Act 2
The Nurse enters with a dress for the ball which Nora will attend. Nora informs the Nurse that she will not be devoting as much time to her children anymore, almost as if it were an option. This shows Nora’s lack of rational as an outcome of her immaturity and absence from the outside world. The Nurse is unperturbed by Nora’s statement. This suggests that such behaviour is the norm and the household staff has become accustomed to it. Mrs. Linde enters the room and is asked by Nora to help mend the dress that she will wear for the Ball. It is interesting to point out that the dress can also be seen as a metaphor for Nora’s situation. At the moment it is ripped and damaged which is something Nora can relate to financially. Note that Nora approached Mrs Linde to fix the dress/problems. I think this is like a small girl asking other people to solve her problem which is fitting with Nora’s personality. Mrs Linde changes the topic of conversation to Dr. Rank. Nora informs her friend that Dr Rank suffers from a fatal case of spinal tuberculosis. Nora adds that the doctor is considered a member of the family. Mrs Linde mistakenly begins to assume it is Dr Rank who has leant Nora the money but Nora denies it is doctor. As Torvald enters the living room Mrs Linde goes to the nursery to mend Nora’s dress.
Nora asks Torvald for a favour and he guesses it is about Krogstad because Nora is acting like a child. Torvald is angry but Nora ignores this and asks that Krogstad’s job be returned to him. Torvald denies the favour saying he has already announced that Krogstad will be leaving to other employees at the bank. He says that if he reverses his position on the case it would undermine his public credibility, which is a high priority for Torvald. This shows Torvald prioritises business over love. Nora says she thinks Torvald is narrow minded which enrages her husband. To show his anger he asks the Maid to post Krogstad’s letter of dismissal. Nora begs him to call the Maid back but her husband replies that it is too late. Torvald pledges that if anything happens to either himself or his wife that he will take sole responsibility. Hope and excitement runs through Nora as she thinks he will take the blame for the loan.
Krogstad enters and is enraged as he has been sacked. He eventually calms himself and tells Nora that he will not publicise the information but that he must inform Torvald. Nora does not wish for Torvald to be informed and protests Krogstad’s plans. Krogstad walks to the letter box and slips a pre prepared letter into the letter box. He does this thinking that he will be given his old job back. Mrs Linde enters whilst Nora is fretting over the letter. Mrs Linde questions Nora’s anxiety and is told that Krogstad has dropped a letter into the letter box. Mrs Linde makes the association between Nora’s erratic state and the letter: It is Krogstad who leant Nora the money. Mrs Linde thinks it is better if Torvald knows what happened but Nora begs to differ. Mrs Linde offers to talk with Krogstad. She will tell him to ask Torvald to return the letter unread. Nora goes to distract Torvald as it is approaching the time when he usually goes to empty the letter box. Nora enters Torvald’s study and Torvald insists he must go to check his letters. Frantically, Nora says she won’t be able to dance at the ball if she doesn’t practice now. The distraction works as Torvald returns to play the piano for her dance. They leave as the Maid announces that dinner is served.
Act 3
A covert meeting between Mrs Linde and Krogstad marks the opening of Act 3. The meeting takes place downstairs in the sitting room whilst Nora and Torvald are upstairs dancing at the ball. Downstairs, Mrs Linde tells Krogstad since they are both lonely they should rekindle their lost love. Krogstad likes the idea and clasps Mrs Linde’s hands. The romance is cut short when the music upstairs stops, signalling that Torvald and Nora will come down. Krogstad says that he wishes to undo his actions to Nora. Mrs Linde says that she wants Torvald to know the truth. This leads one to ask if Mrs. Linde is a user; she has used Nora to get a job and to get back together with Krogstad yet is unwilling to carry out Nora’s request. Krogstad leaves the house just as Nora and Torvald descend. Mrs. Linde says that she wanted to see Nora in her costume so she stayed. This could be a metaphor for her desire to see the act that Nora will put on to distract Torvald from the letter. Torvald leaves saying he is hot and the two ladies are left in the room alone. Mrs Linde informs Nora of her predicament. Nora agrees that this is the best outcome.
Mrs. Linde leaves and Torvald returns. Nora tries to steer Torvald away from the letter box, saying she is tired and thinks they should go to bed. Torvald comments that this is quite a mature thing for his wife to say and calls her a “real big human being”. This is opposite to the childish way he treated Nora earlier. Dr Rank arrives and unbeknown to Torvald, it is revealed in the way that the doctor speaks that he has come to announce his death. Dr Rank leaves the house and as he leaves Torvald goes to the door to empty the letter box. Torvald surveys the heap of letters that have accumulated and notices a letter from Dr. Rank with a black cross in the corner. Nora tells him that it is because he is announcing his death. Torvald is sad that his friend has died but seems happy that now finally he and Nora are alone. Nora says that Torvald should read his letters. Torvald goes to his study to read the letters. Nora quickly puts on one of Torvald’s coats and plans to leave the house to commit suicide to escape the uproar which the letter is about to cause. She reaches the door but an angry Torvald stops her with the letter in his hand. Torvald asks Nora if she knows what the letter is about but Nora tries to escape his grip but cannot. Torvald locks the door to stop Nora escaping and makes her explain what happened. Nora insists that everything she did was out of her love for Torvald but he does not believe her. He shouts at Nora saying he should have seen it coming and that she has destroyed all his happiness.
Torvald urges that they must find a way out of the situation. Torvald thinks he will be able to pay Krogstad money so that he doesn’t bring the incident into the public eye and ruin his reputation. Torvald is interrupted by the arrival of a letter for Nora. Torvald demands that he must read the letter upon seeing that it is from Krogstad. After reading the letter Torvald’s mood changes from anger to happiness; the letter contains the I.O.U. Torvald tears up the letter and the I.O.U. so that there is no proof of what happened. Torvald then forgives Nora who is not very interested indicating she is angry. Torvald blames her actions to inexperience in life. Nora then leaves to take of her dress. Under the dress analogy this could mean that her façade is no longer needed as the truth is out so she is going to dress normally again.
Nora is mad because Torvald has hidden her from the real world and instead she has lived in a “playroom”. She realises now that she was Torvald’s doll. Nora says she must educate herself and must leave the house: she will go home tomorrow and find a job like a real person. Torvald, again, worries about what other people will say but Nora does not care anymore because she has to look after herself now. Nora announces that she must learn how to grow up. Torvald exclaims shock and says that this must be because she no longer loves him. Nora agrees adding that the love was lost upon hearing what he said earlier. Nora elaborates saying that he said he would take care of any problem that occurred to her. She thought that this “miracle” would have happened to her but it did not. Torvald says that he would gladly take care of any problems but not if his honour would be sacrificed.
Torvald says that he sees a wide space between them and wonders if it can be fixed. Nora says no and goes for her bag. Torvald asks her to stay one more night but Nora declines. Nora bids farewell and tells Torvald that he is free from her and vice versa. Torvald asks if he may make contact or send things to Nora but she says no. Torvald asks if they can be anything other than strangers to which Nora says a miracle would have to happen and she no longer believes in miracles. Nora departs leaving Torvald alone in a chair. Torvald ponders on the possibility of a miracle and a flash of hope surges through him only to be shattered by the door closing downstairs.
