A DOLL’S HOUSE

HENRIK IBSEN
 CHARACTERS

Nora Helmer
 The play’s protagonist
 Married to Torvald
 Has been sheltered and babied by her father and now her husband
 Inexperienced in the ways of the world
 Appears impulsive and materialistic
 CHARACTERS

Torvald Helmer
 Nora’s husband of 8 years
 A lawyer who has recently been promoted to bank manager
 Focused on business
 Sees himself as responsible for the financial welfare of his family and as a
guardian for his wife
 Particularly concerned with morality
 Comes across as stiff and unsympathetic
 CHARACTERS

Dr. Rank
 Close friend of the family
 Torvald’s physician
 Sick from consumption of the spine (congenital syphilis) as a result of his father’s
exploits
 CHARACTERS

Mrs. Linde
 An old schoolmate of Nora’s
 Widow
 Has worked hard to support her mother and younger brothers since the death of
her husband but now her mother is dead
and her brothers are grown
 Pressed for money
 Asks Nora to help her secure a job at the bank
 Was once in a romantic relationship with Krogstad
 CHARACTERS

Nils Krogstad
 Employee at the bank that Torvald has
just taken over
 Loaned Nora money for a trip to Italy
 Involved in a work scandal many years
previously
 Due to the scandal, his name was
tarnished and his career stunted
 CHARACTERS

Anne-Marie
 Raised Nora and has stayed on to look after Nora’s children
Helen
 A housemaid employed by the Helmers