Week 7: Discussion Question #1 for Ibsen's A Doll's House (Act 2, pp. 553-67

Please provide your in-depth interpretation and analysis on the questions (at least 100 words per Discussion question #1, #2, and #3)

Discussion Question #1 for Ibsen's A Doll's House (1879, Act 2, pp. 553-67)

Why does Nora tell her nanny Anna whether her children "I can't have them [her children] with me in future. . . . And if my little ones had nobody else, I'm sure you would--Nonsense, nonsense!" (Act 2, 553)? What is she worried about? Did Nora have to borrow money by forging her father's signature and risking her image? Does Nora think what she did is unethical and she is not a good influence on her children? What would you have done if you were in Nora's situation? (Please check the Discussion board to see questions #2 and 3).

Discussion 2.

Earlier in Act 1, Nora told Krogstad, "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" (Act 1, 548). However, she does not tell Torvald about the loan. Instead, she begs Torvald to let Krogstad keep his position at the bank. What does Nora want to protect by not revealing the money she borrowed from Krogstad? Why does Torvald refuse to listen to Nora's request regarding Krogstad's job? What makes Torvald unbearable to work with Krogstad at the bank? What is his real reason for dismissing Krogstad? How does Nora respond to his reasoning? How would you characterize Torvald?

Discussion 3 

Why does Nora turn to Doctor Rank after Torvald drops his letter of Krogstad's dismissal? Does this reflect her unethical thinking or her desperate feelings? Then, why does she suddenly change her mind after she has asked Doctor Rank to show her a proof of his friendship? What do you make of Nora's reaction and her change of mind here? After receiving a dismissal letter from Torvald, Krogstad visits Nora and tells her: "The whole thing can be settled quite amicably. Nobody needs to know. It can remain among us three" (Act 2, 562). What does he insinuate here? If Krogstad retained his position at the bank, would he bring up Nora's forgery of her father's signature and threaten her? Why does Nora keep saying "Torvald must never know" (Act 2, 562)? What is she afraid of? What does Krogstad mean by "I have your husband in my pocket" (Act 2, 564)?