Cami Robison

8:00

A Doll`s House Study Guide

Act 1
1. s Torvald constantly uses such phrases as 'my little lark, a perception oI Nora begins
to Iorm that she is a perIect little wiIe and that she does everything to please Torvald and
agree with him and doesn`t do what she thinks, but is completely devoted to her husband.


2. To Nora money is extremely important because it is what she really needs. She needs it to
pay oII her debt Irom all those many years ago. She has worked and saved money but still
needs more. This is why she hides behind the 'little SpendthriIt mask, because her
husband gives her more money to buy` things when really she uses about halI oI it to
pay oII her debt.


3. Krogstad`s Iorgery might have not had such a lasting impact on Torvald iI Krogstad had
conIessed and taken the punishment. Instead, he lied, cheated and snuck around his
punishments. Because oI this, Torvald is disgusted by his immoral behaviors. His voice
was probably Iilled with disgust and hatred as he explained it all to Nora. II he knew that
Nora was also a Iorger, Torvald would be revolted and appalled that he had lived with a
criminal Ior the last many years, not taking into account that she did it out oI love Ior
him, only caring Ior his reputation.


4. Much oI the talk between Nora and Kristine explains Nora`s behavior. When she
conIides her secret oI taking out the loan to Kristine, we Iind understand why Nora seems
to be a SpendthriIt, because she needs more money to pay oII her debt. She is able to save
and go without many items that she wants. We also come to understand why Nora is
always pleasing to Torvald. Nora won`t conIide in her husband anymore because she
doesn`t want to ruin their perIect and happy relationship. She would rather keep her
opinions to herselI than disagree with her husband.



Act 2
1. Nora is Ieeling scared and helpless at the thought that her husband will Iind out that she is
a Iorger, a criminal. So she tries to Iigure out what she can do now. s she speaks with
her maid, nna Marie, she hints that she is contemplating abandoning her Iamily,
because she thinks that she is not Iit to be their mother any more. Later, when Krogstad
guesses Nora`s thoughts, he says, 'Been thinking oI running away Irom home. or even
oI something worse. This 'something worse that Krogstad speaks oI is suicide. Nora
has considered taking her own liIe; however, as we Iind out later, she hasn`t the courage.


2. Torvald says that his career is Iar above reproach, but when Nora tells him that he is
petty, we see the Ilaws and pettiness in Torvald`s character. The pettiness that Torvald
has revealed is that he will Iire a man just because oI a past Iriendship that he is
embarrassed about and that the man addresses Torvald on a Iirst-name basis in Iront oI
everyone. Torvald doesn`t take into account that Torvald is very eIIicient on the job.
nother Ilaw that we see in Torvald`s character is that he uses Nora as a toy and not an
actual human being who has opinions oI her own. Torvald also cares more about
appearance and reputation than the love Ior his wiIe, Nora.


3. Torvald`s ability to take care oI Nora is very important to him because he needs to secure
his masculine pride and power to be strong and not weak or petty like Nora has just
called him. He loves Nora, but he also seems to think that women are too weak Ior many
matters, especially this one dealing with Krogstad and the bank. Because oI this he
chooses to take care oI Nora and bear all the burdens so she can be Iree oI any striIe or
complicated matters. I personally think that only one person in any partnership should not
bear all the burdens Ior both, but that they should be equally spread between the two and
that they should work out their problems together as any husband and wiIe should.


4. When Dr. Rank declares his love Ior Nora as they sit together, Nora realizes that she
cannot take advantage oI his aIIection Ior her by asking Ior money to help pay Torvald
back. This also aIIects the plot by allowing Nora to really contemplate her love Ior
Torvald Ior the Iirst time. She realizes that she enjoys the company oI Dr. Rank more
than that oI her husband`s, and that her husband really treats her as her Iather did.


5. Nora`s 'wonderIul, wonderIul expectation is that when Torvald hears oI her Iorgery,
that he will take the entire blame oI what she did upon himselI, and that he will not be
angry with her. lthough he should be capable oI at the least, trying to understand the
situation Irom her point oI view, Torvald is not, and instead oI taking the blame, he yells
at her and calls her a criminal, a Iorger, and a hypocrite, not even taking the Iact that she
did it out oI love Ior him, into account.


Act 3
1. lthough Nora realized that she didn`t love Torvald and that she needed to educate
herselI, and discover herselI and the world, she could have had that same change oI heart
without leaving Torvald and her children.


2. The entire play is Iilled with tension. Even in the last moments oI the play, tension and
conIlicts tear at your heart. Through all oI that tension, however, the climax occurs within
the heated discussion between Nora and Torvald. Torvald has just realized that Nora no
longer loves him. 'nd---clearheaded and sure----you`re leaving your husband and
children? 'Yes. 'Then there`s only one possible reason. 'What? 'You no longer love
me. 'No. That`s exactly it.
3. The denouement oI this play occurs on the last two pages. Torvald tries to understand
how Nora lost her love Ior him and to convince her to stay, that they`d work everything
out. Nora, however, tells him that she is Ireeing him Irom being responsible by leaving.
She gives Torvald their wedding ring and tells him not to write her. The only thing that
could bring them back together however is a miracle, but she does not believe in miracles
anymore.


4. By leaving her home and abandoning her Iamily, Nora has added many more
complications to the story. t the same time however, the major complications Irom the
play have been resolved. Krogstad is not asking Ior his job back or blackmailing them
and Torvald does not blame Nora anymore. Nora is Iree oI responsibility as well.