Read the passage from A Doll’s House.Helmer: [calls out from his room]. Is that my little lark twittering out there?Nora: [busy opening some of the parcels]. Yes, it is!Helmer: Is it my little squirrel bustling about?Nora: Yes!Helmer: When did my squirrel come home?Nora: Just now. [Puts the bag of macaroons into her pocket and wipes her mouth.] Come in here, Torvald, and see what I have bought.Helmer: Don't disturb me. [A little later, he opens the door and looks into the room, pen in hand.] Bought, did you say? All these things? Has my little spendthrift been wasting money again?Nora: Yes but, Torvald, this year we really can let ourselves go a little. This is the first Christmas that we have not needed to economize.
Read the excerpt from act 1 of A Doll’s House.Mrs. Linde: Yes, but your father gave you the necessary funds.Nora: [smiling] Yes, that is what Torvald and all the others think, but—Mrs. Linde: But—Nora: Papa didn't give us a shilling. It was I who procured the money.Mrs. Linde: You? All that large sum?Nora: Two hundred and fifty pounds. What do you think of that?Mrs. Linde: But, Nora, how could you possibly do it? Did you win a prize in the Lottery?Nora: [contemptuously] In the Lottery? There would have been no credit in that.Mrs. Linde: But where did you get it from, then?Nora: [humming and smiling with an air of mystery]. Hm, hm! Aha!Mrs. Linde: Because you couldn't have borrowed it.Nora: Couldn't I? Why not?Mrs. Linde: No, a wife cannot borrow without her husband's consent.Nora: [tossing her head] Oh, if it is a wife who has any head for business—a wife who has the wit to be a little bit clever—
Read the passage from A Doll’s House.Nora: Nurse, I want you to tell me something I have often wondered about—how could you have the heart to put your own child out among strangers?Nurse: I was obliged to, if I wanted to be little Nora's Nurse.Nora: Yes, but how could you be willing to do it?Nurse: What, when I was going to get such a good place by it? A poor girl who has got into trouble should be glad to. Besides, that wicked man didn't do a single thing for me.Nora: But I suppose your daughter has quite forgotten you.Nurse: No, indeed she hasn't. She wrote to me when she was confirmed, and when she was married.
Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll’s House.Nora: In all these eight years—longer than that—from the very beginning of our acquaintance, we have never exchanged a word on any serious subject.Helmer: Was it likely that I would be continually and forever telling you about worries that you could not help me to bear?Nora: I am not speaking about business matters. I say that we have never sat down in earnest together to try and get at the bottom of anything.Helmer: But, dearest Nora, would it have been any good to you?Nora: That is just it; you have never understood me. I have been greatly wronged, Torvald—first by papa and then by you.
Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll's House.Mrs. Linde: We have a great deal to talk about.Krogstad: I shouldn't have thought so.Mrs. Linde: No, you have never properly understood me.Krogstad: Was there anything else to understand except what was obvious to all the world—a heartless woman jilts a man when a more lucrative chance turns up?Mrs. Linde: Do you believe I am as absolutely heartless as all that? And do you believe that I did it with a light heart?Krogstad: Didn't you?Mrs. Linde: Nils, did you really think that?Krogstad: If it were as you say, why did you write to me as you did at the time?Mrs. Linde: I could do nothing else. As I had to break with you, it was my duty also to put an end to all that you felt for me.Krogstad [wringing his hands]. So that was it. And all this—only for the sake of money!Mrs. Linde: You must not forget that I had a helpless mother and two little brothers. We couldn't wait for you, Nils; your prospects seemed hopeless then.Krogstad: That may be so, but you had no right to throw me over for anyone else's sake.Mrs. Linde: Indeed, I don't know. Many a time did I ask myself if I had the right to do it.
Read the excerpt from act 1 of A Doll's House.Helmer: Nora! [Goes up to her and takes her playfully by the ear.] The same little featherhead! Suppose, now, that I borrowed fifty pounds today, and you spent it all in the Christmas week, and then on New Year's Eve a slate fell on my head and killed me, and—Nora: [putting her hands over his mouth]. Oh! don't say such horrid things.Helmer: Still, suppose that happened, —what then?Nora: If that were to happen, I don't suppose I should care whether I owed money or not.Helmer: Yes, but what about the people who had lent it?Nora: They? Who would bother about them? I should not know who they were.Helmer: 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.Nora: [moving towards the stove]. As you please, Torvald.
Read the passage from A Doll’s House.Nora: But it was absolutely necessary that he should not know! My goodness, can't you understand that? It was necessary he should have no idea what a dangerous condition he was in. It was to me that the doctors came and said that his life was in danger, and that the only thing to save him was to live in the south. Do you suppose I didn't try, first of all, to get what I wanted as if it were for myself? I told him how much I should love to travel abroad like other young wives; I tried tears and entreaties with him; I told him that he ought to remember the condition I was in, and that he ought to be kind and indulgent to me; I even hinted that he might raise a loan. That nearly made him angry, Christine. He said I was thoughtless, and that it was his duty as my husband not to indulge me in my whims and caprices—as I believe he called them. Very well, I thought, you must be saved—and that was how I came to devise a way out of the difficulty— Mrs. Linde: And did your husband never get to know from your father that the money had not come from him? Nora: No, never. Papa died just at that time. I had meant to let him into the secret and beg him never to reveal it. But he was so ill then—alas, there never was any need to tell him.Mrs. Linde: And since then have you never told your secret to your husband?Nora: Good Heavens, no! How could you think so? A man who has such strong opinions about these things! And besides, how painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald, with his manly independence, to know that he owed me anything! It would upset our mutual relations altogether; our beautiful happy home would no longer be what it is now.
Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll's House.Helmer: How unreasonable and how ungrateful you are, Nora! Have you not been happy here?Nora: No, I have never been happy. I thought I was, but it has never really been so.Helmer: Not—not happy!Nora: No, only merry. And you have always been so kind to me. But our home has been nothing but a playroom. I have been your doll-wife, just as at home I was papa's doll-child; and here the children have been my dolls. I thought it great fun when you played with me, just as they thought it great fun when I played with them. That is what our marriage has been, Torvald.
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll’s House.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?Nora: Nurse, I want you to tell me something I have often wondered about—how could you have the heart to put your own child out among strangers?Nurse: I was obliged to, if I wanted to be little Nora's Nurse.Nora: Yes, but how could you be willing to do it?Nurse: What, when I was going to get such a good place by it? A poor girl who has got into trouble should be glad to. Besides, that wicked man didn't do a single thing for me.
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 3 of A Doll’s House.Nora: And I—how am I fitted to bring up the children?Helmer: Nora!Nora: Didn't you say so yourself a little while ago—that you dare not trust me to bring them up?Helmer: In a moment of anger! Why do you pay any heed to that?Nora: Indeed, you were perfectly right. I am not fit for the task. There is another task I must undertake first. I must try and educate myself—you are not the man to help me in that. I must do that for myself. And that is why I am going to leave you now.Helmer [springing up]: What do you say?Nora: I must stand quite alone, if I am to understand myself and everything about me. It is for that reason that I cannot remain with you any longer.
Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll’s House.Krogstad: If it were as you say, why did you write to me as you did at the time?Mrs. Linde: I could do nothing else. As I had to break with you, it was my duty also to put an end to all that you felt for me.Krogstad [wringing his hands]. So that was it. And all this—only for the sake of money!Mrs. Linde: You must not forget that I had a helpless mother and two little brothers. We couldn't wait for you, Nils; your prospects seemed hopeless then.
Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll’s House.Helmer [walking up and down]: He had so grown into our lives. I can't think of him as having gone out of them. He, with his sufferings and his loneliness, was like a cloudy background to our sunlit happiness. Well, perhaps it is best so. For him, anyway. [Standing still.] And perhaps for us too, Nora. We two are thrown quite upon each other now. [Puts his arms round her.] My darling wife, I don't feel as if I could hold you tight enough. Do you know, Nora, I have often wished that you might be threatened by some great danger, so that I might risk my life's blood, and everything, for your sake.
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 passage from A Doll’s House.Helmer: [calls out from his room]. Is that my little lark twittering out there?Nora: [busy opening some of the parcels]. Yes, it is!Helmer: Is it my little squirrel bustling about?Nora: Yes!Helmer: When did my squirrel come home?Nora: Just now. [Puts the bag of macaroons into her pocket and wipes her mouth.] Come in here, Torvald, and see what I have bought.Helmer: Don't disturb me. [A little later, he opens the door and looks into the room, pen in hand.] Bought, did you say? All these things? Has my little spendthrift been wasting money again?Nora: Yes but, Torvald, this year we really can let ourselves go a little. This is the first Christmas that we have not needed to economize.Helmer: Still, you know, we can't spend money recklessly.Nora: Yes, Torvald, we may be a wee bit more reckless now, mayn't we? Just a tiny wee bit! You are going to have a big salary and earn lots and lots of money.Helmer: Yes, after the New Year; but then it will be a whole quarter before the salary is due.
Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll’s House.Helmer: Before all else, you are a wife and a mother.Nora: I don't believe that any longer. I believe that before all else I am a reasonable human being, just as you are—or, at all events, that I must try and become one. I know quite well, Torvald, that most people would think you right, and that views of that kind are to be found in books; but I can no longer content myself with what most people say, or with what is found in books. I must think over things for myself and get to understand them.Helmer: Can you not understand your place in your own home? Have you not a reliable guide in such matters as that?—have you no religion?Nora: I am afraid, Torvald, I do not exactly know what religion is.
Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll’s House.Krogstad: I will ask for my letter back.Mrs. Linde: No, no.Krogstad: Yes, of course I will. I will wait here until Helmer comes; I will tell him he must give me my letter back--that it only concerns my dismissal--that he is not to read it--Mrs. Linde: No, Nils, you must not recall your letter.Krogstad: But, tell me, wasn't it for that very purpose that you asked me to meet you here?Mrs. Linde: In my first moment of fright, it was. But twenty-four hours have elapsed since then, and in that time I have witnessed incredible things in this house. Helmer must know all about it. This unhappy secret must be disclosed; they must have a complete understanding between them, which is impossible with all this concealment and falsehood going on.Krogstad: Very well, if you will take the responsibility.
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 passage from A Doll’s House.Nora: Good gracious, can't you understand? There was no old gentleman at all; it was only something that I used to sit here and imagine, when I couldn't think of any way of procuring money. But it's all the same now; the tiresome old person can stay where he is, as far as I am concerned; I don't care about him or his will either, for I am free from care now. [Jumps up.] My goodness, it's delightful to think of, Christine! Free from care! To be able to be free from care, quite free from care; to be able to play and romp with the children; to be able to keep the house beautifully and have everything just as Torvald likes it! And, think of it, soon the spring will come and the big blue sky! Perhaps we shall be able to take a little trip—perhaps I shall see the sea again! Oh, it's a wonderful thing to be alive and be happy. [A bell is heard in the hall.]
Which lines support the inference that Torvald sometimes treats Nora like a child? Select three options.
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