NURSE. have any anxiety, won’t it? A short silence]. I must try and get some sense, Torvald. as you can afford; and then one of these days I will buy something with it. It was just after Ivar She embodies the comedy as well as the tragedy of … after. You mustn’t be angry with me. We will say no more about it. Well,—goodnight, Nora, and don’t be self-willed any more. At the next fancy-dress ball I shall be invisible. don’t say such horrid children. I can tell you, too, that simply listen to what I say. Yes, but you must. Show it, then; think of my little children. What sort of an expression is that to use about our marriage? HELMER. Don’t you think they will fit me? Come, come, don’t be so wild and nervous. that. NORA. NORA dances more and more wildly. HELMER. That may be so, but you had no right to throw me over for anyone else’s RANK. By your leave! He had so grown into our lives. Good. [tosses her head and crosses the stage]. You see, he had to make money every way he HELMER. But I forgive you According to it a woman has no right to spare her He mustn’t get the letter. never moralised at all, and talked to each other about such entertaining Anything rather than of no use to them. Nora! tiny wee bit! But if There is something [Holds out his hands to her.] [springing up]. KROGSTAD. HELMER. I Now it is all over. But he was so ill then—alas, there never Oh, Nora, Nora!—no, first I must destroy these hateful things. It is a loss you would easily recover from. What is the matter with you? And I—how am I fitted to bring up the children? Victorian House Pattern Pieces . should have had to tell him what the money was to be used for; and when he was HELMER. her, while she says in quick, hoarse, spasmodic whispers]. I have often heard Mrs Linde’s name mentioned here. humming to herself.]. She stops by the sofa and takes up her Your husband? Maybe. RANK. HELMER. in; we are quite alone. silly and insignificant. Yes, yes, mother will dance NORA. In as lenient a manner as I possibly could. as I am quite certain that the worst has come, I shall send you my card with a else may have dated it haphazard before they knew of his death. Perhaps we shall be able to Look, here is a new suit for Ivar, and a sword; and a horse and a Speak low—my husband is at home. Stenborgs’ the day after tomorrow. obliged to use up all he gave me for them, the sweet little darlings! You The Doll's House by Katherine MansfieldWHEN dear old Mrs. Hay went back to town after staying with the Burnells she sent the children a doll's house. up on the Tree. [Goes without beating about the bush—is Mrs Linde to have an appointment in the Christine! Bankrupt! He holds out his hand full of home. Make your mind easy; I won’t let him escape. Yes, my own darling Nora. You are ill, Nora; you are delirious; I almost think you are out of your mind. As I had to break with you, it was my duty also to put [more gently]. for you know so little of the burdens and troubles of life. [moving towards the stove]. sake. Not on any account. [She Doctor Rank! NORA. We have been married now eight years. Nora! NORA. that I too have something to be proud and glad of. KROGSTAD. HELMER. MRS LINDE. Never! NORA. The Classic Theatre – A Doll’s House Study Guide 2 Show Runs November 3rd – November 26th, 2017 Table of Contents MISSION: The Classic Theatre creates excellent theatre that is relevant, diverse, entertaining, and transformative. Helen! Yes, do. e!Y&d�M�mR��Y"��,#�dK(�D���2�1s�߹��|Ͻ��{�}�����yޟ�y��y?��M�F�x�� `�/����YY�XY����88�9��'��������� "焄��K(H��������K���iu�����ee��a������. KROGSTAD. [laughing]. KROGSTAD. Doctor Rank, Mrs Linde. the children; I dare not trust them to you. No, no! mustn’t take you away from Torvald and me. NORA. I was right in what I thought, then. If it has to happen, it is best it should be without a word—don’t HELMER. be so too. Dance music is heard in the room above. house, as I am doing now, he is legally freed from all obligations towards her. [controlling himself]. Helmer HELMER. You don’t mean that you will tell my husband that I owe you money? MRS LINDE. At the back, a door to the right leads to the entrance-hall, Nora! He means to shut himself up and die. [Throws down the work, Certainly I knew we should not have him very long with us. Incorporating practical advice, useful tips and inspiring dolls' house maker profiles, The Big Book of the Dolls' House is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced hobbyists. I shall only make one more Did he? happy time for me, I can tell you. Not even papa. The nature of the main character, Nora, was the epitome of the struggle against the humiliating constraints of women and social conformity. What have you found out? It’s all nonsense—there’s nothing wrong. NORA. Have you really the courage to open up that question again? [standing by the lamp]. If you yourself up well. RANK. everyone who has gone to the bad early in life has had a deceitful mother. right.]. From Rumer Godden, one of the foremost authors of the 20th century, and illustrated by two-time Caldecott Honor recipient Tasha Tudor, comes a heartwarming tale filled with imagination and creativity that is ideal for any girl who has ever loved a doll … [looking incredulously at her]. Hide the Christmas Tree carefully, Helen. [putting on her hat]. If I had asked him for his signature, I [gently]. [following her]. If it is a caller, remember I am not at home. NORA. Torvald! A lamp is burning on the table. NORA. little spendthrift been wasting money again? I will tell you. What are you doing in there? She has only come to sew my dress for me. How did you know I had thought of that? Your husband must make a place for me—. NORA. Yes, do. Tell me! room.] at me! really serious—. Do you know anything about it? Narrow-minded? myself that the law is right. RANK. he—? People don’t do such things, Mrs Helmer. That is the reason why I will not stay here You will see You see, they are so accustomed to have their mamma with them. I have never felt my mind so clear and certain as tonight. Then she tosses her head.] RANK. NORA. your letters, Torvald. I feel so relieved and Yes, Torvald, I beg you so earnestly—. hall and opens the outer door carefully. But, don’t tell anyone about the stranger man. our hard times are over. listens.] box. [Steals across to the hall door.] It may nothing—she is not expecting anything? Promise me that, Torvald! Explain yourself better. Do you realise what a horribly painful position [from the inner room]. anything about it; I, and I alone, did the whole thing. old dying father, or to save her husband’s life. MRS LINDE. NORA. bank. All over! [To the PORTER, taking out her KROGSTAD. [Opens the door by degrees.] What are little people called that are always wasting money? You can’t deny it, my dear little Nora. [Aloud.] Oh no, no! learned at Capri. What did I tell you? forward.] Is my little squirrel out of temper? invisible? [sitting down by the stove]. Besides, I really don’t need any help at NORA. You? What a thoughtless creature I am, NORA. Yes, I knew; I saw it in the papers. HELMER. NORA. wife’s bidding—. Do you understand what you have done? MRS LINDE. older than you in many ways and have a little more experience. Sleep The law cares nothing about motives. life—never mind what he says! difficulties in my way, although you knew what a dangerous condition my husband NORA shuts the door. RANK. no!—don’t take me in. Then it is because you haven’t the will; but I have means to compel you. then he will have a big salary and lots of commissions. But you would have it so. [Takes various things out of MRS LINDE. You yourself are already on the high road So A short pause.] to them both and goes out.]. All your father’s want of principle—be Out of my thoughts, out of my thoughts! There is just one thing in the I have wanted you so much, Torvald dear. KROGSTAD. I want to rehabilitate myself, Mrs Helmer; I want to get on; Nothing but dry business matters, Mrs Helmer; absolutely nothing else. May I venture at last to come into my own Nonsense! I didn’t know anyone else to go to. [makes room for her to pass him, but sits still]. More than anyone else. conditions of our bargain. that. But it is true, Nora, I swear And I would not wish you to be anything but just what you are, my sweet little Why shouldn’t I look at my dearest treasure?—at all the beauty that NORA. Keep him as long dangerous condition he was in. NORA. [smiling]. That is why my sweet little Nora must Many people prefer to read off-line or to print out text and read from the real printed page. Excuse me, but I don’t know—. extravagantly. Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (1879), written while Ibsen was in Rome and Amalfi, Italy, was conceived at a time of revolution in Europe. [speaking quickly]. [wagging his finger at her]. Engravings on the walls; a cabinet with china and Let me ask you a question; why did you not send the paper to your father? Oh, how do I know whether I had or whether I hadn’t? Yes, but I can’t now. RANK. I have it in me to become a different man. But no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves. Life, and hard, bitter necessity have taught Call her back, Torvald! You will still remain What do you say? HELMER. Well, I am like a shipwrecked woman clinging to some wreckage—no one to No, take What, when I was going to get such a good place by it? Oho!—you don’t mean to say you are jealous of poor Christine? On the contrary, I feel extraordinarily lively. KROGSTAD. people are present. take everything upon yourself, and say: I am the guilty one. NORA. NORA. if I had never come into this house. aright, let me try and awaken your conscience. [with a stifled cry, turns round and gets up on to her knees]. [The action takes place in Helmer’s house.]. hours to live. I only want to say this to you, Christine—you must be my witness. Call her back! Is it imprudent to save your husband’s life? Oh, I am always tremendously pleased when you come. way—that he should learn it from you! Was it likely that I would be continually and forever telling you about worries hear? so happy, Christine! I have three lovely Needle and thread? But, Christine, that is so frightfully tiring, and you look tired out now. Torvald!—I will sing for you, dance for you—[HELMER comes in Why shouldn’t one enjoy everything in NORA. give me an explanation. That is so, isn’t it? NORA. NORA. nevertheless, because it is such eloquent witness to your great love for me. HELMER. That’s my affair! reputation, was nothing more or nothing worse than what you have done. with a man like that, and give him any sort of promise? Nora! isn’t it? strange man won’t do mother any harm. be? [1] NORA. If you are well enough? NORA. Then she looks at her watch.] KROGSTAD. will protect you like a hunted dove that I have saved from a hawk’s Listen to me, Nora. HELMER. NORA. MRS LINDE. inserted the date on which he signed the paper. There can be no freedom or beauty about a home life that It’s perfectly glorious to think that we have—that NORA. I couldn’t prevent it, Mr. Krogstad. The play is set in a Norwegian town circa 1879. the first bars of the Tarantella. helpless little mortal. fascinating, charming little darling! And you have always been so kind to me. about these things! When you have three children, you get visits now Very well—I must put an end to this. [goes on sewing. me downstairs again into the mud. no—it’s something nasty! any idea of this? I thought they were forbidden here. HELMER. burn.] Give me mine. HELMER. left out in the cold. beginning to go now. Well, in any case, it would have been of no use to you now. Was that horrid? the icy, black I have waited so patiently for eight years; for, goodness knows, I knew very [RANK sits down at the piano and plays. NORA. and beg him never to reveal it. Who else? Christine—? In nine, ten long years—. NORA. every evening until quite late at night. consider what people will say! Very likely; but, to come to the point, the time has come when I should advise But now I am going to try. It’s not true. Ah, but I forgot—. And I do so want to look nice at KROGSTAD. HELMER. You Torvald—! NORA. Torvald, I don’t believe you mean that. Could you really do it? But don’t you think it is nice of me, too, to do as you wish? I could do nothing else. play at? I have It is for that reason that I cannot remain with you any longer. silent.] But never mind about that! goes into his room, shutting the door after him. glance in your direction now and then?—do you know why I do that? If you had it in your mind to run away from your home—. I look so nice, Torvald. I have put the keys here. But it didn’t bite you? And have had some experience of book-keeping? Ah, by the way, first of all I will just— In the middle of the left-hand wall is a door, and beyond it a window. [A thought I couldn’t go away again without having seen you. Hm!—. very happy and cosy in here, you two. RANK. You couldn’t know that Torvald had Then I gave you the bond to send by post to your father. [A little later, he opens the door and looks into long. Mine is, and I hope it will continue to be so, as long as I hold my office. pounds. HELMER’S and NORA’S voices are [in the doorway on the left]. Well, do it, then!—and it will be the worse for When dear old Mrs. Hay went back to town after staying with the Burnells she sent the children a doll's house. Ah, there he is. I think I have the right to be. HELMER. NORA. Ah, you are still afraid of that fellow—. NORA. really well dressed, isn’t it? hall. as—. [Takes the packet from her What rubbish! NORA. [Goes up to her and takes her playfully by the ear.] complete understanding between them, which is impossible with all this [Taking his arm.] now; when my dancing and dressing-up and reciting have palled on him; then it NORA. ours, who comes here everyday! when I am in the company of such people. NORA. good table. [gathering some of the things together]. No, you have never properly understood me. Goodnight, goodnight. Nora [humming and smiling with an air Tarantella, my blood was on fire; I could endure it no longer, and that was why in now, you look half frozen. help me; I have absolutely forgotten the whole thing. NORA. a surety for the money; those lines your father should have signed. [She comes back with her cloak and hat and a small bag which But you are my wife, whatever becomes of you. NORA. Look at me now—I am a shipwrecked man clinging to a So it has all had to come out of your own necessaries of life, poor Nora? the door after them.] HELMER. No, no; only lean on me; I will advise you and direct you. Do you think they would forget their mother if she went away Torvald Helmer. NORA. into trouble should be glad to. I am frightened to death of him—. clear myself in the eyes of the world. No, no, At the back, a door to the right leads to the entrance-hall, another to the left leads to Helmer's study. It is I, Mrs Helmer. HELMER. but all the same it was a tremendous pleasure to sit there working and earning The book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 122 pages and is … NORA. HELMER. give it up to me? It is all up with me. NORA. Your father had always plenty of those ready, too. [Shuts the door and sees Mrs LINDE.] Have you any notion what Society really is? MRS LINDE. You alarm me, NORA. HELMER. NORA. think of him as having gone out of them. No, just the opposite, dear—and it is exactly for that reason. The main characters of this classics, drama story are Nora Helmer, Torvald Helmer. forgiven you. will see how beautifully I shall dance, and you can imagine I am doing it all Christine, you must There would have been no credit in NORA. all. NORA. You must give yourself up to me entirely this Themes in A Doll's House One of the most central themes of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is the concept of women as possessions in marriage and society as a whole. NORA. And just think, she has taken a long journey in order to see you. HELMER. MRS LINDE. HELMER. ], MAID. A doll’s house arrives at the Burnell home as a gift. to the hall door and calls.] Haven’t you been a little bit imprudent? NORA. There, there, of course I was only joking. when it will be that the horrors of dissolution will begin. I will have them sent after me. Besides, it would have been a great piece of folly. carpeted, and a fire burns in the stove. MRS LINDE. HELMER. [Throws his domino on Aren’t they lovely? had an hour’s illness since then, and our children are strong and healthy must know all about it. Krogstad must ask for his letter back unread, he must find some pretence—, NORA. couldn’t give that up. That’s very true,—all you can. No! There is no one has such good taste as you. had fallen in love with me—, NORA. is so—of course it is! HELMER. I today. KROGSTAD. her.] any the less dear to me, because you don’t understand how to act on your I must make an end of it with him. looks on.]. what are you going to do there? Why do you pay any heed to that? whispers]. [in an expressionless voice]. NORA. I knew your ring. Those who are gone are soon winked at what he did! HELMER. MRS LINDE. bring upon us. [putting her hands over her ears]. in evening dress, and a black domino which is flying open.]. HELMER has taken up a position beside the stove, and during her dance gives her tomorrow—. stove and moves the rocking-chair aside.]. Maybe. And yet how could I—[In Your skylark would chirp about in every room, with her song rising and HELMER. Now I know what I must do. RANK. Let me go. RANK. no! Well, let him come in—but quietly. It is delightful She had danced her Tarantella, and it had been a [in a hoarse whisper]. as if you could believe that I have forgiven you. MRS LINDE. No, Nils, you must not recall your letter. Now, what do you think of my great Because you chose to give him a longed for nothing but you. NORA. Torvald’s life. you must only look at the feet. ]. NORA. Can you explain it to me? My goodness, But it is a good thing that No, NORA. Perhaps—if your doll is taken away from you. It’s shocking. It is perfectly true, Torvald. Oh, it’s a mustn’t open a single letter—not even open the letter-box—, HELMER. [Whispers and hands her a card. Look at them, Christine! The little ones are begging so hard to be allowed to come in to mamma. The first edition of the novel was published in 1879, and was written by Henrik Ibsen. Your squirrel would run about and do all her tricks if you would be nice, and you. feel the certainty that I have done so. Bought, did you say? Where are you going? their own. HELMER. One would hardly believe how expensive such little persons are! Taking off my fancy dress. advice, and help, and a favour—. You seemed to me to imply that with me you might have been quite another man. that would be? NORA. [throwing away the tambourine]. But can’t we live here like brother and sister—? Then this horrible I must tell you that he suffers from a purse.] longer be what it is now. Oh, you sweet blessings! Yes, anyhow I think it would be delightful to have what one needs. I wish they would be quick and MRS LINDE. My poor innocent spine Then the Tarantella will be over. [in the doorway]. When he has gone we will have take their revenge on our bones. Doctor Rank, come and sit down here, and I will show you HELMER. possible. [Standing still.] Isn’t there one thing that strikes you as with doubly gentle care, because it was so brittle and fragile. Everything you do is quite right, Torvald. How kind you are, Nora, to be so anxious to help me! HELMER. But I will believe in it. died?—on what day of the month, I mean. Many a man has been able to retrieve his character, if he has openly confessed The matter must be hushed up at any cost. Go in to them. a discrepancy [taking a paper from his pocket] which I cannot account Be nice now, Doctor Rank, and tomorrow you That’s right. The MAID ushers in Mrs Linde, who is in When anyone is as attractive as I am—. [drops her cloak]. NORA. Come in! NORA. And if it should happen that there were some one who wanted to take all the I have no means of forming an opinion about that. I want to get into the Bank NORA. NORA. very short time be free of the whole thing. certain people who go zealously snuffing about to smell out moral corruption, MRS LINDE. It's a three-act play work of 1879 by the Norwegian playwright It’s about how women are not allowed to perform certain roles and the sacrifices they make for their families. NORA. soon the spring will come and the big blue sky! Yes, we’ll play Hide and Seek. Of course you are not aware I can’t dance tomorrow if I don’t practise with you. yesterday. And you?—you NORA. But deeds you must believe live quite differently—we can do just as we like. NORA. I shall make use of as much of it as I can. Probably within a month I shall lie rotting in the message from him. No for you, Torvald. I Goodbye for the present. then, and in that time I have witnessed incredible things in this house. To be able to be free from care, quite free from care; to be What are they? a familiar tone with me, and every minute it is “I say, Helmer, old has to suffer for my father’s youthful amusements. When that is over, we may expect them back. There now, it is burning up. Christine! a curtsey on either side, and, as they say in novels, the beautiful apparition am quite sure that if I told Doctor Rank—. It is impossible where I live; there is no private entrance to my rooms. KROGSTAD. [Puts on his coat.] NORA. husband not to indulge me in my whims and caprices—as I believe he called singing-bird! [after a short silence]. [walking up and down]. I am not speaking about business matters. MRS LINDE. With several children. for you—and for Torvald too, of course. Well, my skylark does that anyhow. Tell me something reasonable that you would particularly Every lawyer is familiar with Who is it? For a big proof of your friendship—. HELMER. [Begins to busy herself putting the children’s things in sin against me. [The PORTER thanks her, and goes understand what you have done? You don’t know all. back, don’t you? No, thank you. Like the dolls, the sisters have something about them that sticks out and makes them an outsider. you right, and that views of that kind are to be found in books; but I can no secret, Christine? know anything about it. Summary Read a Plot Overview of the entire play or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis. KROGSTAD. KROGSTAD. NORA. to—[Suddenly.] That isn’t the reason, Torvald. [undisturbed]. Yes, Torvald, I can’t get along a bit without your help. in. have leave to look at the legs too. HELMER goes and unlocks the hall door.]. But what do you refer to? NORA. You had the best of intentions the night—. How should I know—? NORA. But, my dear Nora—who could the man be? trick, and that is why he has gone under altogether. [sinks down on a chair at the door and buries his face in his hands]. 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