Do you see them, Christina? Aren't they lovely? RANK. Don't let us stand here chattering in the draught. HELMER. Come, Mrs. Linden; only mothers can stand such a temperature. DR. RANK, HELMER, and MRS. LINDEN go down the stairs; ANNA enters the room with the children; NORA also, shutting the door. NORA. How fresh and bright you look! And what red cheeks you've got! Like apples and roses. The children chatter to her during what follows. Have you had great fun? That's splendid! Oh, really! You've been giving Emmy and Bob a ride on your sledge!- both at once, only think, Why, you're quite a man, Ivar. Oh, give her to me a little, Anna. My sweet little dolly! Takes the smallest from the nurse and dances with her. Yes, yes; mother will dance with Bob too. What! Did you have a game of snowballs? Oh, I wish I'd been there. No; leave them, Anna; I'll take their things off. Oh, yes, let me do it; it's such fun. Go to the nursery; you look frozen. You'll find some hot coffee on the stove. The NURSE goes into the room on the left. NORA takes off the children's things and throws them down anywhere, while the children talk all together. Really! A big dog ran after you? But he didn't bite you? No; dogs don't bite dear little dolly children. Don't peep into those parcels, Ivar. What is it? Wouldn't you like to know? Take care- it'll bite! What? Shall we have a game? What shall we play at? Hide-and-seek? Yes, let's play hide-and-seek. Bob shall hide first. Am I to? Yes, let me hide first. She and the children play, with laughter and shouting, in the room and the adjacent one to the right. At last-13- NORA hides under the table; the children come rushing in, look for her, but cannot find her, hear her half-choked laughter, rush to the table, lift up the cover and see her. Loud shouts. She creeps out, as though to frighten them. Fresh shouts.


Loud shouts. She creeps out, as though to frighten them. Fresh shouts. Meanwhile there has been a knock at the door leading into the hall. No one has heard it. Now the door is half opened and KROGSTAD appears. He waits a little; the game is renewed. KROGSTAD. I beg your pardon, Mrs. Helmer- NORA. With a suppressed cry, turns round and half jumps up. Ah! What do you want? KROGSTAD. Excuse me; the outer door was ajar- somebody must have forgotten to shut it- NORA. Standing up. My husband is not at home, Mr. Krogstad. KROGSTAD. I know it. NORA. Then what do you want here? KROGSTAD. To say a few words to you. NORA. To me? To the children, softly. Go in to Anna. What? No, the strange man won't hurt mamma. When he's gone we'll go on playing. She leads the children into the left-hand room, and shuts the door behind them. Uneasy, in suspense. It is to me you wish to speak? KROGSTAD. Yes, to you. NORA. To-day? But it's not the first yet- KROGSTAD. No, to-day is Christmas Eve. It will depend upon yourself whether you have a merry Christmas. NORA. What do you want? I'm not ready to-day- KROGSTAD. Never mind that just now. I have come about another matter. You have a minute to spare? NORA. Oh, yes, I suppose so; although- KROGSTAD. Good. I was sitting in the restaurant opposite, and I saw your husband go down the street- NORA. Well? KROGSTAD. -with a lady. NORA. What then? KROGSTAD. May I ask if the lady was a Mrs Linden? NORA. Yes. KROGSTAD. Who has just come to town? NORA. Yes. To-day. KROGSTAD. I believe she is an intimate friend of yours. NORA. Certainly. But I don't understand- KROGSTAD. I used to know her too. NORA. I know you did. KROGSTAD. Ah! You know all about it. I thought as much. Now, frankly, is Mrs.


I am afraid of you no longer. When New Year's Day is over, I shall soon be out of the whole business. KROGSTAD. Controlling himself. Listen to me, Mrs. Helmer. If need be, I shall fight as though for my life to keep my little place in the Bank. NORA. Yes, so it seems. KROGSTAD. It's not only for the salary: that is what I care least about. It's something else- Well, I had better make a clean breast of it. Of course you know, like every one else, that some years ago I- got into trouble. NORA. I think I've heard something of the sort. KROGSTAD. The matter never came into court; but from that moment all paths were barred to me. Then I took up the business you know about. I had to turn my hand to something; and I don't think I've been one of the worst. But now I must get clear of it all. My sons are growing up; for their sake I must try to recover my character as well as I can. This place in the Bank was the first step; and now your husband wants to kick me off the ladder, back into the mire. NORA. But I assure you, Mr. Krogstad, I haven't the least power to help you. KROGSTAD. That is because you have not the will; but I can compel you. NORA. You won't tell my husband that I owe you money? KROGSTAD. H'm; suppose I were to? NORA. It would be shameful of you. With tears in her voice. The secret that is my joy and my pride- that he should learn it in such an ugly, coarse way- and from you. It would involve me in all sorts of unpleasantness- KROGSTAD. Only unpleasantness? NORA. Hotly. But just do it. It's you that will come off worst, for then my husband will see what a bad man you are, and then you certainly won't keep your place. KROGSTAD. I asked whether it was only domestic unpleasantness you feared? NORA. If my husband gets to know about it, he will of course pay you off at once, and then we shall have nothing more to do with you. KROGSTAD. Coming a pace nearer. Listen, Mrs.


If my husband gets to know about it, he will of course pay you off at once, and then we shall have nothing more to do with you. KROGSTAD. Coming a pace nearer. Listen, Mrs. Helmer: either your memory is defective, or you don't know much about business. I must make the position a little clearer to you. NORA. How so? KROGSTAD. When your husband was ill, you came to me to borrow-15- twelve hundred dollars. NORA. I knew of nobody else. KROGSTAD. I promised to find you the money- NORA. And you did find it. KROGSTAD. I promised to find you the money, on certain conditions. You were so much taken up at the time about your husband's illness, and so eager to have the wherewithal for your journey, that you probably did not give much thought to the details. Allow me to remind you of them. I promised to find you the amount in exchange for a note of hand, which I drew up. NORA. Yes, and I signed it. KROGSTAD. Quite right. But then I added a few lines, making your father security for the debt. Your father was to sign this. NORA. Was to-? He did sign it! KROGSTAD. I had left the date blank. That is to say, your father was himself to date his signature. Do you recollect that? NORA. Yes, I believe- KROGSTAD. Then I gave you the paper to send to your father, by post. Is not that so? NORA. Yes. KROGSTAD. And of course you did so at once; for within five or six days you brought me back the document with your father's signature; and I handed you the money. NORA. Well? Have I not made my payments punctually? KROGSTAD. Fairly- yes. But to return to the point: You were in great trouble at the time, Mrs. Helmer. NORA. I was indeed! KROGSTAD. Your father was very ill, I believe? NORA. He was on his death-bed. KROGSTAD. And died soon after? NORA. Yes. KROGSTAD. Tell me, Mrs. Helmer: do you happen to recollect the day of his death? The day of the month, I mean?


NORA. Yes, but I can't just now. Run to the nursery; I have so much to do. Run along,- run along, and be good, my darlings! She pushes them gently into the inner room, and closes the door behind them. Sits on the sofa, embroiders a few stitches, but soon pauses. No! Throws down the work, rises, goes to the hall door and calls out. Ellen, bring in the Christmas-tree! Goes to table, left, and opens the drawer, again pauses. No, it's quite impossible! ELLEN. With Christmas-tree. Where shall I stand it, ma'am? NORA. There, in the middle of the room. ELLEN. Shall I bring in anything else? NORA. No, thank you, I have all I want. ELLEN, having put down the tree, goes out. NORA. Busy dressing the tree. There must be a candle here- and flowers there.- That horrible man! Nonsense, nonsense! There's nothing to be afraid of. The Christmas-tree shall be beautiful. I'll do everything to please you, Torvald; I'll sing and dance,- Enter HELMER by the hall door, with a bundle of documents. -17- NORA. Oh! You're back already? HELMER. Yes. Has anybody been here? NORA. No. HELMER. That's odd. I saw Krogstad come out of the house. NORA. Did you? Oh, yes, by-the-bye, he was here for a minute. HELMER. Nora, I can see by your manner that he has been begging you to put in a good word for him. NORA. Yes. HELMER. And you were to do it as if of your own accord? You were to say nothing to me of his having been here. Didn't he suggest that too? NORA. Yes, Torvald; but- HELMER. Nora, Nora! And you could condescend to that! To speak to such a man, to make him a promise! And then to tell me an untruth about it! NORA. An untruth! HELMER. Didn't you say that nobody had been here? Threatens with his finger. My little bird must never do that again! A song-bird must sing clear and true; no false notes.


Didn't you say that nobody had been here? Threatens with his finger. My little bird must never do that again! A song-bird must sing clear and true; no false notes. Puts his arm round her. That's so, isn't it? Yes, I was sure of it. Lets her go And now we'll say no more about it. Sits down before the fire. Oh, how cosy and quiet it is here! Glances into his documents. NORA. Busy with the tree, after a short silence. Torvald! HELMER. Yes. NORA. I'm looking forward so much to the Stenborgs' fancy ball the day after to-morrow. HELMER. And I'm on tenterhooks to see what surprise you have in store for me. NORA. Oh, it's too tiresome! HELMER. What is? NORA. I can't think of anything good. Everything seems so foolish and meaningless. HELMER. Has little Nora made that discovery? NORA. Behind his chair, with her arms on the back. Are you very busy, Torvald? HELMER. Well- NORA. What papers are those? HELMER. Bank business. NORA. Already! HELMER. I have got the retiring manager to let me make some necessary changes in the staff and the organization. I can do this during Christmas week. I want to have everything straight by the New Year. NORA. Then that's why that poor Krogstad- HELMER. H'm. NORA. Still leaning over the chair-back and slowly stroking his hair. If you hadn't been so very busy, I should have asked you a great, great favour, Torvald. HELMER. What can it be? Out with it. NORA. Nobody has such perfect taste as you; and I should so love to look well at the fancy ball. Torvald, dear, couldn't you take me in hand, and settle what I'm to be, and arrange my costume for me? HELMER. Aha! So my wilful little woman is at a loss, and making signals of distress. NORA. Yes, please, Torvald. I can't get on without your help. HELMER. Well, well, I'll think it over, and we'll soon hit upon something. NORA.


HELMER. Well, well, I'll think it over, and we'll soon hit upon something. NORA. Oh, how good that is of you! Goes to the tree again; pause. How well the red flowers show.- Tell me, was it anything so very dreadful this Krogstad got into trouble about? -18- HELMER. Forgery, that's all. Don't you know what that means? NORA. Mayn't he have been driven to it by need? HELMER. Yes; or, like so many others, he may have done it in pure heedlessness. I am not so hard-hearted as to condemn a man absolutely for a single fault. NORA. No, surely not, Torvald! HELMER. Many a man can retrieve his character, if he owns his crime and takes the punishment. NORA. Punishment-? HELMER. But Krogstad didn't do that. He evaded the law by means of tricks and subterfuges; and that is what has morally ruined him. NORA. Do you think that-? HELMER. Just think how a man with a thing of that sort on his conscience must be always lying and canting and shamming. Think of the mask he must wear even towards those who stand nearest him- towards his own wife and children. The effect on the children- that's the most terrible part of it, Nora. NORA. Why? HELMER. Because in such an atmosphere of lies home life is poisoned and contaminated in every fibre. Every breath the children draw contains some germ of evil. NORA. Closer behind him. Are you sure of that? HELMER. As a lawyer, my dear, I have seen it often enough. Nearly all cases of early corruption may be traced to lying mothers. NORA. Why- mothers? HELMER. It generally comes from the mother's side; but of course the father's influence may act in the same way. Every lawyer knows it too well. And here has this Krogstad been poisoning his own children for years past by a life of lies and hypocrisy- that is why I call him morally ruined. Holds out both hands to her. So my sweet little Nora must promise not to plead his cause. Shake hands upon it. Come, come, what's this? Give me your hand. That's right. Then it's a bargain.


Give me your hand. That's right. Then it's a bargain. I assure you it would have been impossible for me to work with him. It gives me a positive sense of physical discomfort to come in contact with such people. NORA draws her hand away, and moves to the other side of the Christmas-tree. NORA. How warm it is here. And I have so much to do. HELMER. Rises and gathers up his papers. Yes, and I must try to get some of these papers looked through before dinner. And I shall think over your costume too. Perhaps I may even find something to hang in gilt paper on the Christmas-tree-. Lays his hand on her head. My precious little song-bird! He goes into his room and shuts the door. NORA. Softly, after a pause. It can't be. It's impossible. It must be impossible! ANNA. At the door, left. The little ones are begging so prettily to come to mamma. NORA. No, no, no; don't let them come to me! Keep them with you, Anna. ANNA. Very well, ma'am. Shuts the door. NORA. Pale with terror. Corrupt my children!- Poison my home! Short pause. She throws back her head. It's not true! It can never, never be true! ACT SECOND The same room. In the corner, beside the piano, stands the Christmas-tree, stripped, and with the candles burnt out. NORA's outdoor things lie on the sofa. -19- NORA, alone, is walking about restlessly. At last she stops by the sofa, and takes up her cloak. NORA. Dropping the cloak. There's somebody coming! Goes to the hall door and listens. Nobody; of course nobody will come to-day, Christmas-day; nor to-morrow either. But perhaps- Opens the door and looks out. -. No, nothing in the letter box; quite empty. Comes forward. Stuff and nonsense! Of course he won't really do anything. Such a thing couldn't happen. It's impossible! Why, I have three little children. ANNA enters from the left, with a large cardboard box. ANNA. I've found the box with the fancy dress at last. NORA. Thanks; put it down on the table. ANNA.


NORA. Thanks; put it down on the table. ANNA. Does so. But I'm afraid it's very much out of order. NORA. Oh, I wish I could tear it into a hundred thousand pieces! ANNA. Oh, no. It can easily be put to rights- just a little patience. NORA. I shall go and get Mrs. Linden to help me. ANNA. Going out again? In such weather as this! You'll catch cold, ma'am, and be ill. NORA. Worse things might happen.- What are the children doing? ANNA. They're playing with their Christmas presents, poor little dears; but- NORA. Do they often ask for me? ANNA. You see they've been so used to having their mamma with them. NORA. Yes; but, Anna, I can't have them so much with me in future. ANNA. Well, little children get used to anything. NORA. Do you think they do? Do you believe they would forget their mother if she went quite away? ANNA. Gracious me! Quite away? NORA. Tell me, Anna- I've so often wondered about it- how could you bring yourself to give your child up to strangers? ANNA. I had to when I came to nurse my little Miss Nora. NORA. But how could you make up your mind to it? ANNA. When I had the chance of such a good place? A poor girl who's been in trouble must take what comes. That wicked man did nothing for me. NORA. But your daughter must have forgotten you. ANNA. Oh, no, ma'am, that she hasn't. She wrote to me both when she was confirmed and when she was married. NORA. Embracing her. Dear old Anna- you were a good mother to me when I was little. ANNA. My poor little Nora had no mother but me. NORA. And if my little ones had nobody else, I'm sure you would- Nonsense, nonsense! Opens the box. Go in to the children. Now I must- You'll see how lovely I shall be to-morrow. ANNA. I'm sure there will be no one at the ball so lovely as my Miss Nora. She goes into the room on the left. NORA.


I'm sure there will be no one at the ball so lovely as my Miss Nora. She goes into the room on the left. NORA. Takes the costume out of the box, but soon throws it down again. Oh, if I dared go out. If only nobody would come. If only nothing would happen here in the meantime. Rubbish; nobody is coming. Only not to think. What a delicious muff! Beautiful gloves, beautiful gloves! To forget- to forget! One, two, three, four, five, six- With a scream. Ah, there they come. Goes towards the door, then stands irresolute. MRS. LINDEN enters from the hall, where she has taken off her things. -20- NORA. Oh, it's you, Christina. There's nobody else there? I'm so glad you have come. MRS. LINDEN. I hear you called at my lodgings. NORA. Yes, I was just passing. There's something you must help me with. Let us sit here on the sofa so. To-morrow evening there's to be a fancy ball at Consul Stenborg's overhead, and Torvald wants me to appear as a Neapolitan fisher-girl, and dance the tarantella; I learned it at Capri. MRS. LINDEN. I see- quite a performance. NORA. Yes, Torvald wishes it. Look, this is the costume; Torvald had it made for me in Italy. But now it's all so torn, I don't know- MRS. LINDEN. Oh, we shall soon set that to rights. It's only the trimming that has come loose here and there. Have you a needle and thread? Ah, here's the very thing. NORA. Oh, how kind of you. MRS. LINDEN. Sewing. So you're to be in costume to-morrow, Nora? I'll tell you what- I shall come in for a moment to see you in all your glory. But I've quite forgotten to thank you for the pleasant evening yesterday. NORA. Rises and walks across the room. Oh, yesterday, it didn't seem so pleasant as usual.- You should have come to town a little sooner, Christina.- Torvald has certainly the art of making home bright and beautiful. MRS. LINDEN.


Rises and walks across the room. Oh, yesterday, it didn't seem so pleasant as usual.- You should have come to town a little sooner, Christina.- Torvald has certainly the art of making home bright and beautiful. MRS. LINDEN. You too, I should think, or you wouldn't be your father's daughter. But tell me- is Doctor Rank always so depressed as he was last evening? NORA. No, yesterday it was particularly noticeable. You see, he suffers from a dreadful illness. He has spinal consumption, poor fellow. They say his father was a horrible man, who kept mistresses and all sorts of things- so the son has been sickly from his childhood, you understand. MRS. LINDEN. Lets her sewing fall into her lap. Why, my darling Nora, how do you come to know such things? NORA. Moving about the room. Oh, when one has three children, one sometimes has visits from women who are half- half doctors- and they talk of one thing and another. MRS. LINDEN. Goes on sewing; a short pause. Does Doctor Rank come here every day? NORA. Every day of his life. He has been Torvald's most intimate friend from boyhood, and he's a good friend of mine too. Doctor Rank is quite one of the family. MRS. LINDEN. But tell me- is he quite sincere? I mean, isn't he rather given to flattering people? NORA. No, quite the contrary. Why should you think so? MRS. LINDEN. When you introduced us yesterday he said he had often heard my name; but I noticed afterwards that your husband had no notion who I was. How could Doctor Rank-? NORA. He was quite right, Christina. You see, Torvald loves me so indescribably, he wants to have me all to himself, as he says. When we were first married he was almost jealous if I even mentioned any of my old friends at home; so naturally I gave up doing it. But I often talk of the old times to Doctor Rank, for he likes to hear about them. MRS. LINDEN. Listen to me, Nora! You are still a child in many ways. I am older than you, and have had more experience. I'll tell you something? You ought to get clear of all this with Dr. Rank. NORA.


You ought to get clear of all this with Dr. Rank. NORA. Get clear of what? MRS. LINDEN. The whole affair, I should say. You were talking-21- yesterday of a rich admirer who was to find you money- NORA. Yes, one who never existed, worse luck. What then? MRS. LINDEN. Has Doctor Rank money? NORA. Yes, he has. MRS. LINDEN. And nobody to provide for? NORA. Nobody. But-? MRS. LINDEN. And he comes here every day? NORA. Yes, I told you so. MRS. LINDEN. I should have thought he would have had better taste. NORA. I don't understand you a bit. MRS. LINDEN. Don't pretend, Nora. Do you suppose I can't guess who lent you the twelve hundred dollars? NORA. Are you out of your senses? How can you think such a thing? A friend who comes here every day! Why, the position would be unbearable! MRS. LINDEN. Then it really is not he? NORA. No, I assure you. It never for a moment occurred to me- Besides, at that time he had nothing to lend; he came into his property afterwards. MRS. LINDEN. Well, I believe that was lucky for you, Nora dear. NORA. No, really, it would never have struck me to ask Dr. Rank- And yet, I'm certain that if I did- MRS. LINDEN. But of course you never would. NORA. Of course not. It's inconceivable that it should ever be necessary. But I'm quite sure that if I spoke to Doctor Rank- MRS. LINDEN. Behind your husband's back? NORA. I must get clear of the other thing; that's behind his back too. I must get clear of that. MRS. LINDEN. Yes, yes, I told you so yesterday; but- NORA. Walking up and down. A man can manage these things much better than a woman. MRS. LINDEN. One's own husband, yes. NORA. Nonsense. Stands still. When everything is paid, one gets back the paper. MRS. LINDEN. Of course. NORA.


HELMER. Come, then, out with it. NORA. Your lark would twitter from morning till night- HELMER. Oh, that she does in any case. NORA. I'll be an elf and dance in the moonlight for you, Torvald. HELMER. Nora- you can't mean what you were hinting at this morning? NORA. Coming nearer. Yes, Torvald, I beg and implore you! HELMER. Have you really the courage to begin that again? NORA. Yes, yes; for my sake, you must let Krogstad keep his place in the Bank. HELMER. My dear Nora, it's his place I intend for Mrs. Linden. NORA. Yes, that's so good of you. But instead of Krogstad, you could dismiss some other clerk. HELMER. Why, this is incredible obstinacy! Because you have thoughtlessly promised to put in a word for him, I am to-! NORA. It's not that, Torvald. It's for your own sake. This man writes for the most scurrilous newspapers; you said so yourself. He can do you no end of harm. I'm so terribly afraid of him- HELMER. Ah, I understand; it's old recollections that are frightening you. NORA. What do you mean? HELMER. Of course you're thinking of your father. NORA. Yes- yes, of course. Only think of the shameful slanders wicked people used to write about father. I believe they would have got him dismissed if you hadn't been sent to look into the thing, and been kind to him, and helped him. HELMER. My little Nora, between your father and me there is all the difference in the world. Your father was not altogether unimpeachable. I am; and I hope to remain so. NORA. Oh, no one knows what wicked men may hit upon. We could live so quietly and happily now, in our cosy, peaceful home, you and I and the children, Torvald! That's why I beg and implore you- HELMER. And it is just by pleading his cause that you make it impossible for me to keep him. It's already known at the Bank that I intend to dismiss Krogstad.


That's why I beg and implore you- HELMER. And it is just by pleading his cause that you make it impossible for me to keep him. It's already known at the Bank that I intend to dismiss Krogstad. If it were now reported that the new manager let himself be turned round his wife's little finger- NORA. What then? HELMER. Oh, nothing, so long as a wilful woman can have her way-! I am to make myself a laughing-stock to the whole staff, and set people saying that I am open to all sorts of outside influence? Take my word for it, I should soon feel the consequences. And besides there is one thing that makes Krogstad impossible for me to work with- NORA. What thing? HELMER. I could perhaps have overlooked his moral failings at a pinch- NORA. Yes, couldn't you, Torvald? -23- HELMER. And I hear he is good at his work. But the fact is, he was a college chum of mine- there was one of those rash friendships between us that one so often repents of later. I may as well confess it at once- he calls me by my Christian name; and he is tactless enough to do it even when others are present. He delights in putting on airs of familiarity- Torvald here, Torvald there! I assure you it's most painful to me. He would make my position at the Bank perfectly unendurable. In the original, "We say 'thou' to each other.". NORA. Torvald, surely you're not serious? HELMER. No? Why not? NORA. That's such a petty reason. HELMER. What! Petty! Do you consider me petty! NORA. No, on the contrary, Torvald dear; and that's just why- HELMER. Never mind; you call my motives petty; then I must be petty too. Petty! Very well!- Now we'll put an end to this, once for all. Goes to the door into the hall and calls. Ellen! NORA. What do you want? HELMER. Searching among his papers. To settle the thing. ELLEN enters. Here; take this letter; give it to a messenger. See that he takes it at once. The address is on it. Here's the money. ELLEN.


The address is on it. Here's the money. ELLEN. Very well, sir. Goes with the letter. HELMER. Putting his papers together. There, Madam Obstinacy. NORA. Breathless. Torvald- what was in the letter? HELMER. Krogstad's dismissal. NORA. Call it back again, Torvald! There's still time. Oh, Torvald, call it back again! For my sake, for your own, for the children's sake! Do you hear, Torvald? Do it! You don't know what that letter may bring upon us all. HELMER. Too late. NORA. Yes, too late. HELMER. My dear Nora, I forgive your anxiety, though it's anything but flattering to me. Why should you suppose that I would be afraid of a wretched scribbler's spite? But I forgive you all the same, for it's a proof of your great love for me. Takes her in his arms. That's as it should be, my own dear Nora. Let what will happen- when it comes to the pinch, I shall have strength and courage enough. You shall see: my shoulders are broad enough to bear the whole burden. NORA. Terror-struck. What do you mean by that? HELMER. The whole burden, I say- NORA. With decision. That you shall never, never do! HELMER. Very well; then we'll share it, Nora, as man and wife. That is how it should be. Petting her. Are you satisfied now? Come, come, come, don't look like a scared dove. It's all nothing- foolish fancies.- Now you ought to play the tarantella through and practise with the tambourine. I shall sit in my inner room and shut both doors, so that I shall hear nothing. As much noise as you please. Turns round in doorway. And when Rank comes, just tell him where I'm to be found. He nods to her, and goes with his papers into his room, closing the door. NORA. Bewildered with terror, stands as though rooted to the ground, and whispers. He would do it. Yes, he would do it. He would do it, in spite of all the world.- No, never that, never, never! Anything rather than that!


Yes, he would do it. He would do it, in spite of all the world.- No, never that, never, never! Anything rather than that! Oh, for some way of escape! What shall I do-! Hall bell rings. Doctor Rank-!- Anything, anything, rather than-! -24- NORA draws her hands over her face, pulls herself together, goes to the door and opens it. RANK stands outside hanging up his fur coat. During what follows it begins to grow dark. NORA. Good afternoon, Doctor Rank, I knew you by your ring. But you mustn't go to Torvald now. I believe he's busy. RANK. And you? Enters and closes the door. NORA. Oh, you know very well, I have always time for you. RANK. Thank you. I shall avail myself of your kindness as long as I can. NORA. What do you mean? As long as you can? RANK. Yes. Does that frighten you? NORA. I think it's an odd expression. Do you expect anything to happen? RANK. Something I have long been prepared for; but I didn't think it would come so soon. NORA. Catching at his arm. What have you discovered? Doctor Rank, you must tell me! RANK. Sitting down by the stove. I am running down hill. There's no help for it. NORA. Draws a long breath of relief. It's you-? RANK. Who else should it be?- Why lie to one's self? I am the most wretched of all my patients, Mrs. Helmer. In these last days I have been auditing my life-account- bankrupt! Perhaps before a month is over, I shall lie rotting in the church-yard. NORA. Oh! What an ugly way to talk. RANK. The thing itself is so confoundedly ugly, you see. But the worst of it is, so many other ugly things have to be gone through first. There is only one last investigation to be made, and when that is over I shall know pretty certainly when the break-up will begin. There's one thing I want to say to you: Helmer's delicate nature shrinks so from all that is horrible: I will not have him in my sick-room- NORA. But, Doctor Rank- RANK.


There is only one last investigation to be made, and when that is over I shall know pretty certainly when the break-up will begin. There's one thing I want to say to you: Helmer's delicate nature shrinks so from all that is horrible: I will not have him in my sick-room- NORA. But, Doctor Rank- RANK. I won't have him, I say- not on any account! I shall lock my door against him.- As soon as I am quite certain of the worst, I shall send you my visiting-card with a black cross on it; and then you will know that the final horror has begun. NORA. Why, you're perfectly unreasonable to-day; and I did so want you to be in a really good humour. RANK. With death staring me in the face?- And to suffer thus for another's sin! Where's the justice of it? And in one way or another you can trace in every family some such inexorable retribution- NORA. Stopping her ears. Nonsense, nonsense! Now cheer up! RANK. Well, after all, the whole thing's only worth laughing at. My poor innocent spine must do penance for my father's wild oats. NORA. At table, left. I suppose he was too fond of asparagus and Strasbourg pate, wasn't he? RANK. Yes; and truffles. NORA. Yes, truffles, to be sure. And oysters, I believe? RANK. Yes, oysters; oysters, of course. NORA. And then all the port and champagne! It's sad that all these good things should attack the spine. RANK. Especially when the luckless spine attacked never had any good of them. NORA. Ah, yes, that's the worst of it. RANK. Looks at her searchingly. H'm--25- NORA. A moment later. Why did you smile? RANK. No; it was you that laughed. NORA. No; it was you that smiled, Doctor Rank. RANK. Standing up. I see you're deeper than I thought. NORA. I'm in such a crazy mood to-day. RANK. So it seems. NORA. With her hands on his shoulders. Dear, dear Doctor Rank, death shall not take you away from Torvald and me. RANK. Oh, you'll easily get over the loss.


With her hands on his shoulders. Dear, dear Doctor Rank, death shall not take you away from Torvald and me. RANK. Oh, you'll easily get over the loss. The absent are soon forgotten. NORA. Looks at him anxiously. Do you think so? RANK. People make fresh ties, and then- NORA. Who make fresh ties? RANK. You and Helmer will,- when I am gone. You yourself are taking time by the forelock, it seems to me. What was that Mrs. Linden doing here yesterday? NORA. Oh!- you're surely not jealous of poor Christina? RANK. Yes, I am. She will be my successor in this house. When I am out of the way, this woman will perhaps- NORA. Hush! Not so loud! She's in there. RANK. To-day as well? You see! NORA. Only to put my costume in order- dear me, how unreasonable you are! Sits on sofa. Now do be good, Doctor Rank! To-morrow you shall see how beautifully I shall dance; and then you may fancy that I'm doing it all to please you- and of course Torvald as well. Takes various things out of box. Doctor Rank, sit down here, and I'll show you something. RANK. Sitting. What is it? NORA. Look here. Look! RANK. Silk stockings. NORA. Flesh-coloured. Aren't they lovely? It's so dark here now; but to-morrow- No, no, no; you must only look at the feet. Oh, well, I suppose you may look at the rest too. RANK. H'm- NORA. What are you looking so critical about? Do you think they won't fit me? RANK. I can't possibly give any competent opinion on that point. NORA. Looking at him a moment. For shame! Hits him lightly on the ear with the stockings. Take that. Rolls them up again. RANK. And what other wonders am I to see? NORA. You sha'n't see anything more; for you don't behave nicely. She hums a little and searches among the things. RANK.


You sha'n't see anything more; for you don't behave nicely. She hums a little and searches among the things. RANK. After a short silence. When I sit here gossiping with you, I can't imagine- I simply cannot conceive- what would have become of me if I had never entered this house. NORA. Smiling. Yes, I think you do feel at home with us. RANK. More softly- looking straight before him. And now to have to leave it all- NORA. Nonsense. You sha'n't leave us. RANK. In the same tone. And not to be able to leave behind the slightest token of gratitude; scarcely even a passing regret- nothing but an empty place, that can be filled by the first comer. NORA. And if I were to ask you for-? No- RANK. For what? NORA. For a great proof of your friendship. RANK. Yes- yes? NORA. I mean- for a very, very great service- RANK. Would you really, for once, make me so happy? NORA. Oh, you don't know what it is. -26- RANK. Then tell me. NORA. No, I really can't, Doctor Rank. It's far, far too much- not only a service, but help and advice besides- RANK. So much the better. I can't think what you can mean. But go on. Don't you trust me? NORA. As I trust no one else. I know you are my best and truest friend. So I will tell you. Well then, Doctor Rank, there is something you must help me to prevent. You know how deeply, how wonderfully Torvald loves me; he wouldn't hesitate a moment to give his very life for my sake. RANK. Bending towards her. Nora- do you think he is the only one who-? NORA. With a slight start. Who-? RANK. Who would gladly give his life for you? NORA. Sadly. Oh! RANK. I have sworn that you shall know it before I- go. I shall never find a better opportunity.- Yes, Nora, now I have told you; and now you know that you can trust me as you can no one else. NORA. Standing up; simply and calmly. Let me pass, please. RANK.


NORA. Standing up; simply and calmly. Let me pass, please. RANK. Makes way for her, but remains sitting. Nora- NORA. In the doorway. Ellen, bring the lamp. Crosses to the stove. Oh dear, Doctor Rank, that was too bad of you. RANK. Rising. That I have loved you as deeply as- any one else? Was that too bad of me? NORA. No, but that you should have told me so. It was so unnecessary- RANK. What do you mean? Did you know-? ELLEN enters with the lamp; sets it on the table and goes out again. RANK. Nora- Mrs. Helmer- I ask you, did you know? NORA. Oh, how can I tell what I knew or didn't know? I really can't say- How could you be so clumsy, Doctor Rank? It was all so nice! RANK. Well, at any rate, you know now that I am at your service, body and soul. And now, go on. NORA. Looking at him. Go on- now? RANK. I beg you to tell me what you want. NORA. I can tell you nothing now. RANK. Yes, yes! You mustn't punish me in that way. Let me do for you whatever a man can. NORA. You can do nothing for me now.- Besides, I really want no help. You shall see it was only my fancy. Yes, it must be so. Of course! Sits in the rocking-chair, looks at him and smiles. You are a nice person, Doctor Rank! Aren't you ashamed of yourself, now that the lamp is on the table? RANK. No; not exactly. But perhaps I ought to go- for ever. NORA. No, indeed you mustn't. Of course you must come and go as you've always done. You know very well that Torvald can't do without you. RANK. Yes, but you? NORA. Oh, you know I always like to have you here. RANK. That is just what led me astray. You are a riddle to me. It has often seemed to me as if you liked being with me almost as much as being with Helmer. NORA. Yes; don't you see?


It has often seemed to me as if you liked being with me almost as much as being with Helmer. NORA. Yes; don't you see? There are people one loves, and others one likes to talk to. RANK. Yes- there's something in that. NORA. When I was a girl, of course I loved papa best. But it always delighted me to steal into the servants' room. In the first place they never lectured me, and in the second it was such fun to hear-27- them talk. RANK. Ah, I see; then it's their place I have taken? NORA. Jumps up and hurries towards him. Oh, my dear Doctor Rank, I don't mean that. But you understand, with Torvald it's the same as with papa- ELLEN enters from the hall. ELLEN. Please, ma'am- Whispers to NORA, and gives her a card. NORA. Glancing at card. Ah! Puts it in her pocket. RANK. Anything wrong? NORA. No, no, not in the least. It's only- it's my new costume- RANK. Your costume! Why, it's there. NORA. Oh, that one, yes. But this is another that- I have ordered it- Torvald mustn't know- RANK. Aha! So that's the great secret. NORA. Yes, of course. Please go to him; he's in the inner room. Do keep him while I- RANK. Don't be alarmed; he sha'n't escape. RANK goes into HELMER's room. NORA. To ELLEN. Is he waiting in the kitchen? ELLEN. Yes, he came up the back stair- NORA. Didn't you tell him I was engaged? ELLEN. Yes, but it was no use. NORA. He won't go away? ELLEN. No, ma'am, not until he has spoken to you. NORA. Then let him come in; but quietly. And, Ellen- say nothing about it; it's a surprise for my husband. ELLEN. Oh, yes, ma'am, I understand. She goes out. NORA. It is coming! The dreadful thing is coming, after all. No, no, no, it can never be; it shall not!


It is coming! The dreadful thing is coming, after all. No, no, no, it can never be; it shall not! She goes to HELMER'S door and slips the bolt. ELLEN opens the hall door for KROGSTAD, and shuts it after him. He wears a travelling-coat, high boots, and a fur cap. NORA. Goes towards him. Speak softly; my husband is at home. KROGSTAD. All right. That's nothing to me. NORA. What do you want? KROGSTAD. A little information. NORA. Be quick, then. What is it? KROGSTAD. You know I have got my dismissal. NORA. I couldn't prevent it, Mr. Krogstad. I fought for you to the last, but it was of no use. KROGSTAD. Does your husband care for you so little? He knows what I can bring upon you, and yet he dares- NORA. How could you think I should tell him? KROGSTAD. Well, as a matter of fact, I didn't think it. It wasn't like my friend Torvald Helmer to show so much courage- NORA. Mr. Krogstad, be good enough to speak respectfully of my husband. KROGSTAD. Certainly, with all due respect. But since you are so anxious to keep the matter secret, I suppose you are a little clearer than yesterday as to what you have done. NORA. Clearer than you could ever make me. KROGSTAD. Yes, such a bad lawyer as I- NORA. What is it you want? KROGSTAD. Only to see how you are getting on, Mrs. Helmer. I've been thinking about you all day. Even a mere money-lender, a gutter-journalist, a- in short, a creature like me- has a little-28- bit of what people call feeling. NORA. Then show it; think of my little children. KROGSTAD. Did you and your husband think of mine? But enough of that. I only wanted to tell you that you needn't take this matter too seriously. I shall not lodge any information, for the present. NORA. No, surely not. I knew you wouldn't. KROGSTAD. The whole thing can be settled quite amicably. Nobody need know.


KROGSTAD. The whole thing can be settled quite amicably. Nobody need know. It can remain among us three. NORA. My husband must never know. KROGSTAD. How can you prevent it? Can you pay off the balance? NORA. No, not at once. KROGSTAD. Or have you any means of raising the money in the next few days? NORA. None- that I will make use of. KROGSTAD. And if you had, it would not help you now. If you offered me ever so much money down, you should not get back your I.O.U. NORA. Tell me what you want to do with it. KROGSTAD. I only want to keep it- to have it in my possession. No outsider shall hear anything of it. So, if you have any desperate scheme in your head- NORA. What if I have? KROGSTAD. If you should think of leaving your husband and children- NORA. What if I do? KROGSTAD. Or if you should think of- something worse- NORA. How do you know that? KROGSTAD. Put all that out of your head. NORA. How did you know what I had in my mind? KROGSTAD. Most of us think of that at first. I thought of it, too; but I hadn't the courage- NORA. Tonelessly. Nor I. KROGSTAD. Relieved. No, one hasn't. You haven't the courage either, have you? NORA. I haven't, I haven't. KROGSTAD. Besides, it would be very foolish.- Just one domestic storm, and it's all over. I have a letter in my pocket for your husband- NORA. Telling him everything? KROGSTAD. Sparing you as much as possible. NORA. Quickly. He must never read that letter. Tear it up. I will manage to get the money somehow- KROGSTAD. Pardon me, Mrs. Helmer, but I believe I told you- NORA. Oh, I'm not talking about the money I owe you. Tell me how much you demand from my husband- I will get it. KROGSTAD. I demand no money from your husband. NORA. What do you demand then? KROGSTAD. I will tell you.


What do you demand then? KROGSTAD. I will tell you. I want to regain my footing in the world. I want to rise; and your husband shall help me to do it. For the last eighteen months my record has been spotless; I have been in bitter need all the time; but I was content to fight my way up, step by step. Now, I've been thrust down again, and I will not be satisfied with merely being reinstated as a matter of grace. I want to rise, I tell you. I must get into the Bank again, in a higher position than before. Your husband shall create a place on purpose for me-. NORA. He will never do that! KROGSTAD. He will do it; I know him- he won't dare to show fight! And when he and I are together there, you shall soon see! Before a year is out I shall be the manager's right hand. It won't be Torvald Helmer, but Nils Krogstad, that manages the Joint Stock Bank. -29- NORA. That shall never be. KROGSTAD. Perhaps you will-? NORA. Now I have the courage for it. KROGSTAD. Oh, you don't frighten me! A sensitive, petted creature like you- NORA. You shall see, you shall see! KROGSTAD. Under the ice, perhaps? Down into the cold, black water? And next spring to come up again, ugly, hairless, unrecognisable- NORA. You can't terrify me. KROGSTAD. Nor you me. People don't do that sort of thing, Mrs. Helmer. And, after all, what would be the use of it? I have your husband in my pocket, all the same. NORA. Afterwards? When I am no longer-? KROGSTAD. You forget, your reputation remains in my hands! NORA stands speechless and looks at him. Well, now you are prepared. Do nothing foolish. As soon as Helmer has received my letter, I shall expect to hear from him. And remember that it is your husband himself who has forced me back again into such paths. That I will never forgive him. Good-bye, Mrs. Helmer. Goes out through the hall. NORA hurries to the door, opens it a little, and listens. NORA. He's going.


NORA hurries to the door, opens it a little, and listens. NORA. He's going. He's not putting the letter into the box. No, no, it would be impossible! Opens the door further and further. What's that. He's standing still; not going downstairs. Has he changed his mind? Is he-? A letter falls into the box. KROGSTAD's footsteps are heard gradually receding down the stair. NORA utters a suppressed shriek, and rushes forward towards the sofa-table; pause. In the letter-box! Slips shrinkingly up to the hall door. There it lies.- Torvald, Torvald- now we are lost! MRS. LINDEN enters from the left with the costume. MRS. LINDEN. There, I think it's all right now. Shall we just try it on? NORA. Hoarsely and softly. Christina, come here. MRS. LINDEN. Throws down the dress on the sofa. What's the matter? You look quite distracted. NORA. Come here. Do you see that letter? There, see- through the glass of the letter-box. MRS. LINDEN. Yes, yes, I see it. NORA. That letter is from Krogstad- MRS. LINDEN. Nora- it was Krogstad who lent you the money? NORA. Yes; and now Torvald will know everything. MRS. LINDEN. Believe me, Nora, it's the best thing for both of you. NORA. You don't know all yet. I have forged a name- MRS. LINDEN. Good heavens! NORA. Now, listen to me, Christina; you shall bear me witness- MRS. LINDEN. How "witness"? What am I to-? NORA. If I should go out of my mind- it might easily happen- MRS. LINDEN. Nora! NORA. Or if anything else should happen to me- so that I couldn't be here-! MRS. LINDEN. Nora, Nora, you're quite beside yourself! NORA. In case any one wanted to take it all upon himself- the whole blame- you understand- MRS. LINDEN. Yes, yes; but how can you think-? NORA.


LINDEN. Yes, yes; but how can you think-? NORA. You shall bear witness that it's not true, Christina. I'm not out of my mind at all; I know quite well what I'm saying; and I tell you nobody else knew anything about it; I did the whole thing, I myself. Remember that. -30- MRS. LINDEN. I shall remember. But I don't understand what you mean- NORA. Oh, how should you? It's the miracle coming to pass. MRS. LINDEN. The miracle? NORA. Yes, the miracle. But it's so terrible, Christina; it mustn't happen for all the world. MRS. LINDEN. I shall go straight to Krogstad and talk to him. NORA. Don't; he'll do you some harm. MRS. LINDEN. Once he would have done anything for me. NORA. He? MRS. LINDEN. Where does he live? NORA. Oh, how can I tell-? Yes- Feels in her pocket. Here's his card. But the letter, the letter-! HELMER. Knocking outside. Nora! NORA. Shrieks in terror. Oh, what is it? What do you want? HELMER. Well, well, don't be frightened. We're not coming in; you've bolted the door. Are you trying on your dress? NORA. Yes, yes, I'm trying it on. It suits me so well, Torvald. MRS. LINDEN. Who has read the card. Why, he lives close by here. NORA. Yes, but it's no use now. We are lost. The letter is there in the box. MRS. LINDEN. And your husband has the key? NORA. Always. MRS. LINDEN. Krogstad must demand his letter back, unread. He must find some pretext- NORA. But this is the very time when Torvald generally- MRS. LINDEN. Prevent him. Keep him occupied. I shall come back as quickly as I can. She goes out hastily by the hall door. NORA. Opens HELMER'S door and peeps in. Torvald! HELMER. Well, may one come into one's own room again at last?


Opens HELMER'S door and peeps in. Torvald! HELMER. Well, may one come into one's own room again at last? Come, Rank, we'll have a look- In the doorway. But how's this? NORA. What, Torvald dear? HELMER. Rank led me to expect a grand transformation. RANK. In the doorway. So I understood. I suppose I was mistaken. NORA. No, no one shall see me in my glory till to-morrow evening. HELMER. Why, Nora dear, you look so tired. Have you been practising too hard? NORA. No, I haven't practised at all yet. HELMER. But you'll have to- NORA. Oh yes, I must, I must! But, Torvald, I can't get on at all without your help. I've forgotten everything. HELMER. Oh, we shall soon freshen it up again. NORA. Yes, do help me, Torvald. You must promise me- Oh, I'm so nervous about it. Before so many people- This evening you must give yourself up entirely to me. You mustn't do a stroke of work; you mustn't even touch a pen. Do promise, Torvald dear! HELMER. I promise. All this evening I shall be your slave. Little helpless thing-! But, by-the-bye, I must just- Going to hall door. NORA. What do you want there? HELMER. Only to see if there are any letters. NORA. No, no, don't do that, Torvald. HELMER. Why not? NORA. Torvald, I beg you not to. There are none there. HELMER. Let me just see. Is going. NORA, at the piano, plays the first bars of the tarantella. HELMER. At the door, stops. Aha! NORA. I can't dance to-morrow if I don't rehearse with you first. HELMER. Going to her. Are you really so nervous, dear Nora? -31- NORA. Yes, dreadfully! Let me rehearse at once. We have time before dinner.


Yes, dreadfully! Let me rehearse at once. We have time before dinner. Oh, do sit down and play for me, Torvald dear; direct me and put me right, as you used to do. HELMER. With all the pleasure in life, since you wish it. Sits at piano. NORA snatches the tambourine out of he box, and hurriedly drapes herself in a long parti-coloured shawl; then, with a bound, stands in the middle of the floor. NORA. Now play for me! Now I'll dance! HELMER plays and NORA dances. RANK stands at the piano behind HELMER and looks on. HELMER. Playing. Slower! Slower! NORA. Can't do it slower! HELMER. Not so violently, Nora. NORA. I must! I must! HELMER. Stops. No, no, Nora- that will never do. NORA. Laughs and swings her tambourine. Didn't I tell you so! RANK. Let me play for her. HELMER. Rising. Yes, do- then I can direct her better. RANK sits down to the piano and plays; NORA dances more and more wildly. HELMER stands by the stove and addresses frequent corrections to her; she seems not to hear. Her hair breaks loose, and falls over her shoulders. She does not notice it, but goes on dancing. MRS. LINDEN enters and stands spellbound in the doorway. MRS. LINDEN. Ah-! NORA. Dancing. We're having such fun here, Christina! HELMER. Why, Nora dear, you're dancing as if it were a matter of life and death. NORA. So it is. HELMER. Rank, stop! This is the merest madness. Stop, I say! RANK stops playing, and NORA comes to a sudden standstill. HELMER. Going towards her. I couldn't have believed it. You've positively forgotten all I taught you. NORA. Throws the tambourine away. You see for yourself. HELMER. You really do want teaching. NORA. Yes, you see how much I need it. You must practise with me up to the last moment. Will you promise me, Torvald? HELMER. Certainly, certainly. NORA.


HELMER. Certainly, certainly. NORA. Neither to-day nor to-morrow must you think of anything but me. You mustn't open a single letter- mustn't look at the letter- box. HELMER. Ah, you're still afraid of that man- NORA. Oh yes, yes, I am. HELMER. Nora, I can see it in your face- there's a letter from him in the box. NORA. I don't know, I believe so. But you're not to read anything now; nothing ugly must come between us until all is over. RANK. Softly, to HELMER. You mustn't contradict her. HELMER. Putting his arm around her. The child shall have her own way. But to-morrow night, when the dance is over- NORA. Then you shall be free. ELLEN appears in the doorway, right. ELLEN. Dinner is on the table, ma'am. NORA. We'll have some champagne, Ellen. ELLEN. Yes, ma'am. Goes out. -32- HELMER. Dear me! Quite a banquet. NORA. Yes, and we'll keep it up till morning. Calling out. And macaroons, Ellen- plenty- just this once. HELMER. Seizing her hand. Come, come, don't let us have this wild excitement! Be my own little lark again. NORA. Oh yes, I will. But now go into the dining-room; and you too, Doctor Rank. Christina, you must help me to do up my hair. RANK. Softly, as they go. There's nothing in the wind? Nothing- I mean-? HELMER. Oh no, nothing of the kind. It's merely this babyish anxiety I was telling you about. They go out to the right. NORA. Well? MRS. LINDEN. He's gone out of town. NORA. I saw it in your face. MRS. LINDEN. He comes back to-morrow evening. I left a note for him. NORA. You shouldn't have done that. Things must take their course. After all, there's something glorious in waiting for the miracle. MRS. LINDEN. What is it you're waiting for? NORA. Oh, you can't understand.


What is it you're waiting for? NORA. Oh, you can't understand. Go to them in the dining-room; I shall come in a moment. MRS. LINDEN goes into the dining-room. NORA stands for a moment as though collecting her thoughts; then looks at her watch. NORA. Seven hours till midnight. Then twenty-four hours till the next midnight. Then the tarantella will be over. Twenty-four and seven? Thirty-one hours to live. HELMER appears at the door, right. HELMER. What has become of my little lark? NORA. Runs to him with open arms. Here she is! ACT THIRD The same room. The table, with the chairs around it, in the middle. A lighted lamp on the table. The door to the hall stands open. Dance music is heard from the floor above. MRS. LINDEN sits by the table and absently turns the pages of a book. She tries to read, but seems unable to fix her attention; she frequently listens and looks anxiously towards the hall door. MRS. LINDEN. Looks at her watch. Not here yet; and the time is nearly up. If only he hasn't- Listens again. Ah, there he is. She goes into the hall and cautiously opens the outer door; soft footsteps are heard on the stairs; she whispers. Come in; there is no one here. KROGSTAD. In the doorway. I found a note from you at my house. What does it mean? MRS. LINDEN. I must speak to you. KROGSTAD. Indeed? And in this house? MRS. LINDEN. I could not see you at my rooms. They have no separate entrance. Come in; we are quite alone. The servants are asleep, and the Helmers are at the ball upstairs. KROGSTAD. Coming into the room. Ah! So the Helmers are dancing this evening? Really? MRS. LINDEN. Yes. Why not? KROGSTAD. Quite right. Why not? MRS. LINDEN. And now let us talk a little. -33- KROGSTAD. Have we two anything to say to each other? MRS. LINDEN. A great deal. KROGSTAD. I should not have thought so. MRS. LINDEN.


I should not have thought so. MRS. LINDEN. Because you have never really understood me. KROGSTAD. What was there to understand? The most natural thing in the world- a heartless woman throws a man over when a better match offers. MRS. LINDEN. Do you really think me so heartless? Do you think I broke with you lightly? KROGSTAD. Did you not? MRS. LINDEN. Do you really think so? KROGSTAD. If not, why did you write me that letter? MRS. LINDEN. Was it not best? Since I had to break with you, was it not right that I should try to put an end to all that you felt for me? KROGSTAD. Clenching his hands together. So that was it? And all this- for the sake of money! MRS. LINDEN. You ought not to forget that I had a helpless mother and two little brothers. We could not wait for you, Nils, as your prospects then stood. KROGSTAD. Perhaps not; but you had no right to cast me off for the sake of others, whoever the others might be. MRS. LINDEN. I don't know. I have often asked myself whether I had the right. KROGSTAD. More softly. When I had lost you, I seemed to have no firm ground left under my feet. Look at me now. I am a shipwrecked man clinging to a spar. MRS. LINDEN. Rescue may be at hand. KROGSTAD. It was at hand; but then you came and stood in the way. MRS. LINDEN. Without my knowledge, Nils. I did not know till today that it was you I was to replace in the Bank. KROGSTAD. Well, I take your word for it. But now that you do know, do you mean to give way? MRS. LINDEN. No, for that would not help you in the least. KROGSTAD. Oh, help, help-! I should do it whether or no. MRS. LINDEN. I have learnt prudence. Life and bitter necessity have schooled me. KROGSTAD. And life has taught me not to trust fine speeches. MRS. LINDEN. Then life has taught you a very sensible thing.


MRS. LINDEN. Then life has taught you a very sensible thing. But deeds you will trust? KROGSTAD. What do you mean? MRS. LINDEN. You said you were a shipwrecked man, clinging to a spar. KROGSTAD. I have good reason to say so. MRS. LINDEN. I too am shipwrecked, and clinging to a spar. I have no one to mourn for, no one to care for. KROGSTAD. You made your own choice. MRS. LINDEN. No choice was left me. KROGSTAD. Well, what then? MRS. LINDEN. Nils, how if we two shipwrecked people could join hands? KROGSTAD. What! MRS. LINDEN. Two on a raft have a better chance than if each clings to a separate spar. KROGSTAD. Christina! MRS. LINDEN. What do you think brought me to town? KROGSTAD. Had you any thought of me? MRS. LINDEN. I must have work or I can't bear to live. All my life, as long as I can remember, I have worked; work has been my one great joy. Now I stand quite alone in the world, aimless and forlorn. There is no happiness in working for one's self. Nils,-34- give me somebody and something to work for. KROGSTAD. I cannot believe in all this. It is simply a woman's romantic craving for self-sacrifice. MRS. LINDEN. Have you ever found me romantic? KROGSTAD. Would you really-? Tell me: do you know all my past? MRS. LINDEN. Yes. KROGSTAD. And do you know what people say of me? MRS. LINDEN. Did you not say just now that with me you could have been another man? KROGSTAD. I am sure of it. MRS. LINDEN. Is it too late? KROGSTAD. Christina, do you know what you are doing? Yes, you do; I see it in your face. Have you the courage then-? MRS. LINDEN. I need some one to be a mother to, and your children need a mother.


MRS. LINDEN. I need some one to be a mother to, and your children need a mother. You need me, and I- I need you. Nils, I believe in your better self. With you I fear nothing. KROGSTAD. Seizing her hands. Thank you- thank you, Christina. Now I shall make others see me as you do.- Ah, I forgot- MRS. LINDEN. Listening. Hush! The tarantella! Go! Go! KROGSTAD. Why? What is it? MRS. LINDEN. Don't you hear the dancing overhead? As soon as that is over they will be here. KROGSTAD. Oh yes, I shall go. Nothing will come of this, after all. Of course, you don't know the step I have taken against the Helmers. MRS. LINDEN. Yes, Nils, I do know. KROGSTAD. And yet you have the courage to-? MRS. LINDEN. I know to what lengths despair can drive a man. KROGSTAD. Oh, if I could only undo it! MRS. LINDEN. You could. Your letter is still in the box. KROGSTAD. Are you sure? MRS. LINDEN. Yes; but- KROGSTAD. Looking to her searchingly. Is that what it all means? You want to save your friend at any price. Say it out- is that your idea? MRS. LINDEN. Nils, a woman who has once sold herself for the sake of others, does not do so again. KROGSTAD. I shall demand my letter back again. MRS. LINDEN. No, no. KROGSTAD. Yes, of course. I shall wait till Helmer comes; I shall tell him to give it back to me- that it's only about my dismissal- that I don't want it read- MRS. LINDEN. No, Nils, you must not recall the letter. KROGSTAD. But tell me, wasn't that just why you got me to come here? MRS. LINDEN. Yes, in my first alarm. But a day has passed since then, and in that day I have seen incredible things in this house. Helmer must know everything; there must be an end to this unhappy secret.


Yes, in my first alarm. But a day has passed since then, and in that day I have seen incredible things in this house. Helmer must know everything; there must be an end to this unhappy secret. These two must come to a full understanding. They must have done with all these shifts and subterfuges. KROGSTAD. Very well, if you like to risk it. But one thing I can do, and at once- MRS. LINDEN. Listening. Make haste! Go, go! The dance is over; we're not safe another moment. KROGSTAD. I shall wait for you in the street. MRS. LINDEN. Yes, do; you must see me home. KROGSTAD. I never was so happy in all my life! KROGSTAD goes out by the outer door. The door between the room and the hall remains open. MRS. LINDEN. Arranging the room and getting her outdoor things together. What a change! What a change! To have some one to work-35- for, to live for; a home to make happy! Well, it shall not be my fault if I fail.- I wish they would come.- Listens. Ah, here they are! I must get my things on. Takes bonnet and cloak. HELMER'S and NORA'S voices are heard outside, a key is turned in the lock, and HELMER drags NORA almost by force into the hall. She wears the Italian costume with a large black shawl over it. He is in evening dress and wears a black domino, open. NORA. Struggling with him in the doorway. No, no, no! I won't go in! I want to go upstairs again; I don't want to leave so early! HELMER. But, my dearest girl-! NORA. Oh, please, please, Torvald, I beseech you- only one hour more! HELMER. Not one minute more, Nora dear; you know what we agreed. Come, come in; you're catching cold here. He leads her gently into the room in spite of her resistance. MRS. LINDEN. Good-evening. NORA. Christina! HELMER. What, Mrs. Linden! You here so late? MRS. LINDEN. Yes, I ought to apologise.


MRS. LINDEN. Yes, I ought to apologise. I did so want to see Nora in her costume. NORA. Have you been sitting here waiting for me? MRS. LINDEN. Yes; unfortunately I came too late. You had gone upstairs already, and I felt I couldn't go away without seeing you. HELMER. Taking Nora's shawl off. Well then, just look at her! I assure you she's worth it. Isn't she lovely, Mrs. Linden? MRS. LINDEN. Yes, I must say- HELMER. Isn't she exquisite? Every one said so. But she's dreadfully obstinate, dear little creature. What's to be done with her? Just think, I had almost to force her away. NORA. Oh, Torvald, you'll be sorry some day that you didn't let me stay, if only for one half-hour more. HELMER. There! You hear her, Mrs. Linden? She dances her tarantella with wild applause, and well she deserved it, I must say- though there was, perhaps, a little too much nature in her rendering of the idea- more than was, strictly speaking, artistic. But never mind- the point is, she made a great success, a tremendous success. Was I to let her remain after that- to weaken the impression? Not if I know it. I took my sweet little Capri girl- my capricious little Capri girl, I might say- under my arm; a rapid turn round the room, a curtsey to all sides, and- as they say in novels- the lovely apparition vanished! An exit should always be effective, Mrs. Linden; but I can't get Nora to see it. By Jove! It's warm here. Throws his domino on a chair and opens the door to his room. What! No light there? Oh, of course. Excuse me- Goes in and lights candle. NORA. Whispers breathlessly. Well? MRS. LINDEN. Softly. I've spoken to him. NORA. And-? MRS. LINDEN. Nora- you must tell your husband everything- NORA. Tonelessly. I knew it! MRS. LINDEN. You have nothing to fear from Krogstad; but you must speak out. NORA.


LINDEN. You have nothing to fear from Krogstad; but you must speak out. NORA. I shall not speak! MRS. LINDEN. Then the letter will. NORA. Thank you, Christina. Now I know what I have to do. Hush-! HELMER. Coming back. Well, Mrs. Linden, have you admired her? MRS. LINDEN. Yes; and now I must say good-night. -36- HELMER. What, already? Does this knitting belong to you? MRS. LINDEN. Takes it. Yes, thanks; I was nearly forgetting it. HELMER. Then you do knit? MRS. LINDEN. Yes. HELMER. Do you know, you ought to embroider instead? MRS. LINDEN. Indeed! Why? HELMER. Because it's so much prettier. Look now! You hold the embroidery in the left hand, so, and then work the needle with the right hand, in a long, graceful curve- don't you? MRS. LINDEN. Yes, I suppose so. HELMER. But knitting is always ugly. Just look- your arms close to your sides, and the needles going up and down- there's something Chinese about it.- They really gave us splendid champagne to-night. MRS. LINDEN. Well, good-night, Nora, and don't be obstinate any more. HELMER. Well said, Mrs. Linden! MRS. LINDEN. Good-night, Mr. Helmer. HELMER. Accompanying her to the door. Good-night, good-night; I hope you'll get safely home. I should be glad to- but you have such a short way to go. Good-night, good-night. She goes; HELMER shuts the door after her and comes forward again. At last we've got rid of her: she's a terrible bore. NORA. Aren't you very tired, Torvald? HELMER. No, not in the least. NORA. Nor sleepy? HELMER. Not a bit. I feel particularly lively. But you? You do look tired and sleepy. NORA. Yes, very tired. I shall soon sleep now. HELMER. There, you see. I was right after all not to let you stay longer. NORA.


There, you see. I was right after all not to let you stay longer. NORA. Oh, everything you do is right. HELMER. Kissing her forehead. Now my lark is speaking like a reasonable being. Did you notice how jolly Rank was this evening? NORA. Indeed? Was he? I had no chance of speaking to him. HELMER. Nor I, much; but, I haven't seen him in such good spirits for a long time. Looks at NORA a little, then comes nearer her. It's splendid to be back in our own home, to be quite alone together!- Oh, you enchanting creature! NORA. Don't look at me in that way, Torvald. HELMER. I am not to look at my dearest treasure?- at all the loveliness that is mine, mine only, wholly and entirely mine? NORA. Goes to the other side of the table. You mustn't say these things to me this evening. HELMER. Following. I see you have the tarantella still in your blood- and that makes you all the more enticing. Listen! The other people are going now. More softly. Nora- soon the whole house will be still. NORA. Yes, I hope so. HELMER. Yes, don't you, Nora darling? When we are among strangers, do you know why I speak so little to you, and keep so far away, and only steal a glance at you now and then- do you know why I do it? Because I am fancying that we love each other in secret, that I am secretly betrothed to you, and that no one dreams that there is anything between us. NORA. Yes, yes, yes. I know all your thoughts are with me. HELMER. And then, when the time comes to go, and I put the shawl about your smooth, soft shoulders, and this glorious neck of yours, I imagine you are my bride, that our marriage is just over, that I am bringing you for the first time to my home- that I am alone with you for the first time- quite alone with you, in-37- your trembling loveliness! All this evening I have been longing for you, and you only.


HELMER. And then, when the time comes to go, and I put the shawl about your smooth, soft shoulders, and this glorious neck of yours, I imagine you are my bride, that our marriage is just over, that I am bringing you for the first time to my home- that I am alone with you for the first time- quite alone with you, in-37- your trembling loveliness! All this evening I have been longing for you, and you only. When I watched you swaying and whirling in the tarantella- my blood boiled- I could endure it no longer; and that's why I made you come home with me so early- NORA. Go now, Torvald! Go away from me. I won't have all this. HELMER. What do you mean? Ah, I see you're teasing me, little Nora! Won't- won't! Am I not your husband-? A knock at the outer door. NORA. Starts. Did you hear-? HELMER. Going towards the hall. Who's there? RANK. Outside. It is I; may I come in for a moment? HELMER. In a low tone, annoyed. Oh, what can he want just now? Aloud. Wait a moment. Opens door. Come, it's nice of you to look in. RANK. I thought I heard your voice, and that put it into my head. Looks round. Ah, this dear old place! How cosy you two are here! HELMER. You seemed to find it pleasant enough upstairs, too. RANK. Exceedingly. Why not? Why shouldn't one take one's share of everything in this world? All one can, at least, and as long as one can. The wine was splendid- HELMER. Especially the champagne. RANK. Did you notice it? It's incredible the quantity I contrived to get down. NORA. Torvald drank plenty of champagne, too. RANK. Did he? NORA. Yes, and it always puts him in such spirits. RANK. Well, why shouldn't one have a jolly evening after a well-spent day? HELMER. Well-spent! Well, I haven't much to boast of in that respect. RANK. Slapping him on the shoulder. But I have, don't you see?


Well, I haven't much to boast of in that respect. RANK. Slapping him on the shoulder. But I have, don't you see? NORA. I suppose you have been engaged in a scientific investigation, Doctor Rank? RANK. Quite right. HELMER. Bless me! Little Nora talking about scientific investigations! NORA. Am I to congratulate you on the result? RANK. By all means. NORA. It was good then? RANK. The best possible, both for doctor and patient- certainty. NORA. Quickly and searchingly. Certainty? RANK. Absolute certainty. Wasn't I right to enjoy myself after that? NORA. Yes, quite right, Doctor Rank. HELMER. And so say I, provided you don't have to pay for it to-morrow. RANK. Well, in this life nothing is to be had for nothing. NORA. Doctor Rank- I'm sure you are very fond of masquerades? RANK. Yes, when there are plenty of amusing disguises- NORA. Tell me, what shall we two be at our next masquerade? HELMER. Little featherbrain! Thinking of your next already! RANK. We two? I'll tell you. You must go as a good fairy. HELMER. Ah, but what costume would indicate that? RANK. She has simply to wear her everyday dress. HELMER. Capital! But don't you know what you will be yourself? RANK. Yes, my dear friend, I am perfectly clear upon that point. HELMER. Well? RANK. At the next masquerade I shall be invisible. HELMER. What a comical idea! RANK. There's a big black hat- haven't you heard of the invisible-38- hat? It comes down all over you, and then no one can see you. HELMER. With a supressed smile. No, you're right there. RANK. But I'm quite forgetting what I came for. Helmer, give me a cigar- one of the dark Havanas. HELMER. With the greatest pleasure. Hands cigar-case. RANK. Takes one and cuts the end off. Thank you. NORA. Striking a wax match. Let me give you a light. RANK. A thousand thanks. She holds the match.


RANK. A thousand thanks. She holds the match. He lights his cigar at it. RANK. And now, good-bye! HELMER. Good-bye, good-bye, my dear fellow. NORA. Sleep well, Doctor Rank. RANK. Thanks for the wish. NORA. Wish me the same. RANK. You? Very well, since you ask me- Sleep well. And thanks for the light. He nods to them both and goes out. HELMER. In an undertone. He's been drinking a good deal. NORA. Absently. I daresay. HELMER takes his bunch of keys from his pocket and goes into the hall. Torvald, what are you doing there? HELMER. I must empty the letter-box; it's quite full; there will be no room for the newspapers to-morrow morning. NORA. Are you going to work to-night? HELMER. You know very well I am not.- Why, how is this? Some one has been at the lock. NORA. The lock-? HELMER. I'm sure of it. What does it mean? I can't think that the servants-? Here's a broken hair-pin. Nora, it's one of yours. NORA. Quickly. It must have been the children- HELMER. Then you must break them of such tricks.- There! At last I've got it open. Takes contents out and calls into the kitchen. Ellen!- Ellen, just put the hall door lamp out. He returns with letters in his hand, and shuts the inner door. HELMER. Just see how they've accumulated. Turning them over. Why, what's this? NORA. At the window. The letter! Oh no, no, Torvald! HELMER. Two visiting-cards- from Rank. NORA. From Doctor Rank? HELMER. Looking at them. Doctor Rank. They were on the top. He must just have put them in. NORA. Is there anything on them? HELMER. There's a black cross over the name. Look at it. What an unpleasant idea! It looks just as if he were announcing his own death. NORA. So he is. HELMER. What! Do you know anything? Has he told you anything? NORA. Yes.


Has he told you anything? NORA. Yes. These cards mean that he has taken his last leave of us. He is going to shut himself up and die. HELMER. Poor fellow! Of course I knew we couldn't hope to keep him long. But so soon-! And to go and creep into his lair like a wounded animal- NORA. When we must go, it is best to go silently. Don't you think so, Torvald? HELMER. Walking up and down. He had so grown into our lives, I can't realise that he is gone. He and his sufferings and his loneliness formed a sort of cloudy background to the sunshine of our happiness.- Well, perhaps it's best as it is- at any rate for him. Stands still. And perhaps for us too, Nora. Now we two are-39- thrown entirely upon each other. Takes her in his arms. My darling wife! I feel as if I could never hold you close enough. Do you know, Nora, I often wish some danger might threaten you, that I might risk body and soul, and everything, everything, for your dear sake. NORA. Tears herself from him and says firmly. Now you shall read your letters, Torvald. HELMER. No, no; not to-night. I want to be with you, my sweet wife. NORA. With the thought of your dying friend-? HELMER. You are right. This has shaken us both. Unloveliness has come between us- thoughts of death and decay. We must seek to cast them off. Till then- we will remain apart. NORA. Her arms round his neck. Torvald! Good-night! Good-night! HELMER. Kissing her forehead. Good-night, my little song-bird. Sleep well, Nora. Now I shall go and read my letters. He goes with the letters in his hand into his room and shuts the door. NORA. With wild eyes, gropes about her, seizes HELMER'S domino, throws it round her, and whispers quickly, hoarsely, and brokenly. Never to see him again. Never, never, never. Throws her shawl over her head. Never to see the children again. Never, never.- Oh that black, icy water! Oh that bottomless-! If it were only over!


Never, never.- Oh that black, icy water! Oh that bottomless-! If it were only over! Now he has it; he's reading it. Oh, no, no, no, not yet. Torvald, good-bye-! Good-bye, my little ones-! She is rushing out by the hall; at the same moment HELMER flings his door open, and stands there with an open letter in his hand. HELMER. Nora! NORA. Shrieks. Ah-! HELMER. What is this? Do you know what is in this letter? NORA. Yes, I know. Let me go! Let me pass! HELMER. Holds her back. Where do you want to go? NORA. Tries to break away from him. You shall not save me, Torvald. HELMER. Falling back. True! Is what he writes true? No, no, it is impossible that this can be true. NORA. It is true. I have loved you beyond all else in the world. HELMER. Pshaw- no silly evasions! NORA. A step nearer him. Torvald-! HELMER. Wretched woman- what have you done! NORA. Let me go- you shall not save me! You shall not take my guilt upon yourself! HELMER. I don't want any melodramatic airs. Locks the outer door. Here you shall stay and give an account of yourself. Do you understand what you have done? Answer! Do you understand it? NORA. Looks at him fixedly, and says with a stiffening expression. Yes; now I begin fully to understand it. HELMER. Walking up and down. Oh! What an awful awakening! During all these eight years- she who was my pride and my joy- a hypocrite, a liar- worse, worse- a criminal. Oh, the unfathomable hideousness of it all! Ugh! Ugh! NORA says nothing, and continues to look fixedly at him. HELMER. I ought to have known how it would be. I ought to have foreseen it. All your father's want of principle- be silent!- all your father's want of principle you have inherited- no religion, no morality, no sense of duty. How I am punished for screening him!


I ought to have foreseen it. All your father's want of principle- be silent!- all your father's want of principle you have inherited- no religion, no morality, no sense of duty. How I am punished for screening him! I did it for your sake; and you reward me like this. NORA. Yes- like this. HELMER. You have destroyed my whole happiness. You have ruined my-40- future. Oh, it's frightful to think of! I am in the power of a scoundrel; he can do whatever he pleases with me, demand whatever he chooses; he can domineer over me as much as he likes, and I must submit. And all this disaster and ruin is brought upon me by an unprincipled woman! NORA. When I am out of the world, you will be free. HELMER. Oh, no fine phrases. Your father, too, was always ready with them. What good would it do me, if you were "out of the world," as you say? No good whatever! He can publish the story all the same; I might even be suspected of collusion. People will think I was at the bottom of it all and egged you on. And for all this I have you to thank- you whom I have done nothing but pet and spoil during our whole married life. Do you understand now what you have done to me? NORA. With cold calmness. Yes. HELMER. The thing is so incredible, I can't grasp it. But we must come to an understanding. Take that shawl off. Take it off, I say! I must try to pacify him in one way or another- the matter must be hushed up, cost what it may.- As for you and me, we must make no outward change in our way of life- no outward change, you understand. Of course, you will continue to live here. But the children cannot be left in your care. I dare not trust them to you.- Oh, to have to say this to one I have loved so tenderly- whom I still-! But that must be a thing of the past. Henceforward there can be no question of happiness, but merely of saving the ruins, the shreds, the show- A ring; HELMER starts. What's that? So late! Can it be the worst? Can he-?


So late! Can it be the worst? Can he-? Hide yourself, Nora; say you are ill. NORA stands motionless. HELMER goes to the door and opens it. ELLEN. Half dressed, in the hall. Here is a letter for you, ma'am. HELMER. Give it to me. Seizes the letter and shuts the door. Yes, from him. You shall not have it. I shall read it. NORA. Read it? HELMER. By the lamp. I have hardly the courage to. We may both be lost, both you and I. Ah! I must know. Hastily tears the letter open; reads a few lines, looks at an enclosure; with a cry of joy. Nora! Nora looks inquiringly at him. HELMER. Nora!- Oh! I must read it again.- Yes, yes, it is so. I am saved! Nora, I am saved! NORA. And I? HELMER. You too, of course; we are both saved, both of us. Look here- he sends you back your promissory note. He writes that he regrets and apologises, that a happy turn in his life- Oh, what matter what he writes. We are saved, Nora! No one can harm you. Oh, Nora, Nora-; but first to get rid of this hateful thing. I'll just see- Glances at the I.O.U. No, I will not look at it; the whole thing shall be nothing but a dream to me. Tears the I.O.U. and both letters in pieces. Throws them into the fire and watches them burn. There! It's gone!- He said that ever since Christmas Eve- Oh, Nora, they must have been three terrible days for you! NORA. I have fought a hard fight for the last three days. HELMER. And in your agony you saw no other outlet but- No; we won't think of that horror. We will only rejoice and repeat- it's over, all over! Don't you hear, Nora? You don't seem able to grasp it. Yes, it's over. What is this set look on your face? Oh, my poor Nora, I understand; you cannot believe that I have forgiven you. But I have, Nora; I swear it. I have forgiven everything.


Oh, my poor Nora, I understand; you cannot believe that I have forgiven you. But I have, Nora; I swear it. I have forgiven everything. I know that what you did was all for love of me. -41- NORA. That is true. HELMER. You loved me as a wife should love her husband. It was only the means that, in your inexperience, you misjudged. But do you think I love you the less because you cannot do without guidance? No, no. Only lean on me; I will counsel you, and guide you. I should be no true man if this very womanly helplessness did not make you doubly dear in my eyes. You mustn't dwell upon the hard things I said in my first moment of terror, when the world seemed to be tumbling about my ears. I have forgiven you, Nora- I swear I have forgiven you. NORA. I thank you for your forgiveness. Goes out, to the right. HELMER. No, stay-! Looking through the doorway. What are you going to do? NORA. Inside. To take off my masquerade dress. HELMER. In the doorway. Yes, do, dear. Try to calm down, and recover your balance, my scared little song-bird. You may rest secure. I have broad wings to shield you. Walking up and down near the door. Oh, how lovely- how cosy our home is, Nora! Here you are safe; here I can shelter you like a hunted dove whom I have saved from the claws of the hawk. I shall soon bring your poor beating heart to rest; believe me, Nora, very soon. To-morrow all this will seem quite different- everything will be as before. I shall not need to tell you again that I forgive you; you will feel for yourself that it is true. How could you think I could find it in my heart to drive you away, or even so much as to reproach you? Oh, you don't know a true man's heart, Nora. There is something indescribably sweet and soothing to a man in having forgiven his wife- honestly forgiven her, from the bottom of his heart. She becomes his property in a double sense. She is as though born again; she has become, so to speak, at once his wife and his child.


There is something indescribably sweet and soothing to a man in having forgiven his wife- honestly forgiven her, from the bottom of his heart. She becomes his property in a double sense. She is as though born again; she has become, so to speak, at once his wife and his child. That is what you shall henceforth be to me, my bewildered, helpless darling. Don't be troubled about anything, Nora; only open your heart to me, and I will be both will and conscience to you. NORA enters in everyday dress. Why, what's this? Not gone to bed You have changed your dress? NORA. Yes, Torvald; now I have changed my dress. HELMER. But why now, so late-? NORA. I shall not sleep to-night. HELMER. But, Nora dear- NORA. Looking at her watch. It's not so late yet. Sit down, Torvald; you and I have much to say to each other. She sits at one side of the table. HELMER. Nora- what does this mean? Your cold, set face- NORA. Sit down. It will take some time. I have much to talk over with you. HELMER sits at the other side of the table. HELMER. You alarm me, Nora. I don't understand you. NORA. No, that is just it. You don't understand me; and I have never understood you- till to-night. No, don't interrupt. Only listen to what I say.- We must come to a final settlement, Torvald. HELMER. How do you mean? NORA. After a short silence. Does not one thing strike you as we sit here? HELMER. What should strike me? NORA. We have been married eight years. Does it not strike you that this is the first time we two, you and I, man and wife, have talked together seriously? HELMER. Seriously! What do you call seriously? NORA. During eight whole years, and more- ever since the day we-42- first met- we have never exchanged one serious word about serious things. HELMER. Was I always to trouble you with the cares you could not help me to bear? NORA. I am not talking of cares. I say that we have never yet set ourselves seriously to get to the bottom of anything.


NORA. I am not talking of cares. I say that we have never yet set ourselves seriously to get to the bottom of anything. HELMER. Why, my dearest Nora, what have you to do with serious things? NORA. There we have it! You have never understood me.- I have had great injustice done me, Torvald; first by father, and then by you. HELMER. What! By your father and me?- By us, who have loved you more than all the world? NORA. Shaking her head. You have never loved me. You only thought it amusing to be in love with me. HELMER. Why, Nora, what a thing to say! NORA. Yes, it is so, Torvald. While I was at home with father, he used to tell me all his opinions, and I held the same opinions. If I had others I said nothing about them, because he wouldn't have liked it. He used to call me his doll-child, and played with me as I played with my dolls. Then I came to live in your house- HELMER. What an expression to use about our marriage! NORA. Undisturbed. I mean I passed from father's hands into yours. You arranged everything according to your taste; and I got the same tastes as you; or I pretended to- I don't know which- both ways, perhaps; sometimes one and sometimes the other. When I look back on it now, I seem to have been living here like a beggar, from hand to mouth. I lived by performing tricks for you, Torvald. But you would have it so. You and father have done me a great wrong. It is your fault that my life has come to nothing. HELMER. Why, Nora, how unreasonable and ungrateful you are! Have you not been happy here? NORA. No, never. I thought I was; but I never was. HELMER. Not- not happy! NORA. No; only merry. And you have always been so kind to me. But our house has been nothing but a play-room. Here I have been your doll-wife, just as at home I used to be papa's doll-child. And the children, in their turn, have been my dolls. I thought it fun when you played with me, just as the children did when I played with them.


Here I have been your doll-wife, just as at home I used to be papa's doll-child. And the children, in their turn, have been my dolls. I thought it fun when you played with me, just as the children did when I played with them. That has been our marriage, Torvald. HELMER. There is some truth in what you say, exaggerated and overstrained though it be. But henceforth it shall be different. Play-time is over; now comes the time for education. NORA. Whose education? Mine, or the children's? HELMER. Both, my dear Nora. NORA. Oh, Torvald, you are not the man to teach me to be a fit wife for you. HELMER. And you can say that? NORA. And I- how have I prepared myself to educate the children? HELMER. Nora! NORA. Did you not say yourself, a few minutes ago, you dared not trust them to me? HELMER. In the excitement of the moment! Why should you dwell upon that? NORA. No- you were perfectly right. That problem is beyond me. There is another to be solved first- I must try to educate myself. You are not the man to help me in that. I must set about it alone. And that is why I am leaving you. HELMER. Jumping up. What- do you mean to say-? NORA. I must stand quite alone if I am ever to know myself and my surroundings; so I cannot stay with you. -43- HELMER. Nora! Nora! NORA. I am going at once. I daresay Christina will take me in for to-night- HELMER. You are mad! I shall not allow it! I forbid it! NORA. It is of no use your forbidding me anything now. I shall take with me what belongs to me. From you I will accept nothing, either now or afterwards. HELMER. What madness this is! NORA. To-morrow I shall go home- I mean to what was my home. It will be easier for me to find some opening there. HELMER. Oh, in your blind inexperience- NORA. I must try to gain experience, Torvald. HELMER. To forsake your home, your husband, and your children!


I must try to gain experience, Torvald. HELMER. To forsake your home, your husband, and your children! And you don't consider what the world will say. NORA. I can pay no heed to that. I only know that I must do it. HELMER. This is monstrous! Can you forsake your holiest duties in this way? NORA. What do you consider my holiest duties? HELMER. Do I need to tell you that? Your duties to your husband and your children. NORA. I have other duties equally sacred. HELMER. Impossible! What duties do you mean? NORA. My duties towards myself. HELMER. Before all else you are a wife and a mother. NORA. That I no longer believe. I believe that before all else I am a human being, just as much as you are- or at least that I should try to become one. I know that most people agree with you, Torvald, and that they say so in books. But henceforth I can't be satisfied with what most people say, and what is in books. I must think things out for myself, and try to get clear about them. HELMER. Are you not clear about your place in your own home? Have you not an infallible guide in questions like these? Have you not religion? NORA. Oh, Torvald, I don't really know what religion is. HELMER. What do you mean? NORA. I know nothing but what Pastor Hansen told me when I was confirmed. He explained that religion was this and that. When I get away from all this and stand alone, I will look into that matter too. I will see whether what he taught me is right, or, at any rate, whether it is right for me. HELMER. Oh, this is unheard of! And from so young a woman! But if religion cannot keep you right, let me appeal to your conscience- for I suppose you have some moral feeling? Or, answer me: perhaps you have none? NORA. Well, Torvald, it's not easy to say. I really don't know- I am all at sea about these things. I only know that I think quite differently from you about them. I hear, too, that the laws are different from what I thought: but I can't believe that they can be right.


I really don't know- I am all at sea about these things. I only know that I think quite differently from you about them. I hear, too, that the laws are different from what I thought: but I can't believe that they can be right. It appears that a woman has no right to spare her dying father, or to save her husband's life! I don't believe that. HELMER. You talk like a child. You don't understand the society in which you live. NORA. No, I do not. But now I shall try to learn. I must make up my mind which is right- society or I. HELMER. Nora, you are ill; you are feverish; I almost think you are out of your senses. NORA. I have never felt so much clearness and certainty as to-night. HELMER. You are clear and certain enough to forsake husband and children? NORA. Yes, I am. -44- HELMER. Then there is only one explanation possible. NORA. What is that? HELMER. You no longer love me. NORA. No; that is just it. HELMER. Nora!- Can you say so! NORA. Oh, I'm so sorry, Torvald; for you've always been so kind to me. But I can't help it. I do not love you any longer. HELMER. Mastering himself with difficulty. Are you clear and certain on this point too? NORA. Yes, quite. That is why I will not stay here any longer. HELMER. And can you also make clear to me how I have forfeited your love? NORA. Yes, I can. It was this evening, when the miracle did not happen; for then I saw you were not the man I had imagined. HELMER. Explain yourself more clearly; I don't understand NORA. I have waited so patiently all these eight years. For of course I saw clearly enough that miracles don't happen every day. When this crushing blow threatened me, I said to myself so confidently, "Now comes the miracle!". When Krogstad's letter lay in the box, it never for a moment occurred to me that you would think of submitting to that man's conditions. I was convinced that you would say to him, "Make it known to all the world"; and that then- HELMER. Well?


To part- to part from you! No, Nora, no; I can't grasp the thought. NORA. Going into room on the right. The more reason for the thing to happen. She comes back with out-door things and a small travelling-bag, which she places on a chair. HELMER. Nora, Nora, not now! Wait till to-morrow. NORA. Putting on cloak. I can't spend the night in a strange man's house. -45- HELMER. But can we not live here, as brother and sister-? NORA. Fastening her hat. You know very well that wouldn't last long. Puts on the shawl. Good-bye, Torvald. No. I won't go to the children. I know they are in better hands than mine. As I now am, I can be nothing to them. HELMER. But some time, Nora- some time-? NORA. How can I tell? I have no idea what will become of me. HELMER. But you are my wife, now and always! NORA. Listen, Torvald- when a wife leaves her husband's house, as I am doing, I have heard that in the eyes of the law he is free from all duties towards her. At any rate, I release you from all duties. You must not feel yourself bound, any more than I shall. There must be perfect freedom on both sides. There, I give you back your ring. Give me mine. HELMER. That too? NORA. That too. HELMER. Here it is. NORA. Very well. Now it is all over. I lay the keys here. The servants know about everything in the house- better than I do. To-morrow, when I have started, Christina will come to pack up the things I brought with me from home. I will have them sent after me. HELMER. All over! All over! Nora, will you never think of me again? NORA. Oh, I shall often think of you, and the children, and this house. HELMER. May I write to you, Nora? NORA. No- never. You must not. HELMER. But I must send you- NORA. Nothing, nothing. HELMER. I must help you if you need it. NORA. No, I say.


I must help you if you need it. NORA.No, I say. I take nothing from strangers. HELMER.Nora- can I never be more than a stranger to you?NORA. Taking her travelling-bag. Oh, Torvald, then the miracle of miracles would have to happen- HELMER.What is the miracle of miracles?NORA.Both of us would have to change so that- Oh, Torvald, I no longer believe in miracles. HELMER.But I will believe. Tell me!We must so change that-?NORA.That communion between us shall be a marriage. Good-bye. She goes out by the hall door. HELMER. Sinks into a chair by the door with his face in his hands. Nora!Nora! He looks round and rises. Empty. She is gone. A hope springs up in him. Ah!The miracle of miracles-?! From below is heard the reverberation of a heavy door closing. THE END.


Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html 1 18 2007 12:23 PMRomeo and Juliet ACT I PROLOGUE Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Whole misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. SCENE I. Verona. A public place. Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, of the house of Capulet, armed with swords and bucklers SAMPSON Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals. GREGORY No, for then we should be colliers. SAMPSON I mean, an we be in choler, we'll draw. GREGORY Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o' the collar. SAMPSON I strike quickly, being moved. GREGORY But thou art not quickly moved to strike.


GREGORY Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o' the collar. SAMPSON I strike quickly, being moved. GREGORY But thou art not quickly moved to strike. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMSAMPSONA dog of the house of Montague moves me. GREGORYTo move is to stir; and to be valiant is to stand:therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away. SAMPSONA dog of that house shall move me to stand: I willtake the wall of any man or maid of Montague's. GREGORYThat shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goesto the wall. SAMPSONTrue; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels,are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will pushMontague's men from the wall, and thrust his maidsto the wall. GREGORYThe quarrel is between our masters and us their men. SAMPSON'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when Ihave fought with the men, I will be cruel with themaids, and cut off their heads. GREGORYThe heads of the maids?SAMPSONAy, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads;take it in what sense thou wilt. GREGORYThey must take it in sense that feel it. SAMPSONMe they shall feel while I am able to stand: and'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMGREGORY'Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thouhadst been poor John. Draw thy tool! Here comestwo of the house of the Montagues. SAMPSONMy naked weapon is out: quarrel, I will back thee. GREGORYHow! Turn thy back and run?SAMPSONFear me not. GREGORYNo, marry; I fear thee!SAMPSONLet us take the law of our sides; let them begin. GREGORYI will frown as I pass by, and let them take it asthey list. SAMPSONNay, as they dare.


Draw thy tool! Here comestwo of the house of the Montagues. SAMPSONMy naked weapon is out: quarrel, I will back thee. GREGORYHow! Turn thy back and run?SAMPSONFear me not. GREGORYNo, marry; I fear thee!SAMPSONLet us take the law of our sides; let them begin. GREGORYI will frown as I pass by, and let them take it asthey list. SAMPSONNay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them;which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it. Enter ABRAHAM and BALTHASARABRAHAMDo you bite your thumb at us, sir?SAMPSONI do bite my thumb, sir. ABRAHAMDo you bite your thumb at us, sir?SAMPSON Aside to GREGORY Is the law of our side, if I sayay? Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMGREGORYNo. SAMPSONNo, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but Ibite my thumb, sir. GREGORYDo you quarrel, sir?ABRAHAMQuarrel sir! No, sir. SAMPSONIf you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you. ABRAHAMNo better. SAMPSONWell, sir. GREGORYSay 'better:' here comes one of my master's kinsmen. SAMPSONYes, better, sir. ABRAHAMYou lie. SAMPSONDraw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow. They fightEnter BENVOLIOBENVOLIOPart, fools!Put up your swords; you know not what you do. Beats down their swords Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMEnter TYBALTTYBALTWhat, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death. BENVOLIOI do but keep the peace: put up thy sword,Or manage it to part these men with me. TYBALTWhat, drawn, and talk of peace!


I will bite my thumb at them;which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it. Enter ABRAHAM and BALTHASARABRAHAMDo you bite your thumb at us, sir?SAMPSONI do bite my thumb, sir. ABRAHAMDo you bite your thumb at us, sir?SAMPSON Aside to GREGORY Is the law of our side, if I sayay? Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMGREGORYNo. SAMPSONNo, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but Ibite my thumb, sir. GREGORYDo you quarrel, sir?ABRAHAMQuarrel sir! No, sir. SAMPSONIf you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you. ABRAHAMNo better. SAMPSONWell, sir. GREGORYSay 'better:' here comes one of my master's kinsmen. SAMPSONYes, better, sir. ABRAHAMYou lie. SAMPSONDraw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow. They fightEnter BENVOLIOBENVOLIOPart, fools!Put up your swords; you know not what you do. Beats down their swords Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMEnter TYBALTTYBALTWhat, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death. BENVOLIOI do but keep the peace: put up thy sword,Or manage it to part these men with me. TYBALTWhat, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word,As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:Have at thee, coward!They fightEnter, several of both houses, who join the fray; then enter Citizens, with clubsFirst CitizenClubs, bills, and partisans! Strike! Beat them down!Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues!Enter CAPULET in his gown, and LADY CAPULETCAPULETWhat noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!LADY CAPULETA crutch, a crutch!