after that. So I took to the business that you know of. I had to do something; and, honestly, don't think I've been one of the worst. But now I must cut myself free from all that. My sons are growing up; for their sake I must try and win back as much respect as I can in the town. This post in the Bank was like the first step up for me--and now your husband is going to kick me downstairs again into the mud.
- Just think how a guilty man like that has to lie and play the hypocrite with everyone, how he has to wear a mask in the presence of those near and dear to him, even before his own wife and children. And about the children--that is the most terrible part of it all.
- Do you think so? Do you think they would forget their mother if she went away altogether?
- Come what will, you may be sure I shall have both courage and strength if they be needed. You will see I am man enough to take everything upon myself.
- Do you think he is the only one - who would gladly give his life for your sake?
- When I was at home….I always thought it tremendous fun if I could steal down into the maids' room, because they never moralized at all, and talked to each other about such entertaining things.
- Most of us think of (suicide) at first. I did, too - but I hadn't the courage.
- You should have let it alone; you must prevent nothing. After all, it is splendid to be waiting for a wonderful thing to happen.
