A Doll's House
by Henrik Ibsen
Reading Questions
by Henrik Ibsen
Reading Questions
- At the beginning of the play, Nora appears to be a stereotypical housewife of her day, self-centered and rather childish. Is the change in her personality over the course of the play a transformation or a revelation ?
- How does the language that Torvald uses to speak to Nora help us understand his relationship with her?
- Nora is about to ask Dr. Rank for help with her debts when he suddenly confesses his attraction for her. Upon hearing this, Nora decides not to make her request. Why do you think she makes this choice?
- In what ways does Kristine Linde serve as a foil character for Nora? In what ways does Krogstad serve as a foil character for her?
- What is the miracle that Nora is waiting for from Torvald?
- Nora's decision to leave her husband and her children elicited a storm of controversy when the play was first produced, and for some productions Ibsen was forced to change the ending. In his alternative ending (which he despised), instead of leaving, Nora looks in on her children, then sinks down beside their beds. How does this alternative ending affect the ideas of the play, in your opinion?
posted by dconlay @ 9:41 AM
17 comments
17 Comments:
1.It is a revelation. It seems that she always possessed the mature spirit of independence that is later revealed.
2.The terse language used implies a forced, impassionate relationship.
3.I believe she makes this choice to avoid future awkward confrontational issues.
4.Kristine Linde is an example of what Nora’s life would be like if she went awry in her current direction. Krogstad is a dreary example of life gone awry in another direction.
5.Nora is waiting for the miracle of Torvald’s breaking the bonds of convention alongside her. However, it never quite happens.
6.This alternate ending totally destroys the feeling of independence which Nora was intended to grant herself. She does not break the bonds of convention as is intended.
1. Her change is a transformation because she goes from a materialistic housewife without much outside thought to an intellectual woman with feelings of her own. This is due, in part, to a revelation. The true discovery of her lack of love for Torvald is a revelation that sheds light on her inner desire to become the independent woman that she wants to be and not the trophy wife that society has turned her into.
2. When on good terms he uses many words that show more infatuation than love, a sign that his love is not sincere. When frustrated or angry, he uses words that make Nora feel guilty and as if it were all her fault. In the end, it is better that they are not together and that she decides to do what is best
3. If Nora were to ask for money and help with her debts, she would be bound to him by a material means. He would take it as a hint and continue his pursuit for her. Nora makes a great decision to deal with the debt herself and to keep herself free of commitment to Dr. Rank.
4. Kristine Linde serves as a great foil character because of her contrary personality and needs. Mrs. Linde has no family to need here and longs for a purpose, where Nora has the family who appears to have no love and need for her. Mrs. Linde is the innocent who explores the dirt that others, like Nora, are into. Nora, the one into the dirt, wishes to live the innocent and pure life and to get out of the dirt that she has gotten herself into. Lots of information about both Nora and Kristine Linde is revealed through each other, despite opposing personalities.
6. In my opinion, it takes away from the dramatic effects the play was designed to create. Nora leaves her husband, in part, because it was unacceptable at the time and it shows her determination to make her life right and to empower herself without the aid of her husband. By sitting there with her children, she is accepting the rules of society and is still bound to what makes her unhappy
1. It is a transformation. She changed from a clue less wife to a deep thinker. She transformed herself into a stronger person. She took herself away from the sheltered life and went out into the world.
2. The language he uses is that of a child. It shows how he is dominant and how he sees her as a sheltered kid, a child. She does not know how to care for herself. His manner of speaking shows the reader that he sees himself as someone that has to care for a kid. He embraces the belief that husband’s role is to protect and guide his wife. He obviously enjoys the idea that Nora needs his guidance, and he interacts with her as a father would. He instructs her with corny, serious sayings, such as: “A home that depends on loans and debt is not beautiful because it is not free.”
3. She feels shocked and surprised. She does not know what to think of him and it caught her off guard. She may also feel a bit ashamed and his revelation took away her courage to say it.
4. Kristine won’t let Nora do what she wants. She patronizes her and Nora does not want to prove her right so she does not do what she sets out to do. “Even money-lenders, hacks, well, a man like me, can have a little of what you call feeling, you know.” He tries to make sure no harm comes to her even though he seems to e the bad guy of the play. He visits Nora to check on her, and he discourages her from committing suicide.
5. She wants him to forgive her and to understand that she did it for him. Unfortunately, he does not understand and it crushes her.
6. It shows that she took her children happiness over hers. It goes against the message from the play.
jhellmich
1. In the beginning of the play Nora comes off as a very self-centered woman. She asks her friend how she’s doing and then she goes off about her own problems! Everyone treats her like she’s a child. “…especially when you know so little about the troubles and hardships of life.” (158). She’s perceived as this little, young, full-of-herself, mother who knows nothing. “You’re only a baby, Nora!” (158). By the end of the play she has truly transformed her character. She has had enough of everyone treating her like a baby. “I must stand on my own feet if I’m to get to know myself and the world outside.” (227). She refers to her transformation as “a reckoning.” (225)
2. Torvald treats Nora as if she’s a baby. He calls her names like “my little squirrel,” (148) “my little songbird,” (149) “scatterbrain,” and “skylark.” (186). He shows his love to her by treating her like a child. He says to her, “she has become both his wife and his child.” (224). That’s what he wants to do. He wants to be her husband and her father. He wants to love her as well as teach her and have control over her. When they are together with other people, he talks to that other person about her like she is not there. “She gets over-excited, like a child.” (205). When Nora realizes she’s done with being treated like a child, she tells him, “You’ve never loved me, you’ve only found it pleasant to be in love with me.” (225). If he just wants someone to love and take care of, he would be better off with a pet.
3. Nora is about to ask Dr. Rank for his help and then he confesses his love for her. She is shocked. “That was really horrid of you…I can never tell you now.” (195). She makes this choice because she knows that if Torvald finds out, she will be in big trouble. Dr. Rank is Torvald’s best friend. He is likely to let it slip to Torvald since they are best friends and it is a huge secret that he might want to tell. Another reason is because when your husband’s best friend professes his love for you, the best thing to do is stay as far away from him as possible. She couldn’t hurt her husband, or any of their reputations. She knew she was in a bad situation and she didn’t want to get more involved with him.
4. Kristina Linde serves as a foil character for Nora because she allows Nora to reveal everything to her. They are long lost friends, and girls always gossip. Nora finally has someone that she can talk to. The readers find out through their conversations exactly what Nora is thinking. We learn about Torvald’s sickness, the trip, and how Nora got the money from her father, but then she explains what really happened and how she borrowed the money. She also tells of what Torvald’s feelings towards borrowing money are. We learn a lot about Nora from their conversations. Krogstad works as a foil character for Kristina as well. We learn how much she really cares about Nora by trying to get Krogstad to call back the letter. We also learn that Kristina still has feelings for Krogstad and how sorry she is that she first let him go. “…when you’ve sold yourself once for the sake of others, you don’t do it a second time.” (210). She wants to be a better person and she wants to be with Krogstad as a wife and a mother to his children.
5. Nora is waiting for a miracle from Torvald. At the very end as she’s walking out the door she says, “Oh, Torvald – there would have to be the greatest miracle of all…Both of us would have to be so changed that-…” (232). She never finishes. She says this in response to him asking if he could ever be more than a stranger to her. I think what she wanted to say was that the only way they could be more than strangers is if both of them changed so much that they could be friends. Have the same interests, and actually have a decent conversation. Nora knew that they were so different from each other that this would be “the greatest miracle of all…” (232).
6. This alternative ending contradicts everything that Nora stood up for in the end. She had made her decision. She no longer wanted to be a “doll” cooped up in a doll house as a play thing. She is sending a message to women to find out who you truly are and to not let people take advantage of you. Live up to your full potential and be who you want to be. Her case was extreme where she had to leave her family, but she made her point. Live up to your full potential and be who you want to be.
JAranda-P.3
1. The change in the life of Nora could be seen as a transformation. Nora is the type of woman that is only interested in money because from the beginning she was poor. Now she is married to a rich man who is always providing her with money. When her friend, Mrs. Linde, wants to talk to her about the death of her husband, Nora changes the subject to talk about his husband and the amount of money he wins. Nora only cares for money now in her transformation of life and not about other issues.
2.The language the Travold uses to speak to Nora is not a formal way, but in a way to make Nora feel like a doll. He calls her pet names and scolds her as if she was a child. He seems to always argue with her and get angry, so the treatment he shows towards Nora shows that their relationship is not so well.
3.Nora makes the choice of not asking Dr. Rank for a request for money because she notices that he truly loves her and this could lead to consequences. If she asked for the money this would bring a close relationship with him and Dr. Rank will show that he would do anything for her. Dr. Rank then could use this as a way to catch her in a trap to be with him and make her get away from her husband. She notices his love after a conversation, “That I’ve loved you just deeply as somebody else?(84)
4.Kristine Linde serves as a foil character for Nora in the way that she took responsibility for Nora’s father. Nora left her father and Kristine took over to take care of him. Krogstad serves as a foil character in the way that he blackmails Nora for the paper she forged to get money.
5.Nora is waiting for the miracle that Trovald does not fire Krogstad from the bank. Krogstad is a great help to her in how she gets her money.
6.The alternative ending affects the ideas in the play because Nora could not be seen as a person who would change. She would do many bad things that in the end she will actually stay with her children make her seem unreal. The ending of her leaving her children will actually give a better idea of how she really was.
A Doll's House
1. The change in Nora at the end of the novel is a revelation. She discovers that she never really loved her husband in the first place and only remained married because of the position.
2. The language establishes how Torvald looks down on his wife. He sees her as his pupil. He shows this by the way he explained certain lessons to his wife in the beginning of the novel.
3. If she asked Dr. Rank for the request, Nora would sound as if she is taking advantage of Dr. Rank’s love.
4. Kristine acted as a foil character since Krogstad would never have blackmailed Nora if Kristine did not take Krogstad’s job. Krogstad becomes a foil character to Nora since he blackmails her.
5. The miracle that Nora awaits for is that Torvald would forgive Nora and take responsibility for Nora’s actions. Therefore, she would not be blamed for forging her father’s name.
6. The idea of the play is not affected since the ending leaves the audience in question. When she sinks down near the children, is that Nora’s last good bye or is Nora realizing the importance of her children? Therefore, will she stay or leave? The idea is added to. The new idea would be that family comes first.
Taylor Brown's Questions
1. At the beginning of the play Nora seems like the stereo-typical housewife but as the play progresses she begins to find her own independence. I think the change in her personality was a transformation because she slowly throughout the course of the play finds independence through defying her husband and society. For example, she swears throughout the play just for the rush it gives her to break the societal standards at that time.
2. The language that Torvald uses to speak to Nora help us understand his relationship with her by him speaking to her almost as if she was a child. It makes it seem almost as if that just because he is a man that he is smarter than her and must protect her from society. He feels that he’s her knight in shinning armor and she’s just a helpless child. At one point he says, “do you know that I’ve often wished you were facing some terrible dangers so that I could risk life and limb, risk everything, for your sake?” Showing that he doesn’t really care about her, he just wants to feel needed.
3. When Dr. Rank confesses his love to Nora she gets freaked out and doesn’t ask for his help anymore even though he begs her to let him. I believe she doesn’t tell him after this incident because she is shocked and awkward out all at the same time because she doesn’t feel the same way. When she flirted with him it was just out of pure defiance towards her husband, but she never loved him like he did her. So she didn’t want his help anymore, in fear he would try something.
4. Kristine Linde serve as a foil character for Nora because she is very practical and her down-to-earth manner seems to make Nora look even more childish than she actually is. Also Mrs. Linde grew up in poverty which is the exact opposite of the life Nora leads. Krogstad serve as a foil character for Nora because he is so willing to let her suffer and not feel any sympathy for her. Yet, his hard circumstances make us sympathize for him a tiny bit.
5. The miracle that Nora is waiting for from Torvald is for him to let Krogstad keep his job at the office so that she can keep her secret safe. But Torvald refuses because he believes he would be “a laughing stock before the entire staff” if he let him keep his job.
6. This alternative ending affect the ideas of the play, in my opinion, by never letting her get the freedom she was after the whole time. The entire play let up to her leaving at the end and gain her independence that she wanted so badly, that ending it without ever letting her leave makes it seem like she lost and completely changes the meaning of the book.
C. LEON
A DOLL HOUSE
1) At the beginning of the play, Nora appears to be a stereotypical housewife of her day, self-centered and rather childish. Is the change in her personality over the course of the play a transformation or a revelation?
Transformation - change in form, appearance, nature, or character. At the beginning of the play, Nora is more of a happy-go-lucky kind of girl. When her old friend, Mrs. Linde goes to visit, we find that when the time called for her to be responsible or take a matter more seriously, she would. In the second act, when Dr. Rank confesses his love we learn that Nora has developed morals. In the third act, Nora realizes the truth about her life; that she had been naïve and for years had to convince herself that she was happy and in love. Now she wants to travel off on her own and live her own life, leaving her children and husband completely, never to hear from them again. It is a complete transformation in character.
2) How does the language that Torvald uses to speak to Nora help us understand his relationship with her?
He always teases her or speaks down to her. She is his doll, his play thing. She is hardly a wife to him, more something to keep him entertained. He refers to her as his, “most dearest possession,” (pg 100) and says things like, “Don’t deny it, my dear little Nora.” And “you’re an odd little one.” (pg 46)
3) Nora is about to ask Dr. Rank for help with her debts when he suddenly confesses his attraction for her. Upon hearing this, Nora decides not to make her request. Why do you think she makes this choice?
She now feels uncomfortable and feels that if she were to ask him for a favor she would only be teasing him. She knows he couldn’t deny her and realizes that she would be taking advantage of him. The reader learns that Nora has developed morals and knows it would be wrong.
4) In what ways does Kristine Linde serve as a foil character for Nora? In what ways does Krogstad serve as a foil character for her?
The foil character in a story is the character that is the exact opposite of the
main character and therefore serves to magnify certain characteristics of the main character (http://www.northern.edu/benkertl/drama_dictionary.html)
We learn that Mrs. Linde knows responsibility from the moment her character is introduced. She spent years working so she could take care of her ill mother. Mrs. Linde has had experience and takes things more seriously than Nora does and she too (along with Torvald) talks down upon her.
Krogstad is a foil character because he is the thing in the back of her mind that tells her that even though her intensions were pure, what she did was wrong. He blackmails Nora throughout the entire play until the end, when Mrs. Linde helped him realize what is really important in life.
5) What is the miracle that Nora is waiting for from Torvald?
The miracle Nora expected from Torvald was that he would take all the blame, that he would forgive Nora with all his heart. Just moments before the letter was read, he told her how much he loved her and that he used to wish that her life was threatened so that he could risk everything he had to save her. It didn’t happen.
6) Nora's decision to leave her husband and her children elicited a storm of controversy when the play was first produced, and for some productions Ibsen was forced to change the ending. In his alternative ending (which he despised), instead of leaving, Nora looks in on her children, then sinks down beside their beds. How does this alternative ending affect the ideas of the play, in your opinion?
It doesn’t give that final life changing moment; that experience that changed many reader’s lives and views. The original ending was better because it gave the reader a feeling that they didn’t just waste their time reading the play; that they had something to learn from it.
1. The changes in her personality throughout the course of the play are a revelation, not a transformation. I think that Nora has always known deep down inside that she has been treated like a stupid doll for her entire life. As the play continues on, and the scandal with Krogstad becomes a current problem, Nora is forced to reflect on her life, and her relationships. “No, I have never been happy. I thought I was, but it has never really been so.” (p.76). Here it shows that Nora did not undergo a total transformation, but rather, finally realized that she had been living a lie.
2. Torvald’s language toward Nora makes it very clear in how he thinks of her. He speaks to her as if she is a child, and he constantly talks about how her womanliness and helplessness make him love her even more. “Try and calm yourself, and make your mind easy again, my frightened little songbird” (p.75) The language that Torvald uses is very condescending and he implies that Nora’s mind can not handle thinking about things that are more complex than the simplistic tasks.
3. Nora makes this choice because she does not want to take advantage of Doctor Rank’s feelings for her by asking him for money. This would be exploiting her friendship with him, and she also did not want to give Dr. Rank the idea that she would be interested in him as well, if he gave her money.
4. Nils Krogstad serves as a foil character for Nora because he forces her to face the mistakes that she made regarding the money she borrowed to pay for her husband’s trip to Europe. Krogstad threatens to take away the “picture perfect” life that she is living by telling her husband of the wrongs she committed. “Have you forgotten that it is I who have the keeping of your reputation? Well, now, I have warned you…” (p. 55). His threats cause Nora to become absolutely desperate and terrified of what will become of her future. Christine Linde serves as a less obvious foil character because she seems to want to support Nora by helping her keep her secret from her husband during the majority of the story. It is only at the very end, that Christine betrays her friend and tells Krogstad to leave the letter, causing Torvald to find everything out.
5.The miracle that Nora is waiting for from Torvald is for him to actually love her completely. She wants him to love her so completely, that he is willing to sacrifice not only his life for her, but his honor and reputation as well. “But no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves” (p.80). Here Torvald shows that he doesn’t understand what it is to truly love someone. Nora only wants to be with Torvald again, if he can figure out what it really means to truly love another human being.
6.With that alternate ending, the ideas of women’s role in society are compromised. In the intended play, Nora is able to gather her strength, and prepare to go off into the world and discover her true purpose. “I believe that before all else I am a reasonable human being, just as you are-or at all events, that I must try and become one” (p.78). Here Nora talks about how she must go off on her on into the world in order to become happy and satisfied with life. If she ended up having to stay in the end, it would only emphasize more that women during the time felt trapped and unhappy with their lives.
-PP3
1. Nora's self-centered and childish nature observed at the beginning of the play changes as a revelation. It is rather a revelation then a transformation because, she learns of the oppressive state in her marriage and breaks away of the typical wife position and finds freedom. For these reasons it is a revelation.
2. Torvald language used through out the play while communicating with Nora is a significant factor to understanding and interpreting the relationship between the two. Torvald’s tone is timid and simple which indicates the lack of passion in their marriage.
3. Upon hearing Dr. Rank’s confession of passion Nora decides not to profess her doubts to him because, now she know that the opinions that the doctor would give her would be skewed. Furthermore she wanted to stay loyal to her husband.
4. Kristine Linde serves as Nora’s foil because, she is somewhat her opposite. While they are friends and have respect for each others opinions Kristine depicts the traditional and bounded state of women. Krogstad acts as a foil for Nora because he shows the little tolerance that the world has; and shows compassion and understanding to Nora.
5. The miracle that Nora was waiting from Torvald was this petty attitude towards her and the insults that he feeds; because, those would be her stepping stones towards liberation and change.
6. The alternate ending dramatically changes the whole perspective on the play, rather then promoting the messages of self liberation it depicts the fall of ones rebellious spirit into order.
1. Throughout the play, Nora goes through transformation because she is given different situations to deal with that she did not worry before. The events that occurs during this plays made her transform into someone who can deal with these situation. There were information that was revealed, but it is understood that it was only her background. There were not many description about her present day.
2. When Torvald speaks to Nora, he acts like he is trying to be the head of the household, but really he is a child who wants attention from Nora. “Helmer. I have got authority from the retiring manager to undertake the necessary changes in the staff and in the rearrangement of the work; and I must make use of the Christmas week for that, so as to have everything in order for the new year” (Act 2). “Helmer. It seems most commonly to be the mother's influence, though naturally a bad father's would have the same result. Every lawyer is familiar with the fact. This Krogstad, now, has been persistently poisoning his own children with lies and dissimulation; that is why I say he has lost all moral character. [Holds out his hands to her.] That is why my sweet little Nora must promise me not to plead his cause. Give me your hand on it. Come, come, what is this? Give me your hand. There now, that's settled. I assure you it would be quite impossible for me to work with him; I literally feel physically ill when I am in the company of such people (Act 2).
3. In Act 2, Dr. Rank confesses his attraction for her. “Rank. I was determined you should know it before I went away, and there will never be a better opportunity than this. Now you know it, Nora. And now you know, too, that you can trust me as you would trust no one else” (Act 2). Nora does not accept his love because she is loyal to Helmer. He may treat her like a maid, but as long as she is married to him, she loves him. She shows this by comparing him to her papa, who she loved, “Nora [jumping up and going to him]. Oh, dear, nice Doctor Rank, I never meant that at all. But surely you can understand that being with Torvald is a little like being with papa--[Enter MAID from the hall.]” (Act 2). She may not be entirely in love with Helmer, she think he's someone else in order to show she is a good wife.
4. Kristine Linde serves as a foil for Nora because it reveals how she is changing throughout the play. Linde helps reveal Nora's feeling when she is talking to Linde. Linde is like a self conscience to Nora by givig her advise and talking about Nora's problem. Krogstad serves as another self conscience, but he reveals the reality in her. He is showing her what is going on outside her mind. It shows that it is different than she expected. This opens Nora's mind, but sometimes refuse to believe it is real.
5. Nora is waiting for Torvald to show his love towards Nora because she feels she is being neglected in their relationship. He only talks about what is going on and his concerns, but he does not show any any signs of compassion towards Nora except for a few touches.
6. This alternate ending affects the ideas of the play because it shows that the play had to go with the story. If the author wrote his first ending, then it might not have gone with the story. It could have been worse than before. The audience wanted a good ending rather than the bad ending and the author wanted to please the audience. Therefor, he would get more money by entertaining the crowd. Also, he did this to show there is a good ending in stories.
1. The change in her personality is not a transformation, but a revelation. Her end self is there the whole time, she just represses it because that is what she thinks she is supposed to do. Her true character comes out when speaking to Mrs. Linde, when she tells her secret of lending money behind her husband’s back in order to save his life. This shows not only compassion and courage (going against societal standards and doing something related to economics), but also ambition and determination to do what she feels is right. Throughout the play, these traits become more of who she is and appears to be, thus having a personal revelation.
2. Torvald speaks to Nora as if she were a child, calling her silly pet names and speaking in moralistic phrases, as if to teach a lesson, like “A home that depends on loans and debt is not beautiful because it is not free.” (page 152) Only when he is frustrated or angry at her does he call her by her real name instead of things like “squirrel” or “girl” or “skylark,” etc. He even says that he feels like he has her two ways – as a wife and as a child.
3. She made the choice not to make her request because she did not want him to think that she was exploiting his feelings for her for money. It is not said explicitly in the book, but she is taken aback by what he says to her so we never know what she is going to ask of him. Also, learning that he is dying comes as a shock to her, which she has a hard time thinking about.
4. Mrs. Linde serves as a foil character for Nora by bringing out more of society’s gender stereotypes expressed in Nora, as Kristine breaks the accepted code by working different jobs with children and controlling her own economic status, all of which, Nora doesn’t do. Nora is pampered and patronized, stays home with the children, and gives the appearance of being just a doll in the hands of Helmer. Also, as Mrs. Linde feels that she needs to be with the man she loves to be true to herself and content, while Nora needs to be physically independent as well and mentally to be true to herself and content. Krogstad is also a foil character, acting as the opposition to attaining her goals.
5. Nora is waiting for him to take the blame for her actions – to sacrifice for her. He says that he has, “wished [Nora] were facing some terrible dangers so that I could risk life and limb, risk everything, for [Nora’s] sake?” (page 220), and Nora hopes for “something glorious,” but then states that she doesn’t believe in “glorious things” anymore. She is utterly disappointed when he blames her for everything and tries to save face with a new façade of love and happiness of the family.
6. This alternative ending affects the ideas of the play because instead of consciously severing all ties with a family that she feels that she cannot be a part of, she is still (and will always be) too connected to the children to truly be free from the life she doesn’t want. She strives for an independent will, and this attachment serves to hamper what she can and can’t do. The power and forcefulness with which Nora exits would be all together lost with the alternative ending, and would be a detriment to the ideas of the play.
1. I think Nora’s changing was a revelation. She didn’t have enough time to completely transform. After the events started happening with people finding out about the documents she forged with her father’s name I think she realized a lot of things about herself, her marriage and she knew she had to change and leave.
2. Overall Torvald seems like a very nice, caring man. He is sweet and loving to his wife. However, the language he uses shows that he is controlling. He refers to her as “my prize possession” meaning that she is something he owns, rather than a living person. You can see that he has power over her and that for these reasons she feels that she needs to keep things from him.
3. When Dr. Rank confesses his love you can tell that Nora is startles. She no longer wishes to tell him anything that before his confession she would have. This is how she is with her husband, she didn’t tell him her biggest secrets and perhaps this is how she feels about all men that love her. She cannot confess herself to them.
4. Mrs. Linde and Krogstand are both foil characters, but in different ways. Linde helps Nora out. Nora is able to confine I her and while at first Linde did not want to get involved she ends up advising Nora as well as getting back into a relationships to help out Nora. Krogstand is almost the opposite, rather than help her, he is the root of her problems. He is out only for himself and he will destroy Nora’s relationships by revealing her secrets all for his own benefit.
5. The miracle that Nora is waiting for is for her and Torvald to finally be close. They are married but she feels as if they have never had a real serious conversation to each other. He does not understand her and she does not understand him.
6. This ending, where Nora doesn’t leave completely changes the meaning of the play. Rather than walking about and becoming her own woman, Nora does what society expects from her, to stay and suffer. The message the author was originally trying to convey was that women had power and could in fact leave their husbands if they were unhappy. This ending just shows Nora conforming to the modern ideas of the era.
amikol-p3
1. I believe that her transformation is many small revelations that change her slowly.
2. Torvald uses words that have a use of fluttery and lovey-dovey in order to show his extreme love for her.
3. Nora does not make the decision to ask him for the money because he would give the money out of love for her and not out of friendship. Nora would then feel like she has to repay him with something important.
4. Linde serves to make peace between her and Krogstad. And Krogstad gives LInde someone to provide for her so that she can live with a purpose.
5. The miracle that Nora waits for from Torvald is of extreme sacrifice for her dignity.
6. The alternative ending would give no meaning to Nora's life and the way she thought she wanted to live and her perceptions of false life.
Kyle Jones
1) The change of personality that Nora undergoes, in my opinion, is a revelation, instead of a transformation. With a revelation you have an instant epiphany of sorts, triggered by certain events. With a transformation you can see a change in personality over a long period of time. In the case of Nora we see the former, in that the change in personality we saw was instantaneous. At the point of her revelation she comes to realize that her life thus far has been a sham.
2) Torvald uses plenty of nicknames and buttery language when talking to Nora. By this observation we can deduce that he thinks that she is rather childish and immature. His actions seem to more represent those of a fatherly figure rather than a husband. Torvald even goes to the point of scolding and correcting her mistakes, much the way a parent might in the case of a child.
3) There are a few explanations for why Nora decides not to make her request about her financial position. Primarily she was just taken back by Dr. Rank’s rather bold statements and might not have the state of mind to continue with her current train of thought. Then, after processing the good Dr.’s love proclamation it would be very uncomfortable and mislead of her to make her request, almost making it seem like she needs him, and that is not the impression she wants to make. And finally, he might plot an evil scheme to break apart her marriage and use the information of her financial state as the necessary tools to do so!
4) Nora comes across as a cheerful, childish, and empty minded, and otherwise vein as a person. The character of Linde however seems to be more aware of herself and standing in the world, and she is otherwise worn by time and wary of her standing in the world. Linde becomes a key part in the revelation that Nora undergoes. For Nora sees Linde and gains a perspective of herself. Nora begins to realize that she has been hallow and ignorant in her artificial way of life, whereas Linde’s hardships are very imposing on Nora’s petty life. Krogstad doesn’t seem to have anything to compare or even contrast to Nora, but after we learn more of his back-story we come to find that he himself had to go through a revelation of sorts. With this understanding of the past we can bring the two characters closer together, in the readers prospective.
5) Nora expected Torvald to become her white knight, figuratively of course. But then she came to find that her expectation of Torvald was completely wrong. For he is a selfish man that only worries about how Nora’s actions will affect him. He looks at Nora and sees her as completely inferior to himself. So Nora never got her knight is shining armor like she expected, but instead a Grendle of a man.
6) The ending of this play is what really defines it. This play brings to light the harshness of a woman’s world during the time period, and the ending only reinforces the independent factor of all women that seems to just get lost throughout society. By changing the ending in this way it indicates the lack of conviction and independence that women had, making them to be considered as to weak to change.
JosieFlores, p3
1. Nora's vain personality was seen most throughout the beginning of the play. It seems as though Nora’s change was overall a revelation due to realizing how her bad her personality had become after she saw what her position was within her marriage. She had been in an unfair atmosphere and her personality was snobby because of it. This provokes her to change the way she acts and also to find the strength she needs to change.
2. Torvald treats Nora unequally. It’s as though he is actually speaking down to her as if she were inferior. This speech Torvald uses helps the person who is reading it understand why Nora acts the way she does in the beginning of the play.
3. After hearing Dr, Rank’s confession, Nora must feel somewhat awkward around him. Nora probably doesn’t want to go on with asking about the debt probably because she wants to stay away from Dr, Rank and the awkwardness between them she feels. Also, she probably doesn’t want to send him mixed signals, or have him become confused about the way she feels about him.
4. Kristine Linde serves as a foil character for Nora by acting opposite of the way she does. Although they are good friends, she acts very differently than Nora. Kristine Linde seems to be much more reasonable and kind hearted than Nora is. Krogstad has also served as a foil character for Nora. He had showed sympathy and had seen the way she suffered in her inferior lifestyle. Although his character seemed to be somewhat menacing, he turned out to show compassion for Nora.
5. Even though it may not seem like a miracle, Trovald at the end of the play insulting and treating Nora as an inferior is actually a blessing. His behavior and insults toward her realized how right she was in changing and by realizing how badly her lifestyle had become.
6. The different ending had affected the play in an enormous way. It caused the overall message of the play to become very different. As most of the play seemed to be how Nora had struggled to come out of her certain lifestyle, it seemed as though her looking back at her children in affection showed more of a soft side to her. It would have been better if it went on to show how powerful and courageous she had become. I didn’t really appreciate the alternative ending.
1. Nora's change in her personality over the course of the play is a transformation. One can see evidence of this transformation over the course of the play. She becomes much more aware of her situation in life.
2. The language that Torvald uses to speak to Nora help us understand his relationship with her. He tends to talk to her childishly and treats her as though she is not mature. It shows that he is the dominant character in the household.
3. Upon hearing this, Nora decides not to make her request because of many reasons. The first is that she was most likely quite suprised by the revelation. She would also be questioning his motives and contemplating any action he might take. Asking him for help could seem like she's returning his affection when that is not her true intention.
4. Both of these characters serve as foil characters for Nora. Linde is more experienced and has a greater understanding of the world. This is a contrast to Nora's child like qualities. Krogstad is a foil character of the opposite variety. He is a foil character because of his similarities, not differences. His situation in life is what makes him similar to Nora.
5. The miracle that Nora is waiting for from Torvald is for him to overcome his selfishness. She wants him to stop thinking about himself first before everything else.
6. This alternative ending affect the ideas of the play greatly. It changes it from a woman who can escape the situation of women to one who cannot. This is a completely different message than that was meant to be portrayed.
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