A Doll's House Marriage Quotes Page 1

Page (1 of 4) Quotes: 1 2 3 4

How we cite the quotes:
Citations follow this format: (Act.Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue.

Quote #1

NORA: "How painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald […] to know that he owed me anything! It would upset our mutual relations altogether." (1.197)

The Helmers' marriage is based on maintaining a veneer of male dominance.

Quote #2

NORA: "Christine is […] is frightfully anxious to work under some clever man, so as to perfect herself--" (1.282)

Nora's relationship with her husband seems to be built on careful manipulation of his ego.

Quote #3

NORA: "But don't you think it is nice of me, too, to do as you wish?"
HELMER: "Nice?--because you do as your husband wishes? Well, well, you little rogue, I am sure you did not mean it in that way." (2.82-2.83)

Comments like this from Torvald demonstrate that the Helmers are in a lopsided marriage.

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