A Doll's House Character Quotes

Front 1

The names Torvald calls Nora:

Back 1

my: "skylark" "squirrel" "little squander-bird" "little spendthrift"

Front 2

Nora: "Pooh! We can borrow till then"

Torvald:

Back 2

"Nora!" (Goes over to her and takes her playfully by the ear)

Front 3

i)Nora: "come out here Torvald and..."

Significance?

Back 3

"Come out here Torvald and see what I've bought"

Torvald only emerges from his study, being busy, on the mention of money being spent

Front 4

Nora: "Them? Who cares..."

Significance?

Back 4

"Them? Who cares about them? They're strangers."

Reveals Nora's immature attitude and naive nature, foreshadows Krogstad and Dr Rank's announcement of his health.

Front 5

I) Torvald: "What's this? Is my little squirrel sulking? Takes out his purse. Nora; guess..."

Back 5

"What's this? Is my little squirrel sulking? (Takes out his purse.) Nora; guess what I've got here!"

Nora: "Money!"

Torvald immediately cheers Nora up with money, Nora is playing Torvald to receive more money.

Front 6

I) Torvald: "How like...

Back 6

"How like a woman!"

Sexist remark

Front 7

I) Nora: "And some of bits of material

Back 7

"And some bits of material and handkerchiefs for the maids"

Nora's generosity only extends to her own kind

Front 8

Nora: (Plays with his coat-

Back 8

(plays with his coat-buttons;not looking at him)

Nora manipulates him using her femininity

Front 9

Nora: (Hums and smiles, quietly gleeful) Hm. If you only knew

Back 9

(Hums and smiles, quietly gleeful) Hm. If you only knew how many expenses we larks and squirrels have, Torvald.

Layers revealed to Nora, Torvald is blind to Nora's subtle remarks, low expectations of Nora because she is "only a woman"

Front 10

Torvald: You look awfully- how shall I put it? -

Back 10

You look awfully- how shall I put it? - awfully guilty today. ... Yes, you do. Look me in the eyes.

Front 11

Nora: Nothing at all, then?

Mrs Linde:

Back 11

"Not even a feeling of loss or sorrow"

Talking about her husband

Front 12

I) Rank: what is it you'd so love to say to Torvald?

Nora:

Back 12

Nora: I've the most extraordinary longing to say: 'Bloody hell!"

Rank: Are you mad?

Front 13

Krogstad: Whether or not you...

Back 13

Whether or not you have a merry christmas depends on you

Front 14

I) Helmer: My little songbird must never do that again. A songbird...

Back 14

Helmer: My little songbird must never do that again. A songbird must have a clean beak to sing with.

Front 15

I) Helmer demonstrating how his masculine strength feeds off Nora's femininity:

Back 15

"Aha! So little miss independent's in trouble and needs a man to rescue her, does she?"

Front 16

I) Nora confiding to Torvald's fantasy of being the helpless woman:

Back 16

Yes, Torvald. I can't get anywhere without your help.

Front 17

I) Torvald's beliefs on lying in a household of children:

Back 17

Because of an atmosphere of lies contaminated and poisons every corner of the home. Every breath that the children draw in such a house contains the germs of evil

Front 18

Torvald talking about Krogstad:

Back 18

Morally speaking he is dead

Front 19

Anne-Marie (nurse): When I had the chance...

Back 19

When I had the chance of such a good job? A poor girl what's got into trouble can't afford to pick and choose.

Front 20

Mrs Linde talking to Nora about her maturity:

Back 20

In many ways you're still a child

Front 21

Helmer talking about how Krogstad annoys him:

Back 21

He shows off the whole time, with 'Torvald this', and 'Torvald that'... if he stayed, he'd make my position intolerable

Front 22

Mrs Linde: You were a terrible little spendthrift.

Nora a few lines later:

Back 22

But 'Nora, Nora' isn't as silly as you think.

Front 23

I) Helmer act 2 flips on Nora after calling his motives petty:

Back 23

You call my motives petty. Then I must be petty too. Petty! I see.

Front 24

I) Helmer act 2 talking about Nora's worries about Krogstad "being a journalist"

Back 24

Very well. We shall share it, Nora- as man and wife.

Front 25

Rank talking with Nora alone, about dying

Back 25

I'm on the way out. And there's nothing to be done about it.

Front 26

Nora and Rank flirting:

Back 26

Oh well, I suppose you can look a bit higher if you want to.

Front 27

Rank supressing true feelings for Nora:

Back 27

That I have loved you as deeply as anyone else has?

Front 28

I) Nora comparing her father to Torvald

Back 28

I feel the same about Torvald as I did about papa

Front 29

Nora has no means to pay the debt:

Back 29

Krogstad: have you any means of raising the money during the next few days?

Nora: none that I would care to use

Front 30

I) Krogstad's undermining of Nora, being a woman

Back 30

A pampered little pretty like you

Front 31

Mrs Linde talking about Krogstad to Nora

Back 31

Once upon a time he'd have done anything for my sake

Front 32

Nora manipulates Torvald by acting completely helpless

Back 32

Correct me, lead me, the way you always do

Front 33

I) Nora talking about her father dying: "Oh, it's the

Back 33

Oh, it's the saddest thing that's happened to me since I got married.

Could Nora be upset that she married Torvald or was she simply using that event as a phrase to differentiate the time in between

Front 34

I) Nora exhibits her childlike dependency on Torvald: it's wonderful really, in a way-

Back 34

it's wonderful really, in a way- sitting here and waiting for the miracle to happen

Front 35

I) Krogstad uses the shipwrecked analogy:

Back 35

Look at me. Now I'm a shipwrecked man, clinging to a spar

Front 36

I) Mrs Linde joins Krogstad in using the shipwrecked analogy:

Back 36

Nils, suppose we two shipwrecked souls could join hands?... castaways have a better chance of survival together

Front 37

I) Upfront statement of possession of Nora from helmer

Back 37

What, not look at my most treasured possession?

Front 38

I) Torvald's reaction when Nora defies Torvald

Back 38

What? Now, Nora, you're joking with me. Don't want, don't want-? Aren't I your husband?

Front 39

Torvald being patronising over Nora: "scientific experiment!

Back 39

Scientific experiment! Those are big words for my little Nora to use!

Front 40

I) Nora and Dr Rank's last exchange:

Back 40

Nora: sleep well Dr Rank

Rank: thank you for that kind wish.

Nora: wish me the same

Rank: you? Very well- since you ask. Sleep well

Front 41

I) Helmer's wish of what would happen to Nora (irony)

Back 41

Nora, often I wish some terrible danger might threaten you, so that I could offer my life and my blood, everything, for your sake.

Front 42

I) (Two pages after helmer's wish) he demonstrates the complete opposite to save his reputation

Back 42

This thing must be hushed up at any price. As regards our relationship- we must appear to be living together just as before. Only appear, of course

Front 43

After Helmer receives the IOU from Krogstad releasing him from the blackmail he returns to being a hypocrite: I would not be a true man

Back 43

I would not be a true man if your feminine helplessness did not make you doubly attractive in my eyes

Front 44

Mrs Linde on getting married:

Back 44

I didn't feel I could say no

Front 45

Torvald act 3: "it means that she

Back 45

It means that she had become his property in a double sense

Front 46

I) Torvald act 3: she is now not only

Back 46

She is now not only his wife but also his child

Front 47

I) Nora blames Torvald and her father:

Back 47

You and papa have done me a great wrong. It's your fault That I have done nothing with my life

Front 48

Nora talks about her happiness

Back 48

But I haven't ever been happy

Front 49

I) Nora likens herself to a doll

Back 49

I've been your doll- wife, just as I used to be papa's doll-child

Front 50

I) Ibsen comments on the society's views on a mother leaving her family through Helmer: "but to leave you home

Back 50

but to leave you home, your husband, your children! Have you though what people will say?

Front 51

Nora lays down her rights to Torvald

Back 51

I believe that I am first and foremost a human being, like you

Front 52

I) Helmer: no man can be expected tk

Back 52

No man can be expected to sacrifice his honour, even for the person he loves.

Nora: millions of women have done it

Front 53

Helmer's last attempt at keeping Nora

Back 53

"But can't we live here as brother and sister, then-?

Front 54

Mrs Linde on life after her children have left and her husband has died:

Back 54

Just unspeakably empty. No one to live for any more

Front 55

Nora talking about persuading Torvald to give Mrs Linde a job:

Back 55

I'll get him in the right mood

Front 56

Mrs Linde giving context about a wife borrowing money:

Back 56

Well, a wife can't borrow money without her husband's consent

Front 57

I) Nora talking about what were to happen if Torvald found out:

Back 57

"It'd be so painful and humiliating for him to know that he owed anything to me. It'd completely wreck our relationship."

Front 58

Krogstad: (in the doorway). It's me, Mrs Helmer

(Mrs Linde starts, composes herself...

Back 58

(Mrs Linde starts, composes herself and turns away to the window)

Nora: (takes a step forward and whispers tensely) you? What is it?

Front 59

Rank talking about Krogstad:

Back 59

Oh, a lawyer fellow called Krogstad- you wouldn't know him. He's crippled alright; morally twisted.

Front 60

Nora: Nothing at all, then?

Mrs Linde:

Back 60

"Not even a feeling of loss or sorrow"

Talking about her husband

Front 61

Rank: what is it you'd so love to say to Torvald?

Nora:

Back 61

Nora: I've the most extraordinary longing to say: 'Bloody hell!"

Rank: Are you mad?

Front 62

Krogstad: Whether or not you...

Back 62

Whether or not you have a merry christmas depends on you

Front 63

Helmer: My little songbird must never do that again. A songbird...

Back 63

Helmer: My little songbird must never do that again. A songbird must have a clean beak to sing with.

Front 64

Helmer demonstrating how his masculine strength feeds off Nora's femininity:

Back 64

"Aha! So little miss independent's in trouble and needs a man to rescue her, does she?"

Front 65

Nora confiding to Torvald's fantasy of being the helpless woman:

Back 65

Yes, Torvald. I can't get anywhere without your help.

Front 66

Torvald's beliefs on lying in a household of children:

Back 66

Because of an atmosphere of lies contaminated and poisons every corner of the home. Every breath that the children draw in such a house contains the germs of evil

Front 67

Torvald talking about Krogstad:

Back 67

Morally speaking he is dead

Front 68

Anne-Marie (nurse): When I had the chance...

Back 68

When I had the chance of such a good job? A poor girl what's got into trouble can't afford to pick and choose.

Front 69

Mrs Linde talking to Nora about her maturity:

Back 69

In many ways you're still a child

Front 70

Helmer talking about how Krogstad annoys him:

Back 70

He shows off the whole time, with 'Torvald this', and 'Torvald that'... if he stayed, he'd make my position intolerable

Front 71

Mrs Linde: You were a terrible little spendthrift.

Nora a few lines later:

Back 71

But 'Nora, Nora' isn't as silly as you think.

Front 72

Helmer act 2 flips on Nora after calling his motives petty:

Back 72

You call my motives petty. Then I must be petty too. Petty! I see.

Front 73

Helmer act 2 talking about Nora's worries about Krogstad "being a journalist"

Back 73

Very well. We shall share it, Nora- as man and wife.

Front 74

Rank talking with Nora alone, about dying

Back 74

I'm on the way out. And there's nothing to be done about it.

Front 75

Nora and Rank flirting:

Back 75

Oh well, I suppose you can look a bit higher if you want to.

Front 76

Rank depressing true feelings for Nora:

Back 76

That I have loved you as deeply as anyone else has?

Front 77

Nora comparing her father to Torvald

Back 77

I feel the same about Torvald as I did about papa

Front 78

Nora has no means to pay the debt:

Back 78

Krogstad: have you any means of raising the money during the next few days?

Nora: none that I would care to use

Front 79

Krogstad's undermining of Nora, being a woman

Back 79

A pampered little pretty like you

Front 80

Mrs Linde talking about Krogstad to Nora

Back 80

Once upon a time he'd have done anything for my sake

Front 81

Nora manipulates Torvald by acting completely helpless

Back 81

Correct me, lead me, the way you always do

Front 82

Nora talking about her father dying: "Oh, it's the

Back 82

Oh, it's the saddest thing that's happened to me since I got married.

Could Nora be upset that she married Torvald or was she simply using that event as a phrase to differentiate the time in between

Front 83

Nora exhibits her childlike dependency on Torvald: it's wonderful really, in a way-

Back 83

it's wonderful really, in a way- sitting here and waiting for the miracle to happen

Front 84

Rank surpressing true feelings for Nora:

Back 84

That I have loved you as deeply as anyone else has?

Front 85

Mrs Linde joins Krogstad in using the shipwrecked analogy:

Back 85

Nils, suppose we two shipwrecked souls could join hands?... castaways have a better chance of survival together

Front 86

Upfront statement of possession of Nora from helmer

Back 86

What, not look at my most treasured possession?

Front 87

Torvald's reaction when Nora defies Torvald

Back 87

What? Now, Nora, you're joking with me. Don't want, don't want-? Aren't I your husband?

Front 88

Torvald being patronising over Nora: "scientific experiment!

Back 88

Scientific experiment! Those are big words for my little Nora to use!

Front 89

Nora and Dr Rank's last exchange:

Back 89

Nora: sleep well Dr Rank

Rank: thank you for that kind wish.

Nora: wish me the same

Rank: you? Very well- since you ask. Sleep well

Front 90

Helmer's wish of what would happen to Nora (irony)

Back 90

Nora, often I wish some terrible danger might threaten you, so that I could offer my life and my blood, everything, for your sake.

Front 91

(Two pages after helmer's wish) he demonstrates the complete opposite to save his reputation

Back 91

This thing must be hushed up at any price. As regards our relationship- we must appear to be living together just as before. Only appear, of course

Front 92

After Helmer receives the IOU from Krogstad releasing him from the blackmail he returns to being a hypocrite: I would not be a true man

Back 92

I would not be a true man if your feminine helplessness did not make you doubly attractive in my eyes

Front 93

Mrs Linde on getting married:

Back 93

I didn't feel I could say no

Front 94

Torvald act 3: "it means that she

Back 94

It means that she had become his property in a double sense

Front 95

Torvald act 3: she is now not only

Back 95

She is now not only his wife but also his child

Front 96

Nora blames Torvald and her father:

Back 96

You and papa have done me a great wrong. It's your fault That I have done nothing with my life

Front 97

Nora talks about her happiness

Back 97

But I haven't ever been happy

Front 98

Nora likens herself to a doll

Back 98

I've been your doll- wife, just as I used to be papa's doll-child

Front 99

Ibsen comments on the society's views on a mother leaving her family through Helmer: "but to leave you home

Back 99

but to leave you home, your husband, your children! Have you though what people will say?

Front 100

Nora lays down her rights to Torvald

Back 100

I believe that I am first and foremost a human being, like you

Front 101

Helmer: no man can be expected tk

Back 101

No man can be expected to sacrifice his honour, even for the person he loves.

Nora: millions of women have done it

Front 102

Helmer's last attempt at keeping Nora

Back 102

"But can't we live here as brother and sister, then-?

Front 103

Nora: yes, it's almost like

Back 103

Yes it's almost like a miracle

(First mention of the crucial phrase)

Front 104

Mrs Linde on life after her children have left and her husband has died:

Back 104

Just unspeakably empty. No one to live for any more

Front 105

I) Nora: heaps and heaps...

Back 105

"Heaps and heaps of money"

Image of Nora (a squirrel) in piles of money (dry leaves)

Front 106

Nora: (sits in a footstool and

Back 106

Sits on a footstool and rests here arms on Mrs Linde's knees

(The conventional pose for a schoolgirl gossiping, confusing her secrets)

Front 107

Nora: tosses her head...

Back 107

Tosses her head and walks across the room

(Restless movements reflect her personality, also childlike)

Front 108

I) Nora: the big

Back 108

The big thing

(Limited vocabulary, childlike vocabulary)

Front 109

Nora: I find it very amusing to think

Back 109

I find it very amusing to think that we - I mean, Torvald-

(Freudian slip reveals that Nora thinks she wields power through manipulating torvald

Front 110

I) Nora: takes the bag

Back 110

Takes the bag from her pocket

(Act of defiance against Torvald's will, scorning of helmer's power

Front 111

Nora: if little squirrel asked

Back 111

If little squirrel asked you really prettily

(She plays the role of the pampered pet)

Front 112

Helmer: you've forgotten everything i've

Back 112

You've forgotten everything I've taught you

(Prophetic statement, Nora will decide to reject what Torvald had taught her about life

Front 113

Torvald to Mrs Linde: I hope you'll manage

Back 113

I hope you'll manage to get home all right

(19th century gentleman's chivalry deserts him in his anxiety to be alone with Nora)

Front 114

I) Torvald to Nora: just like a

Back 114

Just like a real human being

Ibsen loads the sympathy towards Nora with Helmer's suffocating attitude

Front 115

Nora talking about persuading Torvald to give Mrs Linde a job:

Back 115

I'll get him in the right mood

Front 116

Torvald: "I am in the power of

Back 116

"I am in the power of a man who is completely without scruples"

Helmer feels a portion of what Nora has been feeling for 3 days

Front 117

I) (Nora does

Back 117

Nora does not move

Her stillness contrasts her restlessness making it all the more remarkable

Front 118

Mrs Linde giving context about a wife borrowing money:

Back 118

Well, a wife can't borrow money without her husband's consent

Front 119

Nora talking about what were to happen if Torvald found out:

Back 119

"It'd be so painful and humiliating for him to know that he owed anything to me. It'd completely wreck our relationship."

Front 120

Krogstad: (in the doorway). It's me, Mrs Helmer

(Mrs Linde starts, composes herself...

Back 120

(Mrs Linde starts, composes herself and turns away to the window)

Nora: (takes a step forward and whispers tensely) you? What is it?

Front 121

Rank talking about Krogstad:

Back 121

Oh, a lawyer fellow called Krogstad- you wouldn't know him. He's crippled alright; morally twisted.