A Doll’s House

Act I Discussion Questions

1. From the beginning of Act I, Torvald calls Nora several pet names. What do these names
suggest about Torvald’s perception of his wife and his marriage? Explain.

He sees her as his doll or something like that; he plays with her; doesn’t see her as a person.
We see that he does love her, but it is more of an affection and less of a love. He sees her as a
friend, but not on equal levels. The names he calls her generally refer to her as smaller in size.

2. Compare Nora’s and Kristine’s lives since marriage. Who is better off? Explain.

Nora’s marriage has been one of happiness and joy. Torvald’s health failed, and the went to
Italy to recover with some money that she got. She has money to spend and freedom with her
money. She is controlled by Torvaldin her marriage and has little freedom. She married well off.

Christine married a richer husband who died quickly and left her little money. She had to marry
in order to provide for her family and her children. She has had small work and not earned very
much, she has freedom with her personal life.

Nora is better off in her status and wealth, but Christine is better off in that she has more
freedoms. Nora doesn’t have to worry about having money for things. Christine doesn’t have to
worry about being able to do something.

3. What might be the link between Nora’s “contraband” macaroons and her “huge desire to say
– to hell and be damned?” Explain.
She wants to feel happy about something that hurts her inside. She believes that the
macaroons would make her happy for being sweets. The other would maybe preserve her
moral compass. She sees these things as a way to express her independence from Torvald.

4. What crime has Nora committed? Why was this a problem?

She forged her father’s signature on the loan that she took from Krogstead for the money.
Krogstead saw it as a crime and he wanted to have a good status in the community.

5. Do Nora’s motives for committing the crime excuse her in some way? Explain.
Not really. Though she wanted the money and the money may have helped her, she didn’t have
an excuse to commit the crime. It would have helped her, but it only helped improve her
standing. She didn’t want to be poor, so she forged the signature and took the money.
6. What does Nora’s tree decorating and chattering at the end of Act I reveal about her
character?

They reveal that she is dishonest and wants to distance herself from her dishonesty and guilt.
She feels guilt for the crime that she has committed.