This Old [Doll] House: Act Three; Continued

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HELMER: Nora - can I never be anything more than a stranger to you?

NORA: (taking her bag.) Ah, Torvald, the most wonderful thing of all would have to happen.

HELMER: Tell me what that would be!

NORA: Both you and I would have to be so changed that -- Oh, Torvald, I don't believe any longer in wonderful things happening.

HELMER: But I will believe in it. Tell me! So changed that -- ?

NORA: That our life together would be a real wedlock. Goodbye. (She goes out through the hall.)

HELMER: (sinks down on a chair at the door and buries his face in his hands.) Nora! Nora! (Looks around, and rises.) Empty. She is gone. (A hope flashes across his mind.) The most wonderful thing of all -- ?

(The sound of a door shutting is heard from below.)

ACT III: Part II

(The scene is set in Krogstad's home. Mrs Linde has moved in. Her belongings are in disheveled boxes by the door, half unpacked. The walls are gray and undecorated, and the house overall is slightly dreary. It is night time, and Mrs. Linde sits on the sofa in the living room next to the hall, knitting.)

MRS. LINDE: (yawns, then to self:) Ah, the time is getting late. I should go upstairs to join Nils -- (a faint knock is heard at the door.) Who is knocking at this hour? (walks over to door and opens it.) Nora! What are you doing here? Are you alright? Oh my, you're freezing cold, let me get you a blanket. (hands Nora a blanket; Nora gingerly takes it without making a sound and sits there, trembling and blankly staring at the floor.) Why are you here, Nora? What happened? Are you alright? Does Torvald know you're here?

NORA: (dismal and slightly bitter, with the sound of crying still evident in her voice.) Oh yes, how could he not know?

MRS. LINDE: Nora, what happened?

NORA: (silent for a moment, then erupts in hysterics.) Oh Kristina, how could I have done such a terrible thing -- to Torvald,-- to the children -- to our family? (puts head back in hands and continues sobbing.) I've made an incredible blunder.

MRS. LINDE: (gently placing her arm on Nora's shoulder, with a soothing voice.) Nora, oh Nora, you absolutely must tell me what happened. 

NORA: (sniffles, and wipes tears from her eyes. She looks up at Mrs. Linde.) Kristina, I ended the entire tumultuous thing -- I-I left Torvald.

MRS. LINDE: (silent for a moment, and picking her words very carefully.) Nora, why did you leave him?

NORA: I do not know... All I know is that I can not live happily with him and that if I am to truly live, it cannot be with him treating me as his doll.

(The room is silent for a few minutes, then Kristina speaks.)

MRS. LINDE: Nora, (she hesitates, then slowly continues.) -- did you leave Torvald for Rank?

NORA: What? Kristina, No! This has to do purely with me and Torvald. I would never --

(The sound of someone opening a door and coming down the stairs is heard, and Krogstad enters the room.)

KROGSTAD: Kristina, my love, I thought you were coming upstairs? (he sees Nora; then formally:) - Oh, good evening, Nora.

NORA: Good evening, Krogstad. My apologies for being here at such a late hour. I should be leaving --

MRS. LINDE: Nonsense! Nils, Nora will be staying with us for a little while. She's had some trouble with Torvald.

KROGSTAD: Is that so?

NORA: It really is nothing.

MRS. LINDE: Nora, if you are to get over this, you need to let us help you. We want to help you. Isn't that right Nils?

KROGSTAD: (slightly surprised by Kristina.) What? Oh yes, of course. Look, Nora. I know that you harbor extreme distaste towards me, and that's completely understandable for my past actions. But Kristina has helped me change my ways, and I would be more than happy to help a woman in need, much less Torvald's wife. I consider it repayment for my wrongs -

NORA: (looking at the floor, quietly.) I am no longer Torvald's wife. (She looks down at her hand and feels with her now bare ring finger.)

KROGSTAD: (shocked) What? What is this? Kristina?

MRS. LINDE: It is true.

KROGSTAD: I am so sorry Nora. I had thought that returning the bond would resolve this situation...?

NORA: Oh, it did.

KROGSTAD: Then why did he leave you?

NORA: (hesitating) I... left him.

KROGSTAD: (taken aback at first, then attempting to suppress disgust.) Oh, you vile creature, you - you unfaithful woman... Why would you commit such an act? Do you realize how much worse this is than forging a petty signature? You have indeed spelled your own doom.

MRS. LINDE: (sharply) Nils! That is not why she left Torvald. I will not tolerate talk like that in this house. Apologize immediately!

NORA: (wounded and confused) What does he mean?

MRS. LINDE: (glaring at Krogstad.) He means to say that you've had an affair. But that's nonsense. He was just about to apologize. (still looking at Krogstad.) Isn't that right, Nils?

KROGSTAD: (slightly baffled, and stuttering.) Y-yes, Kristina. I am most sorry, Nora, I had assumed the worst -

MRS. LINDE: Yes, we know Nils.

KROGSTAD: (interrupting Kristina and looking at Nora.) - ...why did you leave him then?

NORA: (sighing) Our... encounter with the signature helped me realize his true nature, and that I was never happy with him. He never loved me; he liked the idea of being in love with me, but he treated me like his plaything, and our entire marriage was only a game for him. When he opened your first letter with the threats, he became fearful for himself and his stature among his peers. He was sure of his doom, and he condemned me. I had thought - I was so sure - that he would try take the blame for me. (dismissively) But I was foolish. (Looking at Krogstad.) That is how I know what Torvald truly cares about. I should actually thank you, Nils. Your letter helped me see the truth.

KROGSTAD: No, do no such thing. It was not my place to bring such misfortune to you. I feel ashamed for my actions.

NORA: (bitterly laughs.) But don't you see...? Now I am free to do as I please.

KROGSTAD: (clearly uncomfortable with the sentimental conversation.) Yes, well, if you see it so...

MRS. LINDE: (breaking the conversation.) Nils, why don't you head up on stairs, my love. I will join you shortly. Let me see to Nora's accommodations.

KROGSTAD: Yes, of course.

(Krogstad heads back upstairs, opens his door, and closes it.) 

MRS. LINDE: Nora, my advice to you is this: forget Torvald and leave him behind. If you feel freed by this departure, then life is worth living anew. Tomorrow you start a new day - and a new life. I shall have Nils clear out the spare room tomorrow and have it arranged for you. You can live here, with us.

NORA: Oh, Kristina - it is all too much. I cannot do it.

MRS. LINDE: What do you mean?

NORA: I-I keep telling myself that Torvald cared nothing for me, to feel better, but can I really judge his entire personality for his rash actions in a dire moment? He was so distraught when I told him I was leaving. Surely some of his affection had to be genuine? - and I really do love him. I've loved him for eight years. Our marriage hasn't been what I expected, much less what I wanted. But I don't know if I feel right for leaving him over this. I love Torvald - even though I feel he has wronged me. And I know he did not mean at all to wrong me, and I believe that he tried to love me in his own peculiar - if flawed - ways. And the children! I feel ill every time I think that they will be motherless because of my actions! I don't know if what I did was right. I feel selfish. I don't know if I deserve to start a new life. I want to educate myself, get experience in the world, but I don't even know what is right anymore.

MRS. LINDE: Nora, if you are going to move on and further yourself, then you must do so fully. You must forget Torvald if you are to move on. You cannot allow him to anchor you down if you start a new life. But if you do not feel right about leaving him, then you must try to make amends. I am quite positive that he would not refuse you back, but would you be happy? I cannot make that choice for you, and I cannot determine for you what feels right. That is something you must think about. But you are fatigued, dear Nora. You must get some sleep, and we can discuss this in the morning.

NORA: Yes... yes, you are right. Oh, thank you Kristina...

MRS. LINDE: (unperturbed) Think nothing of it, Nora. I owe my new life to you for helping me get my current job. (smirking mischievously.) Consider the favor repaid...  I have brought down some pillows and quilts for you. You can sleep on the sofa tonight. (hands Nora a pile of neatly folded blankets with quilts on top.) Good night, Nora.

NORA: Good night, Kristina.

(Mrs. Linde leaves the room, walks upstairs, and joins Krogstad in the bedroom. Nora brings the blankets and pillows to the sofa and lays them out. She changes from her traveling clothes into more comfortable clothing, puts out the candles, and lays on the sofa. Nora begins to speak her thoughts aloud.)

NORA: I can neither forget Torvald, but I cannot go back for the sake of my sanity. (in despair) Oh, I do not know what to do!... (in deep contemplation.) Sometimes I wonder why I married Torvald. I love him, but I have never realized until now that its always been a different kind of love for him. It has been a love of duty. I've always felt responsible for being there for him... for being his right hand and foundation. I would have given my life for him, but we've never bonded on an emotional level. He's always been the teacher, and I the loyal apprentice.

(Nora stops herself - in deep thought - and suddenly comes to a realization.)

NORA: (in deeper despair.) No, could it be? It couldn't possibly be. (worried) No, no - it might be too late! Could it be that I've neglected the one I truly loved?

(Nora abruptly gets up and throws the blankets off onto the floor. She quickly changes back into her traveling clothes, with an extra jacket to protect from the cold. She searches her bag for something, throwing clothing around on the floor. When she cannot find it, she runs to the kitchen, leaving her clothes scattered on the floor and her bag open. She opens a drawer in the kitchen, pulls out something shiny, and carefully puts it in her coat pocket.)

NORA: (speaking thoughts aloud.) I cannot start a new life. It will not be possible in this world with Torvald ever so close. I shan't be able to live with myself for tearing down our lovely home. But I will -- I will! -- find real love before the end of this journey.

(Nora opens the door and rushes out into rain, in the dead of night.)

(The time is about twenty minutes later. Nora is standing in the cold rain, her breath condensing in the air, and rain falling on her already-wet hair. She is still, standing in front of a building, looking at the door intently. After taking a deep breath, she steps forward and knocks firmly.)

(She waits a few seconds, and knocks again. She hears nothing, so she opens the heavy door. It is unlocked.)

(Nora slowly walks through the hall and into a room. The air is stale, and she can hear slow, raspy breathing over the sound of the rain on the ceiling. In the room there is a table in the center with chairs, and a cot in the corner. On the cot lay a debilitated DR. RANK, asleep and struggling to breathe. Nora walks over to the cot and crouches down next to the sleeping doctor.)

NORA: (brushing his hair out of his face with her hand tenderly, softly speaks.) Dr. Rank?

DR. RANK: (slowly waking, still struggling to breathe.) Hmm? Wha...? (rubs his eyes and looks at Nora again, confused.) Nora?

NORA: Hush, Rank. You must rest. You're not well.

DR. RANK: (struggling to speak.) B-But Nora -- I didn't want you to see me -- Not like this...

NORA: Rank; it is all right.

DR. RANK: (trying to sit up, without success.) No, Nora, you don't understand -- you cannot be here -- I am dying...

NORA: No Rank, you don't understand. Lay down, you're too weak. Now listen. I love you.

DR. RANK: (utterly shocked) Nora?

NORA: I will be here with you until the end.

DR. RANK: But what of Torvald? What of your family? You cannot do this to them. Not for my sake. I am dying... and I've accepted that I will be alone and forgotten with the past soon. You have a future with your husband and children, don't throw it away on my behalf!

(Dr. Rank has a violent coughing fit, sounding like his vocal chords are shredding in his throat.)

NORA: I've left Torvald behind. I need to live life as a human and I wasn't doing that as his wife. I've decided to do what I need to to be happy, and I have realized that that means being with you, Rank. (takes his weak, clammy hands in hers, and looks at him.) I've neglected true love for eight years of my life and I mistakenly thought that love was duty. But I was wrong. Now please, Rank, before you go, grant me one last wish and allow me to be happy -- here, with you, while we can.

(Dr. Rank just looks at Nora, smiling contently, and happily crying silently. His tears run down his cheeks and drip on to the bedding. Nora hugs Rank and they embrace for a few minutes. They break, and Rank has another coughing fit. This time blood splatters on his hands.)

DR. RANK: I'm so glad you came -- I've been living the past few months in despair, feeling alone... and when I confessed my love for you and you rejected me, I considered ending my life early; just end all the pain. But now that you have come, I can die happy, and I can rest a man made whole through true love despite his infirmities.

NORA: (starts crying.) Oh, Rank --

DR. RANK: I have not much time left Nora. God has appointed my day, and it has come - only I am so glad that you came here to usher me out. (takes Nora's hand in his.) Will you remember me when I am gone, Nora?

NORA: I could never forget you. But don't go...

(Dr. Rank starts coughing once again for several minutes, this time blood leaking from his mouth.)

DR. RANK: (clearly struggling to speak; in a hushed and raspy whisper.) I love you, Nora --

(Rank inhales sharply and his body begins shaking. His eyes roll back, and more blood drips from his nose and the edges of his mouth. Suddenly, the shaking stops, Rank slowly exhales, his skin grows pale and cold, and he goes limp, hand still in Nora's.)

NORA: (hysterically sobbing.) No -- no! After finding love so new, just to have it taken so harshly taken away?... No, no... This cannot be -- this will not be!

(Nora pulls the shiny object out of her jacket pocket. It is a knife, from Krogstad's kitchen. She holds it gingerly at first, admiring it. Then, she looks towards the ceiling, closes her eyes, and positions the knife in the middle of her bosom. She looks at Rank's lifeless body, one more time.) 

NORA: I love you, Rank, I really do. Please do not think me wrong for this -- I will be with you soon... very soon, and we will be together, as we should.

(In one sharp motion, she thrusts the knife into her flesh, silently gasping. Blood drips from the gash profusely, and she stands there for a second in shock from the pain, before falling on top of Rank's body.)

NORA: (with her life fleeting away, she faintly whispers) I-I did it for love -- I did it for love...!

This Old [Doll] House: Act Two

So we just finished Act Two, and typically, I'm going to criticize Torvald and Nora. I'll start with Torvald to get the obvious out of the way. Good news first? Okay. He's still a pretty consistent character (*static*) and pretty firmly believes in his, well, beliefs. He has continued to chastise and reproach Nora while constantly fawning over her and creepily treating her like his grandchild, so nothing has changed there either. He says, "Look, Nora, in lots of things, you're still a child. I'm older than you in many ways and I've had a little more experience," (Ibsen 184). While many would like to claim that all men were like this to their wives during this time period and that life was so terrible for these women subjected to the dangers of shelter, protection, and provision from their husbands, I beg to differ because honestly, I don't think that most contemporary men were weird or abusive to their wives to this extent, and that Torvald simply has a personal issue. I think that Torvald lacks excitement in his life and scolds Nora for minute and insignificant reasons to create excitement, and regardless of her response will reel her back in to his arms and melodramatically caress her and stage some emotion that is supposed to resemble affection. Either that, or perhaps he had issues at home with his parents that has had a lasting effect on his current behavior, like Nora and her Papa. Speaking of Nora, I really have developed an annoyance with her. Just like her egomaniac husband, she is self-absorbed and melodramatic. Suicidal thoughts and hysterics over a letter are just a little over the top, Nora.

Also, Nora doesn't seem to have a concrete personality. She tries to conform to the situation that she finds herself in, but I think we can pretty confidently say she fails all around the board. She plays along with Torvald's pedophile-like flirtatiousness to manipulate him, she tries to act considerate to Mrs. Linde's losses but utterly fails, she tries to act resolute to Krogstad but is again unsuccessful, and then she drowns in self-pity and despair over... this letter? I find her irritating because of these reasons. Maybe you feel the same, maybe you don't. My next issue with this dysfunctional couple? Has anyone noticed how crappy of parents Nora and Torvald are? Torvald works at the bank, comes home, flirts with Nora, and then goes to his study. I also understand that wives were expected to bring up children in the household during this era, so lets scrutinize Nora - oh wait, not much better found here. She proactively shuts her children up away from her, despite the fact they want to see her, and pawns off her maternal duties to her nanny? I find this intolerable - I don't have any more appropriate words to express my disgust with Nora (and Torvald) for [their] parental neglect. Do you think that Nora's suicidal considerations were a bit much? Do you think that Torvald's behavior is a result of past events or possibly that it developed through indirect encouragement by Nora and her playing along? (Nora flirts back in the same way that everyone is so disgusted with Torvald when he addresses her; "'If your squirrel were to ask you very prettily for something... Your squirrel will scamper about and do all her tricks, if you'll be nice and do what she asks... Your skylark'll sing all over the house - up and down the scale... I'll be a fairy and dance on a moonbeam for you...'" (Ibsen 187))

I myself don't know but all I can say is that this book is a hot mess so far.

This Old [Doll] House: Act One

After reading Act One of A Doll's House, I have many questions, but also many thoughts about the characters. To start, I would actually like to look at Torvald Helmer. We already know that he is a prideful character; "Torvald has his pride - most men have - he'd be terribly hurt and humiliated if he thought he'd owed anything to me. It'd spoil everything between us, and our lovely happy home would never be the same again" (Ibsen 161). Nora reveals how he would find it intolerable to rely on his wife at all. Ironically, he ends up relying on her with his life. He refers to Nora as a "skylark," a "scatterbrain," and a "little squirrel." To me, I see these two behaviors as insecurity within Torvald. I see a need to feel both independent and superior to the point of degrading his wife to the level of an animal with his name calling, and his refusal to allow Nora to play a valid part of his life. Torvald seems to be strongly influenced by his reputation and what people think of him, and I think he uses Nora as an outlet to exert authority over at home that maybe he lacks the ability to do so at work. 

A few specific people in our class found it excruciating to watch Torvald address Nora as a pet and treat her like a disabled child. Although I don't agree with his treatment of Nora, I am going to play devil's advocate here. In the quote I mentioned earlier ("Torvald has his pride - most men have - he'd be terribly hurt and humiliated if he thought he'd owed anything to me. It'd spoil everything between us, and our lovely happy home would never be the same again"), Nora admits that their relationship is based around the assumption that Torvald is the superior partner, with Nora in stride. Nora does not once complain about this basis in what we have read so far, and through her actions does not seem to have a problem with it. She jauntily mentions, "Still, it was tremendous fun sitting there working and earning money. It was almost like being a man" (Ibsen 162). Nora sounds more enthralled with the idea of doing "man work" than distraught that she must fit the strict role of a woman. Nora has a more optimistic view. But to Torvald's argument - although he doesn't know it yet - her slip-up with her "father's signature" and Krogstad's loan justify Torvald's view that men should do "men work" and women should do "women work".

What do you think about the husband-wife dynamic between Torvald and Nora? Do you think Nora has more of a problem with her role as a wife or possible just Torvald's personality? Do you think she really has a problem at all? How do you think Torvald treats his children? What do you think will happen next in Act Two?

Pre-Doll's House

Hey all,

It's Eli D. here. I'm a sophomore and I'm in Mrs. Santos' English II Honors class... I like listening to Future, sports (I like track & field, football, basketball, wrestling, working out), and sneakers. Here's your daily dose of heat.

 (by @velvethoopcustoms on IG)

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I like this year how in English we focus less on Euro-centric literature and instead we truly study world literature. It gives you a little bit of realism and an interesting point of view from someone who may not have experienced life in our country as we have.

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Henrik Ibsen was a playwright from the country of Norway. He was born on March 20th, 1828 (I'm 6 days older than him) in Skien, Norway, as the oldest child of five. His father's business failed while he was 8, and they were forced to sell all of their possessions of prestige they had in order to pay back debts. In 1858, Ibsen married Suzannah Daae Thoresen, and had a son, who they named Sigurd, the next year. Henrik also had an illegitimate child with a maid 12 years prior, but he never met him. Most of his works are remembered for questioning the societal norms and discussing  the boundaries of controversial topics.

Ibsen was always fascinated by the arts, and had an infatuation with theater. He worked for a couple of theaters, but it proved too frustrating for him when he did not achieve the success he had hoped for, and he left the country in 1862. He first moved to Italy, and then Germany, and back to Italy, all the while writing plays. During his time away from Norway, he became a critically acclaimed playwright and his plays became incredibly popular. His most renowned works are Hedda Gabler, Peer Gynt, and A Doll's House, which were written away from his homeland. Brand also helped him become famous in his initial years writing in exile from Norway. He later returned home famous, and continued to write plays for 9 years. But when he was 72, Ibsen had several strokes that left him handicapped. He was unable to write more plays, and died six years later, on May 23, 1906.

A Doll's House may relate to Ibsen's turbulent childhood where his parents were bogged down in debt, or it could relate to some other sort of family-related issue. The doll house could represent a family's actual home, and the "doll" could represent someone who is mistreating/being mistreated. The theme most likely focuses on debts, lying, or both in a relationship or marriage, and how that affects a family and its members.

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Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrik_Ibsen
http://www.biography.com/people/henrik-ibsen-37014