Dolls House Quotes

Front 1

“Is that my skylark twittering?”

Back 1

Torvald, by assigning animalistic qualities he de-humanises Nora and makes her more of a possession

Front 2

“No Debts! Never borrow!”

Back 2

Torvald and heavy forshadowing

Front 3

“The Squanderbird’s a pretty little creature”...“It's incredible what an expensive pet she is for a man to keep.”

Back 3

Torvald, dehumanising Nora, referring to her as a ‘pet’ he doesn’t view her as her own person

Front 4

“It’s in your blood. Yes, Yes, yes, these things are hereditary”

Back 4

Torvald, blaming Nora’s father for her bad attributes

Front 5

“You know could never act against your wishes”

Back 5

Nora, she’s lying, she’s been eating macaroons, introduces the idea of deception early on.

Front 6

“Yes it’s almost like a miracle”

Back 6

First time miracles are mentioned, at first they seem like a positive thing, relating to Torvald’s secure job

Front 7

“Not even a feeling of loss or sorrow”

Back 7

Mrs Linde, speaking about her dead husband, ideas of female sacrifice.

Front 8

“Well, a wife can’t borrow money without her husband’s consent”

Back 8

Mrs Linde, showing her confusion as to how Nora could have gotten £250

Front 9

“It’d be so painful and humiliating for him to know that he owed anything to me”

Back 9

Nora, still protecting Torvald from the truth

Front 10

“The law does not concern itself with motives”

Back 10

Krogstad, the law shares torvald’s black and white view of the world

Front 11

“ A songbird must have a clean beak to sing with”

Back 11

The danger of Torvald finding out about Nora's deceit is the essential tension that drives most of the play. And Torvald constantly affirms that he hates lies

Front 12

“He forged someone else’s name. Have you any idea what that means?”

Back 12

Heavy dramatic irony from Torvald

Front 13

“Nearly all young criminals are the children of constitutional liars”

Back 13

Torvald, dramatic irony but also shows he has a very simplistic view of the world.

Front 14

The Christmas tree stands, stripped and dishevelled

Back 14

The Christmas tree changes, and symbolises the changes happening in the Helmer’s household

Front 15

“ A poor girl whose got into trouble can’t afford to pick and choose”

Back 15

Nurse, talking about how she had to give up her children

Front 16

“His father was a frightful creature who kept mistresses and so on”

Back 16

Nora, explaining how Dr Rank’s Father’s sin has cause Dr rank to have spinal tuberculosis

Front 17

“Memories of the past. That’s what’s frightening you”

Back 17

Torvald assumes Nora is scared that Krogstad will write about Torvald in the paper’s like they did her father. Torvald keeps attributing Nora’s behaviours to external factors

Front 18

“When the real crisis comes you will not find me lacking in strength or courage. I am man enough to bear the burden for us both”

Back 18

For a moment it seems like Torvald will save Nora, both her and the audience are let down

Front 19

“Under the ice? Down in the cold, black water? Then, in the spring to float up again, ugly, unrecognisable. Hairless....”

Back 19

Krogstad trying to scare Nora

Front 20

“But, Nora, darling, your dancing as if your life depended upon it”

Back 20

Torvald, bits of dramatic ironey but the dance is symbolic, the dance of death goes with the death of their marriage.

Front 21

“Helmer must know the truth...there must be an end to these shiftings and evasions”

Back 21

Mrs Linde, seeing that the Helmers must start to live in the real world

Front 22

“Oh, what a dreadful awakening!”

Back 22

Torvald ranting about how he feels Nora has betrayed him, this is a sharp juxtaposition to his constant assurances theat he’ll protect her throughout the rest of the play

Front 23

“I am saved! Nora, I am saved!”

Back 23

Torvald, he is saved, he doesn’t care about the fact Nora is saved too

Front 24

“Yes, Torvald. I’ve changed”

Back 24

Nora’s transformation is complete

Front 25

“I Must educate myself”

Back 25

Nora taking steps to become her own person

Front 26

“I don’t want anything from you, now or ever”

Back 26

Nora splitting herself from Torvald, understanding she must make a life for herself

Front 27

“My duty towards myself”

Back 27

Nora putting her life in her own hands, understanding that yes she has duties, but she’s always been trying to impress others, she hasn’t done much for herself

Front 28

“It happened this evening when the miracle failed to happen”

Back 28

In failing to protect her, Torvald has made Nora realise that their love is only a ‘play love’

Front 29

“But no man can be expected to sacrifice his honour, even for the person he loves” “Many women have”

Back 29

Nora and Torvald, comments on gender inequality in their society

Front 30

“Here is your ring back. Give me mine”

Back 30

Nora asking for symbolic freedom

Front 31

“Empty, she’s gone! The miracle of miracles.........?”

Back 31

Torvald is now the one relying on miracles, he is shown to be more immature

Front 32

Free. To be free, absolutely free. To spend time playing with the children. To have a clean, beautiful house, the way Torvald likes it.

Back 32

Nora’s ideas of freedom are distorted, she sees a lot of her freedom in relation to what Torvald wants

Front 33

Something glorious is going to happen.

Back 33

Nora, she’s talking about how Torvald will save her, making it all the more heartbreaking when it doesn’t happen

Front 34

From now on, forget happiness. Now it’s just about saving the remains, the wreckage, the appearance

Back 34

Torvald proving how he is obsessed with appearances

Front 35

I have been performing tricks for you, Torvald. That’s how I’ve survived. You wanted it like that. You and Papa have done me a great wrong. It’s because of you I’ve made nothing of my life.

Back 35

Nora see’s how much of a ‘doll’ she has been

Front 36

An atmosphere of lies infects and poisons the whole life of a home. Each breath the children take in such a house is full of the germs of evil

Back 36

Torvald describing how he thinks children with lying mothers will inevitably become criminals

Front 37

NORA: "Certainly Torvald does understand how to make a house dainty and attractive."MRS. LINDE: "And so do you, it seems to me."

Back 37

Nora gives Torvald the credit for a traditionally female task

Front 38

I cannot imagine for a moment what would have become of me if I had never come into this house.

Back 38

Dr rank idolising the Helmer’s, their appearance is of perfect happiness

Front 39

You never can tell what mischief these men may contrive. We ought to be so well off, so snug and happy here in our peaceful home.

Back 39

Nora talking about what Krogstad will do, the only threat to the Helmer household is the truth

Front 40

Ah, yes!--these dear familiar rooms. You are very happy and cosy in here, you two.

Back 40

Dr Rank idolising the marriage that is about to fall apart

Front 41

You will still remain in my house, that is a matter of course.

Back 41

Torvald refers to the house as his, was Nora merely a guest?

Front 42

How warm and cosy our home is, Nora. Here is shelter for you; here I will protect you like a hunted dove that I have saved from a hawk's claws.

Back 42

Torvald, is this house Nora’s protection or her prison?

Front 43

Our home has been nothing but a playroom. I have been your doll-wife.

Back 43

Nora, understanding how her life has been run by those around her

Front 44

A barrister's profession is such an uncertain thing, especially if he won't undertake unsavoury cases; and naturally Torvald has never been willing to do that.

Back 44

Nora providing evidence for Torvald’s obsession with his appearance.

Front 45

Your squirrel would run about and do all her tricks if you would be nice, and do what she wants.

Back 45

Nora shows she’s subscribed to Torvald’s train of thought

Front 46

I hear [Krogstad] is a good worker, too. But I knew him when we were boys. […] this tactless fellow lays no restraint on himself when other people are present. On the contrary, he thinks it gives him the right to adopt a familiar tone with me.

Back 46

Torvald and the real reason he doesn’t like Krogstad

Front 47

I must try and appease [Krogstad] some way or another. The matter must be hushed up at any cost.

Back 47

Torvald is shown to be far more interested with protecting his appearance rather than caring about the moral implications of what he is doing

Front 48

NORA: "Tell me, is it really true that you did not love your husband? Why did you marry him?" MRS. LINDE: "My mother was alive then, and was bedridden and helpless, and I had to provide for my two younger brothers; so I did not think I was justified in refusing his offer."

Back 48

Ideas of Love being sacrificed, Women sacrificing for the good of those around them

Front 49

You know how devotedly, how inexpressibly deeply Torvald loves me; he would never for a moment hesitate to give his life for me.

Back 49

Nora, in act 2, this is a stark contrast to what actually ends up happening

Front 50

you [Nora] can command me, body and soul.

Back 50

Doctor rank, who seems to think love is some kind of ownership, does he love Nora or the idea of her, the idea of her and Torvald’s relationship?

Front 51

Two on the same piece of wreckage would stand a better chance than each on their own.

Back 51

Mrs. Linde’s version of love is far more realistic, she doens’t have the same idealised view the Helmer’s have