Doll's House (9781443435505)

by Ibsen, Henrik

  NORA

  Yes.

  KROGSTAD

  Tell me, Mrs. Helmer, can you by any chance remember what day your father died?—on what day of the month, I mean.

  NORA

  Papa died on the twenty-ninth of September.

  KROGSTAD

  That is correct; I have ascertained it for myself. And, as that is so, there is a discrepancy (taking a paper from his pocket) which I cannot account for.

  NORA

  What discrepancy? I don’t know—

  KROGSTAD

  The discrepancy consists, Mrs. Helmer, in the fact that your father signed this bond three days after his death.

  NORA

  What do you mean? I don’t understand—

  KROGSTAD

  Your father died on the twenty-ninth of September. But, look here; your father has dated his signature the second of October. It is a discrepancy, isn’t it? (NORA is silent.) Can you explain it to me? (NORA is still silent.) It is a remarkable thing, too, that the words “2nd of October,” as well as the year, are not written in your father’s handwriting but in one that I think I know. Well, of course it can be explained; your father may have forgotten to date his signature, and someone else may have dated it haphazard before they knew of his death. There is no harm in that. It all depends on the signature of the name; and that is genuine, I suppose, Mrs. Helmer? It was your father himself who signed his name here?

  NORA

  (After a short pause, throws her head up and looks defiantly at him.) No, it was not. It was I that wrote papa’s name.

  KROGSTAD

  Are you aware that is a dangerous confession?

  NORA

  In what way? You shall have your money soon.

  KROGSTAD

  Let me ask you a question; why did you not send the paper to your father?

  NORA

  It was impossible; papa was so ill. If I had asked him for his signature, I should have had to tell him what the money was to be used for; and when he was so ill himself I couldn’t tell him that my husband’s life was in danger—it was impossible.

  KROGSTAD

  It would have been better for you if you had given up your trip abroad.

  NORA

  No, that was impossible. That trip was to save my husband’s life; I couldn’t give that up.

  KROGSTAD

  But did it never occur to you that you were committing a fraud on me?

  NORA

  I couldn’t take that into account; I didn’t trouble myself about you at all. I couldn’t bear you, because you put so many heartless difficulties in my way, although you knew what a dangerous condition my husband was in.

  KROGSTAD

  Mrs. Helmer, you evidently do not realise clearly what it is that you have been guilty of. But I can assure you that my one false step, which lost me all my reputation, was nothing more or nothing worse than what you have done.

  NORA

  You? Do you ask me to believe that you were brave enough to run a risk to save your wife’s life?

  KROGSTAD

  The law cares nothing about motives.

  NORA

  Then it must be a very foolish law.

  KROGSTAD

  Foolish or not, it is the law by which you will be judged, if I produce this paper in court.

  NORA

  I don’t believe it. Is a daughter not to be allowed to spare her dying father anxiety and care? Is a wife not to be allowed to save her husband’s life? I don’t know much about law; but I am certain that there must be laws permitting such things as that. Have you no knowledge of such laws—you who are a lawyer? You must be a very poor lawyer, Mr. Krogstad.

  KROGSTAD

  Maybe. But matters of business—such business as you and I have had together—do you think I don’t understand that? Very well. Do as you please. But let me tell you this—if I lose my position a second time, you shall lose yours with me. (He bows, and goes out through the hall.)

  NORA

  (Appears buried in thought for a short time, then tosses her head). Nonsense! Trying to frighten me like that!—I am not so silly as he thinks. (Begins to busy herself putting the children’s things in order.) And yet—? No, it’s impossible! I did it for love’s sake.

  THE CHILDREN

  (In the doorway on the left.) Mother, the stranger man has gone out through the gate.

  NORA

  Yes, dears, I know. But, don’t tell anyone about the stranger man. Do you hear? Not even papa.

  CHILDREN

  No, mother; but will you come and play again?

  NORA

  No, no,—not now.

  CHILDREN

  But, mother, you promised us.

  NORA

  Yes, but I can’t now. Run away in; I have such a lot to do. Run away in, my sweet little darlings. (She gets them into the room by degrees and shuts the door on them; then sits down on the sofa, takes up a piece of needlework and sews a few stitches, but soon stops.) No! (Throws down the work, gets up, goes to the hall door and calls out.) Helen! bring the Tree in. (Goes to the table on the left, opens a drawer, and stops again.) No, no! it is quite impossible!

  MAID

  (Coming in with the Tree). Where shall I put it, ma’am?

  NORA

  Here, in the middle of the floor.

  MAID

  Shall I get you anything else?

  NORA

  No, thank you. I have all I want. (Exit MAID)

  Nora.

  (Begins dressing the tree.) A candle here-and flowers here—The horrible man! It’s all nonsense—there’s nothing wrong. The tree shall be splendid! I will do everything I can think of to please you, Torvald!—I will sing for you, dance for you—(HELMER comes in with some papers under his arm.) Oh! are you back already?

  HELMER

  Yes. Has anyone been here?

  NORA

  Here? No.

  HELMER

  That is strange. I saw Krogstad going out of the gate.

  NORA

  Did you? Oh yes, I forgot, Krogstad was here for a moment.

  HELMER

  Nora, I can see from your manner that he has been here begging you to say a good word for him.

  NORA

  Yes.

  HELMER

  And you were to appear to do it of your own accord; you were to conceal from me the fact of his having been here; didn’t he beg that of you too?

  NORA

  Yes, Torvald, but—

  HELMER

  Nora, Nora, and you would be a party to that sort of thing? To have any talk with a man like that, and give him any sort of promise? And to tell me a lie into the bargain?

  NORA

  A lie—?

  HELMER

  Didn’t you tell me no one had been here? (Shakes his finger at her.) My little songbird must never do that again. A songbird must have a clean beak to chirp with—no false notes! (Puts his arm round her waist.) That is so, isn’t it? Yes, I am sure it is. (Lets her go.) We will say no more about it. (Sits down by the stove.) How warm and snug it is here! (Turns over his papers.)

  Nora.

  (After a short pause, during which she busies herself with the Christmas Tree.) Torvald!

  HELMER

  Yes.

  NORA

  I am looking forward tremendously to the fancy-dress ball at the Stenborgs’ the day after tomorrow.

  HELMER

  And I am tremendously curious to see what you are going to surprise me with.

  NORA

  It was very silly of me to want to do that.

  HELMER

  What do you mean?

  NORA

  I can’t hit upon anything that will do;
everything I think of seems so silly and insignificant.

  HELMER

  Does my little Nora acknowledge that at last?

  NORA

  (Standing behind his chair with her arms on the back of it.) Are you very busy, Torvald?

  HELMER

  Well—

  NORA

  What are all those papers?

  HELMER

  Bank business.

  NORA

  Already?

  HELMER

  I have got authority from the retiring manager to undertake the necessary changes in the staff and in the rearrangement of the work; and I must make use of the Christmas week for that, so as to have everything in order for the new year.

  NORA

  Then that was why this poor Krogstad—

  HELMER

  Hm!

  NORA

  (Leans against the back of his chair and strokes his hair.) If you hadn’t been so busy I should have asked you a tremendously big favour, Torvald.

  HELMER

  What is that? Tell me.

  NORA

  There is no one has such good taste as you. And I do so want to look nice at the fancy-dress ball. Torvald, couldn’t you take me in hand and decide what I shall go as, and what sort of a dress I shall wear?

  HELMER

  Aha! so my obstinate little woman is obliged to get someone to come to her rescue?

  NORA

  Yes, Torvald, I can’t get along a bit without your help.

  HELMER

  Very well, I will think it over, we shall manage to hit upon something.

  NORA

  That is nice of you. (Goes to the Christmas Tree. A short pause.) How pretty the red flowers look. . . . But, tell me, was it really something very bad that this Krogstad was guilty of?

  HELMER

  He forged someone’s name. Have you any idea what that means?

  NORA

  Isn’t it possible that he was driven to do it by necessity?

  HELMER

  Yes; or, as in so many cases, by imprudence. I am not so heartless as to condemn a man altogether because of a single false step of that kind.

  NORA

  No, you wouldn’t, would you, Torvald?

  HELMER

  Many a man has been able to retrieve his character, if he has openly confessed his fault and taken his punishment.

  NORA

  Punishment—?

  HELMER

  But Krogstad did nothing of that sort; he got himself out of it by a cunning trick, and that is why he has gone under altogether.

  NORA

  But do you think it would—?

  HELMER

  Just think how a guilty man like that has to lie and play the hypocrite with every one, how he has to wear a mask in the presence of those near and dear to him, even before his own wife and children. And about the children—that is the most terrible part of it all, Nora.

  NORA

  How?

  HELMER

  Because such an atmosphere of lies infects and poisons the whole life of a home. Each breath the children take in such a house is full of the germs of evil.

  NORA

  (Coming nearer him.) Are you sure of that?

  HELMER

  My dear, I have often seen it in the course of my life as a lawyer. Almost everyone who has gone to the bad early in life has had a deceitful mother.

  NORA

  Why do you only say—mother?

  HELMER

  It seems most commonly to be the mother’s influence, though naturally a bad father’s would have the same result. Every lawyer is familiar with the fact. This Krogstad, now, has been persistently poisoning his own children with lies and dissimulation; that is why I say he has lost all moral character. (Holds out his hands to her.) That is why my sweet little Nora must promise me not to plead his cause. Give me your hand on it. Come, come, what is this? Give me your hand. There now, that’s settled. I assure you it would be quite impossible for me to work with him; I literally feel physically ill when I am in the company of such people.

  NORA

  (Takes her hand out of his and goes to the opposite side of the Christmas Tree.) How hot it is in here; and I have such a lot to do.

  HELMER

  (Getting up and putting his papers in order.) Yes, and I must try and read through some of these before dinner; and I must think about your costume, too. And it is just possible I may have something ready in gold paper to hang up on the Tree. (Puts his hand on her head.) My precious little singing-bird! (He goes into his room and shuts the door after him.)

  NORA

  (After a pause, whispers.) No, no—it isn’t true. It’s impossible; it must be impossible.

  (The NURSE opens the door on the left.)

  NURSE

  The little ones are begging so hard to be allowed to come in to mamma.

  NORA

  No, no, no! Don’t let them come in to me! You stay with them, Anne.

  NURSE

  Very well, ma’am. (Shuts the door.)

  NORA

  (Pale with terror.) Deprave my little children? Poison my home? (A short pause. Then she tosses her head.) It’s not true. It can’t possibly be true.

  Act II

  Scene

  The same scene. The Christmas Tree is in the corner by the piano, stripped of its ornaments and with burnt-down candle-ends on its dishevelled branches. NORA’S cloak and hat are lying on the sofa. She is alone in the room, walking about uneasily. She stops by the sofa and takes up her cloak.

  NORA

  (Drops her cloak.) Someone is coming now! (Goes to the door and listens.) No—it is no one. Of course, no one will come today, Christmas Day—nor tomorrow either. But, perhaps—(opens the door and looks out). No, nothing in the letterbox; it is quite empty. (Comes forward.) What rubbish! Of course he can’t be in earnest about it. Such a thing couldn’t happen; it is impossible—I have three little children.

  (Enter the NURSE from the room on the left, carrying a big cardboard box.)

  NURSE

  At last I have found the box with the fancy dress.

  NORA

  Thanks; put it on the table.

  NURSE

  (Doing so.) But it is very much in want of mending.

  NORA

  I should like to tear it into a hundred thousand pieces.

  NURSE

  What an idea! It can easily be put in order—just a little patience.

  NORA

  Yes, I will go and get Mrs. Linde to come and help me with it.

  NURSE

  What, out again? In this horrible weather? You will catch cold, ma’am, and make yourself ill.

  NORA

  Well, worse than that might happen. How are the children?

  NURSE

  The poor little souls are playing with their Christmas presents, but—

  NORA

  Do they ask much for me?

  NURSE

  You see, they are so accustomed to have their mamma with them.

  NORA

  Yes, but, nurse, I shall not be able to be so much with them now as I was before.

  NURSE

  Oh well, young children easily get accustomed to anything.

  NORA

  Do you think so? Do you think they would forget their mother if she went away altogether?

  NURSE

  Good heavens!—went away altogether?

  NORA

  NURSE, I want you to tell me something I have often wondered about—how could you have the heart to put your own child out among strangers?

  NURSE

  I was obliged to, if I wanted to be little Nora’s nurse.

 
NORA

  Yes, but how could you be willing to do it?

  NURSE

  What, when I was going to get such a good place by it? A poor girl who has got into trouble should be glad to. Besides, that wicked man didn’t do a single thing for me.

  NORA

  But I suppose your daughter has quite forgotten you.

  NURSE

  No, indeed she hasn’t. She wrote to me when she was confirmed, and when she was married.

  NORA

  (Putting her arms round her neck.) Dear old Anne, you were a good mother to me when I was little.

  NURSE

  Little Nora, poor dear, had no other mother but me.

  NORA

  And if my little ones had no other mother, I am sure you would—What nonsense I am talking! (Opens the box.) Go in to them. Now I must. . . . You will see tomorrow how charming I shall look.

  NURSE

  I am sure there will be no one at the ball so charming as you, ma’am. (Goes into the room on the left.)

  Nora.

  (Begins to unpack the box, but soon pushes it away from her.) If only I dared go out. If only no one would come. If only I could be sure nothing would happen here in the meantime. Stuff and nonsense! No one will come. Only I mustn’t think about it. I will brush my muff. What lovely, lovely gloves! 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.)

  (Enter MRS. LINDE from the hall, where she has taken off her cloak and hat.)

  NORA

  Oh, it’s you, Christine. There is no one else out there, is there? How good of you to come!

  MRS. LINDE

  I heard you were up asking for me.

  NORA

  Yes, I was passing by. As a matter of fact, it is something you could help me with. Let us sit down here on the sofa. Look here. Tomorrow evening there is to be a fancy-dress ball at the Stenborgs’, who live above us; and Torvald wants me to go as a Neapolitan fisher-girl, and dance the Tarantella that I learned at Capri.

  MRS. LINDE

  I see; you are going to keep up the character.

  NORA

  Yes, Torvald wants me to. Look, here is the dress; Torvald had it made for me there, but now it is all so torn, and I haven’t any idea—

  MRS. LINDE

  We will easily put that right. It is only some of the trimming come unsewn here and there. Needle and thread? Now then, that’s all we want.

  NORA