A Doll

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A Doll’s House
In A Doll's House, Nora Helmer is shown waking up from her previously unreflective existence
of domestic bliss. When Nora's marriage is tested, she finally begins to doubt the foundation of
all she has believed in after being controlled her entire life by either her father or her husband,
Torvald. She was able to pay for a journey to Italy to save her sick husband's life by borrowing
money from a man of questionable reputation named Krogstad, using a forgery of her father's
signature (he was unaware of the loan because he thought the money came from Nora's father).
Since then, she has been forced to come up with a means of repaying her loan, becoming
increasingly obsessed with money and the workings of a complicated society.
It is Christmas Eve as the play begins, and Torvald has just been appointed manager of the bank,
where he will earn a substantial salary and have a lot of influence. Nora is ecstatic because she
believes she will be able to pay off the loan and get rid of it at last. However, when a furious
Krogstad approaches her, her joy is ruined. He informs Nora that if she does not convince her
husband to allow him to keep his job, he will divulge her secret to Mrs. Linde, an old school
friend who has lately moved to town in search of work. He has just learned that his position at
the bank has been promised to Mrs. Linde. Despite Torvald's encouragement, Nora uses all of
her feminine ploys to try to persuade him to keep Krogstad's position, but she is unsuccessful.
Krogstad's morally corrupt personality, according to Torvald, makes him physically unpleasant
and impossible to cooperate with. Nora starts to worry a lot.
The following day, Nora is trembling as she moves about the house out of fear that Krogstad will
show up at any moment. Being engaged in planning a large fancy-dress party that would take
place the next night in a neighbor's apartment lessens her uneasiness. She resumes her pleading
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for Krogstad when Torvald gets back from the bank. This time, Torvald not only declines but
also delivers the termination notice he had already prepared for Krogstad, telling a fearful Nora
that he will bear the brunt of any negative consequences that follow from his actions. This
comment deeply affects Nora. She starts to wonder whether this incident might improve their
marriage—as well as whether she should commit suicide.
While doing so, she engages in conversation and flirtation with Dr. Rank. She has an intimate
talk with him after learning that he is dying quickly, and it ends with him confessing his love for
her just before she can ask him for assistance. She is stopped by his comments, and she moves
the conversation to a more secure topic. Krogstad's presence is announced during their
conversation. Nora asks Dr. Rank to leave, and Krogstad is brought in.
Krogstad informs her that he has changed his mind and that, while he will maintain the
relationship, he will not make her public knowledge. Instead, he wants to communicate the
situation to Torvald in writing so that Torvald will feel pressured to work with Krogstad to mend
his ways and maintain his position at the bank. Despite Nora's objections to Torvald's
involvement, Krogstad nonetheless places the letter in Torvald's mailbox, much to Nora's
distress. She and Torvald are lost, Nora declares loudly. She makes an effort to use her charms to
divert Torvald from reading the letter by asking him to assist her with the tarantella for the party
the next night. He consents to defer the transaction until the next day. The letter is still present in
the mailbox.
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The following evening, Mrs. Linde and Krogstad, who had previously been lovers, meet in the
Helmers' living room before Torvald and Nora get home from the ball. Mrs. Linde requests that
she care for Krogstad and his kids and assist him in becoming the better man he knows he can
be. As Mrs. Linde is departing (Krogstad has already left), the Helmers return from the ball, with
Torvald almost dragging Nora into the room. When alone, Torvald confesses his love for Nora,
but Dr. Rank interrupts him. Unbeknownst to Torvald, the doctor has stopped over to say his
final goodbyes, as he subtly reveals to Nora. Nora continues to pursue Torvald after he leaves,
but Nora is able to stop him by reminding him of the ugliness of death that has just come
between them as a result of Nora's having exposed Dr. Rank's secret. When she notices that
Torvald has at last gathered his letters, she decides to end her life.
But when she's about to go, Torvald stops her. He just finished reading Krogstad's letter and is
incensed by what he found there. He charges Nora with destroying his life. Contrary to his earlier
assertion that he would handle everything himself, he essentially tells her that he intends to
abandon her. He is cut off mid-rant by the maid, who is carrying another note from Krogstad
addressed to Nora. Torvald reads it and is ecstatic. Krogstad has changed his mind and sent the
bond back. Nora quickly assures Torvald that all is forgiven and that her pitiful attempt to aid
him has just made her more lovable than before.
Nora sits down with her husband to break the news that she is leaving him after finally realizing
Torvald for who he truly is. She responds to his objections by saying that he doesn't love her and
that, as of tonight, neither do she. She informs him that because of the oppressive life she has
been living up to this point, she owes it to herself to get complete independence and to discover
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who she is and the world on her own. She admits to Torvald as she leaves that she hopes for a
"miracle" to happen so that one day they can get married legally. The play comes to a close with
her exit as the door slams.

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References
Ibsen, H. (1996). A doll's house. Рипол Классик.

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1

increasingly obsessed with money and the workings of a complicated society.

and impossible to cooperate with. Nora starts to worry a lot.

marriage—as well as whether she should commit suicide.

him has just made her more lovable than before.

her exit as the door slams.

Ibsen, H. (1996). A doll's house. Рипол Классик.

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