A Doll s House: Act II Kaela, Emily, Hayley, and Sydney
Setting the Scene The Helmer House Christmas tree in the corner; stripped of the ornaments Nora s cloak and hat are on the Sofa Christmas Day Nora is walking about uneasily, almost as if she is waiting for something or someone https://happyholidaysblog.com/wp-content/uploads/victorian-christmas-tree-17.jpg
Nora Submissive Composed on the outside vs. frantic on the inside Letter box Krogstad s money consequences Paranoid, panicked Scared of Krogstad, cautious around Helmer, desperate for Mrs. Linde s help Unconcerned about kids Helmer Oblivious, dominating The nicknames! Routine letter box Nora s vs. his requests Inconsiderate Confused - bank positions Fires Krogstad, favors Mrs. Linde Insensitive Husband superiority
"Surely you can understand that being with Torvald is a little like being with papa" (Ibsen 47). -Nora "The child [Nora] shall have her way" (Ibsen 56). -Torvald
Krogstad Dismissed from bank Blackmails Nora Wants a higher position at the bank The letter Information about the bond and forged signature Stubborn Persistant Debt, nothing more Mrs. Linde Wise Fixes Nora s dress Suspects Dr. Rank lent Nora the money Finds out Krogstad lent the money Agrees to talk to him Says Nora must tell Helmer Helpful Knows Krogstad
Listen to me, Nora. You are still very like a child in many things, and I am older than you in many ways and have a little more experience. Let me tell you this you ought to make an end of it with Doctor Rank (Ibsen 36). - Mrs. Linde
Dr. Rank Nurse Good listener, advice Close with Nora and Helmer Tells Nora he loves her Hopeless (bankruptcy) Worsening sickness says goodbye Wants to disappear Can t be involved with Helmer anymore Cares for children Wants Nora to take responsibility as a mother Her opinions have no impact on Nora Similar to Mrs. Linde left everything for duty Similar to Nora no need for a man
Conflicts Between Characters Nora and Nurse Nora and Doctor Rank Mrs. Linde encourages Nora to tell come out with the truth Nora and Helmer Rank s love confession and flirting Nora and Mrs. Linde Nurse must entertain the kids because Nora wants no part of it anymore Nora is still keeping secrets from him He s still treating her like a pet Nora and Krogstad Krogstad wants his place at the bank Nora feels threatened
You know how devotedly Torvald loves me; he would never for a moment hesitate to give up his life for me (Ibsen 45). -Nora
Themes and Symbols Animal analogies The letters Your squirrel would run about and do all her tricks if you would be nice, and do what she wants (Ibsen 39). Krogstad s letter to Helmer Mrs. Linde s letter to Krogstad asking to talk The letter box Provides a sense of fear and stress for Nora Holds secrets http://az616578.vo.msecnd.net/files/2016/04/10/635958566585776127799131166_open%20letter.jpg
Themes and Symbols cont. The Christmas Tree The Tarantella (could cure tarantula bite) Represents Nora Both seen as a item ready to dress and look at Burnt down candle-ends on its dishevelled branches (Ibsen 33) Gives a feeling of despair for act II Performance to please Torvald Break free!! Nora s Party Dress
Five o clock. Seven hours until midnight; and then four-and-twenty hours until the next midnight. Then the Tarantella will be over. Twenty-four and seven? Thirty-one hours to live (Ibsen 56). -Nora
Victorian Elements Women in the Victorian period were supposed to do whatever their husbands wanted which is why Nora didn t want Torvald to find the letter Where the term doll comes to play Men have financial advantage He gives her money (like an allowance) Wishes she could tear the dress into a million pieces Nora becoming more frantic Mrs. Linde can t believe Nora would act behind her husband s back A man s better at coping with these things than a woman
You see Torvald is so terribly fond of me that he wants me absolutely to himself, as he says. At first he used to seem jealous if I mentioned any of the dear folk back home, so naturally I gave up doing so (Ibsen 36). -Nora
Discussion How do you think the play would have turned out differently if Torvald never got the letter from Krogstad/never found out about Nora? and Do you think Nora would ever stick up for herself?
Works Cited Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll s House. Penn State University s Electronic Classics, 2005. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. Tarantella. Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 3 Aug. 2017, www.britannica.com/art/tarantella.