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“Well, I had to fend for myself, opening a little shop, running a little school, anything I could turn my hand to. There last three years have been one long relentless drudge. But now it's finished, Nora. My poor dear mother doesn't need me any more, she's passes away. Nor the boys either; they're at work now, they can look after themselves.” (Act One)
- This quote is said by Mrs. Linde in Act One. Mrs. Linde sets a clear example from the beginning of the play, that not all woman lived the “perfect” life that Nora did. This brings us to notice how Mrs. Linde completely went against the social norms of a woman, losing all of her family and support, working several jobs, and fending for herself, alone. I believe that this inspired Nora from the start because Nora felt compelled to lie to Mrs. Linde right off the bat, to make herself seem as though she had trauma and drama in her so called perfect life.
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“Is that my little sky lark chirruping out there?” “Yes it is.” (Act One)
- This quote is said by Torvald to Nora, with Nora's response following. This quote is used in the opening scene where we first learn about Torvald's disrespectful behaviour towards Nora. This quote represents how typical men would treat a typical woman in the Victorian Era. This being said, we see a lot more of this behaviour coming from Torvald later.
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“I would gladly toil day and night for you, Nora, enduring all manner of sorrow and distress. Bus nobody sacrifices his honour for the one he loves” (Act Three)
- This quote was said by Torvald in Act Three. This is where Torvald releases his true feelings about the whole situation and shows Nora that he is not willing to go the extra mile for her. I believe it was this point that Nora truly realized that she was not meant to be with Torvald because their beliefs were different. What Nora felt was reasonable, Torvald thought was the complete opposite.
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“You can’t deny it Nora dear. My pretty little pet is very sweet, but it runs away with an awful lot of money. It’s incredible how expensive it is for a man to keep such a pet.” “For shame! How can you say such a thing? As a matter of fact I save everything I can.” “Yes, you are right there. Everything you can. But you simply can’t.” (Act One)
- This dialogue between Torvald and Nora takes place in the beginning of Act One. It simply shows how again, Torvald has no respect for Nora and he way of living. Yes, she may be irresponsible with money, however, there are far nicer ways to make that point. As we can see, Nora is continuing to let Torvald walk all over her by accepting these demeaning phrases and names.
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“Are you never going to tell him?” “Oh, yes someday perhaps…when he’s lost interest in watching me dance, or get dressed up, or recite.” (Act One)
- This dialogue is between Nora and Mrs. Linde close after Mrs. Linde finds out about the money Nora “earned” in Act One. Nora is basically showing how she has dedicated her whole life to Torvald, and her sole mission in life is to please him, which falls directly under my thematic statement that Nora is unable to stand up to men until she has a self-realization that life does not need to be all about pleasing her husband, and that she is allowed to live life for herself as well.
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“If I’m ever to reach any understanding of myself and the things around me, I must learn to stand alone. That’s why I can’t stay here with you any longer.” (Act Three)
- This statement is said by Nora as she and Torvald are arguing in the end of Act Three. This is the statement where Nora finally stands up against her Husband and lays down the law with how she truly feels towards him. This goes against everything a typical woman of the Victorian Era would do to her husband and children, which is why Torvald responds so negatively.
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“You are talking like a child. You understand nothing about the society you live in.” (Act 3)
- This quote is being said by Torvald in response to an argument that Nora is making for her leaving him in the end of Act Three. Nora responds calmly and in control, showing her maturity. Though she can not admit to knowing anything, and inside, she knows that Torvald may be correct about his statement to her, she stands strong and does not let him sway her mind.
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“No, I don't. But I shall go into that too. I must try to discover who is right, society or me.” (Act Three)
- This quote is said in response to the quote above as an argument back to Torvald in the end of Act Three. This is brave and strong of Nora to openly admit that she is a bit scared and not sure as to what is really out in the world, seeing as she has lived such a protected life for so long. This relates back to the thematic statement because this is going against what society would want, which is why she is going to “try to discover who is right, society or herself”.
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“You know very well that wouldn't last. Goodbye, Torvald.
- Motif-
Freedom: The definition of freedom changes throughout the play, making it a significant motif.
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MINIMUM OF 10 words with definition and the quote from the play that contains the word
Dissolution-
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Dr. Rank: “I shall know pretty certainly when it will be that the horrors of dissolution will begin.” (Act Two)
- coming apart, as a person does during an illness
Lark-
- Helmer: “Is that my little sky-lark chirruping out there?” (Act One)
Forlorn-
- Mrs. Linde: “But now I'm completely alone in the world, and feeling horrible empty and forlorn” (Act Three)
- desolate or dreary; unhappy or miserable, as in feeling, condition, or appearance.
Tarantella-
- Nora: “You see, the Stenborgs are having a fancy dress party upstairs tomorrow evening, and now Torvald wants me to go as a Neapolitan fisher lass and dance the tarantella. I learned it in Capri, you know.” (Act Two)
- a fast, whirling southern Italian dance, usually performed by a single couple, once supposed to be a remedy for a tarantula bite.
Loathes-
- Dr. Rank: “There is something I want to ask you. Helmer is a sensitive soul; he loathes anything that's ugly. I don't want him visiting me.” (Act Two)
- To dislike (someone or something) greatly; abhor
Ailing-
- “His father was a horrible man, who used to have mistresses and things like that. That's why the son was always ailing, right from being a child.” (Act Two)
- sickly, unwell; unsound or troubled
Fraudulent-
- Krogstad: “But did it never strike you that this was fraudulent..?” (Act One)
- given to or using fraud, as a person; cheating; dishonest
Cunning-
- Helmer: “...He [Krogstad] dodged what was due to him by a cunning trick...” (Act One)
- artfully subtle or shrewd; crafty; sly
Dissemble-
- Helmer: “Just think how a man with a thing like that on his conscience will always be having to lie and cheat and dissemble; ...” (Act One)
- to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of
Depraved-
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Helmer: “...that's the reason I call him [Krogstad] morally depraved.” (Act One)
- corrupt, wicked, or perverted
- A Doll's House vs. Hamlet
- My favorite part of the work would most likely be when Nora was eating the Macaroons in the beginning of the play. As the play opened, I had no idea that there would be so much belittling of woman, so I did not really admire the fact that she was going behind her husbands back over something as little as eating Macaroons. Later, I really learned to respect Nora for that action because while she is childish and immature in this part of the play, eating the macaroons was the first part in her ultimate rebellion and learning to stand up for herself. I later found this act to be very admirable because it shows that while Nora was childish and immature and disobeying her husbands orders, she does have some sense of doing what she feels like, just because she wants to. It was a little bit weakened when she puts the blame on her newly pronounced friend, but that is besides the point.
- My least favorite part of the work was the one quote said by Torvald in Act III “ I would gladly toil day and night for you, Nora, enduring all manner of sorrow and distress. But nobody sacrifices his honour for the one he loves.” This quote was the most demeaning quote I read in this whole play and I felt so hurt myself when Torvald said this to Nora. While I do not believe that he should take full blame for Nora's actions, because that just keeps in line the whole attitude of being childish and immature, which Nora is perceived as having the whole play. I think this quote just ruined the ending of the play for me because I feel like Torvald did a terrible job at handling the whole situation which ultimately resulted in Nora's leaving. At the same time, I guess it is good that this part happened because it made Nora mature and realize she has so much more to offer the world than what Torvald was allowing her to do in the isolated lifestyle he led his family in.
- My favorite character is Mrs. Linde. Though she is not a huge main character, I feel that I connect with her the most because she is a kind caring person who is always thinking of others. While she is a bit over the top coming to Nora in hopes of a job after not speaking for 10 years, she obviously felt their friendship was close enough to do so. I really like how Mrs. Linde looked after her family and treated her parents (mother) correctly and properly for the last few years of her life. “Well, I had to fend for myself, opening a little shop, running a little school, anything I could turn my hand to. There last three years have been one long relentless drudge. But now it's finished, Nora. My poor dear mother doesn't need me any more, she's passes away. Nor the boys either; they're at work now, they can look after themselves.” Mrs. Linde is a strong woman, willing to work hard to do what is best for everyone around her. We later see the same act when she follows her heart and confesses her love to Krogstad in the last act.
- My least favorite character in the work would most definitely be Torvald While the name calling and putting woman down did not really bother me in the beginning of the first Act, it started to later on. “My dear Nora, as a lawyer, I know what I'm talking about. Practically all juvenile delinquents come from homes where the mother is dishonest.” (Act One) is just one quote which I found very offensive to make such generalizations about woman in such a way. At this point in time, I feel like he knows that Nora has been dishonest and he is warning her of his opinion on this topic, which is really rude and inconsiderate, seeing as it was all for him in the first place. The name calling with the “Is that my little sky-lark chirruping out there?” (Act One) and the “When did my little squirrel get home?” (Act One) becomes quite annoying because in some ways, it can be seen a a sign of affection, to have pet names, but at some point, its just demeaning and I feel as though people should be called by their real names. Making this point is a bit blunt of me because Nora seems absolutely fine with the names in the beginning of the play, so maybe it was okay for their relationship, but to an outsider or reader, it seems demeaning of Torvald to say such things. Because of his put-down attitude and constant rude behavior to woman in general, especially his wife, the one woman he should care about the most, I did not care for Torvald's characteristics and character as a whole in the play.
- Passage that would be appropriate for an in-class essay (30-50 lines) – retype it with line numbers, include two copies, a clean copy and one that is annotated
1 Nora: I'm leaving here at once. I dare say Kristine will put me up for tonight...
Helmer: You are our of your mind! I won't let you! I forbid you!
Nora: It's no use forbidding me anything now. I'm taking with me
my own personal belongings. I don't want anything of yours, either
5 now or later.
Helmer: This is madness!
Nora: Tomorrow I'm going home-- to what used to be my home, I
mean. It will be easier for me to find something to do there.
Helmer: Oh, you blind, inexperienced...
10 Nora: I must set about getting experience, Torvald.
Helmer: And leave your home, your husband and your children?
Don't you care what people will say?
Nora: That's no concern of mine. All I know is that this is necessary
for me.
15 Helmer: This is outrageous! You are betraying your most sacred duty.
Nora: And what do you consider to be my most sacred duty?
Helmer: Does it take me to tell you that? Isn't it your duty to your
husband and your children?
Nora: I have another duty equally sacred.
20 Helmer: You have not. What duty might that be?
Nora: My duty to myself.
Helmer: First and foremost, you are a wife and mother.
Nora: That I don't believe any more. I believe that first and foremost,
I am an individual, just as much as you are-- at least I'm going to
25 try to be. I know most people agree with you, Torvald, and thats's
also what it says in the books. But I'm not content any more with what
most people say, or with what it says in the books. I have to think things
our for myself, and get things clear.
Helmer: Surely you are clear about your position in your own home?
30 Haven't you an infallible guide in questions like these? Haven't you
your religion?
Nora: Oh, Torvald, I don't really know what religion is.
Helmer: What do you say!
Nora: All I know is what Pastor Hansen said when I was confirmed.
35 He said religion was this, that and the other. When I'm away from
all this and on my own, I'll go into that, too. I want to find out
whether what Pastor Hansen told me was right-- or at least whether
it's right for me.
Helmer: This is incredible talk from a young woman! But if religion
40 cannot keep you on the right path, let me at least stir your conscience.
I suppose you do have some moral sense? Or tell me—perhaps you
don't?
Nora: Well, Torvald, that's not easy to say. I simply don't know.
I'm really very confused about such things. All I know is my ideas
45 about such things are very different from yours. I've also learnt that
the law is different from what I though; but I simply can't get it
into my head that that particular law is right. Apparently a woman
has no right to spare her old father on his death-bed, or to save her
49 husband's life, even. I just don't believe it.
- Keeping in mind the time era the play takes place, how does Nora go against the typical woman of the Victorian time era? What effect does this have on the rest of the characters and outcome of the struggle?
{life vs. death, power struggle, family duties, and religion}
- Plot/conflict: what is the main conflict? What are the minor conflicts? How are they all related? Internal conflicts? External conflicts? Where is the climax?
I would have to say that the main conflict which has arisen in the play would be Nora's search for freedom and her search for her true identity. (including what she believes in, thinks is real, how she should be treated, discovering her true self etc.) Minor conlflicts lie within each character in A Doll's House. To start, Mrs. Linde did not follow her heart, leading her to a sad marriage and nothing left from it. She does gain the strength to later tell the truth and follow her heart to Krogstad. She also has inner conflicts with herself with how she has to support everybody around her, and to what extent she should support them. Krogstad has a minor conflict in that he is being fired because of his bad reputation and his loved one has returned into his life. With this being said, he is trying to redeem his reputation, but has to go to some low levels to accomplish his tasks. Anne-Marie was forced to give up her child to a complete stranger, just to work and have a life with the Helmers. Torvald has power and money struggles which lead him to behaving the way he does, with disrespect and rudeness to the ones he truly loves and cares about. Dr. Rank is dying and feels the need to confess his love to Nora, a married woman before it is too late to tell her. All of these conflicts, both internal and external, are all related because it forms a small little circle of drama within the characters lives. This drama circle, while a problem sometimes, is able to help a few of the characters solve their conflicts by supplying answers and reassurance from one another. I believe the climax would be
when Nora finally stands up to Torvald and accepts her mistakes, and tells Torvald that she is leaving. I believe this showed a lot of character and strength on Nora's part, which is ultimately
why I enjoyed the play in the end.