A Doll's House, Part 2: Suspense and Irony, Home Common Core ELA 10 -
ELA3010 B-CR (Exam REVIEW Only), A Doll's House, Part 2: Suspense and
Irony, A Doll House Act 2
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.
Helmer: [putting his papers together] Now then, little Miss Obstinate.
Nora: [breathlessly]. Torvald—what was that letter?
Helmer: Krogstad's dismissal.
Nora: Call her back, Torvald! There is still time. Oh Torvald, call her back! Do it for my sake—
for your own sake—for the children's sake! Do you hear me, Torvald? Call her back! You don't
know what that letter can bring upon us.
Helmer: It's too late.
Nora: Yes, it's too late.
Helmer: My dear Nora, I can forgive the anxiety you are in, although really it is an insult to me.
It is, indeed. Isn't it an insult to think that I should be afraid of a starving quill-driver's
vengeance? But I forgive you nevertheless, because it is such eloquent witness to your great love
for me. [Takes her in his arms.] And that is as it should be, my own darling Nora. Come what
will, you may be sure I shall have both courage and strength if they be needed. You will see I am
man enough to take everything upon myself.
Nora: [in a horror-stricken voice]. What do you mean by that?
Helmer: Everything, I say—
Nora: [recovering herself] You will never have to do that.
Helmer: That's right. Well, we will share it, Nora, as man and wife should. That is how it shall
be. [Caressing her.] Are you content now? There! There! Not these frightened dove's eyes! The
whole thing is only the wildest fancy! Now, you must go and play through the Tarantella and
practise with your tambourine. I shall go into the inner office and shut the door, and I shall hear
nothing; you can make as much noise as you please. [Turns back at the door.] And when Rank
comes, tell him where he will find me. [Nods to her, takes his papers and goes into his room, and
shuts the door after him.]
Nora: [bewildered with anxiety, stands as if rooted to the spot, and whispers] He was capable of
doing it. He will do it. He will do it in spite of everything. No, not that! Never, never! Anything
rather than that! Oh, for some help, some way out of it! [The door-bell rings.] Doctor Rank!
Anything rather than that—anything, whatever it is! [She puts her hands over her face, pulls
,herself together, goes to the door and opens it. RANK is standing without, hanging up his coat.
During the following dialogue it begins to grow dark.] Ans - xxx Nora comes to
understand that Helmer wants to share more responsibilities in the marriage now.
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.
Helmer: And it is just by interceding for him that you make it impossible for me to keep him. It
is already known at the Bank that I mean to dismiss Krogstad. Is it to get about now that the new
manager has changed his mind at his wife's bidding—
Nora: And what if it did?
Helmer: Of course!—if only this obstinate little person can get her way! Do you suppose I am
going to make myself ridiculous before my whole staff, to let people think that I am a man to be
swayed by all sorts of outside influence? I should very soon feel the consequences of it, I can tell
you! And besides, there is one thing that makes it quite impossible for me to have Krogstad in
the Bank as long as I am manager.
Nora: Whatever is that?
Helmer: His moral failings I might perhaps have overlooked, if necessary—
Nora: Yes, you could—couldn't you?
Helmer: And I hear he is a good worker, too. But I knew him when we were boys. It was one of
those rash friendships that so often prove an incubus in afterlife. I may as well tell you plainly,
we were once on very intimate terms with one another. But this tactless fellow lays no restraint
on himself when other people are present. On the contrary, he thinks it gives him the right to
adopt a familiar tone with me, and every minute it is "I say, Helmer, old fellow!" and that sort of
thing. I assure you it is extremely painful for me. He would make my position in the Bank
intolerable. Ans - xxx a,b
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.
Nora: [quickly] He mustn't get the letter. Tear it up. I will find some means of getting money.
Krogstad: Excuse me, Mrs. Helmer, but I think I told you just now—
Nora: I am not speaking of what I owe you. Tell me what sum you are asking my husband for,
and I will get the money.
Krogstad: I am not asking your husband for a penny.
Nora: What do you want, then?
, Krogstad: I will tell you. I want to rehabilitate myself, Mrs. Helmer; I want to get on; and in that
your husband must help me. For the last year and a half I have not had a hand in anything
dishonourable, amid all that time I have been struggling in most restricted circumstances. I was
content to work my way up step by step. Now I am turned out, and I am not going to be satisfied
with merely being taken into favour again. I want to get on, I tell you. I want to get into the Bank
again, in a higher position. Your husband must make a place for me—
Nora: That he will never do!
Krogstad: He will; I know him; he dare not protest. And as soon as I am in there again with him,
then you will see! Within a year I shall be the manager's right hand. It will be Nils Krogstad and
not Torvald Helmer who manages the Bank.
Nora: That's a thing you will never see!
Krogstad: Do you mean that you will—?
Nora: I have courage enough for it now.
Krogstad: Oh, you can't frighten me. A fine, spoilt lady like you—
Nora: You will see, you will see.
Krogstad: Under the ice, perhaps? Down into the cold, coal-black water? And then, in the spring,
to float up to the surface, all horrible and unrecognisable, with your hair fallen out—
Nora: You can't frighten me.
Krogstad: Nor you me. People don't do such things, Mrs. Helmer. Besides, what use would it be?
I should have him completely in my power all the same.
Nora: Afterwards? When I am no longer—
Krogstad: Have you forgotten that it is I who have the keeping of your reputation? [NORA
stands speechlessly looking at him.] Well, now, I have warned you. Do not do anything foolish.
When Helmer has had my letter, I shall expect a message from him. And be sure you remember
that it is your husband himself who has forced me into such ways as this again. I will never
forgive him for that. Goodbye, Mrs. Helmer. [Exit through the hall.] Ans - xxx d
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.
Helmer: Krogstad's dismissal.
Nora: Call her back, Torvald! There is still time. Oh Torvald, call her back! Do it for my sake—
for your own sake—for the children's sake! Do you hear me, Torvald? Call her back! You don't
know what that letter can bring upon us.
