This document contains a quotation bank for each of the three key romantic relationships in the play: Nora & Helmer, Nora & Rank, Mrs Linde & Krogstad.
Following this is an evaluation of the similarities between the three relationships and a timeline of how Nora & Torvald’s marriage changes th...
Nora and Helmer Nora and Dr Rank Mrs Linde and Krogstad
product of social norms an outlet to her containing marriage symbols of a new society
“Little squirrel” “takes her playfully by the “Say it. Here he is” “Once upon a time he’d have done
ear” “wags his finger” anything for my sake”
“During the following scene it begins to
“It’d completely wreck our relationship” grow dark” “Mrs Linde starts, composes herself and
turns away to the window”
“So little Miss Independent’s in trouble “What others are to be revealed to me?”
and needs a man to rescue her” “But surely it’s the sick who need care
“You’re my best and truest friend” most?”
“Torvald’s so hopefully in love with me
that he wants to have me all to “There are some people whom one “Suppose we two shipwrecked souls
himself… he got quite jealous” loves, and others whom it’s almost more could join hands?”
fun to be with”
“Squirrel would do lots of pretty tricks for “I’ve never been so happy in my life
you if you granted her wish” “Do you think he is the only one… who before!”
would gladly lay down his life for you?”
“We shall share it, Nora - as man and “You’re just being hysterical and
wife” “(Flicks him on the ear with the romantic”
stockings”)
“My child shall have her way” “You know what people think of me
“To give me proof of your friendship” here?”
“Don’t look at me like that, Torvald!...
You mustn’t talk to me like that tonight” “That you should go and tell me. That “I believe in you, Nils. I am afraid of
was quite unnecessary” nothing - with you”
“My most treasured possession… mine,
mine alone, all mine” “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself, now “Someone to work for - to live for!”
that the lamp’s been lit?”
“I pretend to myself that you’re my
secret mistress… I pretend to myself
that you are my young bride”
“Aren’t I your husband?”
“It means she has become his property
in a double sense… she is now not only
his wife but also his child”
“My poor, helpless, bewildered little
creature”
“I’ve been living here like a pauper… it’s
your fault I’ve done nothing with my life”
“I can’t help it. I don’t love you any
longer”
Similarities:
● Krogstad echoes Nora’s comments in Act One by exclaiming he is “happy”, however his situation is a
stark contrast; Mrs Linde’s faith in him despite his immoral past causes him to be genuinely content
whereas Nora puts on a performance to conform to bourgeois expectations.
● While Mrs Linde and Krogstad individually defy social norms, they express conventional attitudes
towards marriage just as Nora and Torvald initially do
● Dr Rank is willing to sacrifice in order to please Nora just as Krogstad would for Mrs Linde; perhaps this
is because they both have already experienced the consequences of immorality and have nothing to
lose
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