A Doll's House

by Henrik Ibsen

Just listen!—little Nora talking about scientific investigations!

Little featherbrain!—are

my little singing-bird.

Miserable creature—what have you done?

And as for you and me, it must appear as if everything between us were as before—but naturally only in the eyes of the world.

I am saved! Nora, I am saved!

only lean on me; I will advise you and direct you.

I should not be a man if this womanly helplessness did not just give you a double attractiveness in my eyes.

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. It will come, little by little, Nora, believe me.

my little scared, helpless darling.

Sit down here, Torvald. You and I have much to say to one another.

Sit down. It will take some time; I have a lot to talk over with you.

You don’t understand me, and I have never understood you either—before tonight. No, you mustn’t interrupt me. You must simply listen to what I say. Torvald, this is a settling of accounts.

Does it not occur to you that this is the first time we two, you and I, husband and wife, have had a serious conversation?

You have never loved me. You have only thought it pleasant to be in love with me.

You and papa have committed a great sin against me. It is your fault that I have made nothing of my life.

I have been your doll-wife, just as at home I was papa’s doll-child; and here the children have been my dolls.

You blind, foolish woman!

I believe that before all else I am a reasonable human being, just as you are—or, at all events, that I must try and become one.

I have never felt my mind so clear and certain as to-night.

It gives me great pain, Torvald, for you have always been so kind to me, but I cannot help it. I do not love you any more.

But no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves.

It is a thing hundreds of thousands of women have done.