A Doll's House - Henrik Ibsen

Question 1

Biography of Henrik Ibsen

Answer 1

• Norwegian writer born in 1864
• Called the “father of realism” in drama
• May be attributed to his rough start at being a writer (poor, unsuccessful)
• Pioneer of Modernism

Question 2

Historical Context of A Doll’s House

Answer 2

1870s:
- Strict VICTORIAN social codes, restriced the rights of women, especially married women
- The actions that married women would do are limiting the point of A Doll’s House

Women who ar not married and earned their wages - Christina
Women who are married - Nora

Question 3

Key facts about “A Doll’s House”

Answer 3

Full Title: A Doll’s House (Norwegian: Ett dukkehjem)
* When Written:1879
* Where Written:Dresden, Germany
* When Published:Published and first performed in
December 1879
* Literary Period: Realism; modernism
* Genre: Realist modern prose drama
* Setting:A town or city in Norway
* Climax:When Torvald discovers the letter from Krogstad
revealing Nora’s secret
* Antagonist: At first Krogstad, then Torvald

Antagonist is dubious, some moral cases for/against people could be drawn to the times (though Torvald is the symbol of the system)

Question 4

How was “A Doll’s House” received by the Victorian audience in Norway?

Answer 4

• Lots of critics because of ADH’s criticism against the 19th century marriage customs including married woman abandoning her family in order to gain a sense of self.

Question 5

Act 1 Summary

Answer 5

• Nora Helmer enters cheerfully on Christmas Eve, carrying gifts. A porter delivers a Christmas tree.
• Her husband Torvald Helmer, newly promoted to Bank Manager, affectionately scolds her for overspending.
• He calls her pet names (“little skylark,” “little squirrel”), showing his condescending affection.
• Nora is excited about their improved finances; Torvald emphasizes caution and debt avoidance.
• Mrs. Kristine Linde, an old friend, arrives after 8 years. She is a widow seeking employment.
• Nora promises to help her and reveals a secret: she borrowed money years ago to save Torvald’s life by taking him to Italy, secretly working and saving to repay it.
• Dr. Rank, a close family friend, visits briefly. He shares Torvald’s disapproval of Nils Krogstad, an employee at Torvald’s bank.
• Krogstad arrives, speaks with Torvald, then confronts Nora privately—he’s the one she borrowed from.
• He threatens to reveal her forgery of her father’s signature unless she convinces Torvald not to fire him.
• Nora tries to persuade Torvald, but he refuses.

Question 6

Act 2 Summary

Answer 6

• 1. It’s Christmas Day. Nora is anxious and nervous about the secret being revealed.
• 1. Mrs. Linde helps her prepare for a costume ball; Nora will dance the tarantella dressed as an Italian fisher girl.
• 1. Mrs. Linde presses Nora for more details, but Nora remains vague.
• 1. Torvald enters; Nora again pleads for Krogstad’s job. The more she pushes, the angrier he becomes. He sends the dismissal letter.
• 1. Dr. Rank visits and confides he is terminally ill. Nora flirts with him, possibly to ask for help, but stops when he admits he loves her.
• 1. Krogstad returns, asks if Nora has told Torvald, and reveals he wants to run the bank. He leaves a letter detailing the debt and forgery in Torvald’s mailbox.
• 1. Nora tells Mrs. Linde everything. Mrs. Linde says she and Krogstad used to love each other and offers to speak with him.
• 1. To stall Torvald, Nora asks him to rehearse the tarantella. She dances frantically, unnerving him.
• Mrs. Linde returns; Krogstad wasn’t home, but she left him a note.
• Nora, panicked, declares she has only thirty-one hours to live—hinting at suicide.

Question 7

Act Three Summary

Answer 7

• Mrs. Linde and Krogstad meet. She admits she left him years ago to support her family.
• Now both single, she proposes they marry so she can help raise his children and find meaning again.
• Krogstad is thrilled and offers to retract the letter, but Mrs. Linde insists the truth must come out.
• Nora and Torvald return from the ball. Mrs. Linde urges Nora to be honest and leaves.
• Torvald expresses desire for Nora, but she resists. Dr. Rank stops by briefly, leaves death-symbolic calling cards.
• Nora attempts to leave to end her life but is stopped when Torvald finds Krogstad’s letter.
• Furious, Torvald accuses her of ruining him. He refuses to let her raise the children, though he says they must remain together for appearances.
• A second letter arrives: Krogstad has returned the IOU and dropped the blackmail.
• Torvald rejoices, forgives Nora, and says she is now doubly his—both wife and child.
• Nora reveals she was ready to die because she believed he would protect her. His reaction proved otherwise.
• She says he is a stranger to her, and that she must leave to discover herself and learn who she really is.

Torvald pleads, promises to change, but Nora firmly walks away.

• The play ends with the slam of the front door—Nora leaving behind her marriage and old life.

Question 8

Character: Nora Helmer

Answer 8

• Heroine, a young woman married to Torvald Helmer and has three children
• People reduce her as a “spendthrift”
• Plays along with Torvald’s pet names: “skylark”, “songbird”, “squirrel” and “pet”
• Treated like a child by Torvald: macaroons (secrecy)
• Child, animal imagery — not yet a “proper woman” (no self actualization)
• Hides her borrowing money from Krogstad and forgery
• Torvald finds out, is outraged. After knowing he is saved, Nora realizes the shallowness of Torvald’s love
• She decides that she was never happy in her life and marriage. Resolves to leave to find herself

Question 9

Character: Torvald Helmer

Answer 9

• lawyer, recently promoted to Bank Manager
• doesn’t like his own children: “unbearable to anyone except mothers”
• straightforward and traditional in his beliefs about marriage and society — treats Nora like a pet than a real person
• superiority complex against Nils Krogstad: concerneed about his status and reputation (see how he reacts to his rep being saved)

Question 10

Character: Kristine Linde

Answer 10

• old friend of Nora (foil)
• independent MODERN woman who had a loveless marriage bc of money
• no children due to finances
• in love with Krogstad but K cannot financially support her
• TRADITIONAL: she feels a genuine desire to have people to take care of (not something that is forced upon her)
• Values honesty: encourages Nora to tell the truth by leaving Krogstad’s letter in the letterbox

Question 11

Character: Dr. Rank

Answer 11

• doctor, best friends with Torvald and Nora
• had feelings for Nora (notably different dynamic than Nora and Torvald)
• Cynical, terminal illness (due to drinking father)

Question 12

Character: The Nursemaid

Answer 12

• Nurse to both Nora and Nora’s childre
• parallel to Nora and Christine: did what she had to do to survive—leave her own children to provide for them via work

Generational effect of the patriarchy

also Christine + Nursemaid = Nora’s outcome (left family + independence [pre-Krog Christine])

Question 13

Theme: Love and Marriage

Answer 13

🔹 Nora and Torvald’s Marriage: Surface vs. Reality

• The play centers on the marriage between Nora and Torvald.
• At first, their marriage appears loving and joyful.
• Torvald uses affectionate pet names for Nora; Nora expresses happiness in her role as wife.
• Their relationship seems to contrast positively with others in the play (Krogstad/Mrs. Linde, Dr. Rank).

🔹 Contrasts with Other Characters

• Krogstad and Mrs. Linde’s past marriage choices were based on necessity, not love, and were unhappy.
• Dr. Rank never married and has secretly loved Nora for years.

🔹 Love vs. Social Rules

• Nora and Torvald’s marriage, though based on love, is still shaped by strict societal expectations:
  • The husband (Torvald) makes decisions.
  • The wife (Nora) must be obedient and support her husband’s image.
  • A successful marriage boosts Torvald’s public reputation.

🔹 Nora’s Secret Act of Love

• Nora illegally borrows money from Krogstad to save Torvald’s life—without telling him.
• This act breaks both the law and societal/marital rules.
• Nora views her action as a selfless, loving sacrifice.

🔹 Society Condemns Nora’s Love

• Despite being done out of love, society sees Nora’s act as immoral and illegal.
• Society prioritizes obedience and reputation over love.

🔹 Nora’s Expectation vs. Reality

• Nora believes Torvald will take the blame when her secret is revealed.
  • She expects him to protect her, even if it ruins his career.
• This expectation shows Nora’s belief in mutual love and sacrifice.
• Reality: Torvald is horrified by the risk to his reputation and blames Nora instead.
• His response proves that his love is conditional and based on maintaining appearances.

🔹 Disillusionment with Marriage

• Nora realizes Torvald was never “playing a role”—he truly values reputation above love.
• This shatters her view of their relationship and of marriage itself.
• She concludes that true love may be impossible within a socially constructed marriage.

🔹 Krogstad and Mrs. Linde: An Alternative Vision

• Their renewed relationship offers a contrast to Nora and Torvald:
  • Built on equality, mutual respect, and purpose.
  • Mrs. Linde desires to care for someone out of love, not duty.
  • Krogstad sees Mrs. Linde as a partner who can help him restore his integrity, not a trophy.
• Their choice to marry again does not conform to societal expectations, suggesting hope beyond traditional marriage norms.

Would you like this turned into printable cards or a study sheet format next?

Question 14

Theme: Gender

Answer 14

🔹 Women’s Restricted Roles

• The play critiques the limited roles of women in 19th-century society.
• Women were infantilized—not seen as full individuals capable of independence or decision-making.

🔹 Nora’s Treatment by Others

• Nora is consistently treated like a child:
  • Torvald calls her his “pet” and his “property.”
  • He implies she’s too irresponsible or unintelligent to handle money.
  • Krogstad and Dr. Rank also fail to take her seriously.
  • Even Mrs. Linde calls her a “child.”

🔹 Nora’s Compliance and Hints of Resistance

• Nora plays along with this infantilization:
  • Refers to herself as “little Nora.”
  • Says she would never disobey her husband.
• But she also reveals her frustration:
  • She secretly borrowed money—a bold and illegal action.
  • Calls it her “pride” and says managing money felt “almost like being a man.”

🔹 Nora’s Growing Dissatisfaction

• Nora initially enjoys the independence of handling money but eventually regrets the secrecy.
• Over time, her dissatisfaction with her role as a woman deepens.
• In the final act, she tells Torvald she’s not treated as a thinking, independent person.

🔹 Nora’s Radical Choice

• She leaves her husband and children to find herself and gain autonomy.
• Torvald begs her to stay and promises to change, but she doesn’t believe change is enough.
• Nora’s departure implies the problem is deeper than Torvald himself—it’s systemic.

🔹 Critique of Domestic Life

• The play critiques domestic life as an institution that:
  • Legally and culturally infantilized women.
  • Prevented them from being treated as full individuals.
• Nora’s choice to leave represents a rejection of society’s entire framework for womanhood.

🔹 Male Gender Roles

• Men are also confined by societal expectations:
  • Torvald and Krogstad are ambitious and status-driven.
  • They are expected to be providers and to protect their reputations.
• Torvald’s first concern after Nora’s secret is revealed is his own reputation.
• Krogstad is obsessed with redeeming his name and hopes to take over Torvald’s job at the bank.

Would you like me to compile this with Part 1 into a single study pack or help you make these into printable/reviewable flashcards?

Question 15

Theme: Money and Work

Answer 15

🔹 The Role of Money in the Plot

• Every major character in the play is affected by financial need.
• Torvald is newly promoted and expects a “big fat income,” but still insists Nora must be frugal.
• Mrs. Linde urgently needs a job after her husband’s death.
• Her hiring at the bank leads to Krogstad’s threat to expose Nora, as he loses his position.

🔹 The Symbolism of the Bank

• The bank is more than a workplace—it symbolizes the power of money in the characters’ lives and relationships.

🔹 Money as Power

• Torvald controls Nora’s spending, showing his dominance over her.
• Krogstad uses Nora’s debt to gain leverage over both her and Torvald.
• Power dynamics in the play are heavily shaped by who controls money.

🔹 Gender and Financial Oppression

• Nora and Mrs. Linde are financially disadvantaged because they are women.
• At the time, women had limited access to earning money, reflecting the sexism of the era.
• Their dependence on men for money is a form of systemic oppression.

🔹 Double-Edged Nature of Money

• Nora is initially proud of having “raised” the money for the trip to Italy.
• But the debt becomes a burden, bringing fear, shame, and anxiety.
• The play shows that money can empower, but it also brings danger and distress.

Question 16

Theme: Deceit

Answer 16

🔹 Nora’s Secret

• Nora seems obedient and honest at the start of the play.
• It is soon revealed she is hiding a major secret:
  • She borrowed money from Krogstad to finance a trip to Italy.
  • She claims this trip saved Torvald’s life.
• This contradicts her repeated claims that she has never lied or disobeyed Torvald.

🔹 Deception and Its Consequences

• Nora’s deceit is exposed to Mrs. Linde, who urges her to confess to Torvald.
• Mrs. Linde believes a marriage cannot survive without complete honesty.
• Both Nora and Krogstad are revealed to have committed forgery.

🔹 The Fallout of Deception

• Krogstad’s forgery destroys his reputation.
• Nora’s actions force her to re-examine her identity, marriage, and place in society.
• Ultimately, this leads to her decision to leave her husband and children.

🔹 Deceit as a Social Survival Tool

• Deceit is shown as a corrupting and destructive force, yet it has complex motivations.
• Nora’s deception is driven by love, not selfishness.
• She lied to save Torvald’s life, not to harm anyone.

🔹 Societal Laws and Female Autonomy

• Nora would not have needed to lie if women were legally allowed to handle finances.
• Her dishonesty was a consequence of societal restrictions, not a moral failing.
• The play suggests that the fault lies more with society than with Nora herself.

Question 17

Theme: Individual vs. Society

Answer 17

🔹 Nora’s Self-Sacrifice

• Nora spends most of the play putting others before herself:
  • Her forgery and debt to Krogstad are not for personal gain but to protect Torvald.
  • She never considers how it affects her own well-being.
• Near the end, Nora plans to kill herself—not out of shame, but to prevent Torvald from ruining himself by taking the blame.

🔹 Women and Meaning Through Service

• Nora and Mrs. Linde both find purpose through serving others:
  • Nora: as a dutiful wife and mother.
  • Mrs. Linde: feels life is meaningless without someone to care for.

🔹 Nora’s Realization and Transformation

• Nora realizes that prioritizing duty to her husband and children cannot bring true happiness.
• When Torvald fails to sacrifice for her, she understands:
  • The love she believed in was an illusion.
  • Society’s structure prevents real, equal love.
• As a result, she chooses to leave her family and pursue her individual identity.
• The play ends with Nora placing her personal growth and truth above society’s expectations.

🔹 Krogstad’s Parallel Journey

• Krogstad is initially obsessed with restoring his reputation after being punished for forgery.
• He wants to gain back societal respectability at all costs.
• In Act 3, through Mrs. Linde, he realizes:
  • True happiness comes not from society’s approval, but from personal integrity.
  • Like Nora, he learns that self-respect is more important than outward status.

🔹 Shared Moral: Inner Worth Over Public Image

• Both Nora and Krogstad come to understand:
  • Society’s opinion is meaningless without self-respect and autonomy.
  • Real fulfillment lies in being true to oneself, not conforming to roles imposed by others.

Question 18

Symbol: Christmas Tree

Answer 18

• family, happiness and unity -> joy of Nora takes in making her home pleasant and attractive (like her home life)
• At the beginning of Act Two: the tree is “bedraggled”, end of Nora’s innocence and foreshadows the fallout of the Helmer family

Question 19

Symbol: Macaroons

Answer 19

• related to secrecy and Nora’s deceit
• Torvald has banned Nora from eating macaroons and Nora lied that she never disobeyed.
• She also lied to Dr. Rank that some of the macaroons are eaten by Mrs. Linde
• Nora asks for macaroons after the tarantella (association) -> reationship between macaroons and inner passions but must hide in her marriage.

Question 20

Symbol: The Tarantella

Answer 20

• the show that Nora must put up for Torvald to enjoy
• or alternatively: a side of Nora that she cannot show.
• objectification of Nora via a fiery dance instead of the perfect Victorian wife
• Torvald is more concerned of the impressions of other people

Question 21

Symbol: The Doll’s House

Answer 21

• a few mentions early on:
• Nora mentioned in Act 1 her daughter’s dolls would likely break -> breaking of family life
• Nora treats her children like dolls: “little dollies” (hint on how the children would likely play the roles society tells them to as society/Torvald did with Nora)
• **Treated like a doll ** (explicitly said in the end): something to amuse the men in Nora’s life

Question 22

Complete the quote:

“Nora! Just like a woman. Seriously though, Nora, you know what I think about these things [BLANK]! There is something inhibited, something unpleasant, about a home built on [BLANK].”

— Torvald

Answer 22

Themes: Money and work
“No debts! Never borrow!”
“credit and borrowed money”

• Torvald recently received a job promotion but won’t be paid for a few months.
• He scolds Nora for overspending on Christmas gifts.
• Their disagreement highlights their contrasting views on money and debt:
• Torvald: cautious, sees borrowing as irresponsible and immoral.
• Nora: believes spending is acceptable now that financial stability seems assured.
• Torvald makes a sexist remark, saying Nora is acting “just like a woman,” implying women are irrational with money.
• Ironically, Nora has secretly borrowed money, meaning their home is already “built on credit.”
• This irony:
• Undermines Torvald’s perceived control over Nora.
• Challenges the idea that debt automatically leads to unpleasant consequences.
• Foreshadows the eventual collapse of their home and relationship later in the play.

Question 23

Oh, sometimes I was so tired, so tired. But it was
tremendous fun all the same, [BLANK] . Almost like being a man.

—- Nora

Answer 23

sitting there working and
earning money like that