A Doll's House

A DOLL’S HOUSE - QUOTES Theme Lies/Deceit

Entrapment Money

Women

Marriage

Heredity

Respect/Reputation

Character Quote Torvald Hasn't Miss Sweet Tooth been breaking rules in town today? …Taken a bite at a macaroon or two? Mrs They must have a complete understanding between them, Linde which is impossible with all this concealment and falsehood going on. Torvald A guilty man like that has to lie and…has to wear a mask in the presence of those near and dear to him, even before his own wife and children Torvald You will still remain in my house, that is a matter of course. Nora But our home's been nothing but a playpen. I've been your doll-wife here, just as at home I was Papa's doll-child Torvald Has my little spendthrift been wasting money again? Torvald There can be no freedom or beauty about a home life that depends on borrowing and debt. Torvald You wouldn't believe how much it costs a man when he's got a little song-bird like you! Torvald Is it my little squirrel bustling about? Torvald That is like a woman! ...You know what I think about that. No debt, no borrowing. Torvald First and foremost, you are a wife and mother. Torvald, No man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves... Nora It is a thing hundreds of thousands of women have done. Nora How painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald…to know that he owed me anything! It would upset our mutual relations altogether. Nora Surely you can understand that being with Torvald is a little like being with papa. Torvald The child [Nora] shall have her way. Nora Both you and I would have to be so changed that…our life together would be a real wedlock. Torvald I ought to have foreseen it. All your father's want of principle-be silent! -all your father's want of principle has come out in you. Torvald I shall not allow you to bring up the children; I dare not trust them to you. Torvald Do you suppose I am going to make myself ridiculous before my whole staff, to let people think that I am a man to be swayed by all sorts of outside influence? Torvald I must try and appease [Krogstad] some way or another. The matter must be hushed up at any cost. Torvald All that concerns us is to save the remains, the fragments, the appearance

A DOLL’S HOUSE – DRAMATIC ELEMENTS

Lighting

Music

Set

Props

Before the conversation between Nora and Dr. Rank: “during the following dialogue it begins to grow dark” – sombre mood, they are discussing his illness Candles are the source of light when the stage is dark – e.g. during conversation between Nora and Mrs. Linde about the letter “The Tarantella” dance – music traditionally for someone who has been bitten by a spider and is trying to rid themselves of the poison Symbolic of Nora’s situation; she feels as though Torvald’s discovery of the letter is a matter of life or death Torvald says “My dear, darling Nora, you are dancing as if your life depended on it” – dramatic irony The set is realistic – it is “furnished comfortably and tastefully but not extravagantly” Appearance vs. Reality – contrast created between a seemingly perfect house and Nora’s problems with her debt and her marriage Entire play takes place within the house – confinement Symbolism of the title – Nora’s role as a “doll-wife” to Torvald, entrapment Macaroons – Torvald’s control over Nora and his rules for her The children are Nora’s “dolls” – she dances the baby up and down, organizes their toys etc. Christmas tree – Nora dresses and decorates it, symbolic of her own ‘mask’ The letter