A Doll’s House

Act I Discussion Questions

1. From the beginning of Act I, Torvald calls Nora several pet names. What do these names
suggest about Torvald’s perception of his wife and his marriage? Explain.
That she is not a person more of a pet or a little animal. He thinks she is a lot less of a person
then anyone else. Shes dumb and small and basically useless. She isn't someone he sees as
equal. He knows she doesn’t see her as equal.

2. Compare Nora’s and Kristine lives since marriage. Who is better off? Explain.
Nora is better off because she is getting money she has a good life she's acting like she's happy
and has children. While nora is prosteopering kristine is the opposite and is sick and dying with
a poor life. But nora is entirely dependant on her husband. Kristine is begging for jobs.

3. What might be the link between Nora’s “contraband” macaroons and her “huge desire to say
– to hell and be damned?” Explain.
When told not to do something she does the exact opposite. She don’t care about what her
husband says she easily disobeys him. She doesn’t care about the consequences of her actions.
She acts like shes a perfect person

4. What crime has Nora committed? Why was this a problem?

She forged her father's signature after his father's death. This is a problem because it is illegal
and she and the krogstad could get into a lot of trouble. You could only borrow money if you’re
a man. Krogstad is getting in trouble.

5. Do Nora’s motives for committing the crime excuse her in some way? Explain.
Yes they somewhat excuse her because she did it to try to save her husband's life. If it wasn't to
save someone it would be much worse. Shes paying it back but just on her husbands dime.

6. What does Nora’s tree decorating and chattering at the end of Act I reveal about her
character?
Shes anxious and feels bad because her husband is mad. Shes trying to deal with it herself. She
really doen’t want her husband to find out what she did. She is just faking the person she is all
the time.