A DOLL'S HOUSE

by Henrik Ibsen DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Torvald Helmer. Nora, is !i"e. Do#$or Rank. Mrs Linde. Nils %ro&s$ad. Helmer's $ ree yo'n& # ildren. Anne, $ eir n'rse. A Ho'semaid. A Por$er. [The action takes place in Helmer's house.]

A DOLL'S HOUSE
A(T I
[SCENE.--A room furnished comfortabl and tastefull ! but not e"tra#a$antl . At the back! a door to the ri$ht leads to the entrance-hall! another to the left leads to Helmer's stud . %et&een the doors stands a piano. 'n the middle of the left-hand &all is a door! and be ond it a &indo&. Near the &indo& are a round table! arm-chairs and a small sofa. 'n the ri$hthand &all! at the farther end! another door( and on the same side! nearer the footli$hts! a sto#e! t&o eas chairs and a rockin$-chair( bet&een the sto#e and the door! a small table. En$ra#in$s on the &alls( a cabinet &ith china and other small ob)ects( a small book-case &ith &ell-bound books. The floors are carpeted! and a fire burns in the sto#e. 't is &inter. A bell rin$s in the hall( shortl after&ards the door is heard to open. Enter N*+A! hummin$ a tune and in hi$h spirits. She is in outdoor dress and carries a number of parcels( these she la s on the table to the ri$ht. She lea#es the outer door open after her! and throu$h it is seen a ,*+TE+ &ho is carr in$ a Christmas Tree and a basket! &hich he $i#es to the -A'. &ho has opened the door.] Nora. Hide the Christmas Tree carefully, Helen. Be sure the children do not see it until this evening, when it is dressed. [To the ,*+TE+! takin$ out her purse.] How much? Por$er. Sixpence.

Nora. There is a shilling. o, !eep the change. [The ,*+TE+ thanks her! and $oes out. N*+A shuts the door. She is lau$hin$ to herself! as she takes off her hat and coat. She takes a packet of macaroons from her pocket and eats one or t&o( then $oes cautiousl to her husband's door and listens.] "es, he is in. [Still hummin$! she $oes to the table on the ri$ht.] Helmer [calls out from his room] . #s that my little lar! twittering out there? Nora [bus openin$ some of the parcels]. "es, it is$ Helmer. #s it my little s%uirrel &ustling a&out? Nora. "es$ Helmer. 'hen did my s%uirrel come home? Nora. (ust now. [,uts the ba$ of macaroons into her pocket and &ipes her mouth.] Come in here, Torvald, and see what # have &ought. Helmer. )on*t distur& me. [A little later! he opens the door and looks into the room! pen in hand.] Bought, did you say? +ll these things? Has my little spendthrift &een wasting money again? Nora. "es &ut, Torvald, this year we really can let ourselves go a little. This is the first Christmas that we have not needed to economise. Helmer. Still, you !now, we can*t spend money rec!lessly. Nora. "es, Torvald, we may &e a wee &it more rec!less now, mayn*t we? (ust a tiny wee &it$ "ou are going to have a &ig salary and earn lots and lots of money. Helmer. "es, after the ew "ear, &ut then it will &e a whole %uarter &efore the salary is due. Nora. -ooh$ we can &orrow until then. Helmer. ora$ [/oes up to her and takes her pla full b the ear.] The same little featherhead$ Suppose, now, that # &orrowed fifty pounds today, and you spent it all in the Christmas wee!, and then on ew "ear*s .ve a slate fell on my head and !illed me, and// Nora [puttin$ her hands o#er his mouth]. 0h$ don*t say such horrid things. Helmer. Still, suppose that happened,//what then? Nora. #f that were to happen, # don*t suppose # should care whether # owed money or not.

Helmer. "es, &ut what a&out the people who had lent it? Nora. They? 'ho would &other a&out them? # should not !now who they were. Helmer. That is li!e a woman$ But seriously, ora, you !now what # thin! a&out that. o de&t, no &orrowing. There can &e no freedom or &eauty a&out a home life that depends on &orrowing and de&t. 'e two have !ept &ravely on the straight road so far, and we will go on the same way for the short time longer that there need &e any struggle. Nora [mo#in$ to&ards the sto#e]. +s you please, Torvald. Helmer [follo&in$ her] . Come, come, my little s!ylar! must not droop her wings. 'hat is this$ #s my little s%uirrel out of temper? [Takin$ out his purse.] ora, what do you thin! # have got here? Nora [turnin$ round 0uickl ] . 2oney$ Helmer. There you are. [/i#es her some mone .] )o you thin! # don*t !now what a lot is wanted for house!eeping at Christmas/ time? Nora [countin$]. Ten shillings//a pound//two pounds$ Than! you, than! you, Torvald, that will !eep me going for a long time. Helmer. #ndeed it must. Nora. "es, yes, it will. But come here and let me show you what # have &ought. +nd all so cheap$ 3oo!, here is a new suit for #var, and a sword, and a horse and a trumpet for Bo&, and a doll and dolly*s &edstead for .mmy,//they are very plain, &ut anyway she will soon &rea! them in pieces. +nd here are dress/lengths and hand!erchiefs for the maids, old +nne ought really to have something &etter. Helmer. +nd what is in this parcel? Nora [cr in$ out]. o, no$ you mustn*t see that until this evening. Helmer. 4ery well. But now tell me, you extravagant little person, what would you li!e for yourself? Nora. 5or myself? 0h, # am sure # don*t want anything. Helmer. "es, &ut you must. Tell me something reasona&le that you would particularly li!e to have. Nora. o, # really can*t thin! of anything//unless, Torvald// Helmer. 'ell?

Nora [pla in$ &ith his coat buttons! and &ithout raisin$ her e es to his] . #f you really want to give me something, you might//you might// Helmer. 'ell, out with it$ Nora [speakin$ 0uickl ]. "ou might give me money, Torvald. 0nly 7ust as much as you can afford, and then one of these days # will &uy something with it. Helmer. But, ora// Nora. 0h, do$ dear Torvald, please, please do$ Then # will wrap it up in &eautiful gilt paper and hang it on the Christmas Tree. 'ouldn*t that &e fun? Helmer. 'hat are little people called that are always wasting money? Nora. Spendthrifts//# !now. 3et us do as you suggest, Torvald, and then # shall have time to thin! what # am most in want of. That is a very sensi&le plan, isn*t it? Helmer [smilin$] . #ndeed it is//that is to say, if you were really to save out of the money # give you, and then really &uy something for yourself. But if you spend it all on the house!eeping and any num&er of unnecessary things, then # merely have to pay up again. Nora. 0h &ut, Torvald// Helmer. "ou can*t deny it, my dear little ora. [,uts his arm round her &aist.] #t*s a sweet little spendthrift, &ut she uses up a deal of money. 0ne would hardly &elieve how expensive such little persons are$ Nora. #t*s a shame to say that. # do really save all # can. Helmer [lau$hin$]. That*s very true,//all you can. But you can*t save anything$ Nora [smilin$ 0uietl and happil ]. "ou haven*t any idea how many expenses we s!ylar!s and s%uirrels have, Torvald. Helmer. "ou are an odd little soul. 4ery li!e your father. "ou always find some new way of wheedling money out of me, and, as soon as you have got it, it seems to melt in your hands. "ou never !now where it has gone. Still, one must ta!e you as you are. #t is in the &lood, for indeed it is true that you can inherit these things, ora. Nora. +h, # wish # had inherited many of papa*s %ualities. Helmer. +nd # would not wish you to &e anything &ut 7ust what you are, my sweet little s!ylar!. But, do you !now, it stri!es me that you are loo!ing rather//what shall # say//rather uneasy today?

Nora. )o #? Helmer. "ou do, really. 3oo! straight at me. Nora [looks at him]. 'ell? Helmer [&a$$in$ his fin$er at her] . Hasn*t 2iss Sweet Tooth &een &rea!ing rules in town today? Nora. o, what ma!es you thin! that? Helmer. Hasn*t she paid a visit to the confectioner*s? Nora. o, # assure you, Torvald// Helmer. ot &een ni&&ling sweets? Nora. o, certainly not. Helmer. ot even ta!en a &ite at a macaroon or two? Nora. o, Torvald, # assure you really// Helmer. There, there, of course # was only 7o!ing. Nora [$oin$ to the table on the ri$ht] . # should not thin! of going against your wishes. Helmer. o, # am sure of that, &esides, you gave me your word// [/oin$ up to her.] 9eep your little Christmas secrets to yourself, my darling. They will all &e revealed tonight when the Christmas Tree is lit, no dou&t. Nora. )id you remem&er to invite )octor :an!? Helmer. o. But there is no need, as a matter of course he will come to dinner with us. However, # will as! him when he comes in this morning. # have ordered some good wine. ora, you can*t thin! how # am loo!ing forward to this evening. Nora. So am #$ +nd how the children will en7oy themselves, Torvald$ Helmer. #t is splendid to feel that one has a perfectly safe appointment, and a &ig enough income. #t*s delightful to thin! of, isn*t it? Nora. #t*s wonderful$ Helmer. )o you remem&er last Christmas? 5or a full three wee!s &eforehand you shut yourself up every evening until long after midnight, ma!ing ornaments for the Christmas

Tree, and all the other fine things that were to &e a surprise to us. #t was the dullest three wee!s # ever spent$ Nora. # didn*t find it dull. Helmer [smilin$] . But there was precious little result, ora. Nora. 0h, you shouldn*t tease me a&out that again. How could # help the cat*s going in and tearing everything to pieces? Helmer. 0f course you couldn*t, poor little girl. "ou had the &est of intentions to please us all, and that*s the main thing. But it is a good thing that our hard times are over. Nora. "es, it is really wonderful. Helmer. This time # needn*t sit here and &e dull all alone, and you needn*t ruin your dear eyes and your pretty little hands// Nora [clappin$ her hands]. o, Torvald, # needn*t any longer, need #$ #t*s wonderfully lovely to hear you say so$ [Takin$ his arm.] ow # will tell you how # have &een thin!ing we ought to arrange things, Torvald. +s soon as Christmas is over//[A bell rin$s in the hall.] There*s the &ell. [She tidies the room a little.] There*s some one at the door. 'hat a nuisance$ Helmer. #f it is a caller, remem&er # am not at home. Maid [in the door&a ] . + lady to see you, ma*am,//a stranger. Nora. +s! her to come in. Maid [to HE1-E+] . The doctor came at the same time, sir. Helmer. )id he go straight into my room? Maid. "es, sir. [HE1-E+ $oes into his room. The -A'. ushers in -rs 1inde! &ho is in tra#ellin$ dress! and shuts the door.] Mrs Linde [in a de)ected and timid #oice] . How do you do, ora? Nora [doubtfull ]. How do you do// Mrs Linde. "ou don*t recognise me, # suppose.

<

Nora. o, # don*t !now//yes, to &e sure, # seem to//[Suddenl .] "es$ Christine$ #s it really you? Mrs Linde. "es, it is #. Nora. Christine$ To thin! of my not recognising you$ +nd yet how could #//['n a $entle #oice.] How you have altered, Christine$ Mrs Linde. "es, # have indeed. #n nine, ten long years// Nora. #s it so long since we met? # suppose it is. The last eight years have &een a happy time for me, # can tell you. +nd so now you have come into the town, and have ta!en this long 7ourney in winter//that was pluc!y of you. Mrs Linde. # arrived &y steamer this morning. Nora. To have some fun at Christmas/time, of course. How delightful$ 'e will have such fun together$ But ta!e off your things. "ou are not cold, # hope. [Helps her.] ow we will sit down &y the stove, and &e cosy. o, ta!e this armchair, # will sit here in the roc!ing/ chair. [Takes her hands.] ow you loo! li!e your old self again, it was only the first moment//"ou are a little paler, Christine, and perhaps a little thinner. Mrs Linde. +nd much, much older, ora. Nora. -erhaps a little older, very, very little, certainly not much. [Stops suddenl and speaks seriousl .] 'hat a thoughtless creature # am, chattering away li!e this. 2y poor, dear Christine, do forgive me. Mrs Linde. 'hat do you mean, ora? Nora [$entl ] . -oor Christine, you are a widow. Mrs Linde. "es, it is three years ago now. Nora. "es, # !new, # saw it in the papers. # assure you, Christine, # meant ever so often to write to you at the time, &ut # always put it off and something always prevented me. Mrs Linde. # %uite understand, dear. Nora. #t was very &ad of me, Christine. -oor thing, how you must have suffered. +nd he left you nothing? Mrs Linde. o. Nora. +nd no children?

Mrs Linde. o. Nora. othing at all, then. Mrs Linde. ot even any sorrow or grief to live upon. Nora [lookin$ incredulousl at her]. But, Christine, is that possi&le? Mrs Linde [smiles sadl and strokes her hair] . #t sometimes happens, ora. Nora. So you are %uite alone. How dreadfully sad that must &e. # have three lovely children. "ou can*t see them 7ust now, for they are out with their nurse. But now you must tell me all a&out it. Mrs Linde. o, no, # want to hear a&out you. Nora. o, you must &egin. # mustn*t &e selfish today, today # must only thin! of your affairs. But there is one thing # must tell you. )o you !now we have 7ust had a great piece of good luc!? Mrs Linde. o, what is it? Nora. (ust fancy, my hus&and has &een made manager of the Ban!$ Mrs Linde. "our hus&and? 'hat good luc!$ Nora. "es, tremendous$ + &arrister*s profession is such an uncertain thing, especially if he won*t underta!e unsavoury cases, and naturally Torvald has never &een willing to do that, and # %uite agree with him. "ou may imagine how pleased we are$ He is to ta!e up his wor! in the Ban! at the ew "ear, and then he will have a &ig salary and lots of commissions. 5or the future we can live %uite differently//we can do 7ust as we li!e. # feel so relieved and so happy, Christine$ #t will &e splendid to have heaps of money and not need to have any anxiety, won*t it? Mrs Linde. "es, anyhow # thin! it would &e delightful to have what one needs. Nora. o, not only what one needs, &ut heaps and heaps of money. Mrs Linde [smilin$]. ora, ora, haven*t you learned sense yet? #n our schooldays you were a great spendthrift. Nora [lau$hin$]. "es, that is what Torvald says now. [2a$s her fin$er at her.] But > ora, ora> is not so silly as you thin!. 'e have not &een in a position for me to waste money. 'e have &oth had to wor!. Mrs Linde. "ou too?

Nora. "es, odds and ends, needlewor!, crotchet/wor!, em&roidery, and that !ind of thing. [.roppin$ her #oice.] +nd other things as well. "ou !now Torvald left his office when we were married? There was no prospect of promotion there, and he had to try and earn more than &efore. But during the first year he over/wor!ed himself dreadfully. "ou see, he had to ma!e money every way he could, and he wor!ed early and late, &ut he couldn*t stand it, and fell dreadfully ill, and the doctors said it was necessary for him to go south. Mrs Linde. "ou spent a whole year in #taly, didn*t you? Nora. "es. #t was no easy matter to get away, # can tell you. #t was 7ust after #var was &orn, &ut naturally we had to go. #t was a wonderfully &eautiful 7ourney, and it saved Torvald*s life. But it cost a tremendous lot of money, Christine. Mrs Linde. So # should thin!. Nora. #t cost a&out two hundred and fifty pounds. That*s a lot, isn*t it? Mrs Linde. "es, and in emergencies li!e that it is luc!y to have the money. Nora. # ought to tell you that we had it from papa. Mrs Linde. 0h, # see. #t was 7ust a&out that time that he died, wasn*t it? Nora. "es, and, 7ust thin! of it, # couldn*t go and nurse him. # was expecting little #var*s &irth every day and # had my poor sic! Torvald to loo! after. 2y dear, !ind father//# never saw him again, Christine. That was the saddest time # have !nown since our marriage. Mrs Linde. # !now how fond you were of him. +nd then you went off to #taly? Nora. "es, you see we had money then, and the doctors insisted on our going, so we started a month later. Mrs Linde. +nd your hus&and came &ac! %uite well? Nora. +s sound as a &ell$ Mrs Linde. But//the doctor? Nora. 'hat doctor? Mrs Linde. # thought your maid said the gentleman who arrived here 7ust as # did, was the doctor? Nora. "es, that was )octor :an!, &ut he doesn*t come here professionally. He is our greatest friend, and comes in at least once everyday. o, Torvald has not had an hour*s illness since then, and our children are strong and healthy and so am #. [3umps up and claps

her hands.] Christine$ Christine$ it*s good to &e alive and happy$//But how horrid of me, # am tal!ing of nothing &ut my own affairs. [Sits on a stool near her! and rests her arms on her knees.] "ou mustn*t &e angry with me. Tell me, is it really true that you did not love your hus&and? 'hy did you marry him? Mrs Linde. 2y mother was alive then, and was &edridden and helpless, and # had to provide for my two younger &rothers, so # did not thin! # was 7ustified in refusing his offer. Nora. o, perhaps you were %uite right. He was rich at that time, then? Mrs Linde. # &elieve he was %uite well off. But his &usiness was a precarious one, and, when he died, it all went to pieces and there was nothing left. Nora. +nd then?// Mrs Linde. 'ell, # had to turn my hand to anything # could find/ /first a small shop, then a small school, and so on. The last three years have seemed li!e one long wor!ing/day, with no rest. ow it is at an end, ora. 2y poor mother needs me no more, for she is gone, and the &oys do not need me either, they have got situations and can shift for themselves. Nora. 'hat a relief you must feel if// Mrs Linde. o, indeed, # only feel my life unspea!a&ly empty. o one to live for anymore. [/ets up restlessl .] That was why # could not stand the life in my little &ac!water any longer. # hope it may &e easier here to find something which will &usy me and occupy my thoughts. #f only # could have the good luc! to get some regular wor!//office wor! of some !ind// Nora. But, Christine, that is so frightfully tiring, and you loo! tired out now. "ou had far &etter go away to some watering/place. Mrs Linde [&alkin$ to the &indo&]. # have no father to give me money for a 7ourney, ora. Nora [risin$] . 0h, don*t &e angry with me$ Mrs Linde [$oin$ up to her] . #t is you that must not &e angry with me, dear. The worst of a position li!e mine is that it ma!es one so &itter. o one to wor! for, and yet o&liged to &e always on the loo!out for chances. 0ne must live, and so one &ecomes selfish. 'hen you told me of the happy turn your fortunes have ta!en//you will hardly &elieve it//# was delighted not so much on your account as on my own. Nora. How do you mean?//0h, # understand. "ou mean that perhaps Torvald could get you something to do. Mrs Linde. "es, that was what # was thin!ing of.

1A

Nora. He must, Christine. (ust leave it to me, # will &roach the su&7ect very cleverly//# will thin! of something that will please him very much. #t will ma!e me so happy to &e of some use to you. Mrs Linde. How !ind you are, ora, to &e so anxious to help me$ #t is dou&ly !ind in you, for you !now so little of the &urdens and trou&les of life. Nora. #//? # !now so little of them? Mrs Linde [smilin$]. 2y dear$ Small household cares and that sort of thing$//"ou are a child, ora. Nora [tosses her head and crosses the sta$e] . "ou ought not to &e so superior. Mrs Linde. o? Nora. "ou are 7ust li!e the others. They all thin! that # am incapa&le of anything really serious// Mrs Linde. Come, come// Nora.//that # have gone through nothing in this world of cares. Mrs Linde. But, my dear ora, you have 7ust told me all your trou&les. Nora. -ooh$//those were trifles. [1o&erin$ her #oice.] # have not told you the important thing. Mrs Linde. The important thing? 'hat do you mean? Nora. "ou loo! down upon me altogether, Christine//&ut you ought not to. "ou are proud, aren*t you, of having wor!ed so hard and so long for your mother? Mrs Linde. #ndeed, # don*t loo! down on anyone. But it is true that # am &oth proud and glad to thin! that # was privileged to ma!e the end of my mother*s life almost free from care. Nora. +nd you are proud to thin! of what you have done for your &rothers? Mrs Linde. # thin! # have the right to &e. Nora. # thin! so, too. But now, listen to this, # too have something to &e proud and glad of. Mrs Linde. # have no dou&t you have. But what do you refer to?

11

Nora. Spea! low. Suppose Torvald were to hear$ He mustn*t on any account//no one in the world must !now, Christine, except you. Mrs Linde. But what is it? Nora. Come here. [,ulls her do&n on the sofa beside her.] ow # will show you that # too have something to &e proud and glad of. #t was # who saved Torvald*s life. Mrs Linde. >Saved>? How? Nora. # told you a&out our trip to #taly. Torvald would never have recovered if he had not gone there// Mrs Linde. "es, &ut your father gave you the necessary funds. Nora [smilin$] . "es, that is what Torvald and all the others thin!, &ut// Mrs Linde. But// Nora. -apa didn*t give us a shilling. #t was # who procured the money. Mrs Linde. "ou? +ll that large sum? Nora. Two hundred and fifty pounds. 'hat do you thin! of that? Mrs Linde. But, ora, how could you possi&ly do it? )id you win a priBe in the 3ottery? Nora [contemptuousl ] . #n the 3ottery? There would have &een no credit in that. Mrs Linde. But where did you get it from, then? ora [hummin$ and smilin$ &ith an air of m ster ] . Hm, hm$ +ha$ Mrs Linde. Because you couldn*t have &orrowed it. Nora. Couldn*t #? 'hy not? Mrs Linde. o, a wife cannot &orrow without her hus&and*s consent. Nora [tossin$ her head] . 0h, if it is a wife who has any head for &usiness//a wife who has the wit to &e a little &it clever// Mrs Linde. # don*t understand it at all, ora. Nora. There is no need you should. # never said # had &orrowed the money. # may have got it some other way. [1ies back on the sofa.] -erhaps # got it from some other admirer. 'hen anyone is as attractive as # am//

11

Mrs Linde. "ou are a mad creature. Nora. ow, you !now you*re full of curiosity, Christine. Mrs Linde. 3isten to me, ora dear. Haven*t you &een a little &it imprudent? Nora [sits up strai$ht] . #s it imprudent to save your hus&and*s life? Mrs Linde. #t seems to me imprudent, without his !nowledge, to// Nora. But it was a&solutely necessary that he should not !now$ 2y goodness, can*t you understand that? #t was necessary he should have no idea what a dangerous condition he was in. #t 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. )o you suppose # didn*t try, first of all, to get what # wanted as if it were for myself? # told him how much # should love to travel a&road li!e other young wives, # tried tears and entreaties with him, # told him that he ought to remem&er the condition # was in, and that he ought to &e !ind and indulgent to me, # even hinted that he might raise a loan. That nearly made him angry, Christine. He said # was thoughtless, and that it was his duty as my hus&and not to indulge me in my whims and caprices//as # &elieve he called them. 4ery well, # thought, you must &e saved//and that was how # came to devise a way out of the difficulty// Mrs Linde. +nd did your hus&and never get to !now from your father that the money had not come from him? Nora. o, never. -apa died 7ust at that time. # had meant to let him into the secret and &eg him never to reveal it. But he was so ill then//alas, there never was any need to tell him. Mrs Linde. +nd since then have you never told your secret to your hus&and? Nora. Cood Heavens, no$ How could you thin! so? + man who has such strong opinions a&out these things$ +nd &esides, how painful and humiliating it would &e for Torvald, with his manly independence, to !now that he owed me anything$ #t would upset our mutual relations altogether, our &eautiful happy home would no longer &e what it is now. Mrs Linde. )o you mean never to tell him a&out it? Nora [meditati#el ! and &ith a half smile] . "es//someday, perhaps, after many years, when # am no longer as nice/loo!ing as # am now. )on*t laugh at me$ # mean, of course, when Torvald is no longer as devoted to me as he is now, when my dancing and dressing/up and reciting have palled on him, then it may &e a good thing to have something in reserve// [%reakin$ off.] 'hat nonsense$ That time will never come. ow, what do you thin! of my great secret, Christine? )o you still thin! # am of no use? # can tell you, too, that this affair has caused me a lot of worry. #t has &een &y no means easy for me to meet my engagements punctually. # may tell you that there is something that is called, in &usiness, %uarterly interest, and another thing called payment in installments, and it is always so dreadfully

16

difficult to manage them. # have had to save a little here and there, where # could, you understand. # have not &een a&le to put aside much from my house!eeping money, for Torvald must have a good ta&le. # couldn*t let my children &e sha&&ily dressed, # have felt o&liged to use up all he gave me for them, the sweet little darlings$ Mrs Linde. So it has all had to come out of your own necessaries of life, poor ora? Nora. 0f course. Besides, # was the one responsi&le for it. 'henever Torvald has given me money for new dresses and such things, # have never spent more than half of it, # have always &ought the simplest and cheapest things. Than! Heaven, any clothes loo! well on me, and so Torvald has never noticed it. But it was often very hard on me, Christine// &ecause it is delightful to &e really well dressed, isn*t it? Mrs Linde. Duite so. Nora. 'ell, then # have found other ways of earning money. 3ast winter # was luc!y enough to get a lot of copying to do, so # loc!ed myself up and sat writing every evening until %uite late at night. 2any a time # was desperately tired, &ut all the same it was a tremendous pleasure to sit there wor!ing and earning money. #t was li!e &eing a man. Mrs Linde. How much have you &een a&le to pay off in that way? Nora. # can*t tell you exactly. "ou see, it is very difficult to !eep an account of a &usiness matter of that !ind. # only !now that # have paid every penny that # could scrape together. 2any a time # was at my wits* end. [Smiles.] Then # used to sit here and imagine that a rich old gentleman had fallen in love with me// Mrs Linde. 'hat$ 'ho was it? Nora. Be %uiet$//that he had died, and that when his will was opened it contained, written in &ig letters, the instructionE >The lovely 2rs ora Helmer is to have all # possess paid over to her at once in cash.> Mrs Linde. But, my dear ora//who could the man &e? Nora. Cood gracious, can*t you understand? There was no old gentleman at all, it was only something that # used to sit here and imagine, when # couldn*t thin! of any way of procuring money. But it*s all the same now, the tiresome old person can stay where he is, as far as # am concerned, # don*t care a&out him or his will either, for # am free from care now. [3umps up.] 2y goodness, it*s delightful to thin! of, Christine$ 5ree from care$ To &e a&le to &e free from care, %uite free from care, to &e a&le to play and romp with the children, to &e a&le to !eep the house &eautifully and have everything 7ust as Torvald li!es it$ +nd, thin! of it, soon the spring will come and the &ig &lue s!y$ -erhaps we shall &e a&le to ta!e a little trip//perhaps # shall see the sea again$ 0h, it*s a wonderful thing to &e alive and &e happy. [A bell is heard in the hall.]

18

Mrs Linde [risin$]. There is the &ell, perhaps # had &etter go. Nora. o, don*t go, no one will come in here, it is sure to &e for Torvald. Servan$ [at the hall door] . .xcuse me, ma*am//there is a gentleman to see the master, and as the doctor is with him// Nora. 'ho is it? %ro&s$ad [at the door]. #t is #, 2rs Helmer. [-rs 1'N.E starts! trembles! and turns to the &indo&.] Nora [takes a step to&ards him! and speaks in a strained! lo& #oice]. "ou? 'hat is it? 'hat do you want to see my hus&and a&out? %ro&s$ad. Ban! &usiness//in a way. # have a small post in the Ban!, and # hear your hus&and is to &e our chief now// Nora. Then it is// %ro&s$ad. othing &ut dry &usiness matters, 2rs Helmer, a&solutely nothing else. Nora. Be so good as to go into the study, then. [She bo&s indifferentl to him and shuts the door into the hall( then comes back and makes up the fire in the sto#e.] Mrs Linde. ora//who was that man? Nora. + lawyer, of the name of 9rogstad. Mrs Linde. Then it really was he. Nora. )o you !now the man? Mrs Linde. # used to//many years ago. +t one time he was a solicitor*s cler! in our town. Nora. "es, he was. Mrs Linde. He is greatly altered. Nora. He made a very unhappy marriage. Mrs Linde. He is a widower now, isn*t he? Nora. 'ith several children. There now, it is &urning up. Shuts the door of the stove and moves the roc!ing/chair aside.F

1;

Mrs Linde. They say he carries on various !inds of &usiness. Nora. :eally$ -erhaps he does, # don*t !now anything a&out it. But don*t let us thin! of &usiness, it is so tiresome. Do#$or Rank [comes out of HE1-E+'S stud . %efore he shuts the door he calls to him]. o, my dear fellow, # won*t distur& you, # would rather go in to your wife for a little while. [Shuts the door and sees -rs 1'N.E.] # &eg your pardon, # am afraid # am distur&ing you too. Nora. o, not at all. ['ntroducin$ him]. )octor :an!, 2rs 3inde. Rank. # have often heard 2rs 3inde*s name mentioned here. # thin! # passed you on the stairs when # arrived, 2rs 3inde? Mrs Linde. "es, # go up very slowly, # can*t manage stairs well. Rank. +h$ some slight internal wea!ness? Mrs Linde. o, the fact is # have &een overwor!ing myself. Rank. othing more than that? Then # suppose you have come to town to amuse yourself with our entertainments? Mrs Linde. # have come to loo! for wor!. Rank. #s that a good cure for overwor!? Mrs Linde. 0ne must live, )octor :an!. Rank. "es, the general opinion seems to &e that it is necessary. Nora. 3oo! here, )octor :an!//you !now you want to live. Rank. Certainly. However wretched # may feel, # want to prolong the agony as long as possi&le. +ll my patients are li!e that. +nd so are those who are morally diseased, one of them, and a &ad case too, is at this very moment with Helmer// Mrs Linde [sadl ]. +h$ Nora. 'hom do you mean? Rank. + lawyer of the name of 9rogstad, a fellow you don*t !now at all. He suffers from a diseased moral character, 2rs Helmer, &ut even he &egan tal!ing of its &eing highly important that he should live.

1<

Nora. )id he? 'hat did he want to spea! to Torvald a&out? Rank. # have no idea, # only heard that it was something a&out the Ban!. Nora. # didn*t !now this//what*s his name//9rogstad had anything to do with the Ban!. Rank. "es, he has some sort of appointment there. [To -rs 1inde.] # don*t !now whether you find also in your part of the world that there are certain people who go Bealously snuffing a&out to smell out moral corruption, and, as soon as they have found some, put the person concerned into some lucrative position where they can !eep their eye on him. Healthy natures are left out in the cold. Mrs Linde. Still # thin! the sic! are those who most need ta!ing care of. Rank [shru$$in$ his shoulders]. "es, there you are. That is the sentiment that is turning Society into a sic!/house. [N*+A! &ho has been absorbed in her thou$hts! breaks out into smothered lau$hter and claps her hands.] Rank. 'hy do you laugh at that? Have you any notion what Society really is? Nora. 'hat do # care a&out tiresome Society? # am laughing at something %uite different, something extremely amusing. Tell me, )octor :an!, are all the people who are employed in the Ban! dependent on Torvald now? Rank. #s that what you find so extremely amusing? Nora [smilin$ and hummin$] . That*s my affair$ [2alkin$ about the room.] #t*s perfectly glorious to thin! that we have//that Torvald has so much power over so many people. [Takes the packet from her pocket.] )octor :an!, what do you say to a macaroon? Rank. 'hat, macaroons? # thought they were for&idden here. Nora. "es, &ut these are some Christine gave me. Mrs Linde. 'hat$ #?// Nora. 0h, well, don*t &e alarmed$ "ou couldn*t !now that Torvald had for&idden them. # must tell you that he is afraid they will spoil my teeth. But, &ah$//once in a way//That*s so, isn*t it, )octor :an!? By your leave$ [,uts a macaroon into his mouth.] "ou must have one too, Christine. +nd # shall have one, 7ust a little one//or at most two. [2alkin$ about.] # am tremendously happy. There is 7ust one thing in the world now that # should dearly love to do. Rank. 'ell, what is that?

1=

Nora. #t*s something # should dearly love to say, if Torvald could hear me. Rank. 'ell, why can*t you say it? Nora. o, # daren*t, it*s so shoc!ing. Mrs Linde. Shoc!ing? Rank. 'ell, # should not advise you to say it. Still, with us you might. 'hat is it you would so much li!e to say if Torvald could hear you? Nora. # should 7ust love to say//'ell, #*m damned$ Rank. +re you mad? Mrs Linde. ora, dear//$ Rank. Say it, here he is$ Nora [hidin$ the packet] . Hush$ Hush$ Hush$ [HE1-E+ comes out of his room! &ith his coat o#er his arm and his hat in his hand.] Nora. 'ell, Torvald dear, have you got rid of him? Helmer. "es, he has 7ust gone. Nora. 3et me introduce you//this is Christine, who has come to town. Helmer. Christine//? .xcuse me, &ut # don*t !now// Nora. 2rs 3inde, dear, Christine 3inde. Helmer. 0f course. + school friend of my wife*s, # presume? Mrs Linde. "es, we have !nown each other since then. Nora. +nd 7ust thin!, she has ta!en a long 7ourney in order to see you. Helmer. 'hat do you mean? Mrs Linde. o, really, #// Nora. Christine is tremendously clever at &oo!/!eeping, and she is frightfully anxious to wor! under some clever man, so as to perfect herself// Helmer. 4ery sensi&le, 2rs 3inde.

1?

Nora. +nd when she heard you had &een appointed manager of the Ban!//the news was telegraphed, you !now//she travelled here as %uic! as she could. Torvald, # am sure you will &e a&le to do something for Christine, for my sa!e, won*t you? Helmer. 'ell, it is not altogether impossi&le. # presume you are a widow, 2rs 3inde? Mrs Linde. "es. Helmer. +nd have had some experience of &oo!/!eeping? Mrs Linde. "es, a fair amount. Helmer. +h$ well, it*s very li!ely # may &e a&le to find something for you// Nora [clappin$ her hands]. 'hat did # tell you? 'hat did # tell you? Helmer. "ou have 7ust come at a fortunate moment, 2rs 3inde. Mrs Linde. How am # to than! you? Helmer. There is no need. [,uts on his coat.] But today you must excuse me// Rank. 'ait a minute, # will come with you. [%rin$s his fur coat from the hall and &arms it at the fire.] Nora. )on*t &e long away, Torvald dear. Helmer. +&out an hour, not more. Nora. +re you going too, Christine? Mrs Linde [puttin$ on her cloak] . "es, # must go and loo! for a room. Helmer. 0h, well then, we can wal! down the street together. Nora [helpin$ her]. 'hat a pity it is we are so short of space here, # am afraid it is impossi&le for us// Mrs Linde. -lease don*t thin! of it$ Cood&ye, ora dear, and many than!s. Nora. Cood&ye for the present. 0f course you will come &ac! this evening. +nd you too, )r. :an!. 'hat do you say? #f you are well enough? 0h, you must &e$ 'rap yourself up well. [The $o to the door all talkin$ to$ether. Children's #oices are heard on the staircase.]

1@

Nora. There they are$ There they are$ [She runs to open the door. The N4+SE comes in &ith the children.] Come in$ Come in$ [Stoops and kisses them.] 0h, you sweet &lessings$ 3oo! at them, Christine$ +ren*t they darlings? Rank. )on*t let us stand here in the draught. Helmer. Come along, 2rs 3inde, the place will only &e &eara&le for a mother now$ [+AN5! HE1-E+! and -rs 1inde $o do&nstairs. The N4+SE comes for&ard &ith the children( N*+A shuts the hall door.] Nora. How fresh and well you loo!$ Such red chee!s li!e apples and roses. [The children all talk at once &hile she speaks to them.] Have you had great fun? That*s splendid$ 'hat, you pulled &oth .mmy and Bo& along on the sledge? //&oth at once?//that was good. "ou are a clever &oy, #var. 3et me ta!e her for a little, +nne. 2y sweet little &a&y doll$ [Takes the bab from the -A'. and dances it up and do&n.] "es, yes, mother will dance with Bo& too. 'hat$ Have you &een snow&alling? # wish # had &een there too$ o, no, # will ta!e their things off, +nne, please let me do it, it is such fun. Co in now, you loo! half froBen. There is some hot coffee for you on the stove. [The N4+SE $oes into the room on the left. N*+A takes off the children's thin$s and thro&s them about! &hile the all talk to her at once.] Nora. :eally$ )id a &ig dog run after you? But it didn*t &ite you? o, dogs don*t &ite nice little dolly children. "ou mustn*t loo! at the parcels, #var. 'hat are they? +h, # daresay you would li!e to !now. o, no//it*s something nasty$ Come, let us have a game$ 'hat shall we play at? Hide and See!? "es, we*ll play Hide and See!. Bo& shall hide first. 2ust # hide? 4ery well, #*ll hide first. [She and the children lau$h and shout! and romp in and out of the room( at last N*+A hides under the table! the children rush in and out for her! but do not see her( the hear her smothered lau$hter! run to the table! lift up the cloth and find her. Shouts of lau$hter. She cra&ls for&ard and pretends to fri$hten them. 6resh lau$hter. -ean&hile there has been a knock at the hall door! but none of them has noticed it. The door is half opened! and 5+*/STA. appears! lie &aits a little( the $ame $oes on.] %ro&s$ad. .xcuse me, 2rs Helmer. Nora [&ith a stifled cr ! turns round and $ets up on to her knees] . +h$ what do you want? %ro&s$ad. .xcuse me, the outer door was a7ar, # suppose someone forgot to shut it. Nora [risin$] . 2y hus&and is out, 2r. 9rogstad. %ro&s$ad. # !now that. Nora. 'hat do you want here, then?

1A

%ro&s$ad. + word with you. Nora. 'ith me?//[To the children! $entl .] Co in to nurse. 'hat? o, the strange man won*t do mother any harm. 'hen he has gone we will have another game. [She takes the children into the room on the left! and shuts the door after them.] "ou want to spea! to me? %ro&s$ad. "es, # do. Nora. Today? #t is not the first of the month yet. %ro&s$ad. o, it is Christmas .ve, and it will depend on yourself what sort of a Christmas you will spend. Nora. 'hat do you mean? Today it is a&solutely impossi&le for me// %ro&s$ad. 'e won*t tal! a&out that until later on. This is something different. # presume you can give me a moment? Nora. "es//yes, # can//although// %ro&s$ad. Cood. # was in 0lsen*s :estaurant and saw your hus&and going down the street// Nora. "es? %ro&s$ad. 'ith a lady. Nora. 'hat then? %ro&s$ad. 2ay # ma!e so &old as to as! if it was a 2rs 3inde? Nora. #t was. %ro&s$ad. (ust arrived in town? Nora. "es, today. %ro&s$ad. She is a great friend of yours, isn*t she? Nora. She is. But # don*t see// %ro&s$ad. # !new her too, once upon a time. Nora. # am aware of that. %ro&s$ad. +re you? So you !now all a&out it, # thought as much. Then # can as! you, without &eating a&out the &ush//is 2rs 3inde to have an appointment in the Ban!?

11

Nora. 'hat right have you to %uestion me, 2r. 9rogstad?//"ou, one of my hus&and*s su&ordinates$ But since you as!, you shall !now. "es, 2rs 3inde is to have an appointment. +nd it was # who pleaded her cause, 2r. 9rogstad, let me tell you that. %ro&s$ad. # was right in what # thought, then. Nora [&alkin$ up and do&n the sta$e]. Sometimes one has a tiny little &it of influence, # should hope. Because one is a woman, it does not necessarily follow that//. 'hen anyone is in a su&ordinate position, 2r. 9rogstad, they should really &e careful to avoid offending anyone who//who// %ro&s$ad. 'ho has influence? Nora. .xactly. %ro&s$ad [chan$in$ his tone] . 2rs Helmer, you will &e so good as to use your influence on my &ehalf. Nora. 'hat? 'hat do you mean? %ro&s$ad. "ou will &e so !ind as to see that # am allowed to !eep my su&ordinate position in the Ban!. Nora. 'hat do you mean &y that? 'ho proposes to ta!e your post away from you? %ro&s$ad. 0h, there is no necessity to !eep up the pretence of ignorance. # can %uite understand that your friend is not very anxious to expose herself to the chance of ru&&ing shoulders with me, and # %uite understand, too, whom # have to than! for &eing turned off. Nora. But # assure you// %ro&s$ad. 4ery li!ely, &ut, to come to the point, the time has come when # should advise you to use your influence to prevent that. Nora. But, 2r. 9rogstad, # have no influence. %ro&s$ad. Haven*t you? # thought you said yourself 7ust now// Nora. aturally # did not mean you to put that construction on it. #$ 'hat should ma!e you thin! # have any influence of that !ind with my hus&and? %ro&s$ad. 0h, # have !nown your hus&and from our student days. # don*t suppose he is any more unassaila&le than other hus&ands. Nora. #f you spea! slightingly of my hus&and, # shall turn you out of the house.

11

%ro&s$ad. "ou are &old, 2rs Helmer. Nora. # am not afraid of you any longer. +s soon as the ew "ear comes, # shall in a very short time &e free of the whole thing. %ro&s$ad [controllin$ himself] . 3isten to me, 2rs Helmer. #f necessaryF # am prepared to fight for my small post in the Ban! as if # were fighting for my life. Nora. So it seems. %ro&s$ad. #t is not only for the sa!e of the money, indeed, that weighs least with me in the matter. There is another reason// well, # may as well tell you. 2y position is this. # daresay you !now, li!e every&ody else, that once, many years ago, # was guilty of an indiscretion. Nora. # thin! # have heard something of the !ind. %ro&s$ad. The matter never came into court, &ut every way seemed to &e closed to me after that. So # too! to the &usiness that you !now of. # had to do something, and, honestly, # don*t thin! #*ve &een one of the worst. But now # must cut myself free from all that. 2y sons are growing up, for their sa!e # must try and win &ac! as much respect as # can in the town. This post in the Ban! was li!e the first step up for me//and now your hus&and is going to !ic! me downstairs again into the mud. Nora. But you must &elieve me, 2r. 9rogstad, it is not in my power to help you at all. %ro&s$ad. Then it is &ecause you haven*t the will, &ut # have means to compel you. Nora. "ou don*t mean that you will tell my hus&and that # owe you money? %ro&s$ad. Hm$//suppose # were to tell him? Nora. #t would &e perfectly infamous of you. [Sobbin$.] To thin! of his learning my secret, which has &een my 7oy and pride, in such an ugly, clumsy way//that he should learn it from you$ +nd it would put me in a horri&ly disagreea&le position// %ro&s$ad. 0nly disagreea&le? Nora [impetuousl ]. 'ell, do it, then$//and it will &e the worse for you. 2y hus&and will see for himself what a &lac!guard you are, and you certainly won*t !eep your post then. %ro&s$ad. # as!ed you if it was only a disagreea&le scene at home that you were afraid of? Nora. #f my hus&and does get to !now of it, of course he will at once pay you what is still owing, and we shall have nothing more to do with you.

16

%ro&s$ad [comin$ a step nearer]. 3isten to me, 2rs Helmer. .ither you have a very &ad memory or you !now very little of &usiness. # shall &e o&liged to remind you of a few details. Nora. 'hat do you mean? %ro&s$ad. 'hen your hus&and was ill, you came to me to &orrow two hundred and fifty pounds. Nora. # didn*t !now anyone else to go to. %ro&s$ad. # promised to get you that amount// Nora. "es, and you did so. %ro&s$ad. # promised to get you that amount, on certain conditions. "our mind was so ta!en up with your hus&and*s illness, and you were so anxious to get the money for your 7ourney, that you seem to have paid no attention to the conditions of our &argain. Therefore it will not &e amiss if # remind you of them. ow, # promised to get the money on the security of a &ond which # drew up. Nora. "es, and which # signed. %ro&s$ad. Cood. But &elow your signature there were a few lines constituting your father a surety for the money, those lines your father should have signed. Nora. Should? He did sign them. %ro&s$ad. # had left the date &lan!, that is to say, your father should himself have inserted the date on which he signed the paper. )o you remem&er that? Nora. "es, # thin! # remem&er// %ro&s$ad. Then # gave you the &ond to send &y post to your father. #s that not so? Nora. "es. %ro&s$ad. +nd you naturally did so at once, &ecause five or six days afterwards you &rought me the &ond with your father*s signature. +nd then # gave you the money. Nora. 'ell, haven*t # &een paying it off regularly? %ro&s$ad. 5airly so, yes. But//to come &ac! to the matter in hand//that must have &een a very trying time for you, 2rs Helmer? Nora. #t was, indeed.

18

%ro&s$ad. "our father was very ill, wasn*t he? Nora. He was very near his end. %ro&s$ad. +nd died soon afterwards? Nora. "es. %ro&s$ad. Tell me, 2rs Helmer, can you &y any chance remem&er what day your father died?//on what day of the month, # mean. Nora. -apa died on the 1@th of Septem&er. %ro&s$ad. That is correct, # have ascertained it for myself. +nd, as that is so, there is a discrepancy [takin$ a paper from his pocket] which # cannot account for. Nora. 'hat discrepancy? # don*t !now// %ro&s$ad. The discrepancy consists, 2rs Helmer, in the fact that your father signed this &ond three days after his death. Nora. 'hat do you mean? # don*t understand// %ro&s$ad. "our father died on the 1@th of Septem&er. But, loo! here, your father has dated his signature the 1nd of 0cto&er. #t is a discrepancy, isn*t it? [N*+A is silent.] Can you explain it to me? [N*+A is still silent.] #t is a remar!a&le thing, too, that the words >1nd of 0cto&er,> as well as the year, are not written in your father*s handwriting &ut in one that # thin! # !now. 'ell, of course it can &e explained, your father may have forgotten to date his signature, and someone else may have dated it haphaBard &efore they !new of his death. There is no harm in that. #t all depends on the signature of the name, and that is genuine, # suppose, 2rs Helmer? #t was your father himself who signed his name here? Nora [after a short pause! thro&s her head up and looks defiantl at him] . o, it was not. #t was # that wrote papa*s name. %ro&s$ad. +re you aware that is a dangerous confession? Nora. #n what way? "ou shall have your money soon. %ro&s$ad. 3et me as! you a %uestion, why did you not send the paper to your father? Nora. #t was impossi&le, papa was so ill. #f # had as!ed him for his signature, # should have had to tell him what the money was to &e used for, and when he was so ill himself # couldn*t tell him that my hus&and*s life was in danger//it was impossi&le. %ro&s$ad. #t would have &een &etter for you if you had given up your trip a&road.

1;

Nora. o, that was impossi&le. That trip was to save my hus&and*s life, # couldn*t give that up. %ro&s$ad. But did it never occur to you that you were committing a fraud on me? Nora. # couldn*t ta!e that into account, # didn*t trou&le myself a&out you at all. # couldn*t &ear you, &ecause you put so many heartless difficulties in my way, although you !new what a dangerous condition my hus&and was in. %ro&s$ad. 2rs Helmer, you evidently do not realise clearly what it is that you have &een guilty of. But # can assure you that my one false step, which lost me all my reputation, was nothing more or nothing worse than what you have done. Nora. "ou? )o you as! me to &elieve that you were &rave enough to run a ris! to save your wife*s life? %ro&s$ad. The law cares nothing a&out motives. Nora. Then it must &e a very foolish law. %ro&s$ad. 5oolish or not, it is the law &y which you will &e 7udged, if # produce this paper in court. Nora. # don*t &elieve it. #s a daughter not to &e allowed to spare her dying father anxiety and care? #s a wife not to &e allowed to save her hus&and*s life? # don*t !now much a&out law, &ut # am certain that there must &e laws permitting such things as that. Have you no !nowledge of such laws//you who are a lawyer? "ou must &e a very poor lawyer, 2r. 9rogstad. %ro&s$ad. 2ay&e. But matters of &usiness//such &usiness as you and # have had together// do you thin! # don*t understand that? 4ery well. )o as you please. But let me tell you this// if # lose my position a second time, you shall lose yours with me. [He bo&s! and $oes out throu$h the hall.] Nora [appears buried in thou$ht for a short time! then tosses her head] . onsense$ Trying to frighten me li!e that$//# am not so silly as he thin!s. [%e$ins to bus herself puttin$ the children's thin$s in order.] +nd yet//? o, it*s impossi&le$ # did it for love*s sa!e. T e ( ildren [in the door&a on the left]. 2other, the stranger man has gone out through the gate. Nora. "es, dears, # !now. But, don*t tell anyone a&out the stranger man. )o you hear? ot even papa. ( ildren. o, mother, &ut will you come and play again?

1<

Nora. o, no,//not now. ( ildren. But, mother, you promised us. Nora. "es, &ut # can*t now. :un away in, # have such a lot to do. :un away in, my sweet little darlings. [She $ets them into the room b de$rees and shuts the door on them( then sits do&n on the sofa! takes up a piece of needle&ork and se&s a fe& stitches! but soon stops.] o$ [Thro&s do&n the &ork! $ets up! $oes to the hall door and calls out.] Helen$ &ring the Tree in. [/oes to the table on the left! opens a dra&er! and stops a$ain.] o, no$ it is %uite impossi&le$ Maid [comin$ in &ith the Tree] . 'here shall # put it, ma*am? Nora. Here, in the middle of the floor. Maid. Shall # get you anything else? Nora. o, than! you. # have all # want. G.xit 2+#).F Nora [be$ins dressin$ the tree] . + candle here/and flowers here// The horri&le man$ #t*s all nonsense//there*s nothing wrong. The tree shall &e splendid$ # will do everything # can thin! of to please you, Torvald$//# will sing for you, dance for you//[HE1-E+ comes in &ith some papers under his arm.] 0h$ are you &ac! already?. Helmer. "es. Has anyone &een here? Nora. Here? o. Helmer. That is strange. # saw 9rogstad going out of the gate. Nora. )id you? 0h yes, # forgot, 9rogstad was here for a moment. Helmer. ora, # can see from your manner that he has &een here &egging you to say a good word for him. Nora. "es. Helmer. +nd you were to appear to do it of your own accord, you were to conceal from me the fact of his having &een here, didn*t he &eg that of you too? Nora. "es, Torvald, &ut// Helmer. ora, ora, and you would &e a party to that sort of thing? To have any tal! with a man li!e that, and give him any sort of promise? +nd to tell me a lie into the &argain? Nora. + lie//?

1=

Helmer. )idn*t you tell me no one had &een here? [Shakes his fin$er at her.] 2y little song&ird must never do that again. + song&ird must have a clean &ea! to chirp with//no false notes$ [,uts his arm round her &aist.] That is so, isn*t it? "es, # am sure it is. [1ets her $o.] 'e will say no more a&out it. [Sits do&n b the sto#e.] How warm and snug it is here$ [Turns o#er his papers.] Nora [after a short pause! durin$ &hich she busies herself &ith the Christmas Tree.] Torvald$ Helmer. "es. Nora. # am loo!ing forward tremendously to the fancy/dress &all at the Sten&orgs* the day after tomorrow. Helmer. +nd # am tremendously curious to see what you are going to surprise me with. Nora. #t was very silly of me to want to do that. Helmer. 'hat do you mean? Nora. # can*t hit upon anything that will do, everything # thin! of seems so silly and insignificant. Helmer. )oes my little ora ac!nowledge that at last? Nora [standin$ behind his chair &ith her arms on the back of it]. +re you very &usy, Torvald? Helmer. 'ell// Nora. 'hat are all those papers? Helmer. Ban! &usiness. Nora. +lready? Helmer. # have got authority from the retiring manager to underta!e the necessary changes in the staff and in the rearrangement of the wor!, and # must ma!e use of the Christmas wee! for that, so as to have everything in order for the new year. Nora. Then that was why this poor 9rogstad// Helmer. Hm$ Nora [leans a$ainst the back of his chair and strokes his hair]. #f you hadn*t &een so &usy # should have as!ed you a tremendously &ig favour, Torvald.

1?

Helmer. 'hat is that? Tell me. Nora. There is no one has such good taste as you. +nd # do so want to loo! nice at the fancy/dress &all. Torvald, couldn*t you ta!e me in hand and decide what # shall go as, and what sort of a dress # shall wear? Helmer. +ha$ so my o&stinate little woman is o&liged to get someone to come to her rescue? Nora. "es, Torvald, # can*t get along a &it without your help. Helmer. 4ery well, # will thin! it over, we shall manage to hit upon something. Nora. That is nice of you. [/oes to the Christmas Tree. A short pause.] How pretty the red flowers loo!//. But, tell me, was it really something very &ad that this 9rogstad was guilty of? Helmer. He forged someone*s name. Have you any idea what that means? Nora. #sn*t it possi&le that he was driven to do it &y necessity? Helmer. "es, or, as in so many cases, &y imprudence. # am not so heartless as to condemn a man altogether &ecause of a single false step of that !ind. Nora. o, you wouldn*t, would you, Torvald? Helmer. 2any a man has &een a&le to retrieve his character, if he has openly confessed his fault and ta!en his punishment. Nora. -unishment//? Helmer. But 9rogstad did nothing of that sort, he got himself out of it &y a cunning tric!, and that is why he has gone under altogether. Nora. But do you thin! it would//? Helmer. (ust thin! how a guilty man li!e that has to lie and play the hypocrite with every one, how he has to wear a mas! in the presence of those near and dear to him, even &efore his own wife and children. +nd a&out the children//that is the most terri&le part of it all, ora. Nora. How? Helmer. Because such an atmosphere of lies infects and poisons the whole life of a home. .ach &reath the children ta!e in such a house is full of the germs of evil.

1@

Nora [comin$ nearer him]. +re you sure of that? Helmer. 2y dear, # have often seen it in the course of my life as a lawyer. +lmost everyone who has gone to the &ad early in life has had a deceitful mother. Nora. 'hy do you only say//mother? Helmer. #t seems most commonly to &e the mother*s influence, though naturally a &ad father*s would have the same result. .very lawyer is familiar with the fact. This 9rogstad, now, has &een persistently poisoning his own children with lies and dissimulation, that is why # say he has lost all moral character. [Holds out his hands to her.] That is why my sweet little ora must promise me not to plead his cause. Cive me your hand on it. Come, come, what is this? Cive me your hand. There now, that*s settled. # assure you it would &e %uite impossi&le for me to wor! with him, # literally feel physically ill when # am in the company of such people. Nora [takes her hand out of his and $oes to the opposite side of the Christmas Tree]. How hot it is in here, and # have such a lot to do. Helmer [$ettin$ up and puttin$ his papers in order] . "es, and # must try and read through some of these &efore dinner, and # must thin! a&out your costume, too. +nd it is 7ust possi&le # may have something ready in gold paper to hang up on the Tree. [,uts his hand on her head.] 2y precious little singing/&ird$ [He $oes into his room and shuts the door after him.] Nora [after a pause! &hispers] . o, no//it isn*t true. #t*s impossi&le, it must &e impossi&le. [The N4+SE opens the door on the left.] N'rse. The little ones are &egging so hard to &e allowed to come in to mamma. Nora. o, no, no$ )on*t let them come in to me$ "ou stay with them, +nne. N'rse. 4ery well, ma*am. [Shuts the door.] Nora [pale &ith terror] . )eprave my little children? -oison my home? [A short pause. Then she tosses her head.] #t*s not true. #t can*t possi&ly &e true.

A(T II
[THE SA-E SCENE.--THE Christmas Tree is in the corner b the piano! stripped of its ornaments and &ith burnt-do&n candle-ends on its dishe#elled branches. N*+A'S cloak and hat are l in$ on the sofa. She is alone in the room! &alkin$ about uneasil . She stops b the sofa and takes up her cloak.]

6A

Nora [drops her cloak]. Someone is coming now$ [/oes to the door and listens.] o//it is no one. 0f course, no one will come today, Christmas )ay//nor tomorrow either. But, perhaps//[opens the door and looks out]. o, nothing in the letter&ox, it is %uite empty. [Comes for&ard.] 'hat ru&&ish$ of course he can*t &e in earnest a&out it. Such a thing couldn*t happen, it is impossi&le//# have three little children. [Enter the N4+SE from the room on the left! carr in$ a bi$ cardboard bo".] N'rse. +t last # have found the &ox with the fancy dress. Nora. Than!s, put it on the ta&le. N'rse [doin$ so]. But it is very much in want of mending. Nora. # should li!e to tear it into a hundred thousand pieces. N'rse. 'hat an idea$ #t can easily &e put in order//7ust a little patience. Nora. "es, # will go and get 2rs 3inde to come and help me with it. N'rse. 'hat, out again? #n this horri&le weather? "ou will catch cold, ma*am, and ma!e yourself ill. Nora. 'ell, worse than that might happen. How are the children? N'rse. The poor little souls are playing with their Christmas presents, &ut// Nora. )o they as! much for me? N'rse. "ou see, they are so accustomed to have their mamma with them. Nora. "es, &ut, nurse, # shall not &e a&le to &e so much with them now as # was &efore. N'rse. 0h well, young children easily get accustomed to anything. Nora. )o you thin! so? )o you thin! they would forget their mother if she went away altogether? N'rse. Cood heavens$//went away altogether? Nora. urse, # want you to tell me something # have often wondered a&out//how could you have the heart to put your own child out among strangers? N'rse. # was o&liged to, if # wanted to &e little ora*s nurse. Nora. "es, &ut how could you &e willing to do it?

61

N'rse. 'hat, when # was going to get such a good place &y it? + poor girl who has got into trou&le should &e glad to. Besides, that wic!ed man didn*t do a single thing for me. Nora. But # suppose your daughter has %uite forgotten you. N'rse. o, indeed she hasn*t. She wrote to me when she was confirmed, and when she was married. Nora [puttin$ her arms round her neck]. )ear old +nne, you were a good mother to me when # was little. N'rse. 3ittle ora, poor dear, had no other mother &ut me. Nora. +nd if my little ones had no other mother, # am sure you would// 'hat nonsense # am tal!ing$ [*pens the bo".] Co in to them. ow # must//. "ou will see tomorrow how charming # shall loo!. N'rse. # am sure there will &e no one at the &all so charming as you, ma*am. [/oes into the room on the left.] Nora [be$ins to unpack the bo"! but soon pushes it a&a from her]. #f only # dared go out. #f only no one would come. #f only # could &e sure nothing would happen here in the meantime. Stuff and nonsense$ o one will come. 0nly # mustn*t thin! a&out it. # will &rush my muff. 'hat lovely, lovely gloves$ 0ut of my thoughts, out of my thoughts$ 0ne, two, three, four, five, six// [Screams.] +h$ there is someone coming//. [-akes a mo#ement to&ards the door! but stands irresolute.] [Enter -rs 1inde from the hall! &here she has taken off her cloak and hat.] Nora. 0h, it*s you, Christine. There is no one else out there, is there? How good of you to come$ Mrs Linde. # heard you were up as!ing for me. Nora. "es, # was passing &y. +s a matter of fact, it is something you could help me with. 3et us sit down here on the sofa. 3oo! here. Tomorrow evening there is to &e a fancy/dress &all at the Sten&orgs*, who live a&ove us, and Torvald wants me to go as a eapolitan fisher/girl, and dance the Tarantella that # learned at Capri. Mrs Linde. # see, you are going to !eep up the character. Nora. "es, Torvald wants me to. 3oo!, here is the dress, Torvald had it made for me there, &ut now it is all so torn, and # haven*t any idea// Mrs Linde. 'e will easily put that right. #t is only some of the trimming come unsewn here and there. eedle and thread? ow then, that*s all we want.

61

Nora. #t is nice of you. Mrs Linde [se&in$]. So you are going to &e dressed up tomorrow ora. # will tell you what//# shall come in for a moment and see you in your fine feathers. But # have completely forgotten to than! you for a delightful evening yesterday. Nora [$ets up! and crosses the sta$e]. 'ell, # don*t thin! yesterday was as pleasant as usual. "ou ought to have come to town a little earlier, Christine. Certainly Torvald does understand how to ma!e a house dainty and attractive. Mrs Linde. +nd so do you, it seems to me, you are not your father*s daughter for nothing. But tell me, is )octor :an! always as depressed as he was yesterday? Nora. o, yesterday it was very noticea&le. # must tell you that he suffers from a very dangerous disease. He has consumption of the spine, poor creature. His father was a horri&le man who committed all sorts of excesses, and that is why his son was sic!ly from childhood, do you understand? Mrs Linde [droppin$ her se&in$] . But, my dearest ora, how do you !now anything a&out such things? Nora [&alkin$ about] . -ooh$ 'hen you have three children, you get visits now and then from//from married women, who !now something of medical matters, and they tal! a&out one thing and another. Mrs Linde [$oes on se&in$. A short silence] . )oes )octor :an! come here everyday? Nora. .veryday regularly. He is Torvald*s most intimate friend, and a great friend of mine too. He is 7ust li!e one of the family. Mrs Linde. But tell me this//is he perfectly sincere? # mean, isn*t he the !ind of man that is very anxious to ma!e himself agreea&le? Nora. ot in the least. 'hat ma!es you thin! that? Mrs Linde. 'hen you introduced him to me yesterday, he declared he had often heard my name mentioned in this house, &ut afterwards # noticed that your hus&and hadn*t the slightest idea who # was. So how could )octor :an!//? Nora. That is %uite right, Christine. Torvald is so a&surdly fond of me that he wants me a&solutely to himself, as he says. +t first he used to seem almost 7ealous if # mentioned any of the dear fol! at home, so naturally # gave up doing so. But # often tal! a&out such things with )octor :an!, &ecause he li!es hearing a&out them.

66

Mrs Linde. 3isten to me, ora. "ou are still very li!e a child in many things, and # am older than you in many ways and have a little more experience. 3et me tell you this//you ought to ma!e an end of it with )octor :an!. Nora. 'hat ought # to ma!e an end of? Mrs Linde. 0f two things, # thin!. "esterday you tal!ed some nonsense a&out a rich admirer who was to leave you money// Nora. +n admirer who doesn*t exist, unfortunately$ But what then? Mrs Linde. #s )octor :an! a man of means? Nora. "es, he is. Mrs Linde. +nd has no one to provide for? Nora. o, no one, &ut// Mrs Linde. +nd comes here everyday? Nora. "es, # told you so. Mrs Linde. But how can this well/&red man &e so tactless? Nora. # don*t understand you at all. Mrs Linde. )on*t prevaricate, ora. )o you suppose # don*t guess who lent you the two hundred and fifty pounds? Nora. +re you out of your senses? How can you thin! of such a thing$ + friend of ours, who comes here everyday$ )o you realise what a horri&ly painful position that would &e? Mrs Linde. Then it really isn*t he? Nora. o, certainly not. #t would never have entered into my head for a moment. Besides, he had no money to lend then, he came into his money afterwards. Mrs Linde. 'ell, # thin! that was luc!y for you, my dear ora. Nora. o, it would never have come into my head to as! )octor :an!. +lthough # am %uite sure that if # had as!ed him// Mrs Linde. But of course you won*t.

68

Nora. 0f course not. # have no reason to thin! it could possi&ly &e necessary. But # am %uite sure that if # told )octor :an!// Mrs Linde. Behind your hus&and*s &ac!? Nora. # must ma!e an end of it with the other one, and that will &e &ehind his &ac! too. # must ma!e an end of it with him. Mrs Linde. "es, that is what # told you yesterday, &ut// Nora [&alkin$ up and do&n]. + man can put a thing li!e that straight much easier than a woman// Mrs Linde. 0ne*s hus&and, yes. Nora. onsense$ [Standin$ still.] 'hen you pay off a de&t you get your &ond &ac!, don*t you? Mrs Linde. "es, as a matter of course. Nora. +nd can tear it into a hundred thousand pieces, and &urn it up//the nasty dirty paper$ Mrs Linde [looks hard at her! la s do&n her se&in$ and $ets up slo&l ] . ora, you are concealing something from me. Nora. )o # loo! as if # were? Mrs Linde. Something has happened to you since yesterday morning. ora, what is it? Nora [$oin$ nearer to her] . Christine$ [1istens.] Hush$ there*s Torvald come home. )o you mind going in to the children for the present? Torvald can*t &ear to see dressma!ing going on. 3et +nne help you. Mrs Linde [$atherin$ some of the thin$s to$ether]. Certainly // &ut # am not going away from here until we have had it out with one another. [She $oes into the room on the left! as HE1-E+ comes in from the hall.] Nora [$oin$ up to HE1-E+] . # have wanted you so much, Torvald dear. Helmer. 'as that the dressma!er? Nora. o, it was Christine, she is helping me to put my dress in order. "ou will see # shall loo! %uite smart. Helmer. 'asn*t that a happy thought of mine, now?

6;

Nora. Splendid$ But don*t you thin! it is nice of me, too, to do as you wish? Helmer. ice?//&ecause you do as your hus&and wishes? 'ell, well, you little rogue, # am sure you did not mean it in that way. But # am not going to distur& you, you will want to &e trying on your dress, # expect. Nora. # suppose you are going to wor!. Helmer. "es. [Sho&s her a bundle of papers.] 3oo! at that. # have 7ust &een into the &an!. [Turns to $o into his room.] Nora. Torvald. Helmer. "es. Nora. #f your little s%uirrel were to as! you for something very, very prettily//? Helmer. 'hat then? Nora. 'ould you do it? Helmer. # should li!e to hear what it is, first. Nora. "our s%uirrel would run a&out and do all her tric!s if you would &e nice, and do what she wants. Helmer. Spea! plainly. Nora. "our s!ylar! would chirp a&out in every room, with her song rising and falling// Helmer. 'ell, my s!ylar! does that anyhow. Nora. # would play the fairy and dance for you in the moonlight, Torvald. Helmer. ora//you surely don*t mean that re%uest you made to me this morning? Nora [$oin$ near him] . "es, Torvald, # &eg you so earnestly// Helmer. Have you really the courage to open up that %uestion again? Nora. "es, dear, you must do as # as!, you must let 9rogstad !eep his post in the &an!. Helmer. 2y dear ora, it is his post that # have arranged 2rs 3inde shall have. Nora. "es, you have &een awfully !ind a&out that, &ut you could 7ust as well dismiss some other cler! instead of 9rogstad.

6<

Helmer. This is simply incredi&le o&stinacy$ Because you chose to give him a thoughtless promise that you would spea! for him, # am expected to// Nora. That isn*t the reason, Torvald. #t is for your own sa!e. This fellow writes in the most scurrilous newspapers, you have told me so yourself. He can do you an unspea!a&le amount of harm. # am frightened to death of him// Helmer. +h, # understand, it is recollections of the past that scare you. Nora. 'hat do you mean? Helmer. aturally you are thin!ing of your father. Nora. "es//yes, of course. (ust recall to your mind what these malicious creatures wrote in the papers a&out papa, and how horri&ly they slandered him. # &elieve they would have procured his dismissal if the )epartment had not sent you over to in%uire into it, and if you had not &een so !indly disposed and helpful to him. Helmer. 2y little ora, there is an important difference &etween your father and me. "our father*s reputation as a pu&lic official was not a&ove suspicion. 2ine is, and # hope it will continue to &e so, as long as # hold my office. Nora. "ou never can tell what mischief these men may contrive. 'e ought to &e so well off, so snug and happy here in our peaceful home, and have no cares//you and # and the children, Torvald$ That is why # &eg you so earnestly// Helmer. +nd it is 7ust &y interceding for him that you ma!e it impossi&le for me to !eep him. #t is already !nown at the Ban! that # mean to dismiss 9rogstad. #s it to get a&out now that the new manager has changed his mind at his wife*s &idding// Nora. +nd what if it did? Helmer. 0f course$//if only this o&stinate little person can get her way$ )o you suppose # am going to ma!e myself ridiculous &efore my whole staff, to let people thin! that # am a man to &e swayed &y all sorts of outside influence? # should very soon feel the conse%uences of it, # can tell you$ +nd &esides, there is one thing that ma!es it %uite impossi&le for me to have 9rogstad in the Ban! as long as # am manager. Nora. 'hatever is that? Helmer. His moral failings # might perhaps have overloo!ed, if necessary// Nora. "es, you could//couldn*t you? Helmer. +nd # hear he is a good wor!er, too. But # !new him when we were &oys. #t was one of those rash friendships that so often prove an incu&us in afterlife. # may as well tell

6=

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. 0n the contrary, he thin!s it gives him the right to adopt a familiar tone with me, and every minute it is ># say, Helmer, old fellow$> and that sort of thing. # assure you it is extremely painful for me. He would ma!e my position in the Ban! intolera&le. Nora. Torvald, # don*t &elieve you mean that. Helmer. )on*t you? 'hy not? Nora. Because it is such a narrow/minded way of loo!ing at things. Helmer. 'hat are you saying? arrow/minded? )o you thin! # am narrow/minded? Nora. o, 7ust the opposite, dear//and it is exactly for that reason. Helmer. #t*s the same thing. "ou say my point of view is narrow/ minded, so # must &e so too. arrow/minded$ 4ery well//# must put an end to this. [/oes to the hall door and calls.] Helen$ Nora. 'hat are you going to do? Helmer [lookin$ amon$ his papers] . Settle it. [Enter -A'..] 3oo! here, ta!e this letter and go downstairs with it at once. 5ind a messenger and tell him to deliver it, and &e %uic!. The address is on it, and here is the money. Maid. 4ery well, sir. [E"it &ith the letter.] Helmer [puttin$ his papers to$ether] . ow then, little 2iss 0&stinate. Nora [breathlessl ] . Torvald//what was that letter? Helmer. 9rogstad*s dismissal. Nora. Call her &ac!, Torvald$ There is still time. 0h Torvald, call her &ac!$ )o it for my sa!e//for your own sa!e//for the children*s sa!e$ )o you hear me, Torvald? Call her &ac!$ "ou don*t !now what that letter can &ring upon us. Helmer. #t*s too late. Nora. "es, it*s too late. Helmer. 2y dear ora, # can forgive the anxiety you are in, although really it is an insult to me. #t is, indeed. #sn*t it an insult to thin! that # should &e afraid of a starving %uill/driver*s vengeance? But # forgive you nevertheless, &ecause it is such elo%uent witness to your great love for me. [Takes her in his arms.] +nd that is as it should &e, my own darling ora.

6?

Come what will, you may &e sure # shall have &oth courage and strength if they &e needed. "ou will see # am man enough to ta!e everything upon myself. Nora [in a horror-stricken #oice] . 'hat do you mean &y that? Helmer. .verything, # say// Nora [reco#erin$ herself]. "ou will never have to do that. Helmer. That*s right. 'ell, we will share it, ora, as man and wife should. That is how it shall &e. [Caressin$ her.] +re you content now? There$ There$//not these frightened dove*s eyes$ The whole thing is only the wildest fancy$// ow, you must go and play through the Tarantella and practise with your tam&ourine. # shall go into the inner office and shut the door, and # shall hear nothing, you can ma!e as much noise as you please. [Turns back at the door.] +nd when :an! comes, tell him where he will find me. [Nods to her! takes his papers and $oes into his room! and shuts the door after him.] Nora [be&ildered &ith an"iet ! stands as if rooted to the spot! and &hispers]. He was capa&le of doing it. He will do it. He will do it in spite of everything.// o, not that$ ever, never$ +nything rather than that$ 0h, for some help, some way out of it$ [The door-bell rin$s.] )octor :an!$ +nything rather than that//anything, whatever it is$ [She puts her hands o#er her face! pulls herself to$ether! $oes to the door and opens it. +AN5 is standin$ &ithout! han$in$ up his coat. .urin$ the follo&in$ dialo$ue it be$ins to $ro& dark.] Nora. Cood day, )octor :an!. # !new your ring. But you mustn*t go in to Torvald now, # thin! he is &usy with something. Rank. +nd you? Nora [brin$s him in and shuts the door after him]. 0h, you !now very well # always have time for you. Rank. Than! you. # shall ma!e use of as much of it as # can. Nora. 'hat do you mean &y that? +s much of it as you can? Rank. 'ell, does that alarm you? Nora. #t was such a strange way of putting it. #s anything li!ely to happen? Rank. othing &ut what # have long &een prepared for. But # certainly didn*t expect it to happen so soon. Nora [$rippin$ him b the arm]. 'hat have you found out? )octor :an!, you must tell me.

6@

Rank [sittin$ do&n b the sto#e]. #t is all up with me. +nd it can*t &e helped. Nora [&ith a si$h of relief]. #s it a&out yourself? Rank. 'ho else? #t is no use lying to one*s self. # am the most wretched of all my patients, 2rs Helmer. 3ately # have &een ta!ing stoc! of my internal economy. Ban!rupt$ -ro&a&ly within a month # shall lie rotting in the churchyard. Nora. 'hat an ugly thing to say$ Rank. The thing itself is cursedly ugly, and the worst of it is that # shall have to face so much more that is ugly &efore that. # shall only ma!e one more examination of myself, when # have done that, # shall !now pretty certainly when it will &e that the horrors of dissolution will &egin. There is something # want to tell you. Helmer*s refined nature gives him an uncon%uera&le disgust at everything that is ugly, # won*t have him in my sic!/ room. Nora. 0h, &ut, )octor :an!// Rank. # won*t have him there. ot on any account. # &ar my door to him. +s soon as # am %uite certain that the worst has come, # shall send you my card with a &lac! cross on it, and then you will !now that the loathsome end has &egun. Nora. "ou are %uite a&surd today. +nd # wanted you so much to &e in a really good humour. Rank. 'ith death stal!ing &eside me?//To have to pay this penalty for another man*s sin? #s there any 7ustice in that? +nd in every single family, in one way or another, some such inexora&le retri&ution is &eing exacted// Nora [puttin$ her hands o#er her ears] . :u&&ish$ )o tal! of something cheerful. Rank. 0h, it*s a mere laughing matter, the whole thing. 2y poor innocent spine has to suffer for my father*s youthful amusements. Nora [sittin$ at the table on the left]. # suppose you mean that he was too partial to asparagus and pate de foie gras, don*t you? Rank. "es, and to truffles. Nora. Truffles, yes. +nd oysters too, # suppose? Rank. 0ysters, of course, that goes without saying. Nora. +nd heaps of port and champagne. #t is sad that all these nice things should ta!e their revenge on our &ones.

8A

Rank. .specially that they should revenge themselves on the unluc!y &ones of those who have not had the satisfaction of en7oying them. Nora. "es, that*s the saddest part of it all. Rank [&ith a searchin$ look at her]. Hm$// Nora [after a short pause] . 'hy did you smile? Rank. o, it was you that laughed. Nora. o, it was you that smiled, )octor :an!$ Rank [risin$]. "ou are a greater rascal than # thought. Nora. # am in a silly mood today. Rank. So it seems. Nora [puttin$ her hands on his shoulders] . )ear, dear )octor :an!, death mustn*t ta!e you away from Torvald and me. Rank. #t is a loss you would easily recover from. Those who are gone are soon forgotten. Nora [lookin$ at him an"iousl ] . )o you &elieve that? Rank. -eople form new ties, and then// Nora. 'ho will form new ties? Rank. Both you and Helmer, when # am gone. "ou yourself are already on the high road to it, # thin!. 'hat did that 2rs 3inde want here last night? Nora. 0ho$//you don*t mean to say you are 7ealous of poor Christine? Rank. "es, # am. She will &e my successor in this house. 'hen # am done for, this woman will// Nora. Hush$ don*t spea! so loud. She is in that room. Rank. Today again. There, you see. Nora. She has only come to sew my dress for me. Bless my soul, how unreasona&le you are$ [Sits do&n on the sofa.] Be nice now, )octor :an!, and tomorrow you will see how &eautifully # shall dance, and you can imagine # am doing it all for you//and for Torvald

81

too, of course. [Takes #arious thin$s out of the bo".] )octor :an!, come and sit down here, and # will show you something. Rank [sittin$ do&n]. 'hat is it? Nora. (ust loo! at those$ Rank. Sil! stoc!ings. Nora. 5lesh/coloured. +ren*t they lovely? #t is so dar! here now, &ut tomorrow//. o, no, no$ you must only loo! at the feet. 0h well, you may have leave to loo! at the legs too. Rank. Hm$// Nora. 'hy are you loo!ing so critical? )on*t you thin! they will fit me? Rank. # have no means of forming an opinion a&out that. Nora [looks at him for a moment]. 5or shame$ [Hits him li$htl on the ear &ith the stockin$s.] That*s to punish you. [6olds them up a$ain.] Rank. +nd what other nice things am # to &e allowed to see? Nora. ot a single thing more, for &eing so naughty. [She looks amon$ the thin$s! hummin$ to herself.] Rank [after a short silence]. 'hen # am sitting here, tal!ing to you as intimately as this, # cannot imagine for a moment what would have &ecome of me if # had never come into this house. Nora [smilin$] . # &elieve you do feel thoroughly at home with us. Rank [in a lo&er #oice! lookin$ strai$ht in front of him] . +nd to &e o&liged to leave it all// Nora. onsense, you are not going to leave it. Rank [as before] . +nd not &e a&le to leave &ehind one the slightest to!en of one*s gratitude, scarcely even a fleeting regret//nothing &ut an empty place which the first comer can fill as well as any other. Nora. +nd if # as!ed you now for a//? o$ Rank. 5or what? Nora. 5or a &ig proof of your friendship//

81

Rank. "es, yes$ Nora. # mean a tremendously &ig favour// Rank. 'ould you really ma!e me so happy for once? Nora. +h, &ut you don*t !now what it is yet. Rank. o//&ut tell me. Nora. # really can*t, )octor :an!. #t is something out of all reason, it means advice, and help, and a favour// Rank. The &igger a thing it is the &etter. # can*t conceive what it is you mean. )o tell me. Haven*t # your confidence? Nora. 2ore than anyone else. # !now you are my truest and &est friend, and so # will tell you what it is. 'ell, )octor :an!, it is something you must help me to prevent. "ou !now how devotedly, how inexpressi&ly deeply Torvald loves me, he would never for a moment hesitate to give his life for me. Rank [leanin$ to&ards her]. ora//do you thin! he is the only one//? Nora [&ith a sli$ht start] . The only one//? Rank. The only one who would gladly give his life for your sa!e. Nora [sadl ] . #s that it? Rank. # was determined you should !now it &efore # went away, and there will never &e a &etter opportunity than this. ow you !now it, ora. +nd now you !now, too, that you can trust me as you would trust no one else. Nora [rises! deliberatel and 0uietl ] . 3et me pass. Rank [makes room for her to pass him! but sits still] . ora$ Nora [at the hall door] . Helen, &ring in the lamp. [/oes o#er to the sto#e.] )ear )octor :an!, that was really horrid of you. Rank. To have loved you as much as anyone else does? 'as that horrid? Nora. o, &ut to go and tell me so. There was really no need// Rank. 'hat do you mean? )id you !now//? [-A'. enters &ith lamp! puts it do&n on the table! and $oes out.] ora//2rs Helmer//tell me, had you any idea of this?

86

Nora. 0h, how do # !now whether # had or whether # hadn*t? # really can*t tell you//To thin! you could &e so clumsy, )octor :an!$ 'e were getting on so nicely. Rank. 'ell, at all events you !now now that you can command me, &ody and soul. So won*t you spea! out? Nora [lookin$ at him] . +fter what happened? Rank. # &eg you to let me !now what it is. Nora. # can*t tell you anything now. Rank. "es, yes. "ou mustn*t punish me in that way. 3et me have permission to do for you whatever a man may do. Nora. "ou can do nothing for me now. Besides, # really don*t need any help at all. "ou will find that the whole thing is merely fancy on my part. #t really is so//of course it is$ [Sits do&n in the rockin$-chair! and looks at him &ith a smile.] "ou are a nice sort of man, )octor :an!$//don*t you feel ashamed of yourself, now the lamp has come? Rank. ot a &it. But perhaps # had &etter go//for ever? Nora. o, indeed, you shall not. 0f course you must come here 7ust as &efore. "ou !now very well Torvald can*t do without you. Rank. "es, &ut you? Nora. 0h, # am always tremendously pleased when you come. Rank. #t is 7ust that, that put me on the wrong trac!. "ou are a riddle to me. # have often thought that you would almost as soon &e in my company as in Helmer*s. Nora. "es//you see there are some people one loves &est, and others whom one would almost always rather have as companions. Rank. "es, there is something in that. Nora. 'hen # was at home, of course # loved papa &est. But # always thought it tremendous fun if # could steal down into the maids* room, &ecause they never moralised at all, and tal!ed to each other a&out such entertaining things. Rank. # see//it is their place # have ta!en. Nora [)umpin$ up and $oin$ to him] . 0h, dear, nice )octor :an!, # never meant that at all. But surely you can understand that &eing with Torvald is a little li!e &eing with papa// [Enter -A'. from the hall.]

88

Maid. #f you please, ma*am. [2hispers and hands her a card.] Nora [$lancin$ at the card] . 0h$ [,uts it in her pocket.] Rank. #s there anything wrong? Nora. o, no, not in the least. #t is only something//it is my new dress// Rank. 'hat? "our dress is lying there. Nora. 0h, yes, that one, &ut this is another. # ordered it. Torvald mustn*t !now a&out it// Rank. 0ho$ Then that was the great secret. Nora. 0f course. (ust go in to him, he is sitting in the inner room. 9eep him as long as// Rank. 2a!e your mind easy, # won*t let him escape. [/oes into HE1-E+'S room.] Nora [to the -A'.]. +nd he is standing waiting in the !itchen? Maid. "es, he came up the &ac! stairs. Nora. But didn*t you tell him no one was in? Maid. "es, &ut it was no good. Nora. He won*t go away? Maid. o, he says he won*t until he has seen you, ma*am. Nora. 'ell, let him come in//&ut %uietly. Helen, you mustn*t say anything a&out it to anyone. #t is a surprise for my hus&and. Maid. "es, ma*am, # %uite understand. [E"it.] Nora. This dreadful thing is going to happen$ #t will happen in spite of me$ o, no, no, it can*t happen//it shan*t happen$ [She bolts the door of HE1-E+'S room. The -A'. opens the hall door for 5+*/STA. and shuts it after him. He is &earin$ a fur coat! hi$h boots and a fur cap.] Nora [ad#ancin$ to&ards him] . Spea! low//my hus&and is at home. %ro&s$ad. o matter a&out that.

8;

Nora. 'hat do you want of me? %ro&s$ad. +n explanation of something. Nora. 2a!e haste then. 'hat is it? %ro&s$ad. "ou !now, # suppose, that # have got my dismissal. Nora. # couldn*t prevent it, 2r. 9rogstad. # fought as hard as # could on your side, &ut it was no good. %ro&s$ad. )oes your hus&and love you so little, then? He !nows what # can expose you to, and yet he ventures// Nora. How can you suppose that he has any !nowledge of the sort? %ro&s$ad. # didn*t suppose so at all. #t would not &e the least li!e our dear Torvald Helmer to show so much courage// Nora. 2r. 9rogstad, a little respect for my hus&and, please. %ro&s$ad. Certainly//all the respect he deserves. But since you have !ept the matter so carefully to yourself, # ma!e &old to suppose that you have a little clearer idea, than you had yesterday, of what it actually is that you have done? Nora. 2ore than you could ever teach me. %ro&s$ad. "es, such a &ad lawyer as # am. Nora. 'hat is it you want of me? %ro&s$ad. 0nly to see how you were, 2rs Helmer. # have &een thin!ing a&out you all day long. + mere cashier, a %uill/driver, a//well, a man li!e me//even he has a little of what is called feeling, you !now. Nora. Show it, then, thin! of my little children. %ro&s$ad. Have you and your hus&and thought of mine? But never mind a&out that. # only wanted to tell you that you need not ta!e this matter too seriously. #n the first place there will &e no accusation made on my part. Nora. o, of course not, # was sure of that. %ro&s$ad. The whole thing can &e arranged amica&ly, there is no reason why anyone should !now anything a&out it. #t will remain a secret &etween us three.

8<

Nora. 2y hus&and must never get to !now anything a&out it. %ro&s$ad. How will you &e a&le to prevent it? +m # to understand that you can pay the &alance that is owing? Nora. o, not 7ust at present. %ro&s$ad. 0r perhaps that you have some expedient for raising the money soon? Nora. o expedient that # mean to ma!e use of. %ro&s$ad. 'ell, in any case, it would have &een of no use to you now. #f you stood there with ever so much money in your hand, # would never part with your &ond. Nora. Tell me what purpose you mean to put it to. %ro&s$ad. # shall only preserve it//!eep it in my possession. o 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. #t has. %ro&s$ad. #f you had it in your mind to run away from your home// Nora. # had. %ro&s$ad. 0r even something worse// Nora. How could you !now that? %ro&s$ad. Cive up the idea. Nora. How did you !now # had thought of that? %ro&s$ad. 2ost of us thin! of that at first. # did, too//&ut # hadn*t the courage. Nora [faintl ]. o more had #. %ro&s$ad [in a tone of relief] . o, that*s it, isn*t it//you hadn*t the courage either? Nora. o, # haven*t//# haven*t. %ro&s$ad. Besides, it would have &een a great piece of folly. 0nce the first storm at home is over//. # have a letter for your hus&and in my poc!et. Nora. Telling him everything?

8=

%ro&s$ad. #n as lenient a manner as # possi&ly could. Nora [0uickl ] . He mustn*t get the letter. Tear it up. # will find some means of getting money. %ro&s$ad. .xcuse me, 2rs Helmer, &ut # thin! # told you 7ust now// Nora. # am not spea!ing of what # owe you. Tell me what sum you are as!ing my hus&and for, and # will get the money. %ro&s$ad. # am not as!ing your hus&and for a penny. Nora. 'hat do you want, then? %ro&s$ad. # will tell you. # want to reha&ilitate myself, 2rs Helmer, # want to get on, and in that your hus&and must help me. 5or the last year and a half # have not had a hand in anything dishonoura&le, amid all that time # have &een struggling in most restricted circumstances. # was content to wor! my way up step &y step. ow # am turned out, and # am not going to &e satisfied with merely &eing ta!en into favour again. # want to get on, # tell you. # want to get into the Ban! again, in a higher position. "our hus&and must ma!e a place for me// Nora. That he will never do$ %ro&s$ad. He will, # !now him, he dare not protest. +nd as soon as # am in there again with him, then you will see$ 'ithin a year # shall &e the manager*s right hand. #t will &e ils 9rogstad and not Torvald Helmer who manages the Ban!. Nora. That*s a thing you will never see$ %ro&s$ad. )o you mean that you will//? Nora. # have courage enough for it now. %ro&s$ad. 0h, you can*t frighten me. + fine, spoilt lady li!e you// Nora. "ou will see, you will see. %ro&s$ad. Hnder the ice, perhaps? )own into the cold, coal/&lac! water? +nd then, in the spring, to float up to the surface, all horri&le and unrecognisa&le, with your hair fallen out// Nora. "ou can*t frighten me. %ro&s$ad. or you me. -eople don*t do such things, 2rs Helmer. Besides, what use would it &e? # should have him completely in my power all the same.

8?

Nora. +fterwards? 'hen # am no longer// %ro&s$ad. Have you forgotten that it is # who have the !eeping of your reputation? [N*+A stands speechlessl lookin$ at him.] 'ell, now, # have warned you. )o not do anything foolish. 'hen Helmer has had my letter, # shall expect a message from him. +nd &e sure you remem&er that it is your hus&and himself who has forced me into such ways as this again. # will never forgive him for that. Cood&ye, 2rs Helmer. [E"it throu$h the hall.] Nora [$oes to the hall door! opens it sli$htl and listens.] He is going. He is not putting the letter in the &ox. 0h no, no$ that*s impossi&le$ [*pens the door b de$rees.] 'hat is that? He is standing outside. He is not going downstairs. #s he hesitating? Can he//? [A letter drops into the bo"( then 5+*/STA.'S footsteps are heard! until the die a&a as he $oes do&nstairs. N*+A utters a stifled cr ! and runs across the room to the table b the sofa. A short pause.] Nora. #n the letter/&ox. [Steals across to the hall door.] There it lies//Torvald, Torvald, there is no hope for us now$ [-rs 1inde comes in from the room on the left! carr in$ the dress.] Mrs Linde. There, # can*t see anything more to mend now. 'ould you li!e to try it on//? Nora [in a hoarse &hisper]. Christine, come here. Mrs Linde [thro&in$ the dress do&n on the sofa] . 'hat is the matter with you? "ou loo! so agitated$ Nora. Come here. )o you see that letter? There, loo!//you can see it through the glass in the letter/&ox. Mrs Linde. "es, # see it. Nora. That letter is from 9rogstad. Mrs Linde. ora//it was 9rogstad who lent you the money$ Nora. "es, and now Torvald will !now all a&out it. Mrs Linde. Believe me, ora, that*s the &est thing for &oth of you. Nora. "ou don*t !now all. # forged a name. Mrs Linde. Cood heavens//$ Nora. # only want to say this to you, Christine//you must &e my witness.

8@

Mrs Linde. "our witness? 'hat do you mean? 'hat am # to//? Nora. #f # should go out of my mind//and it might easily happen// Mrs Linde. ora$ Nora. 0r if anything else should happen to me//anything, for instance, that might prevent my &eing here// Mrs Linde. ora$ ora$ you are %uite out of your mind. Nora. +nd if it should happen that there were some one who wanted to ta!e all the responsi&ility, all the &lame, you understand// Mrs Linde. "es, yes//&ut how can you suppose//? Nora. Then you must &e my witness, that it is not true, Christine. # am not out of my mind at all, # am in my right senses now, and # tell you no one else has !nown anything a&out it, #, and # alone, did the whole thing. :emem&er that. Mrs Linde. # will, indeed. But # don*t understand all this. Nora. How should you understand it? + wonderful thing is going to happen$ Mrs Linde. + wonderful thing? Nora. "es, a wonderful thing$//But it is so terri&le, Christine, it mustn*t happen, not for all the world. Mrs Linde. # will go at once and see 9rogstad. Nora. )on*t go to him, he will do you some harm. Mrs Linde. There was a time when he would gladly do anything for my sa!e. Nora. He? Mrs Linde. 'here does he live? Nora. How should # !now//? "es [feelin$ in her pocket] , here is his card. But the letter, the letter//$ Helmer [calls from his room! knockin$ at the door] . ora$ ora [cries out an"iousl ] . 0h, what*s that? 'hat do you want?

;A

Helmer. )on*t &e so frightened. 'e are not coming in, you have loc!ed the door. +re you trying on your dress? Nora. "es, that*s it. # loo! so nice, Torvald. Mrs Linde [&ho has read the card]. # see he lives at the corner here. Nora. "es, &ut it*s no use. #t is hopeless. The letter is lying there in the &ox. Mrs Linde. +nd your hus&and !eeps the !ey? Nora. "es, always. Mrs Linde. 9rogstad must as! for his letter &ac! unread, he must find some pretence// Nora. But it is 7ust at this time that Torvald generally// Mrs Linde. "ou must delay him. Co in to him in the meantime. # will come &ac! as soon as # can. [She $oes out hurriedl throu$h the hall door.] Nora [$oes to HE1-E+'S door! opens it and peeps in]. Torvald$ Helmer [from the inner room] . 'ell? 2ay # venture at last to come into my own room again? Come along, :an!, now you will see// [Haltin$ in the door&a .] But what is this? Nora. 'hat is what, dear? Helmer. :an! led me to expect a splendid transformation. Rank [in the door&a ] . # understood so, &ut evidently # was mista!en. Nora. "es, no&ody is to have the chance of admiring me in my dress until tomorrow. Helmer. But, my dear ora, you loo! so worn out. Have you &een practising too much? Nora. o, # have not practised at all. Helmer. But you will need to// Nora. "es, indeed # shall, Torvald. But # can*t get on a &it without you to help me, # have a&solutely forgotten the whole thing. Helmer. 0h, we will soon wor! it up again.

;1

Nora. "es, help me, Torvald. -romise that you will$ # am so nervous a&out it//all the people//. "ou must give yourself up to me entirely this evening. ot the tiniest &it of &usiness//you mustn*t even ta!e a pen in your hand. 'ill you promise, Torvald dear? Helmer. # promise. This evening # will &e wholly and a&solutely at your service, you helpless little mortal. +h, &y the way, first of all # will 7ust// [/oes to&ards the hall door.] Nora. 'hat are you going to do there? Helmer. 0nly see if any letters have come. Nora. o, no$ don*t do that, Torvald$ Helmer. 'hy not? Nora. Torvald, please don*t. There is nothing there. Helmer. 'ell, let me loo!. [Turns to $o to the letter-bo". N*+A! at the piano! pla s the first bars of the Tarantella. HE1-E+ stops in the door&a .] +ha$ Nora. # can*t dance tomorrow if # don*t practise with you. Helmer [$oin$ up to her]. +re you really so afraid of it, dear? Nora. "es, so dreadfully afraid of it. 3et me practise at once, there is time now, &efore we go to dinner. Sit down and play for me, Torvald dear, criticise me, and correct me as you play. Helmer. 'ith great pleasure, if you wish me to. [Sits do&n at the piano.] Nora [takes out of the bo" a tambourine and a lon$ #arie$ated sha&l. She hastil drapes the sha&l round her. Then she sprin$s to the front of the sta$e and calls out] . ow play for me$ # am going to dance$ [HE1-E+ pla s and N*+A dances. +AN5 stands b the piano behind HE1-E+! and looks on.] Helmer [as he pla s] . Slower, slower$ Nora. # can*t do it any other way. Helmer. ot so violently, ora$ Nora. This is the way. Helmer [stops pla in$]. o, no//that is not a &it right.

;1

Nora [lau$hin$ and s&in$in$ the tambourine]. )idn*t # tell you so? Rank. 3et me play for her. Helmer [$ettin$ up] . "es, do. # can correct her &etter then. [+AN5 sits do&n at the piano and pla s. N*+A dances more and more &ildl . HE1-E+ has taken up a position beside the sto#e! and durin$ her dance $i#es her fre0uent instructions. She does not seem to hear him( her hair comes do&n and falls o#er her shoulders( she pa s no attention to it! but $oes on dancin$. Enter -rs 1inde.] Mrs Linde [standin$ as if spell-bound in the door&a ]. 0h$// Nora [as she dances]. Such fun, Christine$ Helmer. 2y dear darling ora, you are dancing as if your life depended on it. Nora. So it does. Helmer. Stop, :an!, this is sheer madness. Stop, # tell you$ [+AN5 stops pla in$! and N*+A suddenl stands still. HE1-E+ $oes up to her.] # could never have &elieved it. "ou have forgotten everything # taught you. Nora [thro&in$ a&a the tambourine] . There, you see. Helmer. "ou will want a lot of coaching. Nora. "es, you see how much # need it. "ou must coach me up to the last minute. -romise me that, Torvald$ Helmer. "ou can depend on me. Nora. "ou must not thin! of anything &ut me, either today or tomorrow, you mustn*t open a single letter//not even open the letter/&ox// Helmer. +h, you are still afraid of that fellow// Nora. "es, indeed # am. Helmer. ora, # can tell from your loo!s that there is a letter from him lying there. Nora. # don*t !now, # thin! there is, &ut you must not read anything of that !ind now. othing horrid must come &etween us until this is all over. Rank [&hispers to HE1-E+] . "ou mustn*t contradict her.

;6

Helmer [takin$ her in his arms] . The child shall have her way. But tomorrow night, after you have danced// Nora. Then you will &e free. [The -A'. appears in the door&a to the ri$ht.] Maid. )inner is served, ma*am. Nora. 'e will have champagne, Helen. Maid. 4ery good, ma*am. G.xit. Helmer. Hullo$//are we going to have a &an%uet? Nora. "es, a champagne &an%uet until the small hours. [Calls out.] +nd a few macaroons, Helen//lots, 7ust for once$ Helmer. Come, come, don*t &e so wild and nervous. Be my own little s!ylar!, as you used. Nora. "es, dear, # will. But go in now and you too, )octor :an!. Christine, you must help me to do up my hair. Rank [&hispers to HE1-E+ as the $o out]. # suppose there is nothing//she is not expecting anything? Helmer. 5ar from it, my dear fellow, it is simply nothing more than this childish nervousness # was telling you of. [The $o into the ri$ht-hand room.] Nora. 'ell$ Mrs Linde. Cone out of town. Nora. # could tell from your face. Mrs Linde. He is coming home tomorrow evening. # wrote a note for him. Nora. "ou should have let it alone, you must prevent nothing. +fter all, it is splendid to &e waiting for a wonderful thing to happen. Mrs Linde. 'hat is it that you are waiting for? Nora. 0h, you wouldn*t understand. Co in to them, # will come in a moment. [-rs 1inde $oes into the dinin$-room. N*+A stands still for a little &hile! as if to compose herself. Then she looks at her &atch.] 5ive o*cloc!. Seven hours until midnight, and then four/and/ twenty hours until the next midnight. Then the Tarantella will &e over. Twenty/four and seven? Thirty/one hours to live.

;8

Helmer [from the door&a on the ri$ht]. 'here*s my little s!ylar!? Nora [$oin$ to him &ith her arms outstretched]. Here she is$

A(T III
[THE SA-E SCENE.--The table has been placed in the middle of the sta$e! &ith chairs around it. A lamp is burnin$ on the table. The door into the hall stands open. .ance music is heard in the room abo#e. -rs 1inde is sittin$ at the table idl turnin$ o#er the lea#es of a book( she tries to read! but does not seem able to collect her thou$hts. E#er no& and then she listens intentl for a sound at the outer door.] Mrs Linde [lookin$ at her &atch] . ot yet//and the time is nearly up. #f only he does not//. [1istens a$ain.] +h, there he is. [/oes into the hall and opens the outer door carefull . 1i$ht footsteps are heard on the stairs. She &hispers.] Come in. There is no one here. %ro&s$ad [in the door&a ]. # found a note from you at home. 'hat does this mean? Mrs Linde. #t is a&solutely necessary that # should have a tal! with you. %ro&s$ad. :eally? +nd is it a&solutely necessary that it should &e here? Mrs Linde. #t is impossi&le where # live, there is no private entrance to my rooms. Come in, we are %uite alone. The maid is asleep, and the Helmers are at the dance upstairs. %ro&s$ad [comin$ into the room] . +re the Helmers really at a dance tonight? Mrs Linde. "es, why not? %ro&s$ad. Certainly//why not? Mrs Linde. ow, ils, let us have a tal!. %ro&s$ad. Can we two have anything to tal! a&out? Mrs Linde. 'e have a great deal to tal! a&out. %ro&s$ad. # shouldn*t have thought so. Mrs Linde. o, you have never properly understood me. %ro&s$ad. 'as there anything else to understand except what was o&vious to all the world//a heartless woman 7ilts a man when a more lucrative chance turns up?

;;

Mrs Linde. )o you &elieve # am as a&solutely heartless as all that? +nd do you &elieve that # did it with a light heart? %ro&s$ad. )idn*t you? Mrs Linde. ils, did you really thin! that? %ro&s$ad. #f it were as you say, why did you write to me as you did at the time? Mrs Linde. # could do nothing else. +s # had to &rea! with you, it was my duty also to put an end to all that you felt for me. %ro&s$ad [&rin$in$ his hands] . So that was it. +nd all this//only for the sa!e of money$ Mrs Linde. "ou must not forget that # had a helpless mother and two little &rothers. 'e couldn*t wait for you, ils, your prospects seemed hopeless then. %ro&s$ad. That may &e so, &ut you had no right to throw me over for anyone else*s sa!e. Mrs Linde. #ndeed # don*t !now. 2any a time did # as! myself if # had the right to do it. %ro&s$ad [more $entl ] . 'hen # lost you, it was as if all the solid ground went from under my feet. 3oo! at me now//# am a shipwrec!ed man clinging to a &it of wrec!age. Mrs Linde. But help may &e near. %ro&s$ad. #t was near, &ut then you came and stood in my way. Mrs Linde. Hnintentionally, ils. #t was only today that # learned it was your place # was going to ta!e in the Ban!. %ro&s$ad. # &elieve you, if you say so. But now that you !now it, are you not going to give it up to me? Mrs Linde. o, &ecause that would not &enefit you in the least. %ro&s$ad. 0h, &enefit, &enefit//# would have done it whether or no. Mrs Linde. # have learned to act prudently. 3ife, and hard, &itter necessity have taught me that. %ro&s$ad. +nd life has taught me not to &elieve in fine speeches. Mrs Linde. Then life has taught you something very reasona&le. But deeds you must &elieve in?

;<

%ro&s$ad. 'hat do you mean &y that? Mrs Linde. "ou said you were li!e a shipwrec!ed man clinging to some wrec!age. %ro&s$ad. # had good reason to say so. Mrs Linde. 'ell, # am li!e a shipwrec!ed woman clinging to some wrec!age//no one to mourn for, no one to care for. %ro&s$ad. #t was your own choice. Mrs Linde. There was no other choice//then. %ro&s$ad. 'ell, what now? Mrs Linde. ils, how would it &e if we two shipwrec!ed people could 7oin forces? %ro&s$ad. 'hat are you saying? Mrs Linde. Two on the same piece of wrec!age would stand a &etter chance than each on their own. %ro&s$ad. Christine #... Mrs Linde. 'hat do you suppose &rought me to town? %ro&s$ad. )o you mean that you gave me a thought? Mrs Linde. # could not endure life without wor!. +ll my life, as long as # can remem&er, # have wor!ed, and it has &een my greatest and only pleasure. But now # am %uite alone in the world//my life is so dreadfully empty and # feel so forsa!en. There is not the least pleasure in wor!ing for one*s self. ils, give me someone and something to wor! for. %ro&s$ad. # don*t trust that. #t is nothing &ut a woman*s overstrained sense of generosity that prompts you to ma!e such an offer of yourself. Mrs Linde. Have you ever noticed anything of the sort in me? %ro&s$ad. Could you really do it? Tell me//do you !now all a&out my past life? Mrs Linde. "es. %ro&s$ad. +nd do you !now what they thin! of me here? Mrs Linde. "ou seemed to me to imply that with me you might have &een %uite another man.

;=

%ro&s$ad. # am certain of it. Mrs Linde. #s it too late now? %ro&s$ad. Christine, are you saying this deli&erately? "es, # am sure you are. # see it in your face. Have you really the courage, then//? Mrs Linde. # want to &e a mother to someone, and your children need a mother. 'e two need each other. ils, # have faith in your real character//# can dare anything together with you. %ro&s$ad [$rasps her hands]. Than!s, than!s, Christine$ ow # shall find a way to clear myself in the eyes of the world. +h, &ut # forgot// Mrs Linde [listenin$]. Hush$ The Tarantella$ Co, go$ %ro&s$ad. 'hy? 'hat is it? Mrs Linde. )o you hear them up there? 'hen that is over, we may expect them &ac!. %ro&s$ad. "es, yes//# will go. But it is all no use. 0f course you are not aware what steps # have ta!en in the matter of the Helmers. Mrs Linde. "es, # !now all a&out that. %ro&s$ad. +nd in spite of that have you the courage to//? Mrs Linde. # understand very well to what lengths a man li!e you might &e driven &y despair. %ro&s$ad. #f # could only undo what # have done$ Mrs Linde. "ou cannot. "our letter is lying in the letter/&ox now. %ro&s$ad. +re you sure of that? Mrs Linde. Duite sure, &ut// %ro&s$ad [&ith a searchin$ look at her] . #s that what it all means?//that you want to save your friend at any cost? Tell me fran!ly. #s that it? Mrs Linde. ils, a woman who has once sold herself for another*s sa!e, doesn*t do it a second time. %ro&s$ad. # will as! for my letter &ac!.

;?

Mrs Linde. o, no. %ro&s$ad. "es, of course # will. # will wait here until Helmer comes, # will tell him he must give me my letter &ac!//that it only concerns my dismissal//that he is not to read it// Mrs Linde. o, ils, you must not recall your letter. %ro&s$ad. But, tell me, wasn*t it for that very purpose that you as!ed me to meet you here? Mrs Linde. #n my first moment of fright, it was. But twenty/four hours have elapsed since then, and in that time # have witnessed incredi&le things in this house. Helmer must !now all a&out it. This unhappy secret must &e disclosed, they must have a complete understanding &etween them, which is impossi&le with all this concealment and falsehood going on. %ro&s$ad. 4ery well, if you will ta!e the responsi&ility. But there is one thing # can do in any case, and # shall do it at once. Mrs Linde [listenin$]. "ou must &e %uic! and go$ The dance is over, we are not safe a moment longer. %ro&s$ad. # will wait for you &elow. Mrs Linde. "es, do. "ou must see me &ac! to my door... %ro&s$ad. # have never had such an amaBing piece of good fortune in my life$ [/oes out throu$h the outer door. The door bet&een the room and the hall remains open.] Mrs Linde [tid in$ up the room and la in$ her hat and cloak read ] . 'hat a difference$ what a difference$ Someone to wor! for and live for//a home to &ring comfort into. That # will do, indeed. # wish they would &e %uic! and come//[1istens.] +h, there they are now. # must put on my things. [Takes up her hat and cloak. HE1-E+'S and N*+A'S #oices are heard outside( a ke is turned! and HE1-E+ brin$s N*+A almost b force into the hall. She is in an 'talian costume &ith a lar$e black sha&l around her( he is in e#enin$ dress! and a black domino &hich is fl in$ open.] Nora [han$in$ back in the door&a ! and stru$$lin$ &ith him] . o, no, no$//don*t ta!e me in. # want to go upstairs again, # don*t want to leave so early. Helmer. But, my dearest ora// Nora. -lease, Torvald dear//please, please//only an hour more. Helmer. ot a single minute, my sweet ora. "ou !now that was our agreement. Come along into the room, you are catching cold standing there. [He brin$s her $entl into the room! in spite of her resistance.]

;@

Mrs Linde. Cood evening. Nora. Christine$ Helmer. "ou here, so late, 2rs 3inde? Mrs Linde. "es, you must excuse me, # was so anxious to see ora in her dress. Nora. Have you &een sitting here waiting for me? Mrs Linde. "es, unfortunately # came too late, you had already gone upstairs, and # thought # couldn*t go away again without having seen you. Helmer [takin$ off N*+A'S sha&l]. "es, ta!e a good loo! at her. # thin! she is worth loo!ing at. #sn*t she charming, 2rs 3inde? Mrs Linde. "es, indeed she is. Helmer. )oesn*t she loo! remar!a&ly pretty? .veryone thought so at the dance. But she is terri&ly self/willed, this sweet little person. 'hat are we to do with her? "ou will hardly &elieve that # had almost to &ring her away &y force. Nora. Torvald, you will repent not having let me stay, even if it were only for half an hour. Helmer. 3isten to her, 2rs 3inde$ She had danced her Tarantella, and it had &een a tremendous success, as it deserved//although possi&ly the performance was a trifle too realistic//a little more so, # mean, than was strictly compati&le with the limitations of art. But never mind a&out that$ The chief thing is, she had made a success//she had made a tremendous success. )o you thin! # was going to let her remain there after that, and spoil the effect? o, indeed$ # too! my charming little Capri maiden//my capricious little Capri maiden, # should say//on my arm, too! one %uic! turn round the room, a curtsey on either side, and, as they say in novels, the &eautiful apparition disappeared. +n exit ought always to &e effective, 2rs 3inde, &ut that is what # cannot ma!e ora understand. -ooh$ this room is hot. [Thro&s his domino on a chair! and opens the door of his room.] Hullo$ it*s all dar! in here. 0h, of course//excuse me//. [He $oes in! and li$hts some candles.] Nora [in a hurried and breathless &hisper]. 'ell? Mrs Linde [in a lo& #oice] . # have had a tal! with him. Nora. "es, and// Mrs Linde. ora, you must tell your hus&and all a&out it. Nora [in an e"pressionless #oice] . # !new it.

<A

Mrs Linde. "ou have nothing to &e afraid of as far as 9rogstad is concerned, &ut you must tell him. Nora. # won*t tell him. Mrs Linde. Then the letter will. Nora. Than! you, Christine. ow # !now what # must do. Hush//$ Helmer [comin$ in a$ain]. 'ell, 2rs 3inde, have you admired her? Mrs Linde. "es, and now # will say goodnight. Helmer. 'hat, already? #s this yours, this !nitting? Mrs Linde [takin$ it] . "es, than! you, # had very nearly forgotten it. Helmer. So you !nit? Mrs Linde. 0f course. Helmer. )o you !now, you ought to em&roider. Mrs Linde. :eally? 'hy? Helmer. "es, it*s far more &ecoming. 3et me show you. "ou hold the em&roidery thus in your left hand, and use the needle with the right//li!e this//with a long, easy sweep. )o you see? Mrs Linde. "es, perhaps// Helmer. But in the case of !nitting//that can never &e anything &ut ungraceful, loo! here// the arms close together, the !nitting/ needles going up and down//it has a sort of Chinese effect//. That was really excellent champagne they gave us. Mrs Linde. 'ell,//goodnight, ora, and don*t &e self/willed any more. Helmer. That*s right, 2rs 3inde. Mrs Linde. Coodnight, 2r. Helmer. Helmer [accompan in$ her to the door] . Coodnight, goodnight. # hope you will get home all right. # should &e very happy to//&ut you haven*t any great distance to go. Coodnight, goodnight. [She $oes out( he shuts the door after her! and comes in a$ain.] +h$//at last we have got rid of her. She is a frightful &ore, that woman.

<1

Nora. +ren*t you very tired, Torvald? Helmer. o, not in the least. Nora. or sleepy? Helmer. ot a &it. 0n the contrary, # feel extraordinarily lively. +nd you?//you really loo! &oth tired and sleepy. Nora. "es, # am very tired. # want to go to sleep at once. Helmer. There, you see it was %uite right of me not to let you stay there any longer. Nora. .verything you do is %uite right, Torvald. Helmer [kissin$ her on the forehead]. ow my little s!ylar! is spea!ing reasona&ly. )id you notice what good spirits :an! was in this evening? Nora. :eally? 'as he? # didn*t spea! to him at all. Helmer. +nd # very little, &ut # have not for a long time seen him in such good form. [1ooks for a &hile at her and then $oes nearer to her.] #t is delightful to &e at home &y ourselves again, to &e all alone with you//you fascinating, charming little darling$ Nora. )on*t loo! at me li!e that, Torvald. Helmer. 'hy shouldn*t # loo! at my dearest treasure?//at all the &eauty that is mine, all my very own? Nora [$oin$ to the other side of the table]. "ou mustn*t say things li!e that to me tonight. Helmer [follo&in$ her] . "ou have still got the Tarantella in your &lood, # see. +nd it ma!es you more captivating than ever. 3isten//the guests are &eginning to go now. ['n a lo&er #oice.] ora//soon the whole house will &e %uiet. Nora. "es, # hope so. Helmer. "es, my own darling ora. )o you !now, when # am out at a party with you li!e this, why # spea! so little to you, !eep away from you, and only send a stolen glance in your direction now and then?//do you !now why # do that? #t is &ecause # ma!e &elieve to myself that we are secretly in love, and you are my secretly promised &ride, and that no one suspects there is anything &etween us. Nora. "es, yes//# !now very well your thoughts are with me all the time.

<1

Helmer. +nd when we are leaving, and # am putting the shawl over your &eautiful young shoulders//on your lovely nec!//then # imagine that you are my young &ride and that we have 7ust come from the wedding, and # am &ringing you for the first time into our home// to &e alone with you for the first time//%uite alone with my shy little darling$ +ll this evening # have longed for nothing &ut you. 'hen # watched the seductive figures of the Tarantella, my &lood was on fire, # could endure it no longer, and that was why # &rought you down so early// Nora. Co away, Torvald$ "ou must let me go. # won*t// Helmer. 'hat*s that? "ou*re 7o!ing, my little ora$ "ou won*t// you won*t? +m # not your hus&and//? [A knock is heard at the outer door.] Nora [startin$] . )id you hear//? Helmer [$oin$ into the hall] . 'ho is it? Rank [outside] . #t is #. 2ay # come in for a moment? Helmer [in a fretful &hisper] . 0h, what does he want now? [Aloud.] 'ait a minute$ [4nlocks the door.] Come, that*s !ind of you not to pass &y our door. Rank. # thought # heard your voice, and felt as if # should li!e to loo! in. [2ith a s&ift $lance round.] +h, yes$//these dear familiar rooms. "ou are very happy and cosy in here, you two. Helmer. #t seems to me that you loo!ed after yourself pretty well upstairs too. Rank. .xcellently. 'hy shouldn*t #? 'hy shouldn*t one en7oy everything in this world?//at any rate as much as one can, and as long as one can. The wine was capital// Helmer. .specially the champagne. Rank. So you noticed that too? #t is almost incredi&le how much # managed to put away$ Nora. Torvald dran! a great deal of champagne tonight too. Rank. )id he? Nora. "es, and he is always in such good spirits afterwards. Rank. 'ell, why should one not en7oy a merry evening after a well/spent day? Helmer. 'ell spent? # am afraid # can*t ta!e credit for that. Rank [clappin$ him on the back]. But # can, you !now$

<6

Nora. )octor :an!, you must have &een occupied with some scientific investigation today. Rank. .xactly. Helmer. (ust listen$//little ora tal!ing a&out scientific investigations$ Nora. +nd may # congratulate you on the result? Rank. #ndeed you may. Nora. 'as it favoura&le, then? Rank. The &est possi&le, for &oth doctor and patient//certainty. Nora [0uickl and searchin$l ]. Certainty? Rank. +&solute certainty. So wasn*t # entitled to ma!e a merry evening of it after that? Nora. "es, you certainly were, )octor :an!. Helmer. # thin! so too, so long as you don*t have to pay for it in the morning. Rank. 0h well, one can*t have anything in this life without paying for it. Nora. )octor :an!//are you fond of fancy/dress &alls? Rank. "es, if there is a fine lot of pretty costumes. Nora. Tell me//what shall we two wear at the next? Helmer. 3ittle feather&rain$//are you thin!ing of the next already? Rank. 'e two? "es, # can tell you. "ou shall go as a good fairy// Helmer. "es, &ut what do you suggest as an appropriate costume for that? Rank. 3et your wife go dressed 7ust as she is in everyday life. Helmer. That was really very prettily turned. But can*t you tell us what you will &e? Rank. "es, my dear friend, # have %uite made up my mind a&out that. Helmer. 'ell? Rank. +t the next fancy/dress &all # shall &e invisi&le.

<8

Helmer. That*s a good 7o!e$ Rank. There is a &ig &lac! hat//have you never heard of hats that ma!e you invisi&le? #f you put one on, no one can see you. Helmer [suppressin$ a smile] . "es, you are %uite right. Rank. But # am clean forgetting what # came for. Helmer, give me a cigar//one of the dar! Havanas. Helmer. 'ith the greatest pleasure. [*ffers him his case.] Rank [takes a ci$ar and cuts off the end] . Than!s. Nora [strikin$ a match]. 3et me give you a light. Rank. Than! you. [She holds the match for him to li$ht his ci$ar.] +nd now good&ye$ Helmer. Cood&ye, good&ye, dear old man$ Nora. Sleep well, )octor :an!. Rank. Than! you for that wish. Nora. 'ish me the same. Rank. "ou? 'ell, if you want me to sleep well$ +nd than!s for the light. [He nods to them both and $oes out.] Helmer [in a subdued #oice] . He has drun! more than he ought. Nora [absentl ]. 2ay&e. [HE1-E+ takes a bunch of ke s out of his pocket and $oes into the hall.] Torvald$ what are you going to do there? Helmer. .mptying the letter/&ox, it is %uite full, there will &e no room to put the newspaper in tomorrow morning. Nora. +re you going to wor! tonight? Helmer. "ou !now %uite well #*m not. 'hat is this? Someone has &een at the loc!. Nora. +t the loc!//? Helmer. "es, someone has. 'hat can it mean? # should never have thought the maid//. Here is a &ro!en hairpin. ora, it is one of yours.

<;

Nora [0uickl ] . Then it must have &een the children// Helmer. Then you must get them out of those ways. There, at last # have got it open. [Takes out the contents of the letter-bo"! and calls to the kitchen.] Helen$//Helen, put out the light over the front door. [/oes back into the room and shuts the door into the hall. He holds out his hand full of letters.] 3oo! at that// loo! what a heap of them there are. [Turnin$ them o#er.] 'hat on earth is that? Nora [at the &indo&] . The letter// o$ Torvald, no$ Helmer. Two cards//of :an!*s. Nora. 0f )octor :an!*s? Helmer [lookin$ at them]. )octor :an!. They were on the top. He must have put them in when he went out. Nora. #s there anything written on them? Helmer. There is a &lac! cross over the name. 3oo! there//what an uncomforta&le idea$ #t loo!s as if he were announcing his own death. Nora. #t is 7ust what he is doing. Helmer. 'hat? )o you !now anything a&out it? Has he said anything to you? Nora. "es. He told me that when the cards came it would &e his leave/ta!ing from us. He means to shut himself up and die. Helmer. 2y poor old friend$ Certainly # !new we should not have him very long with us. But so soon$ +nd so he hides himself away li!e a wounded animal. Nora. #f it has to happen, it is &est it should &e without a word//don*t you thin! so, Torvald? Helmer [&alkin$ up and do&n]. He had so grown into our lives. # can*t thin! of him as having gone out of them. He, with his sufferings and his loneliness, was li!e a cloudy &ac!ground to our sunlit happiness. 'ell, perhaps it is &est so. 5or him, anyway. [Standin$ still.] +nd perhaps for us too, ora. 'e two are thrown %uite upon each other now. [,uts his arms round her.] 2y darling wife, # don*t feel as if # could hold you tight enough. )o you !now, ora, # have often wished that you might &e threatened &y some great danger, so that # might ris! my life*s &lood, and everything, for your sa!e. Nora [disen$a$es herself! and sa s firml and decidedl ]. ow you must read your letters, Torvald. Helmer. o, no, not tonight. # want to &e with you, my darling wife.

<<

Nora. 'ith the thought of your friend*s death// Helmer. "ou are right, it has affected us &oth. Something ugly has come &etween us//the thought of the horrors of death. 'e must try and rid our minds of that. Hntil then//we will each go to our own room. Nora [han$in$ on his neck] . Coodnight, Torvald//Coodnight$ Helmer [kissin$ her on the forehead]. Coodnight, my little singing/&ird. Sleep sound, ora. ow # will read my letters through. [He takes his letters and $oes into his room! shuttin$ the door after him.] Nora [$ropes distractedl about! sei7es HE1-E+'S domino! thro&s it round her! &hile she sa s in 0uick! hoarse! spasmodic &hispers] . ever to see him again. ever$ ever$ [,uts her sha&l o#er her head.] ever to see my children again either//never again. ever$ ever$//+h$ the icy, &lac! water//the unfathoma&le depths//#f only it were over$ He has got it now//now he is reading it. Cood&ye, Torvald and my children$ [She is about to rush out throu$h the hall! &hen HE1-E+ opens his door hurriedl and stands &ith an open letter in his hand.] Helmer. ora$ Nora. +h$// Helmer. 'hat is this? )o you !now what is in this letter? Nora. "es, # !now. 3et me go$ 3et me get out$ Helmer [holdin$ her back] . 'here are you going? Nora [tr in$ to $et free]. "ou shan*t save me, Torvald$ Helmer [reelin$] . True? #s this true, that # read here? Horri&le$ o, no//it is impossi&le that it can &e true. Nora. #t is true. # have loved you a&ove everything else in the world. Helmer. 0h, don*t let us have any silly excuses. Nora [takin$ a step to&ards him] . Torvald//$ Helmer. 2isera&le creature//what have you done? Nora. 3et me go. "ou shall not suffer for my sa!e. "ou shall not ta!e it upon yourself.

<=

Helmer. o tragic airs, please. [1ocks the hall door.] Here you shall stay and give me an explanation. )o you understand what you have done? +nswer me$ )o you understand what you have done? Nora [looks steadil at him and sa s &ith a $ro&in$ look of coldness in her face]. "es, now # am &eginning to understand thoroughly. Helmer [&alkin$ about the room]. 'hat a horri&le awa!ening$ +ll these eight years//she who was my 7oy and pride//a hypocrite, a liar//worse, worse//a criminal$ The unuttera&le ugliness of it all$//5or shame$ 5or shame$ [N*+A is silent and looks steadil at him. He stops in front of her.] # ought to have suspected that something of the sort would happen. # ought to have foreseen it. +ll your father*s want of principle//&e silent$//all your father*s want of principle has come out in you. o religion, no morality, no sense of duty//. How # am punished for having win!ed at what he did$ # did it for your sa!e, and this is how you repay me. Nora. "es, that*s 7ust it. Helmer. ow you have destroyed all my happiness. "ou have ruined all my future. #t is horri&le to thin! of$ # am in the power of an unscrupulous man, he can do what he li!es with me, as! anything he li!es of me, give me any orders he pleases//# dare not refuse. +nd # must sin! to such misera&le depths &ecause of a thoughtless woman$ Nora. 'hen # am out of the way, you will &e free. Helmer. o fine speeches, please. "our father had always plenty of those ready, too. 'hat good would it &e to me if you were out of the way, as you say? ot the slightest. He can ma!e the affair !nown everywhere, and if he does, # may &e falsely suspected of having &een a party to your criminal action. 4ery li!ely people will thin! # was &ehind it all//that it was # who prompted you$ +nd # have to than! you for all this//you whom # have cherished during the whole of our married life. )o you understand now what it is you have done for me? Nora [coldl and 0uietl ]. "es. Helmer. #t is so incredi&le that # can*t ta!e it in. But we must come to some understanding. Ta!e off that shawl. Ta!e it off, # tell you. # must try and appease him some way or another. The matter must &e hushed up at any cost. +nd as for you and me, it must appear as if everything &etween us were 7ust as &efore//&ut naturally only in the eyes of the world. "ou will still remain in my house, that is a matter of course. But # shall not allow you to &ring up the children, # dare not trust them to you. To thin! that # should &e o&liged to say so to one whom # have loved so dearly, and whom # still//. o, that is all over. 5rom this moment happiness is not the %uestion, all that concerns us is to save the remains, the fragments, the appearance// [A rin$ is heard at the front-door bell.]

<?

Helmer [&ith a start]. 'hat is that? So late$ Can the worst//? Can he//? Hide yourself, ora. Say you are ill. [N*+A stands motionless. HE1-E+ $oes and unlocks the hall door.] Maid [half-dressed! comes to the door]. + letter for the mistress. Helmer. Cive it to me. [Takes the letter! and shuts the door.] "es, it is from him. "ou shall not have it, # will read it myself. Nora. "es, read it. Helmer [standin$ b the lamp] . # scarcely have the courage to do it. #t may mean ruin for &oth of us. o, # must !now. [Tears open the letter! runs his e e o#er a fe& lines! looks at a paper enclosed! and $i#es a shout of )o .] ora$ [She looks at him 0uestionin$l .] ora$// o, # must read it once again//. "es, it is true$ # am saved$ ora, # am saved$ Nora. +nd #? Helmer. "ou too, of course, we are &oth saved, &oth you and #. 3oo!, he sends you your &ond &ac!. He says he regrets and repents// that a happy change in his life//never mind what he says$ 'e are saved, ora$ o one can do anything to you. 0h, ora, ora$//no, first # must destroy these hateful things. 3et me see//. [Takes a look at the bond.] o, no, # won*t loo! at it. The whole thing shall &e nothing &ut a &ad dream to me. [Tears up the bond and both letters! thro&s them all into the sto#e! and &atches them burn.] There//now it doesn*t exist any longer. He says that since Christmas .ve you//. These must have &een three dreadful days for you, ora. Nora. # have fought a hard fight these three days. Helmer. +nd suffered agonies, and seen no way out &ut//. o, we won*t call any of the horrors to mind. 'e will only shout with 7oy, and !eep saying, >#t*s all over$ #t*s all over$> 3isten to me, ora. "ou don*t seem to realise that it is all over. 'hat is this?//such a cold, set face$ 2y poor little ora, # %uite understand, you don*t feel as if you could &elieve that # have forgiven you. But it is true, ora, # swear it, # have forgiven you everything. # !now that what you did, you did out of love for me. Nora. That is true. Helmer. "ou have loved me as a wife ought to love her hus&and. 0nly you had not sufficient !nowledge to 7udge of the means you used. But do you suppose you are any the less dear to me, &ecause you don*t understand how to act on your own responsi&ility? o, no, only lean on me, # will advise you and direct you. # should not &e a man if this womanly helplessness did not 7ust give you a dou&le attractiveness in my eyes. "ou must not thin! anymore a&out the hard things # said in my first moment of consternation, when # thought

<@

everything was going to overwhelm me. # have forgiven you, ora, # swear to you # have forgiven you. Nora. Than! you for your forgiveness. [She $oes out throu$h the door to the ri$ht.] Helmer. o, don*t go//. [1ooks in.] 'hat are you doing in there? Nora [from &ithin] . Ta!ing off my fancy dress. Helmer [standin$ at the open door] . "es, do. Try and calm yourself, and ma!e your mind easy again, my frightened little singing/&ird. Be at rest, and feel secure, # have &road wings to shelter you under. [2alks up and do&n b the door.] How warm and cosy our home is, ora. Here is shelter for you, here # will protect you li!e a hunted dove that # have saved from a haw!*s claws, # will &ring peace to your poor &eating heart. #t will come, little &y little, ora, &elieve me. Tomorrow morning you will loo! upon it all %uite differently, soon everything will &e 7ust as it was &efore. 4ery soon you won*t need me to assure you that # have forgiven you, you will yourself feel the certainty that # have done so. Can you suppose # should ever thin! of such a thing as repudiating you, or even reproaching you? "ou have no idea what a true man*s heart is li!e, ora. There is something so indescri&a&ly sweet and satisfying, to a man, in the !nowledge that he has forgiven his wife//forgiven her freely, and with all his heart. #t seems as if that had made her, as it were, dou&ly his own, he has given her a new life, so to spea!, and she has in a way &ecome &oth wife and child to him. So you shall &e for me after this, my little scared, helpless darling. Have no anxiety a&out anything, ora, only &e fran! and open with me, and # will serve as will and conscience &oth to you//. 'hat is this? ot gone to &ed? Have you changed your things? Nora [in e#er da dress] . "es, Torvald, # have changed my things now. Helmer. But what for?//so late as this. Nora. # shall not sleep tonight. Helmer. But, my dear ora// Nora [lookin$ at her &atch]. #t is not so very late. Sit down here, Torvald. "ou and # have much to say to one another. [She sits do&n at one side of the table.] Helmer. ora//what is this?//this cold, set face? Nora. Sit down. #t will ta!e some time, # have a lot to tal! over with you. Helmer [sits do&n at the opposite side of the table]. "ou alarm me, ora$//and # don*t understand you.

=A

Nora. o, that is 7ust it. "ou don*t understand me, and # have never understood you either// &efore tonight. o, you mustn*t interrupt me. "ou must simply listen to what # say. Torvald, this is a settling of accounts. Helmer. 'hat do you mean &y that? Nora [after a short silence] . #sn*t there one thing that stri!es you as strange in our sitting here li!e this? Helmer. 'hat is that? Nora. 'e have &een married now eight years. )oes it not occur to you that this is the first time we two, you and #, hus&and and wife, have had a serious conversation? Helmer. 'hat do you mean &y serious? Nora. #n all these eight years//longer than that//from the very &eginning of our ac%uaintance, we have never exchanged a word on any serious su&7ect. Helmer. 'as it li!ely that # would &e continually and forever telling you a&out worries that you could not help me to &ear? Nora. # am not spea!ing a&out &usiness matters. # say that we have never sat down in earnest together to try and get at the &ottom of anything. Helmer. But, dearest ora, would it have &een any good to you? Nora. That is 7ust it, you have never understood me. # have &een greatly wronged, Torvald//first &y papa and then &y you. Helmer. 'hat$ By us two//&y us two, who have loved you &etter than anyone else in the world? Nora [shakin$ her head] . "ou have never loved me. "ou have only thought it pleasant to &e in love with me. Helmer. ora, what do # hear you saying? Nora. #t is perfectly true, Torvald. 'hen # was at home with papa, he told me his opinion a&out everything, and so # had the same opinions, and if # differed from him # concealed the fact, &ecause he would not have li!ed it. He called me his doll/child, and he played with me 7ust as # used to play with my dolls. +nd when # came to live with you// Helmer. 'hat sort of an expression is that to use a&out our marriage?

=1

Nora [undisturbed] . # mean that # was simply transferred from papa*s hands into yours. "ou arranged everything according to your own taste, and so # got the same tastes as your else # pretended to, # am really not %uite sure which//# thin! sometimes the one and sometimes the other. 'hen # loo! &ac! on it, it seems to me as if # had &een living here li!e a poor woman//7ust from hand to mouth. # have existed merely to perform tric!s for you, Torvald. But you would have it so. "ou and papa have committed a great sin against me. #t is your fault that # have made nothing of my life. Helmer. How unreasona&le and how ungrateful you are, ora$ Have you not &een happy here? Nora. o, # have never &een happy. # thought # was, &ut it has never really &een so. Helmer. ot//not happy$ Nora. o, only merry. +nd you have always &een so !ind to me. But our home has &een nothing &ut a playroom. # have &een your doll/wife, 7ust as at home # was papa*s doll/child, and here the children have &een my dolls. # thought it great fun when you played with me, 7ust as they thought it great fun when # played with them. That is what our marriage has &een, Torvald. Helmer. There is some truth in what you say//exaggerated and strained as your view of it is. But for the future it shall &e different. -laytime shall &e over, and lesson/time shall &egin. Nora. 'hose lessons? 2ine, or the children*s? Helmer. Both yours and the children*s, my darling ora. Nora. +las, Torvald, you are not the man to educate me into &eing a proper wife for you. Helmer. +nd you can say that$ Nora. +nd #//how am # fitted to &ring up the children? Helmer. ora$ Nora. )idn*t you say so yourself a little while ago//that you dare not trust me to &ring them up? Helmer. #n a moment of anger$ 'hy do you pay any heed to that? Nora. #ndeed, you were perfectly right. # am not fit for the tas!. There is another tas! # must underta!e first. # must try and educate myself//you are not the man to help me in that. # must do that for myself. +nd that is why # am going to leave you now.

=1

Helmer [sprin$in$ up] . 'hat do you say? Nora. # must stand %uite alone, if # am to understand myself and everything a&out me. #t is for that reason that # cannot remain with you any longer. Helmer. ora, ora$ Nora. # am going away from here now, at once. # am sure Christine will ta!e me in for the night// Helmer. "ou are out of your mind$ # won*t allow it$ # for&id you$ Nora. #t is no use for&idding me anything any longer. # will ta!e with me what &elongs to myself. # will ta!e nothing from you, either now or later. Helmer. 'hat sort of madness is this$ Nora. Tomorrow # shall go home//# mean, to my old home. #t will &e easiest for me to find something to do there. Helmer. "ou &lind, foolish woman$ Nora. # must try and get some sense, Torvald. Helmer. To desert your home, your hus&and and your children$ +nd you don*t consider what people will say$ Nora. # cannot consider that at all. # only !now that it is necessary for me. Helmer. #t*s shoc!ing. This is how you would neglect your most sacred duties. Nora. 'hat do you consider my most sacred duties? Helmer. )o # need to tell you that? +re they not your duties to your hus&and and your children? Nora. # have other duties 7ust as sacred. Helmer. That you have not. 'hat duties could those &e? Nora. )uties to myself. Helmer. Before all else, you are a wife and a mother. Nora. # don*t &elieve that any longer. # &elieve that &efore all else # am a reasona&le human &eing, 7ust as you are//or, at all events, that # must try and &ecome one. # !now %uite well,

=6

Torvald, that most people would thin! you right, and that views of that !ind are to &e found in &oo!s, &ut # can no longer content myself with what most people say, or with what is found in &oo!s. # must thin! over things for myself and get to understand them. Helmer. Can you not understand your place in your own home? Have you not a relia&le guide in such matters as that?//have you no religion? Nora. # am afraid, Torvald, # do not exactly !now what religion is. Helmer. 'hat are you saying? Nora. # !now nothing &ut what the clergyman said, when # went to &e confirmed. He told us that religion was this, and that, and the other. 'hen # am away from all this, and am alone, # will loo! into that matter too. # will see if what the clergyman said is true, or at all events if it is true for me. Helmer. This is unheard of in a girl of your age$ But if religion cannot lead you aright, let me try and awa!en your conscience. # suppose you have some moral sense? 0r//answer me//am # to thin! you have none? Nora. # assure you, Torvald, that is not an easy %uestion to answer. # really don*t !now. The thing perplexes me altogether. # only !now that you and # loo! at it in %uite a different light. # am learning, too, that the law is %uite another thing from what # supposed, &ut # find it impossi&le to convince myself that the law is right. +ccording to it a woman has no right to spare her old dying father, or to save her hus&and*s life. # can*t &elieve that. Helmer. "ou tal! li!e a child. "ou don*t understand the conditions of the world in which you live. Nora. o, # don*t. But now # am going to try. # am going to see if # can ma!e out who is right, the world or #. Helmer. "ou are ill, ora, you are delirious, # almost thin! you are out of your mind. Nora. # have never felt my mind so clear and certain as tonight. Helmer. +nd is it with a clear and certain mind that you forsa!e your hus&and and your children? Nora. "es, it is. Helmer. Then there is only one possi&le explanation. Nora. 'hat is that? Helmer. "ou do not love me anymore.

=8

Nora. o, that is 7ust it. Helmer. ora$//and you can say that? Nora. #t gives me great pain, Torvald, for you have always &een so !ind to me, &ut # cannot help it. # do not love you any more. Helmer [re$ainin$ his composure] . #s that a clear and certain conviction too? Nora. "es, a&solutely clear and certain. That is the reason why # will not stay here any longer. Helmer. +nd can you tell me what # have done to forfeit your love? Nora. "es, indeed # can. #t was tonight, when the wonderful thing did not happen, then # saw you were not the man # had thought you were. Helmer. .xplain yourself &etter. # don*t understand you. Nora. # have waited so patiently for eight years, for, goodness !nows, # !new very well that wonderful things don*t happen every day. Then this horri&le misfortune came upon me, and then # felt %uite certain that the wonderful thing was going to happen at last. 'hen 9rogstad*s letter was lying out there, never for a moment did # imagine that you would consent to accept this man*s conditions. # was so a&solutely certain that you would say to himE -u&lish the thing to the whole world. +nd when that was done// Helmer. "es, what then?//when # had exposed my wife to shame and disgrace? Nora. 'hen that was done, # was so a&solutely certain, you would come forward and ta!e everything upon yourself, and sayE # am the guilty one. Helmer. ora//$ Nora. "ou mean that # would never have accepted such a sacrifice on your part? o, of course not. But what would my assurances have &een worth against yours? That was the wonderful thing which # hoped for and feared, and it was to prevent that, that # wanted to !ill myself. Helmer. # would gladly wor! night and day for you, ora//&ear sorrow and want for your sa!e. But no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves. Nora. #t is a thing hundreds of thousands of women have done. Helmer. 0h, you thin! and tal! li!e a heedless child.

=;

Nora. 2ay&e. But you neither thin! nor tal! li!e the man # could &ind myself to. +s soon as your fear was over//and it was not fear for what threatened me, &ut for what might happen to you//when the whole thing was past, as far as you were concerned it was exactly as if nothing at all had happened. .xactly as &efore, # was your little s!ylar!, your doll, which you would in future treat with dou&ly gentle care, &ecause it was so &rittle and fragile. [/ettin$ up.] Torvald//it was then it dawned upon me that for eight years # had &een living here with a strange man, and had &orne him three children//. 0h, # can*t &ear to thin! of it$ # could tear myself into little &its$ Helmer [sadl ] . # see, # see. +n a&yss has opened &etween us//there is no denying it. But, ora, would it not &e possi&le to fill it up? Nora. +s # am now, # am no wife for you. Helmer. # have it in me to &ecome a different man. Nora. -erhaps//if your doll is ta!en away from you. Helmer. But to part$//to part from you$ o, no, ora, # can*t understand that idea. Nora [$oin$ out to the ri$ht]. That ma!es it all the more certain that it must &e done. [She comes back &ith her cloak and hat and a small ba$ &hich she puts on a chair b the table.] Helmer. ora, ora, not now$ 'ait until tomorrow. Nora [puttin$ on her cloak]. # cannot spend the night in a strange man*s room. Helmer. But can*t we live here li!e &rother and sister//? Nora [puttin$ on her hat] . "ou !now very well that would not last long. [,uts the sha&l round her.] Cood&ye, Torvald. # won*t see the little ones. # !now they are in &etter hands than mine. +s # am now, # can &e of no use to them. Helmer. But some day, ora//some day? Nora. How can # tell? # have no idea what is going to &ecome of me. Helmer. But you are my wife, whatever &ecomes of you. Nora. 3isten, Torvald. # have heard that when a wife deserts her hus&and*s house, as # am doing now, he is legally freed from all o&ligations towards her. #n any case, # set you free from all your o&ligations. "ou are not to feel yourself &ound in the slightest way, any more than # shall. There must &e perfect freedom on &oth sides. See, here is your ring &ac!. Cive me mine. Helmer. That too?

=<

Nora. That too. Helmer. Here it is. Nora. That*s right. ow it is all over. # have put the !eys here. The maids !now all a&out everything in the house//&etter than # do. Tomorrow, after # have left her, Christine will come here and pac! up my own things that # &rought with me from home. # will have them sent after me. Helmer. +ll over$ +ll over$// ora, shall you never thin! of me again? Nora. # !now # shall often thin! of you, the children, and this house. Helmer. 2ay # write to you, ora? Nora. o//never. "ou must not do that. Helmer. But at least let me send you// Nora. othing//nothing// Helmer. 3et me help you if you are in want. Nora. o. # can receive nothing from a stranger. Helmer. ora//can # never &e anything more than a stranger to you? Nora [takin$ her ba$]. +h, Torvald, the most wonderful thing of all would have to happen. Helmer. Tell me what that would &e$ Nora. Both you and # would have to &e so changed that//. 0h, Torvald, # don*t &elieve any longer in wonderful things happening. Helmer. But # will &elieve in it. Tell me$ So changed that//? Nora. That our life together would &e a real wedloc!. Cood&ye. [She $oes out throu$h the hall.] Helmer [sinks do&n on a chair at the door and buries his face in his hands]. ora$ ora$ [1ooks round! and rises.] .mpty. She is gone. [A hope flashes across his mind.] The most wonderful thing of all//? [The sound of a door shuttin$ is heard from belo&.]

==