Quote 1
HELMER: "Well, we will share it, Nora, as man and wife should. That is how it shall be."
Helmer seems to be aware of the concept that marriage is a shared experience, so why doesn't he ever act like it?
Quote 2
HELMER: "The child [Nora] shall have her way." (2.385)
Helmers' relationship seems to be more like a father and a daughter than a husband and wife.
Quote 3
HELMER: "Do you know, Nora, I have often wished that you might be threatened by some great danger, so that I might risk my life's blood, and everything, for your sake." (3.214)
This is the wonderful thing that Nora has been waiting for. Unfortunately, Torvald isn't true to his words, which causes the disintegration of the marriage.
Quote 4
HELMER: "Nora—can I never be anything more than a stranger to you? […]"
NORA: "Both you and I would have to be so changed that […] our life together would be a real wedlock." (3.375-3.380)
What do you think Nora means by "real wedlock"?
Quote 5
HELMER: "Is it my little squirrel bustling about?" (1.9)
By constantly referring to Nora with pet names, Helmer seems to dehumanize his wife.
Quote 6
HELMER: "That is like a woman! […] you know what I think about that. No debt, no borrowing." (1.21)
Torvald seems to stereotype all women as frivolous spendthrifts.
Quote 7
HELMER: "I shall not allow you to bring up the children; I dare not trust them to you." (3.242)
Torvald is stripping his wife of her most cherished feminine role: motherhood.
Quote 8
HELMER: "No man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves."
NORA: "It is a thing hundreds of thousands of women have done." (3.345 3.346)
What does Nora mean by this? Do all housewives sacrifice their honor?
Quote 9
Stage Directions: The NURSE comes in with the children. […]
HELMER: "Come along, Mrs. Linde; the place will only be bearable for a mother now! (1.303-1.305)
Torvald seems to think a father doesn't have any business hanging out with his kids at all.
Quote 10
HELMER: "Almost everyone who has gone to the bad early in life has had a deceitful mother. […] It seems most commonly to be the mother's influence." (1.471-1.473)
We think this wins the award for most offensively chauvinistic statement from Torvald.
Quote 11
HELMER: "It is already known at the Bank that I mean to dismiss Krogstad. Is it to get about now that the new manager has changed his mind at his wife's bidding." (2.111)
This threat to his power is unacceptable to Torvald.
Quote 12
HELMER: "You're joking, my little Nora! You won't—you won't? Am I not your husband—?" (3.143)
Torvald says this after Nora resists having sex with him. He feels that all husbands have a right to their wives' bodies.
Quote 13
HELMER: "I should not be a man if this womanly helplessness did not just give you a double attractiveness in my eyes." (3.253)
What's the difference between Torvald's desire to help Nora and Christine's desire to help Krogstad?
Quote 14
HELMER: "I would gladly work night and day for you […] But no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves." (3.345)
Do you think most men would generally agree with Torvald? Which is more valuable to you: honor or love?
Quote 15
HELMER: "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." (1.469)
Torvald is unaware at this point that he lives in just such a home. Has it really hurt the children in any way?
Quote 16
HELMER: "You will still remain in my house, that is a matter of course." (3.242)
Notice that Torvald calls it his house. What—so, Nora was just a guest this whole time?
Quote 17
HELMER: "How warm and cosy our home is, Nora. Here is shelter for you; here I will protect you like a hunted dove that I have saved from a hawk's claws." (3.257)
Does Nora feel protected by this home, or imprisoned?
Quote 18
HELMER: "Your father's reputation as a public official was not above suspicion. Mine is." (2.109)
Helmer seems to base a lot of his self worth on what other people think about him.
Quote 19
HELMER: "Do you suppose I am going to make myself ridiculous before my whole staff, to let people think that I am a man to be swayed by all sorts of outside influence?" (2.113)
The influence that Torvald is referring to here is his wife. He's afraid to seem weak in public.
Quote 20
HELMER: "I hear [Krogstad] is a good worker, too. But I knew him when we were boys. […] this tactless fellow lays no restraint on himself when other people are present. On the contrary, he thinks it gives him the right to adopt a familiar tone with me." (2.117)
Here's the real reason Helmer is firing Krogstad: once again he's worried about his reputation.