ADH Act 2 quotes Flashcards
dishevelled
*The chistmas tree… stripped of its ornaments and with burnt-down candle-ends on its dishevelled branches
Nora has been laid bare like this tree has been. Christmas tree represents family life, now bare, it could symbolise the stripping of her family life.
Candles traditionally represent light and hope
->absence of light shows an absence of hope Nora has
impossible
Such a thing couldn’t happen; it is impossible–I have three little children.
nora - naivety
thousand
Nora
I should like to tear it into a hundred thousand pieces.
This clearly shows Nora’s frustration and fear after Krogstad’s visit. The verb “tear” suggests violence and foreshadows her later thoughts for suicide. Nora’s less stereotypical feminine side is suggested and this is the turning point in which she starts to unconsciously express her bitterness. Further, the dress she wants to rips can be seen as a symbol of how Nora is only meant to be admired. To rip it, she is deliberately trying to escape Torvald’s restrictions.
altogether
Do you think they would forget their mother if she went away altogether? nora
wicked
A poor girl who has got into trouble should be glad to. Besides, that wicked man didn’t do a single thing for me. - nurse
pregnant outside of wedlock
no other mother
Little Nora, poor dear, had no other mother but me.
nurse - nora lack of maternal figure
i am sure
And if my little ones had no other mother, I am sure you would–
nora, suicide or leaving
screams
Out of my thoughts, out of my thoughts! One, two, three, four, five, six– [Screams.] Ah! there is someone coming–. [Makes a movement towards the door, but stands irresolute.]
nora losing control, paranoia
Tarantella
Torvald wants me to go as a Neapolitan fisher-girl, and dance the Tarantella
Ensuring his own societal superiority? Continues the idea of Torvald treating her as a ‘pet’. He wants to display her as a trophy.
Torvald treats his wife as a public display but only when he pleases.
fond
absurdly fond of me that he wants me absolutely to himself
extremely possessive husband. Chipping away at her identity, very toxic but Nora makes it sound nice. Mentally abusive. nora
older
You are still very like a child in many things, and I am older than you in many ways
christine
nice
Nice?–because you do as your husband wishes?
torvald - to do as expected
quill
Isn’t it an insult to think that I should be afraid of a starving quill-driver’s vengeance?
torvald
rotting
Probably within a month I shall lie rotting in the churchyard.
dr rank
amusements
My poor innocent spine has to suffer for my father’s youthful amusements.
victorian fear of stds - dr rank
tomorrow you will see how beautifully I shall dance, and you can imagine I am doing it all for you–and for Torvald too, of course.
nora - By saying this to Dr Rank, Nora shows a disregard for the boundaries of marriage and a delight in flaunting her femininity. Nora’s flirtatious behavior shows her ability to manipulate those around her and readers realize how she is not as innocent as she pretends to be.
legs
you may have leave to look at the legs too.
nora
sake
The only one who would gladly give his life for your sake.
dr rank
horrid
To have loved you as much as anyone else does? Was that horrid?
rank
anything
I can’t tell you anything now.
Nora’s manner of speaking in a self contradictory way becomes more obvious. She is first flirtatious with Dr Rank, asking him for a favor but then claims she cannot tell him anything. Nora seems upset and offended by Dr Rank’s confession of love for her, suggesting her disappointment when realizing she was just another doll in another man’s life.
entertaining
But I always thought it tremendous fun if I could steal down into the maids’ room, because they never moralised at all, and talked to each other about such entertaining things.
This shows the expectations for women and the constraint for Nora. She is only able to gain freedom by talking to others.
papa
IRank see–it is their place I have taken.
Nora [jumping up and going to him]. Oh, dear, nice Doctor Rank, I never meant that at all. But surely you can understand that being with Torvald is a little like being with papa--[Enter MAID from the hall.]
Misunderstanding of love? Also, it shows she is a dutiful daughter and wife
helen
Helen, you mustn’t say anything about it to anyone.
Nora is trying to conceal Krogstad’s visit, thus reinforcing how the theme of deceit is presented constantly at this point in the play. She must cover her tracts in front of everyone – even the maid – increasing her isolation and Nora’s desperation in keeping the truth from Torvald is apparent.