Read the excerpt below and then answer the
questions that follow.
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 brace enough to run a risk to save
your wife’s life?
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 dont
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 very poor 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.
Questions:
a)
Briefly describe the
dangerous confession Nora admits to in the onset of the excerpt.
b)
Explain why Nora
did not send the paper to her father for signing.
c)
Explain two themes evident in the excerpt
above.
d)
Contrast
Krogstad’s and Nora’s views on the law
e)
How is Krogstad
portrayed in the excerpt
f)
The law cares
nothing about motives. (Add a question
tag)
g)
Krogstad informs
Nora that “one false step, lost him all reputation.” Briefly explain how.
h)
“……….If I lose my position a second time, you
shall lose yours with me.” From
elsewhere in the play, show the truth of this statement
i) What
is the general tone in this excerpt?
Explain your answer.
j) Explain
the meaning of the following words as used in the excerpt.
(i) defiantly
(ii) false step
Answers
(a)
Nora admits that she had forged the father’s signature.
Her father had died in the 29th September but the signature on the
other hand was dated 3rd October. She is the one who also wrote her
father’s name on the blank space that had been left by Krogstad.
(3 marks)
( b) The
father was bed-ridden as he was seriously ill. She was also bound to tell her
father what the money was for – that her husband’s life was in danger. This
would have caused a lot of worry and anxiety on the side of the father (3 marks)
(c)
There is the theme of love: “I did it for love’s sake.”
Selflessness- she does everything to
ensure that her husband gets well even if it means that she has to break the
law.
Blackmail – he knows he has the paper
that Nora had signed and he is willing to testify against her that she has been
involved in fraud.
(4 marks)
(d) Nora
believes that the intention (motive/rationale) of the crime committed should be
looked into during judgement; “… but I am
certain that there must be laws permitting such things as that,”: as
opposed to Krogstad who believes that the letter must be followed the way it
is, as a crime is a crime despite the circumstances surrounding it; “… it is the law by which you will be judged”. (2 marks)
(e)
Krogstad is manipulative
– ‘But I can assure you that one false step, which lost all my reputation, was
nothing more or nothing worse than what you have done.’
Inconsiderate/insensitive/callous/inhumane –
he stubbornly refuses to see the
motive of Nora’s crime; that her husband was unwell and the only thing she
could was to forge the bed-ridden father’s signature.
Rigid – he sticks to the laws as his
basis for argument not any other consideration. (2
marks)
(f)
The law cares nothing about motives, doesn’t
it?
(1 mark)
(g) Krogstad
had also been guilty of forgery years earlier and when he was found out to have
committee fraud, he lost respect from everyone in the town. Torvald also wants
to sack him as a result of his tainted past. (2 marks)
(h) When
Torvald comes to realize that Nora had committed forgery, he loses trust and
respect for the wife. This Torvald learns courtesy of the letter that Krogstad
drops in the letterbox and fails to retrieve it in time. Nora opts out of her
marriage after this incident despite the pardon from Krogstad; she loses her
family.
(2 marks)
(i)
The tone is defiant
especially from Nora.
(j)
Meaning of words and phrases:
i)
defiantly – stubbornly
/ refusing openly to obey.
ii)
false step - wrong move
(2 marks)
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