A+Doll's+House+Act+III+Review

SUMMARY WHAT HAS HAPPENED PRIOR TO THIS SCENE? WHO HAS JUST LEFT? WHAT HAPPENS DURING THIS SCENE? Before this scene, we see Dr. Rank deliver his explanatory farewell letter to Helmer’s letter box. Dr. Rank explained to Nora that he is suffering from a debilitating illness and is shunning Helmer because of Helmer’s delicate appreciation of beauty. In this scene, Helmer reads Krogstad’s letter and finds out Nora’s act of desperation that is so contrary to his opinion of her. Helmer becomes enraged and decides that everything needs to be smoothed over and she will be kept closer than ever before. Nora, displeased with this solution, voices her opinions and decides to leave in order to find herself.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 1

When Nora notes that she and Helmer have never had a true conversation in 8 years we see that her frustrations are coming to the surface. This contradicts her personality at the beginning of the play when she flourishes in the paternalistic treatment of her husband. The surfacing of her frustrations of being oppressed reveals the freedom that comes with self confession. This also reveals that Nora is a dynamic character.

THE LANGUAGE ”Here is shelter for you; here I will protect you like a hunted dove that I have saved from a hawk’s claws; I will bring peace to your poor beating heart.” This language reveals the megalomaniacal sense of disillusionment that Helmer depicts. Also, this language reveals that Helmer views himself as Nora’s God because of the Psalm 91 implications in his speech. “You have never loved me. You have only thought it pleasant to be in love with me.” This moment of enlightenment, I feel, is both as moving for Nora as it is for Helmer. Nora reveals insight into their relationship that Helmer still doesn’t understand. THE BIG IDEA


 * Control and lack of control
 * When Helmer attempts to take control of the situation and blame Nora for saving his life he immediately reprimands her and claims that she is a criminal and that she has ruined his life. After Krogstad comes and takes back the things he said in the letter, Helmer returns to his state of the dominant character and pushes Nora back into her role as the incapable “little songbird.” However, Nora takes control of her destiny and throws off Helmer’s hold on her life.
 * Society’s expectations
 * Society’s expectations dictate that a woman is to remain the mother and servant of her husband and children. When Nora abandons her family in order to seek her own persona she defies the laws that society demands of women.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 2 Helmer reiterates his bigotry and denial in act three. When Krogstad returns to repeal the statements in his letter, Helmer feels so relieved and is content to return to his ignorance. He even goes so far as to assume that he will return as Nora’s protector when he says, “Very soon you won’t need me to assure you that I have forgiven you; you will yourself feel the certainty that I have done so.” Helmer retains his stubborn attitude and symbolizes the constant nature of a delusional domineering male.

VOCABULARY Perplexes-describes the turmoil in Nora and the mindset of Helmer Delirious-Helmer uses to describe Nora. Ironic that she is telling the truth a nd he is unable to accept that he is the one in denial.

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