Act 2 A Doll's House

A Doll'south Firm exposes the restricted role of women during the time of its writing and the problems that arise from a desperate imbalance of ability between men and women. Throughout the play, Nora is treated similar a child by the other characters. Torvald calls her his "pet" and his "property," and implies that she is non smart or responsible enough to be trusted with coin. Neither Krogstad nor Dr. Rank take her seriously, and even Mrs. Linde calls her a "child." While this treatment does seem to mildly frustrate Nora, she plays along with it, calling herself "footling Nora" and promising that she would never dream of disobeying her married man. However, at that place are clues that she is non entirely happy with the limited position she has equally a woman. When revealing the secret of how she borrowed coin to finance the trip to Italy, she refers to information technology as her "pride" and says it was fun to be in control of money, explaining that information technology was "nigh similar beingness a man." Although she comes to regret her conclusion to borrow money, Nora's dissatisfaction with her condition equally a woman intensifies over the form of the play. In the final scene she tells Torvald that she is not being treated as an independent person with a listen of her own. Her radical solution to this issue is to leave domestic life behind, despite Torvald'south declaration that he will change. Nora's determination suggests that she, and the play, see the effect equally only partially with Torvald. The more primal event is with domestic life as it was conceived and lived at the time, in the way information technology legally and culturally infantilized women and made it incommunicable for them to be recognized or treated as total individuals.

Meanwhile, the men of the play are too expected to make full a certain role. Both Torvald and Krogstad are very ambitious, driven not but by the demand to provide for their families but also by a desire to achieve higher status. Respectability is of bully concern to both of them; when Nora's borrowing is revealed, Torvald'due south first thoughts are for his reputation. Meanwhile, Krogstad is fixated on achieving success now that he has "gone directly," and intends to i day take over Torvald'southward job and run the banking concern.

Gender ThemeTracker

The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Gender appears in each act of A Doll'due south Business firm. Click or tap on whatsoever chapter to read its Summary & Analysis.

How often theme appears:

act length:

Gender Quotes in A Doll's House

Below y'all will find the of import quotes in A Doll's Business firm related to the theme of Gender.

I would never dream of doing anything you didn't want me to.

Page Number and Citation: five

Explanation and Analysis:

Oh, sometimes I was and so tired, then tired. But it was tremendous fun notwithstanding, sitting at that place working and earning money similar that. Nigh like existence a man.

Page Number and Citation: 16

Caption and Assay:

Oh, I think I tin say that some of usa have a little influence now and again. Just considering one happens to be a adult female, doesn't mean… People in subordinate positions, ought to accept care they don't offend anybody… who… hm…

Folio Number and Citation: 24

Explanation and Analysis:

When a poor girl's been in trouble she must make the all-time of things.

Folio Number and Citation: 36

Explanation and Assay:

You meet Torvald is and so terribly in dearest with me that he says he wants me all to himself. When we first married, it even used to make him sort of jealous if I only as much as mentioned any of my erstwhile friends back home. So of course I stopped doing it.

Page Number and Citation: 38

Caption and Assay:

A man's better at coping with these things than a woman…

Page Number and Citation: 39

Explanation and Assay:

If it ever got around that the new manager had been talked over past his wife… As long as the footling woman gets her own stubborn way…! Do yous want me to make myself a laughing stock in the office? Give people the idea that I am susceptible to any kind of outside force per unit area? You can imagine how soon I'd feel the consequences of that!

Page Number and Citation: 42

Explanation and Analysis:

At present Dr. Rank, cheer up. You'll see tomorrow how nicely I can trip the light fantastic toe. And you can pretend I'm doing it simply for you—and for Torvald as well, of class.

Page Number and Citation: 47

Explanation and Analysis:

You can't frighten me! A precious niggling pampered thing like you lot…

Page Number and Commendation: 54

Caption and Analysis:

Tell me what to do, keep me right—as you always do.

Page Number and Citation: 58

Caption and Analysis:

But my dear darling Nora, you lot are dancing as though your life depended on information technology.

Page Number and Citation: 59

Explanation and Assay:

What else is in that location to understand, apart from the quondam, former story? A heartless woman throws a man over the moment something more profitable offers itself.

Page Number and Commendation: 63

Explanation and Analysis:

Without work I couldn't live. All my life I have worked, for as long every bit I tin can retrieve; that has e'er been my 1 dandy joy. But now I'thousand completely alone in the world, and feeling horribly empty and forlorn. In that location'south no pleasure in working only for yourself. Nils, give me somebody and something to work for.

Folio Number and Commendation: 64

Explanation and Analysis:

I wouldn't be a proper man if I didn't find a woman doubly attractive for beingness and then obviously helpless.

Page Number and Commendation: 78

Explanation and Analysis:

For a homo, there is something indescribably moving and very satisfying in knowing that he has forgiven his married woman—forgiven her, completely and genuinely, from the depths of his heart. It's every bit though it made her his property in a double sense: he has, as it were, given her a new life, and she becomes in a way both his married woman and at the aforementioned time his child.

Folio Number and Citation: 78

Explanation and Assay:

I have been your doll wife, just equally at home I was Daddy'south doll child. And the children in plow have been my dolls. I thought it was fun when you came and played with me, just as they idea it was fun when I went to play with them. That's been our wedlock, Torvald.

Page Number and Commendation: 80

Explanation and Analysis:

I believe that first and foremost I am an private, just as much every bit you are—or at to the lowest degree I'm going to endeavour to be. I know most people agree with you lot, Torvald, and that's also what it says in books. Merely I'thou not content anymore with what about people say, or what it says in books. I accept to recollect things for myself, and go things clear.

Page Number and Citation: 82

Explanation and Assay: