A Doll’s House

Act I Questions

  1. Torvald refers to Nora by such names as his “little lark,” his “squirrel,” his “little spendthrift,” and a “little featherhead,” amongst others.

a) What do these names suggest about his attitude towards her?

b) What seems to be Torvald’s attitude towards women in general, and how is his attitude revealed?

  1. a) How would you characterize Nora and Torvald’s relationship based on their interaction in the opening scene? Support your answer with details.

b) What details in the first act indicate the Nora and Torvald do not know each other very well?

c) Considering the true nature of Nora and Torvald’s relationship, what is ironic about her comment that if he found out her secret it “would just [ruin] their relationship”?

  1. When the children appear at the door, Torvald comments that “this place is unbearable for anyone but mothers.” a) What does this comment suggest about his attitude towards children? b) What do Nora’s interactions with her children suggest about her relationship with them?
  1. a) What aspects of Krogstad’s personality are revealed through his interactions with Nora, and how are they revealed?

b) What seems to have been the nature of his previous relationship with Mrs. Linde?

c) What details in the first act hint at the nature of the relationship?

  1. a) What do Torvald’s comments about morality reveal about his character?

b) How do his comments relate to Nora’s situation?

c) What are the implications of his comments on her situation?

  1. How and why did your impression of Nora change throughout the course of the first act?
  1. Given the behaviour of the characters during the first act, what differences can you see between our society and the society depicted in the play?
  1. It is said that people who live their lives to please others never find real happiness. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.

Analysis:

Ibsen’s later plays depict characters and situations graphically and realistically. His emphasis on realism had a tremendous impact on the theatre, shaping the direction of modern drama and influencing countless later dramatists.

Nora’s beloved macaroons are an example of the type of minute details that Ibsen often included in his plays. How does the inclusion of the macaroons contribute to the development of both Nora’s and Torvald’s character and add to the play’s realism?