A Doll's House, Part 2: Suspense and Irony Answers

Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Mrs. Linde: Listen to me, Nora. You are still very like a child in many things, and I am older than you in many ways and have a little more experience. Let me tell you this—you ought to make an end of it with Doctor Rank.Nora: What ought I to make an end of?Mrs. Linde: Of two things, I think. Yesterday you talked some nonsense about a rich admirer who was to leave you money—Nora: An admirer who doesn't exist, unfortunately! But what then?Mrs. Linde: Is Doctor Rank a man of means?Nora: Yes, he is.Mrs. Linde: And has no one to provide for?Nora: No, no one; but—Mrs. Linde: And comes here everyday?Nora: Yes, I told you so.Mrs. Linde: But how can this well-bred man be so tactless?Nora: I don't understand you at all.Mrs. Linde: Don't prevaricate, Nora. Do you suppose I don't guess who lent you the two hundred and fifty pounds?

Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Nora: You never can tell what mischief these men may contrive. We ought to be so well off, so snug and happy here in our peaceful home, and have no cares—you and I and the children, Torvald! That is why I beg you so earnestly—Helmer: And it is just by interceding for him that you make it impossible for me to keep him. It is already known at the Bank that I mean to dismiss Krogstad. Is it to get about now that the new manager has changed his mind at his wife's bidding—Nora: And what if it did?Helmer: Of course!—if only this obstinate little person can get her way! Do you suppose I am going to make myself ridiculous before my whole staff, to let people think that I am a man to be swayed by all sorts of outside influence? I should very soon feel the consequences of it, I can tell you! And besides, there is one thing that makes it quite impossible for me to have Krogstad in the Bank as long as I am manager.Nora: Whatever is that?Helmer: His moral failings I might perhaps have overlooked, if necessary—Nora: Yes, you could—couldn't you?Helmer: And I hear he is a good worker, too. But I knew him when we were boys. It was one of those rash friendships that so often prove an incubus in afterlife. I may as well tell you plainly, we were once on very intimate terms with one another. But this tactless fellow lays no restraint on himself when other people are present. On the contrary, he thinks it gives him the right to adopt a familiar tone with me, and every minute it is "I say, Helmer, old fellow!" and that sort of thing. I assure you it is extremely painful for me. He would make my position in the Bank intolerable.

Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Helmer: Rank led me to expect a splendid transformation.Rank: [in the doorway] I understood so, but evidently I was mistaken.Nora: Yes, nobody is to have the chance of admiring me in my dress until tomorrow.Helmer: But, my dear Nora, you look so worn out. Have you been practising too much?Nora: No, I have not practised at all.Helmer: But you will need to—Nora: Yes, indeed I shall, Torvald. But I can't get on a bit without you to help me; I have absolutely forgotten the whole thing.Helmer: Oh, we will soon work it up again.Nora: Yes, help me, Torvald. Promise that you will! I am so nervous about it—all the people—. You must give yourself up to me entirely this evening. Not the tiniest bit of business—you mustn't even take a pen in your hand. Will you promise, Torvald dear?Helmer: I promise. This evening I will be wholly and absolutely at your service, you helpless little mortal. Ah, by the way, first of all I will just— [Goes towards the hall door.]Nora: What are you going to do there?Helmer: Only see if any letters have come.Nora: No, no! don't do that, Torvald!Helmer: Why not?Nora: Torvald, please don't. There is nothing there.

Which statements best describe the conflict? Select two options.

Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Krogstad: I shall only preserve it—keep it in my possession. No one who is not concerned in the matter shall have the slightest hint of it. So that if the thought of it has driven you to any desperate resolution.Nora: It has.Krogstad: If you had it in your mind to run away from your home.Nora: I had.Krogstad: Or even something worse—Nora: How could you know that?Krogstad: Give up the idea.Nora: How did you know I had thought of that?Krogstad: Most of us think of that at first. I did, too—but I hadn't the courage.Nora: [faintly] No more had I.Krogstad: [in a tone of relief]. No, that's it, isn't it—you hadn't the courage either?Nora: No, I haven't—I haven't.Krogstad: Besides, it would have been a great piece of folly. Once the first storm at home is over—. I have a letter for your husband in my pocket.Nora: Telling him everything?Krogstad: In as lenient a manner as I possibly could.

Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Nora: [putting her arms round her neck] Dear old Anne, you were a good mother to me when I was little.Nurse: Little Nora, poor dear, had no other mother but me.Nora: And if my little ones had no other mother, I am sure you would—What nonsense I am talking! [Opens the box.] Go in to them. Now I must—. You will see tomorrow how charming I shall look.Nurse: I am sure there will be no one at the ball so charming as you, ma'am. [Goes into the room on the left.]Nora: [begins to unpack the box, but soon pushes it away from her]. If only I dared go out. If only no one would come. If only I could be sure nothing would happen here in the meantime. Stuff and nonsense! No one will come. Only I mustn't think about it. I will brush my muff. What lovely, lovely gloves! Out of my thoughts, out of my thoughts! One, two, three, four, five, six— [Screams.] Ah! there is someone coming—. [Makes a movement towards the door, but stands irresolute.]

Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Nora: [quickly] He mustn't get the letter. Tear it up. I will find some means of getting money.Krogstad: Excuse me, Mrs. Helmer, but I think I told you just now—Nora: I am not speaking of what I owe you. Tell me what sum you are asking my husband for, and I will get the money.Krogstad: I am not asking your husband for a penny.Nora: What do you want, then?Krogstad: I will tell you. I want to rehabilitate myself, Mrs. Helmer; I want to get on; and in that your husband must help me. For the last year and a half I have not had a hand in anything dishonourable, amid all that time I have been struggling in most restricted circumstances. I was content to work my way up step by step. Now I am turned out, and I am not going to be satisfied with merely being taken into favour again. I want to get on, I tell you. I want to get into the Bank again, in a higher position. Your husband must make a place for me—Nora: That he will never do!Krogstad: He will; I know him; he dare not protest. And as soon as I am in there again with him, then you will see! Within a year I shall be the manager's right hand. It will be Nils Krogstad and not Torvald Helmer who manages the Bank.Nora: That's a thing you will never see!Krogstad: Do you mean that you will—?Nora: I have courage enough for it now.Krogstad: Oh, you can't frighten me. A fine, spoilt lady like you—Nora: You will see, you will see.Krogstad: Under the ice, perhaps? Down into the cold, coal-black water? And then, in the spring, to float up to the surface, all horrible and unrecognisable, with your hair fallen out—Nora: You can't frighten me.Krogstad: Nor you me. People don't do such things, Mrs. Helmer. Besides, what use would it be? I should have him completely in my power all the same.Nora: Afterwards? When I am no longer—Krogstad: Have you forgotten that it is I who have the keeping of your reputation? [NORA stands speechlessly looking at him.] Well, now, I have warned you. Do not do anything foolish. When Helmer has had my letter, I shall expect a message from him. And be sure you remember that it is your husband himself who has forced me into such ways as this again. I will never forgive him for that. Goodbye, Mrs. Helmer. [Exit through the hall.]

Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Helmer: [putting his papers together] Now then, little Miss Obstinate.Nora: [breathlessly]. Torvald—what was that letter?Helmer: Krogstad's dismissal.Nora: Call her back, Torvald! There is still time. Oh Torvald, call her back! Do it for my sake—for your own sake—for the children's sake! Do you hear me, Torvald? Call her back! You don't know what that letter can bring upon us.Helmer: It's too late.Nora: Yes, it's too late.Helmer: My dear Nora, I can forgive the anxiety you are in, although really it is an insult to me. It is, indeed. Isn't it an insult to think that I should be afraid of a starving quill-driver's vengeance? But I forgive you nevertheless, because it is such eloquent witness to your great love for me. [Takes her in his arms.] And that is as it should be, my own darling Nora. 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.Nora: [in a horror-stricken voice]. What do you mean by that?Helmer: Everything, I say—Nora: [recovering herself] You will never have to do that.Helmer: That's right. Well, we will share it, Nora, as man and wife should. That is how it shall be. [Caressing her.] Are you content now? There! There! Not these frightened dove's eyes! The whole thing is only the wildest fancy! Now, you must go and play through the Tarantella and practise with your tambourine. I shall go into the inner office and shut the door, and I shall hear nothing; you can make as much noise as you please. [Turns back at the door.] And when Rank comes, tell him where he will find me. [Nods to her, takes his papers and goes into his room, and shuts the door after him.]Nora: [bewildered with anxiety, stands as if rooted to the spot, and whispers] He was capable of doing it. He will do it. He will do it in spite of everything. No, not that! Never, never! Anything rather than that! Oh, for some help, some way out of it! [The door-bell rings.] Doctor Rank! Anything rather than that—anything, whatever it is! [She puts her hands over her face, pulls herself together, goes to the door and opens it. RANK is standing without, hanging up his coat. During the following dialogue it begins to grow dark.]