A Doll’s House, Part 3: Theme and Society Answers

Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Rank: And what other nice things am I to be allowed to see?Nora: Not a single thing more, for being so naughty. [She looks among the things, humming to herself.]Rank: [after a short silence] When I am sitting here, talking to you as intimately as this, I cannot imagine for a moment what would have become of me if I had never come into this house.Nora: [smiling] I believe you do feel thoroughly at home with us.Rank: [in a lower voice, looking straight in front of him] And to be obliged to leave it all—Nora: Nonsense, you are not going to leave it.Rank: [as before] And not be able to leave behind one the slightest token of one's gratitude, scarcely even a fleeting regret—nothing but an empty place which the first comer can fill as well as any other.Nora: And if I asked you now for a—? No!Rank: For what?Nora: For a big proof of your friendship—Rank: Yes, yes!Nora: I mean a tremendously big favour—Rank: Would you really make me so happy for once?Nora: Ah, but you don't know what it is yet.Rank: No—but tell me.Nora: I really can't, Doctor Rank. It is something out of all reason; it means advice, and help, and a favour—Rank: The bigger a thing it is the better. I can't conceive what it is you mean. Do tell me. Haven't I your confidence?Nora: More than anyone else. I know you are my truest and best friend, and so I will tell you what it is. Well, Doctor Rank, it is something you must help me to prevent. You know how devotedly, how inexpressibly deeply Torvald loves me; he would never for a moment hesitate to give his life for me.

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.]

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.

Which statements best describe the conflict? Select two options.

Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Nurse: What, out again? In this horrible weather? You will catch cold, ma'am, and make yourself ill.Nora: Well, worse than that might happen. How are the children?Nurse: The poor little souls are playing with their Christmas presents, but—Nora: Do they ask much for me?Nurse: You see, they are so accustomed to have their mamma with them.Nora: Yes, but, nurse, I shall not be able to be so much with them now as I was before.Nurse: Oh well, young children easily get accustomed to anything.Nora: Do you think so? Do you think they would forget their mother if she went away altogether?Nurse: Good heavens!—went away altogether?

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.Rank: Let me play for her.Helmer [getting up]. Yes, do. I can correct her better then.[RANK sits down at the piano and plays. NORA dances more and more wildly. HELMER has taken up a position beside the stove, and during her dance gives her frequent instructions. She does not seem to hear him; her hair comes down and falls over her shoulders; she pays no attention to it, but goes on dancing. Enter MRS. LINDE:]Mrs. Linde: [standing as if spell-bound in the doorway] Oh!—Nora: [as she dances] Such fun, Christine!Helmer: My dear darling Nora, you are dancing as if your life depended on it.Nora: So it does.Helmer: Stop, Rank; this is sheer madness. Stop, I tell you! [RANK stops playing, and NORA suddenly stands still. HELMER goes up to her.] I could never have believed it. You have forgotten everything I taught you.Nora: [throwing away the tambourine]. There, you see.Helmer: You will want a lot of coaching.Nora: Yes, you see how much I need it. You must coach me up to the last minute. Promise me that, Torvald!Helmer: You can depend on me.

Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Nora: [going up to HELMER] I have wanted you so much, Torvald dear.Helmer: Was that the dressmaker?Nora: No, it was Christine; she is helping me to put my dress in order. You will see I shall look quite smart.Helmer: Wasn't that a happy thought of mine, now?Nora: Splendid! But don't you think it is nice of me, too, to do as you wish?Helmer: Nice?—because you do as your husband wishes? Well, well, you little rogue, I am sure you did not mean it in that way. But I am not going to disturb you; you will want to be trying on your dress, I expect.Nora: I suppose you are going to work.Helmer: Yes. [Shows her a bundle of papers.] Look at that. I have just been into the bank. [Turns to go into his room.]Nora: Torvald.Helmer: Yes.Nora: If your little squirrel were to ask you for something very, very prettily—?Helmer: What then?Nora: Would you do it?Helmer: I should like to hear what it is, first.Nora: Your squirrel would run about and do all her tricks if you would be nice, and do what she wants.Helmer: Speak plainly.Nora: Your skylark would chirp about in every room, with her song rising and falling—Helmer: Well, my skylark does that anyhow.Nora: I would play the fairy and dance for you in the moonlight, Torvald.

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.]