A Doll’s House 

Act II Discussion Questions

1. When Nora sees the box of masquerade clothes, she wants to “rip them in a million pieces!”
What does Ibsen symbolize with this characterization?
She wants to get rid of them because she doesn’t want to mask her herself anymore and hide
herself. It might also talk about her relationships and break up how the image of her
relationship is perfect. When reading a Doll’s House, from the surface, their relationships seems
perfect and looks like it’s going well. There are some underlying problems though, such as
tolvard thinking he has more power over Nora.

2. Discuss the foreshadowing in Nora’s conversation with Anne-Marie.

They’re talking about the children and the mother and how the mother might leave. This could
show that her children forgot about Nora. She asks Anne-Marie because she, as well, left her
kids to be a mother to Nora. This could be foreshadowing some event in the future where Nora
is forgotten by someone most likely her kids. Nora does address the fact that she doesn’t spend
much time with her children when she asks the maid about if the children remembered her or
not.

3. Why does Torvald make such a decisive show of mailing the letter firing Krogstad against
Nora’s pleas?
It was a show of power. It also adds to the dynamic of their relationship and how Torvald views
her as a child. When punishisng a child, you take away things that mean something to the child.
That is the way parents normally punish children. This situation with Tolvard is the same thing.
When trying to control or punish Nora he makes a fuss about mailing the letter against Nora’s
will. It also shows that he doesn’t respect her much because he was still going to mail the letter
even though Nora didn’t want her to.

4. After Dr. Rank professes his love, Nora demands the lamp be brought in. Why? Is this light
real or artificial? What might Ibsen be suggesting about truth and light in the Helmer’s
household?
The light represents the idea that it showed the truth of the situation and how truths are
revealed in the light. Dr. Rank's love for Nora was kept secret for a while because him and
Tolvard were really good friends. When Dr. Rank did get the chance he did confess his love for
Nora. Nora didn’t feel the same way though, and therefore asked for the lamp. This clearly
shows that with the lamp it shined the light on the situation and brought the truths out. Since
secrets linger in the darkness.

5. Some histories of the tarantella dance explain that it is used to fight off the venomous effects
of a spider bite. Other interpretations suggest it represents a woman’s frustration in
oppression. Which of these explanations best fits Nora’s violent practice at the end of Act II?
Might both apply? Explain.
I think in this situation it’s both. First it could be fighting off the venomous effects of a spider bite
because in this situation, Krogstad is the spider bite. Her transaction with Krogstad and her
dancing violently is fighting off the effects of that bite. Krogstad threatened to tell Torvald about
Nora’s illegal crime and Nora is tryng to do everyhtign she can to prevent that. At the same time
Nora seems somewhat frustrated because of oppression. Torvald and Nora’s relationship is
kinda messed in the sense that Torvald clearly has more power over Nora. This is seen as
oppresions because of his financial control on Nora, he’s able to dictate what she can and can’t
do.