Editor's Choice
What changes in Nora are revealed when comparing her dialogues with Torvald in Acts I and II of A Doll's House?
Quick answer:
Act Two contains a few more instances of Nora standing up for herself than Act One, but only in the most subtle ways. She continues to be manipulated by Torvald until she is ready to stand up to him more directly in Act Three.The early dialogues between Torvald and his wife Nora seem to be frivolous ones in which a patronizing husband speaks with condescension to his wife, whom he considers a "spendthrift" a silly thing who knows nothing of the value of money. In fact, he gives her credit for very little, When Nora asks him for a monetary gift for Christmas, Torvald is completely unsuspecting of her motives. So, when she says that if she receives money for Christmas, she will "have time to decide" what she most needs. But, her husband merely smiles and informs her that the moeny would be good if she bought something for herself,
HELMER But if you spend it all on the housekeeping and any number of unnecessary things, then I merely have to pay up again...That's the truth, dear little Nora, and you know it. My wastrel is a little sweeheart, but she does...
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go through an awful lot of money awfully fast.
Further, Torvald patronizes Nora by dismissing her serious remarks. He tells her that she is just like her father, a spendthrift. But Nora begins to assert herself:
NORA In that case, I wish I had inherited many of Daddy's qualities.
Yet, when Torvald asks her about eating macaroons, she still feels the need to deceive him, saying
NORA You know I wouldn't do anything to displease you.
Here Nora indicates that she still wishes to please her husband. However, events start to unfold that reveal more of her character. For instance, as she talks with Dr. Rank she begins to rebel against him in eating again some macaroons, exclaiming "Who cares?" and even cursing when Rank asks what it is that Nora would like her husband to hear. So, when she next speaks to Torvald, Nora begins to ask things of him, but in a subtle fashion while she asks him to help her decide what she will wear for a Christmas party. Then, as her husband is unsuspecting, she inquires about what Krogstad has done to be fired at the bank. Her husband tells her that the lawyer has forged papers and brought shame upon his family. As he leaves, Nora worries whether her husband will accuse her of corrupting her children as he does Krogstad.
In Act II, however, Nora's conduct toward her husband becomes less acquiescent. Instead, she heartily seeks to persuade him to rehire Krogstad out of her fear that the man will reveal to her husband what she has done in securing a loan years before so that he could regain his health in Italy.
Further on, she finds fault with his attitude, calling it "petty."
HELMER What!Petty? You think I'm being petty!...By God, I'll put an end to this right now!
He sends the letter out to Korgstad, defying the wishes of "little Mrs. Obstinate!" When she asks him to call the letter back, he tells her it is "too late." She agrees, "Yes. Too late," but means something entirely different. Then, as the act draws to a close, Nora becomes more and more desperate, sure that the letter from Krogstad will be read by her husand and he will learn the truth about the not she forged and the money that her father supposedly gave them. Desperately, then, Nora ironically tells Torvald not to read the letter from Krogstad.
NORA then you'll be free.
HELMER There, there--I don't like this wild--frenzy--Be my own sweet little lark again, the way you always are.
When Nora says "thirty-one more hours to live," Torvald is perplexed and asks,
HELMER "What's happening to my little lark?"
NORA Here's your lark!
But, she is not the same as in Act One, to be sure.