Nora also claims she received the money from her dying father before further inquiring about Mrs Linde’s life. Nora assumes she must feel relieved not having any responsibilities, yet Mrs Linde maintains it is the opposite “Empty. I cannot tell you how empty”. She mentions how she wishes she had a job, and tells Nora that she was only excited about Torvald’s new position at the bank because it may benefit her. Nora immediately realises that Mrs Linde wants Torvald to get her a job at the bank, and assures her that she will do so. Mrs Linde then patronises Nora by saying how she’s knows little about how hard life is, and calls her a child. Whilst Nora would put up with this from her husband, she does not with her friend, and orders Mrs Linde to not “talk down” to her. Nora becomes defensive and proud, and reveals a secret to her to prove that she has indeed worked hard. She tells Mrs Linde that she illegally borrowed money to pay for the trip to Italy, and has lied to her husband, saying the money was from her father.
The doorbell rings, and the maid directs Krogstad, an employee of Torvald’s into the room. Nora is clearly uneasy around him, and when he goes into Torvald’s study and Dr Rank leaves, the doctor describes Krogstad as “morally sick”. Nora offers Dr Rank a macaroon, and when he acts shocked because they are “illegal in this house”, Nora claims they were a gift from Mrs Linde. Again, she hides them before Torvald enters. Torvald, as Nora promised, offers Mrs Linde a job at the bank, and Dr Rank, Mrs Linde and Torvald all exit the stage, leaving Nora alone. The children enter, and Nora plays with them, and for the first time, Nora seems genuinely happy. Krogstad enters the room with no warning, and when Nora notices him, she screams “What? What do you want?”
During their discussion, it becomes clear that Krogstad is the source of Nora’s loan, and that he wants her to ensure he does not lose his position working for Torvald. He blackmails her, saying that he has evidence of her forgery, and will use it if she does not prevent her husband from firing him. When Krogstad leaves and Torvald returns, Nora attempts to convince her husband to give Krogstad a second chance, but fails. Torvald says it would be “impossible to work with him” and changes the subject.
Act Two begins on the next day in the same room. It is Christmas day. Nora is “pacing the living room floor uneasily” and is reassuring herself that Krogstad will not reveal hers secret “He won’t do it of course. Something like this, it can’t happen. It’s impossible.”
Nora speaks to the nanny about the idea of mother’s walking out on their children, but stops herself before she thinks about it too seriously or realistically. Mrs Linde enters and helps Nora with her costume for a party the following night. Nora tells her of Dr Rank’s illness, and after hearing of their close relationship, Mrs Linde begins to suspect that the doctor provided Nora with the money.
Mrs Linde Nora, stop pretending. Don’t you realise I’ve guessed who loaned you the money?
Nora denies Dr Rank’s involvement in the loan, but still will not tell Mrs Linde the truth. Torvald enters, interrupting their conversation. Nora tries again to get him to keep Krogstad at the bank, this time manipulating him more, using Helmer’s neologisms.
Nora Your squirrel will run around and play if you’re kind and do what I want.
It fails again, and she pushes him harder. Helmer tells his wife that he also doesn’t like the familiarity with which Krogstad talks to him. Nora is still persisting, and so to end the argument, Torvald sends the maid to deliver the letter of Krogstad’s dismissal that he has already written.
Torvald leaves and Dr Rank enters. Nora flirts with him, which appears to be a tactic to keep Krogstad at the bank by using Dr Rank’s persuasive skills. However, the doctor misreads Nora’s signals, and tells Nora that he is in love with her. After discovering this, she decides against asking for his help.
The maid enters, and informs Nora of a visitor that will not leave until they have seen her. Once Dr Rank goes into Torvald’s study, the visitor, Krogstad enters and asks Nora about the letter of dismissal. He announces that he now not only wants to keep his job at the bank, but to get an even higher position. Krogstad posts a letter in the Helmer’s letterbox containing all the information about Nora’s debt, and exits. A panicked and desperate Nora tells Mrs Linde everything, and as a result, Mrs Linde persuades Nora to delay Torvald opening the letterbox, while she herself attempts to speak to Krogstad. Nora practices the tarantella dance as a distraction for Torvald, yet dances too violently and angers him. However, she successfully manages to make him promise to not open any letters until the following day.
Helmer The child commands and I’ll obey.
Act Three begins in the same room, while the party goes on upstairs. Krogstad and Mrs Linde meet, and discuss a previous relationship that they were involved in. He questions her about her motives for leaving him for a wealthier man. She justifies her actions, and tells Krogstad how she now wants to be with him. He is elated. He offers to ask for the letter back from Torvald, yet Mrs Linde stops him and says she believes it will be good for both Nora and Torvald if they knew the truth.
Krogstad leaves and Nora and Torvald enter. They say goodnight to Mrs Linde, and Torvald compliments Nora calling her “beautiful” and “lovely”, yet Nora is reluctant to accept them. Dr Rank interrupts them, to the frustration of Torvald, and after a short discussion, he leaves. Torvald opens the letterbox and finds two cards from the doctor, and Nora tells her husband that they are announcing his death. Nora, determined, insists Torvald reads the letter from Krogstad, and while he reads it, Nora prepares to leave. Torvald is appalled, and insults her.
Torvald Pathetic fool…a hypocrite! A Liar! Worse…a criminal!
He says how she has ruined his happiness and future, yet when he receives the contract back from Krogstad a few moments later, his mood dramatically changes. Torvald attempts to revoke his verbal abuse, and sympathises with his wife, yet Nora cannot move on so easily. She tells him that she has been treated like a doll “I’ve become your doll-wife” and that their home was just a playroom. She announces that she is going to leave, to the surprise of Torvald, and he tries to convince her to stay. She deplores the concept that she is a “wife and a mother before everything else”, by saying that she is a human being, and she is no longer afraid of the consequences. Nora leaves, and the sound of a slamming door is heard.
