Monologue text

A doll house by Ibsen

Information

A doll house (Act III)
Role: Nora Helmer is a vibrant young housewife who suffers from a crippling dependency on her husband, Torvald, of eight years who does all the thinking for both of them. In order to save him from a debt and to spare his masculine pride, Nora arranges a loan (without his knowledge and by forging a signature). When the crime is inevitably revealed, Torvald's response sets into motion a series of events that call the very validity of their marriage into question, and Nora awakens to a sense of true self-awareness for the first time in her life. And in one of the most famous (and scandalous) climaxes in all of nineteenth century drama, Nora makes a choice that continues to be debated by audiences to this day.
Age: N/A
Monologue synopsis: A woman tries to escape from the golden cage, of a good marriage, and to close behind her the door of the doll's house.
 

Monologue

Nora: I've waited so patiently for eight long years - for, my Lord, I know miracles don't happen every day. Then this horrible misfortune came upon me; and then I felt quite certain that the miracle was going to happen at last. When Krogstad's letter was lying out there, never for a moment did I imagine that you could give in to this man's terms. I was so absolutely certain that you would say to him: go on, tell your tale to the whole world. [And when that was done...

Helmer: Yes, what then? When I had exposed my wife to shame and disgrace?]*

Nora: When that was done, I was so utterly sure, that you would step forward and take everything upon yourself, and say: I am the guilty one.

[Helmer: Nora!]*

Nora: You think that I would ever have accepted such a sacrifice from you? No! Οf course not. But what would my assurances have been worth against yours? That was the miracle which I was waiting for, in terror and hope. And it was to prevent it, that I wanted to kill myself.

[Helmer: I would gladly work night and day for you, Nora—bear sorrow and want for your sake. But no man would sacrifice his honor for the one he loves.

Nora: It is a thing hundreds of thousands of women have done.

Helmer: Oh, you think and talk like a heedless child.

Nora: Maybe.]* But you neither think nor talk like the man I could join myself to. As soon as your fear was over - and it wasn't fear for what threatened me, but only for what might damage you - when all the danger was past, for you it was as if nothing at all had happened. I was exactly as before, I was your little lark, your doll, which you'd have to handle with double care, now that I'd turned out so brittle and frail. (Gets up.) Torvald - in that instant it dawned on me that for eight years I had been living here with a stranger, and had borne him three children. Oh, I can't stand the thought of it! I could tear myself to bits!

(* the text in brackets can be easily omitted by the performer)

~An excerpt from A Doll House~
[Translation by Alice Katsavou]

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