NORA.
Of course not in that sense. I! How can you imagine that I should have
any such influence over my husband?
KROGSTAD.
Oh, I know your husband from our college days. I don’t think he is any
more inflexible than other husbands.
NORA.
If you talk disrespectfully of my husband, I must request you to leave
the house.
KROGSTAD.
You are bold, madam.
NORA.
I am afraid of you no longer. When New Year’s Day is over, I shall soon
be out of the whole business.
KROGSTAD.
[_Controlling himself._] Listen to me, Mrs. Helmer. If need be, I shall
fight as though for my life to keep my little place in the Bank.
NORA.
Yes, so it seems.
KROGSTAD.
It’s not only for the salary: that is what I care least about. It’s
something else——Well, I had better make a clean breast of it. Of course
you know, like every one else, that some years ago I—got into trouble.
NORA.
I think I’ve heard something of the sort.
KROGSTAD.
The matter never came into court; but from that moment all paths were
barred to me. Then I took up the business you know about. I had to turn
my hand to something; and I don’t think I’ve been one of the worst. But
now I must get clear of it all. My sons are growing up; for their sake I
must try to recover my character as well as I can. This place in the
Bank was the first step; and now your husband wants to kick me off the
ladder, back into the mire.
NORA.
But I assure you, Mr. Krogstad, I haven’t the least power to help you.
KROGSTAD.
That is because you have not the will; but I can compel you.
NORA.
You won’t tell my husband that I owe you money?
KROGSTAD.
H’m; suppose I were to?
NORA.
It would be shameful of you. [_With tears in her voice._] The secret
that is my joy and my pride—that he should learn it in such an ugly,
coarse way—and from you. It would involve me in all sorts of
unpleasantness——
KROGSTAD.
Only unpleasantness.
NORA.
[_Hotly._] But just do it. It’s you that will come off worst, for then
my husband will see what a bad man you are, and then you certainly won’t
keep your place.
KROGSTAD.
I asked whether it was only domestic unpleasantness you feared?
NORA.
If my husband gets to know about it, he will of course pay you off at
once, and then we shall have nothing more to do with you.
KROGSTAD.
[_Coming a pace nearer._] Listen, Mrs. Helmer: either your memory is
defective, or you don’t know much about business. I must make the
position a little clearer to you.
NORA.
How so?
KROGSTAD.
When your husband was ill, you came to me to borrow twelve hundred
dollars.
NORA.
I knew of nobody else.
KROGSTAD.
I promised to find you the money——
NORA.
And you did find it.
KROGSTAD.
I promised to find you the money, on certain conditions. You were so
much taken up at the time about your husband’s illness, and so eager to
have the wherewithal for your journey, that you probably did not give
much thought to the details. Allow me to remind you of them. I promised
to find you the amount in exchange for a note of hand, which I drew up.
NORA.
Yes, and I signed it.
KROGSTAD.
Quite right. But then I added a few lines, making your father security
for the debt. Your father was to sign this.
NORA.
Was to——? He did sign it!
KROGSTAD.
I had left the date blank. That is to say, your father was himself to
date his signature. Do you recollect that?
NORA.
Yes, I believe——
KROGSTAD.
Then I gave you the paper to send to your father, by post. Is not that
so?
NORA.
Yes.
KROGSTAD.
And of course you did so at once; for within five or six days you
brought me back the document with your father’s signature; and I handed
you the money.
NORA.
Well? Have I not made my payments punctually?
KROGSTAD.
Fairly—yes. But to return to the point: You were in great trouble at the
time, Mrs. Helmer.
NORA.
I was indeed!
KROGSTAD.
Your father was very ill, I believe?
NORA.
He was on his death-bed.
KROGSTAD.
And died soon after?
NORA.
Yes.
KROGSTAD.
Tell me, Mrs. Helmer: do you happen to recollect the day of his death?
The day of the month, I mean?
NORA.
Father died on the 29th of September.
KROGSTAD.
Quite correct. I have made inquiries. And here comes in the remarkable
point—[_Produces a paper_] which I cannot explain.
NORA.
What remarkable point? I don’t know——
KROGSTAD.
The remarkable point, madam, that your father signed this paper three
days after his death!
NORA.
What! I don’t understand——
KROGSTAD.
Your father died on the 29th of September. But look here: he has dated
his signature October 2nd! Is not that remarkable, Mrs. Helmer? [NORA
_is silent._] Can you explain it? [NORA _continues silent._] It is
noteworthy, too, that the words “October 2nd” and the year are not in
your father’s handwriting, but in one which I believe I know. Well, this
may be explained; your father may have forgotten to date his signature,
and somebody may have added the date at random, before the fact of your
father’s death was known. There is nothing wrong in that. Everything
depends on the signature. Of course it is genuine, Mrs. Helmer? It was
really your father himself who wrote his name here?
NORA.
[_After a short silence, throws her head back and looks defiantly at
him._] No, it was not. _I_ wrote father’s name.
KROGSTAD.
Ah!—Are you aware, madam, that that is a dangerous admission?
NORA.
How so? You will soon get your money.
KROGSTAD.
May I ask you one more question? Why did you not send the paper to your
father?
NORA.
It was impossible. Father was ill. If I had asked him for his signature,
I should have had to tell him why I wanted the money; but he was so ill
I really could not tell him that my husband’s life was in danger. It was
impossible.
KROGSTAD.
Then it would have been better to have given up your tour.
NORA.
No, I couldn’t do that; my husband’s life depended on that journey. I
couldn’t give it up.
KROGSTAD.
And did it never occur to you that you were playing me false?
NORA.
That was nothing to me. I didn’t care in the least about you. I couldn’t
endure you for all the cruel difficulties you made, although you knew
how ill my husband was.
KROGSTAD.
Mrs. Helmer, you evidently do not realise what you have been guilty of.
But I can assure you it was nothing more and nothing worse that made me
an outcast from society.
NORA.
You! You want me to believe that you did a brave thing to save your
wife’s life?
KROGSTAD.
The law takes no account of motives.
NORA.
Then it must be a very bad law.
KROGSTAD.
Bad or not, if I produce this document in court, you will be condemned
according to law.
NORA.
I don’t believe that. Do you mean to tell me that a daughter has no
right to spare her dying father trouble and anxiety?—that a wife has no
right to save her husband’s life? I don’t know much about the law, but
I’m sure you’ll find, somewhere or another, that that is allowed. And
you don’t know that—you, a lawyer! You must be a bad one, Mr. Krogstad.
KROGSTAD.
Possibly. But business—such business as ours—I do understand. You
believe that? Very well; now do as you please. But this I may tell you,
that if I am flung into the gutter a second time, you shall keep me
company.
[_Bows and goes out through hall._
NORA.
[_Stands a while thinking, then tosses her head._] Oh nonsense! He wants
to frighten me. I’m not so foolish as that. [_Begins folding the
children’s_ _clothes. Pauses._] But——? No, it’s impossible! Why, I did
it for love!
CHILDREN.
[_At the door, left._] Mamma, the strange man has gone now.
NORA.
Yes, yes, I know. But don’t tell any one about the strange man. Do you
hear? Not even papa!
CHILDREN.
No, mamma; and now will you play with us again?
NORA.
No, no; not now.
CHILDREN.
Oh, do, mamma; you know you promised.
NORA.
Yes, but I can’t just now. Run to the nursery; I have so much to do. Run
along, run along, and be good, my darlings! [_She pushes them gently
into the inner room, and closes the door behind them. Sits on the sofa,
embroiders a few stitches, but soon pauses._] No! [_Throws down the
work, rises, goes to the hall door and calls out._] Ellen, bring in the
Christmas-tree! [_Goes to table, left, and opens the drawer; again
pauses._] No, it’s quite impossible!
ELLEN.
[_With Christmas-tree._] Where shall I stand it, ma’am?
NORA.
There, in the middle of the room.
ELLEN.
Shall I bring in anything else?
NORA.
No, thank you, I have all I want.
[ELLEN, _having put down the tree, goes out._
NORA.
[_Busy dressing the tree._] There must be a candle here—and flowers
there.—That horrible man! Nonsense, nonsense! there’s nothing to be
afraid of. The Christmas-tree shall be beautiful. I’ll do everything to
please you, Torvald; I’ll sing and dance, and——
_Enter HELMER by the hall door, with a bundle of documents._
NORA.
Oh! You’re back already?
HELMER.
Yes. Has anybody been here?
NORA.
Here? No.
HELMER.
That’s odd. I saw Krogstad come out of the house.
NORA.
Did you? Oh, yes, by-the-bye, he was here for a minute.
HELMER.
Nora, I can see by your manner that he has been begging you to put in a
good word for him.
NORA.
Yes.
HELMER.
And you were to do it as if of your own accord? You were to say nothing
to me of his having been here. Didn’t he suggest that too?
NORA.
Yes, Torvald; but——
HELMER.
Nora, Nora! And you could condescend to that! To speak to such a man, to
make him a promise! And then to tell me an untruth about it!
NORA.
An untruth!
HELMER.
Didn’t you say that nobody had been here? [_Threatens with his finger._]
My little bird must never do that again! A song-bird must sing clear and
true; no false notes. [_Puts his arm round her._] That’s so, isn’t it?
Yes, I was sure of it. [_Lets her go._] And now we’ll say no more about
it. [_Sits down before the fire._] Oh, how cosy and quiet it is here!
[_Glances into his documents._
NORA.
[_Busy with the tree, after a short silence._] Torvald!
HELMER.
Yes.
NORA.
I’m looking forward so much to the Stenborgs’ fancy ball the day after
to-morrow.
HELMER.
And I’m on tenterhooks to see what surprise you have in store for me.
NORA.
Oh, it’s too tiresome!
HELMER.
What is?
NORA.
I can’t think of anything good. Everything seems so foolish and
meaningless.
HELMER.
Has little Nora made that discovery?
NORA.
[_Behind his chair, with her arms on the back._] Are you very busy,
Torvald?
HELMER.
Well——
NORA.
What papers are those?
HELMER.
Bank business.
NORA.
Already!
HELMER.
I have got the retiring manager to let me make some necessary changes in
the staff and the organization. I can do this during Christmas week. I
want to have everything straight by the New Year.
NORA.
Then that’s why that poor Krogstad——
HELMER.
H’m.
NORA.
[_Still leaning over the chair-back and slowly stroking his hair._] If
you hadn’t been so very busy, I should have asked you a great, great
favour, Torvald.
HELMER.
What can it be? Out with it.
NORA.
Nobody has such perfect taste as you; and I should so love to look well
at the fancy ball. Torvald, dear, couldn’t you take me in hand, and
settle what I’m to be, and arrange my costume for me?
HELMER.
Aha! So my wilful little woman is at a loss, and making signals of
distress.
NORA.
Yes, please, Torvald. I can’t get on without your help.
HELMER.
Well, well, I’ll think it over, and we’ll soon hit upon something.
NORA.
Oh, how good that is of you! [_Goes to the tree again; pause._] How well
the red flowers show.—Tell me, was it anything so very dreadful this
Krogstad got into trouble about?
HELMER.
Forgery, that’s all. Don’t you know what that means?
NORA.
Mayn’t he have been driven to it by need?
HELMER.
Yes; or, like so many others, he may have done it in pure heedlessness.
I am not so hard-hearted as to condemn a man absolutely for a single
fault.
NORA.
No, surely not, Torvald!
HELMER.
Many a man can retrieve his character, if he owns his crime and takes
the punishment.
NORA.
Punishment——?
HELMER.
But Krogstad didn’t do that. He evaded the law by means of tricks and
subterfuges; and that is what has morally ruined him.
NORA.
Do you think that——?
HELMER.
Just think how a man with a thing of that sort on his conscience must be
always lying and canting and shamming. Think of the mask he must wear
even towards those who stand nearest him—towards his own wife and
children. The effect on the children—that’s the most terrible part of
it, Nora.
NORA.
Why?
HELMER.
Because in such an atmosphere of lies home life is poisoned and
contaminated in every fibre. Every breath the children draw contains
some germ of evil.
NORA.
[_Closer behind him._] Are you sure of that?
HELMER.
As a lawyer, my dear, I have seen it often enough. Nearly all cases of
early corruption may be traced to lying mothers.
NORA.
Why—mothers?
HELMER.
It generally comes from the mother’s side; but of course the father’s
influence may act in the same way. Every lawyer knows it too well. And
here has this Krogstad been poisoning his own children for years past by
a life of lies and hypocrisy—that is why I call him morally ruined.
[_Holds out both hands to her._] So my sweet little Nora must promise
not to plead his cause. Shake hands upon it. Come, come, what’s this?
Give me your hand. That’s right. Then it’s a bargain. I assure you it
would have been impossible for me to work with him. It gives me a
positive sense of physical discomfort to come in contact with such
people.
[NORA _draws her hand away, and moves to the other side of the
Christmas-tree._
NORA.
How warm it is here. And I have so much to do.
HELMER.
[_Rises and gathers up his papers._] Yes, and I must try to get some of
these papers looked through before dinner. And I shall think over your
costume too. Perhaps I may even find something to hang in gilt paper on
the Christmas-tree. [_Lays his hand on her head._] My precious little
song-bird!
[_He goes into his room and shuts the door._
NORA.
[Softly, after a pause.] It can’t be. It’s impossible. It must be
impossible!
ANNA.
[_At the door, left._] T
NORA.
No, no, no; don’t let them come to me! Keep them with you, Anna.
ANNA.
Very well, ma’am.
[_Shuts the door._
NORA.
[_Pale with terror._] Corrupt my children!—Poison my home! [_Short
pause. She throws back her head._] It’s not true! It can never, never be
true!
-----
Footnote 5:
About sixpence. There are 100 öre in a krone or crown, which is worth
thirteenpence halfpenny.
Footnote 6:
“Spillefugl,” literally “playbird,” means a gambler.
Footnote 7:
The dollar (4_s._ 6_d._) was the old unit of currency in Norway. The
crown was substituted for it shortly before the date of this play.
Footnote 8:
“Död og pine,” literally “death and torture”; but by usage a
comparatively mild oath.
ACT SECOND
_The same room. In the corner, beside the piano, stands the
Christmas-tree, stripped, and with the candles burnt out.
NORA’S outdoor things lie on the sofa._
_NORA, alone, is walking about restlessly. At last she stops
by the sofa, and takes up her cloak._
NORA.
[_Dropping the cloak._] There’s somebody coming! [_Goes to the hall door
and listens._] Nobody; of course nobody will come to-day, Christmas-day;
nor to-morrow either. But perhaps——[_Opens the door and looks out._]—No,
nothing in the letter-box; quite empty. [_Comes forward._] Stuff and
nonsense! Of course he won’t really do anything. Such a thing couldn’t
happen. It’s impossible! Why, I have three little children.
_ANNA enters from the left, with a large cardboard box._
ANNA.
I’ve found the box with the fancy dress at last.
NORA.
Thanks; put it down on the table.
ANNA.
[_Does so._] But I’m afraid it’s very much out of order.
NORA.
Oh, I wish I could tear it into a hundred thousand pieces!
ANNA.
Oh, no. It can easily be put to rights—just a little patience.
NORA.
I shall go and get Mrs. Linden to help me.
ANNA.
Going out again? In such weather as this! You’ll catch cold, ma’am, and
be ill.
NORA.
Worse things might happen.—What are the children doing?
ANNA.
They’re playing with their Christmas presents, poor little dears; but——
NORA.
Do they often ask for me?
ANNA.
You see they’ve been so used to having their mamma with them.
NORA.
Yes; but, Anna, I can’t have them so much with me in future.
ANNA.
Well, little children get used to anything.
NORA.
Do you think they do? Do you believe they would forget their mother if
she went quite away?
ANNA.
Gracious me! Quite away?
NORA.
Tell me, Anna—I’ve so often wondered about it—how could you bring
yourself to give your child up to strangers?
ANNA.
I had to when I came to nurse my little Miss Nora.
NORA.
But how could you make up your mind to it?
ANNA.
When I had the chance of such a good place? A poor girl who’s been in
trouble must take what comes. That wicked man did nothing for me.
NORA.
But your daughter must have forgotten you.
ANNA.
Oh, no, ma’am, that she hasn’t. She wrote to me both when she was
confirmed and when she was married.
NORA.
[_Embracing her._] Dear old Anna—you were a good mother to me when I was
little.
ANNA.
My poor little Nora had no mother but me.
NORA.
And if my little ones had nobody else, I’m sure you would——Nonsense,
nonsense! [_Opens the box._] Go in to the children. Now I must——You’ll
see how lovely I shall be to-morrow.
ANNA.
I’m sure there will be no one at the ball so lovely as my Miss Nora.
[_She goes into the room on the left._
NORA.
[_Takes the costume out of the box, but soon throws it down again._] Oh,
if I dared go out. If only nobody would come. If only nothing would
happen here in the meantime. Rubbish; nobody is coming. Only not to
think. What a delicious muff! Beautiful gloves, beautiful gloves! To
forget—to forget! One, two, three, four, five, six——[_With a scream._]
Ah, there they come.
[_Goes towards the door, then stands irresolute._
_MRS. LINDEN enters from the hall, where she has taken off her
things._
NORA.
Oh, it’s you, Christina. There’s nobody else there? I’m so glad you have
come.
MRS. LINDEN.
I hear you called at my lodgings.
NORA.
Yes, I was just passing. There’s something you _must_ help me with. Let
us sit here on the sofa—so. To-morrow evening there’s to be a fancy ball
at Consul Stenborg’s overhead, and Torvald wants me to appear as a
Neapolitan fisher-girl, and dance the tarantella; I learned it at Capri.
MRS. LINDEN.
I see—quite a performance.
NORA.
Yes, Torvald wishes it. Look, this is the costume; Torvald had it made
for me in Italy. But now it’s all so torn, I don’t know——
MRS. LINDEN.
Oh, we shall soon set that to rights. It’s only the trimming that has
come loose here and there. Have you a needle and thread? Ah, here’s the
very thing.
NORA.
Oh, how kind of you.
MRS. LINDEN.
[_Sewing._] So you’re to be in costume to-morrow, Nora? I’ll tell you
what—I shall come in for a moment to see you in all your glory. But I’ve
quite forgotten to thank you for the pleasant evening yesterday.
NORA.
[_Rises and walks across the room._] Oh, yesterday, it didn’t seem so
pleasant as usual.—You should have come to town a little sooner,
Christina.—Torvald has certainly the art of making home bright and
beautiful.
MRS. LINDEN.
You too, I should think, or you wouldn’t be your father’s daughter. But
tell me—is Doctor Rank always so depressed as he was last evening?
NORA.
No, yesterday it was particularly noticeable. You see, he suffers from a
dreadful illness. He has spinal consumption, poor fellow. They say his
father was a horrible man, who kept mistresses and all sorts of
things—so the son has been sickly from his childhood, you understand.
MRS. LINDEN.
[_Lets her sewing fall into her lap._] Why, my darling Nora, how do you
come to know such things?
NORA.
[_Moving about the room._] Oh, when one has three children, one
sometimes has visits from women who are half—half doctors—and they talk
of one thing and another.
MRS. LINDEN.
[_Goes on sewing; a short pause._] Does Doctor Rank come here every day?
NORA.
Every day of his life. He has been Torvald’s most intimate friend from
boyhood, and he’s a good friend of mine too. Doctor Rank is quite one of
the family.
MRS. LINDEN.
But tell me—is he quite sincere? I mean, isn’t he rather given to
flattering people?
NORA.
No, quite the contrary. Why should you think so?
MRS. LINDEN.
When you introduced us yesterday he said he had often heard my name; but
I noticed afterwards that your husband had no notion who I was. How
could Doctor Rank——?
NORA.
He was quite right, Christina. You see, Torvald loves me so
indescribably, he wants to have me all to himself, as he says. When we
were first married he was almost jealous if I even mentioned any of my
old friends at home; so naturally I gave up doing it. But I often talk
of the old times to Doctor Rank, for he likes to hear about them.
MRS. LINDEN.
Listen to me, Nora! You are still a child in many ways. I am older than
you, and have had more experience. I’ll tell you something. You ought to
get clear of all this with Dr. Rank.
NORA.
Get clear of what?
MRS. LINDEN.
The whole affair, I should say. You were talking yesterday of a rich
admirer who was to find you money——
NORA.
Yes, one who never existed, worse luck. What then?
MRS. LINDEN.
Has Doctor Rank money?
NORA.
Yes, he has.
MRS. LINDEN.
And nobody to provide for?
NORA.
Nobody. But——?
MRS. LINDEN.
And he comes here every day?
NORA.
Yes, I told you so.
MRS. LINDEN.
I should have thought he would have had better taste.
NORA.
I don’t understand you a bit.
MRS. LINDEN.
Don’t pretend, Nora. Do you suppose I can’t guess who lent you the
twelve hundred dollars?
NORA.
Are you out of your senses? How can you think such a thing? A friend who
comes here every day! Why, the position would be unbearable!
MRS. LINDEN.
Then it really is not he?
NORA.
No, I assure you. It never for a moment occurred to me——Besides, at that
time he had nothing to lend; he came into his property afterwards.
MRS. LINDEN.
Well, I believe that was lucky for you, Nora dear.
NORA.
No, really, it would never have struck me to ask Dr. Rank——And yet, I’m
certain that if I did——
MRS. LINDEN.
But of course you never would.
NORA.
Of course not. It’s inconceivable that it should ever be necessary. But
I’m quite sure that if I spoke to Doctor Rank——
MRS. LINDEN.
Behind your husband’s back?
NORA.
I must get clear of the other thing; that’s behind his back too. I
_must_ get clear of that.
MRS. LINDEN.
Yes, yes, I told you so yesterday; but——
NORA.
[_Walking up and down._] A man can manage these things much better than
a woman.
MRS. LINDEN.
One’s own husband, yes.
NORA.
Nonsense. [_Stands still._] When everything is paid, one gets back the
paper.
MRS. LINDEN.
Of course.
NORA.
And can tear it into a hundred thousand pieces, and burn it up, the
nasty, filthy thing!
MRS. LINDEN.
[_Looks at her fixedly, lays down her work, and rises slowly._] Nora,
you are hiding something from me.
NORA.
Can you see it in my face?
MRS. LINDEN.
Something has happened since yesterday morning. Nora, what is it?
NORA.
[_Going towards her._] Christina——! [_Listens._] Hush! There’s Torvald
coming home. Do you mind going into the nursery for the present? Torvald
can’t bear to see dressmaking going on. Get Anna to help you.
MRS. LINDEN.
[_Gathers some of the things together._] Very well; but I shan’t go away
until you have told me all about it.
[_She goes out to the left, as_ HELMER _enters from the hall._
NORA.
[_Runs to meet him._] Oh, how I’ve been longing for you to come, Torvald
dear!
HELMER.
Was that the dressmaker——?
NORA.
No, Christina. She’s helping me with my costume. You’ll see how nice I
shall look.
HELMER.
Yes, wasn’t that a happy thought of mine?
NORA.
Splendid! But isn’t it good of me, too, to have given in to you about
the tarantella?
HELMER.
[_Takes her under the chin._] Good of you! To give in to your own
husband? Well well, you little madcap, I know you don’t mean it. But I
won’t disturb you. I daresay you want to be “trying on.”
NORA.
And you are going to work, I suppose?
HELMER.
Yes. [_Shows her a bundle of papers._] Look here. I’ve just come from
the Bank——
[_Goes towards his room._
NORA.
Torvald.
HELMER.
[_Stopping._] Yes?
NORA.
If your little squirrel were to beg you for something so prettily——
HELMER.
Well?
NORA.
Would you do it?
HELMER.
I must know first what it is.
NORA.
The squirrel would skip about and play all sorts of tricks if you would
only be nice and kind.
HELMER.
Come, then, out with it.
NORA.
Your lark would twitter from morning till night——
HELMER
Oh, that she does in any case.
NORA.
I’ll be an elf and dance in the moonlight for you, Torvald.
HELMER.
Nora—you can’t mean what you were hinting at this morning?
NORA.
[_Coming nearer._] Yes, Torvald, I beg and implore you!
HELMER.
Have you really the courage to begin that again?
NORA.