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The first act of Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll House takes place in the living room of the Helmer family in Norway during the Christmas season of the 1800s. Torvald Helmer is a lawyer and the father of three young children with his wife Nora. They live in a large house with helpers like Anne-Marie, a nurse, and a housemaid. The play begins with a dialogue between the pair about money and Christmas. Nora is overjoyed that Torvald has been promoted, as it means they will be able to invest more money on presents this year. Torvald scolds her for still needing more money, comparing her to her father and asking where it all goes. Many of the lines in this dialogue hint at what the viewer will hear about Nora later in the play. Throughout the chat, Torvald refers to Nora by a variety of pet names, the majority of which are related to birds. He never refers to her by her given name.

Kristine Linde, who appears at the threshold, interrupts them at some point. She's an old classmate of Nora's that she hasn't seen in a long time. Mrs. Linde explains how she had to marry her husband several years ago in order to support her ailing mother and two younger siblings. Her husband died three years earlier, and she had to find work to support herself. Her mother died, and her brothers are now able to support themselves, but she is mostly alone, despite the fact that she is always searching for a stable career. Nora informs Kristine that her husband was newly promoted to bank manager and that she believes she can persuade Torvald to hire Kristine. Then Nora tells Kristine a story she's never told anyone else. Torvald had to work very hard when they first wed, and he got ill as a result. When the doctor proposed they go south, Nora told him she had borrowed the money from her father, who had died not long before. They spent a year in Italy as Nora looked after Torvald and their infant son. Nora took out a loan, which she has been paying back, which her husband is unaware of. Nora doesn't do much work, apart from the occasional sewing or paper clipping, so paying the interest on the loan has been difficult for her. She's got to be frugal with her husband's allowance in order to save a little money per month. It was hard for her, but it was also inspiring that she borrowed the money and assumed control like a guy. During their chat, Torvald was conversing with Dr. Rank, a family acquaintance. He walks in and introduces himself to Mrs. Linde. Nora then informs her husband that Kristine has arrived looking for secretarial jobs and asks if he thinks he can help her find work. Torvald claims that he believes he will. Dr. Rank leads Kristine out the door, delighted. Krogstad, a newcomer who will be serving under Torval, has arrived. Krogstad has come to talk to Nora about the money he loaned her all those years ago. He is worried that when Torvald hires Kristine, he will lose his job. He needs that job because he has a somewhat tarnished reputation and will have a hard time finding another job. Nora doesn't care about his situation. She knows that her husband will soon be able to pay off the remainder of the loan. Krogstad has come to talk to Nora about the money he loaned her all those years ago. He is worried that when Torvald hires Kristine, he will lose his job. He needs that job because he has a somewhat tarnished reputation and will have a hard time finding another job. Nora doesn't care about his situation. She knows that her husband will soon be able to pay off the remainder of the loan. Krogstad points out, though, that when he decided to lend her the money, he assumed her father would sign the paperwork, but when he checked the date of her father's signature on the contract, he discovered it was dated three days after her father died. Nora admits to forging her father's signature, implying that she defrauded him. If she does not help him keep his job, he threatens to say. Her husband arrives, having learned Krogstad had just walked out the door. He inquires as to whether Krogstad had asked Nora to assist him in keeping his work, and Nora confirms that he had. Nora's willingness to assist such a man irritates Torvald. Krogstad has a history of forging signatures and avoiding prosecution. Torvald tells his wife, ironically, that criminals are notorious for their lying mothers. The infants are contaminated by their guardians. Nora is unsure what to think as he exits the bed.

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Act two continues with Kristine Linde paying Nora a visit and assisting her with the party outfit she is expected to wear. They discuss Dr. Rank, who Nora claims is ill. Kristine believes he is the guy from whom Nora borrowed the money, but Nora assures her that he is not, despite the fact that she believes he would lend her money if she asked because they are such good friends. She feels it would be worth it to speak with Dr. Rank in order to get out of her debt to Krogstad. When her husband returns home, she sends Kristine to see the kids. She attempts to persuade Torvald not to fire Krogstad, but he has already made up his mind. He doesn't want to have a guy with such a bad reputation on the job. He also dislikes the way Krogstad treats him as a friend rather than a superior. As a result, he gives Krogstad's dismissal letter to the maid to send right away. Nora is concerned about what will happen, but Torvald believes she is only concerned about his good name, which he admires.
Dr. Rank enters and tells Nora that he believes he will die soon and that he does not want his great friend Torvald to see him ill, so Nora must keep him away in his dying days. Throughout their conversation, Nora and Dr. Rank begin to flirt with one another, as Nora teases him about her stockings and upon Dr. Rank bringing up his illness again, Nora uses it as an advantage to ask him for a big favor. But before asking him of the big favor, Dr. Rank admits his love for Nora which stops her from asking him at all about the favor. The maid enters with information about Krogstad being in the kitchen and tells Nora, Nora tells Dr. Rank that she has a new costume that Torvald must not see and he must keep Torvald distracted. Dr. Rank and the maid exit. Krogstad tells Nora that he has received his notice and asks why Torvald would send it if he cared for Nora. Nora reveals that she did not tell Torvald the truth. Krogstad demands that Nora tell Torvald but she is adamant about not telling him but Krogstad reminds her that she does not have the money to pay him back or holds the IOU so she cannot merely run away or think of committing suicide. Krogstad has already made a letter for Torvald explaining what Nora has done and demands that he should be offered a higher job status at the bank. He tells Nora that she will not be able to do anything about it because her reputation will always be in his hands. Krogstad exits and leaves the letter in the letter box and Mrs. Linde enters telling Nora that her costume is done. Mrs. Linde figures out that Krogstad is who lent the money to Nora and tells Nora that it is better for Torvald to know. However, Nora admits that she has committed forgery and Mrs. Linde becomes shocked. Nora asks Mrs. Linde to be her witness, should anything bad happen to her and she agrees. Mrs. Linde then leaves to talk to Krogstad, revealing a past they've had together,  and tells Nora to keep Torvald distracted in the meantime. Nora tells Torvald that she is very nervous for her dance and needs to rehearse with him right then and there. She does her dance terribly so Torvald will see her dire need for help and as he gives her instructions she dances more frantically and wildly. Mrs. Linde enters as Nora and Torvald rehearse. Nora tells Torvald not to open any letters and he agrees. Torvald, Nora, Mrs. Linde, and Dr. Rank all go to eat dinner and Nora asks Mrs. Linde what she told Krogstad. Mrs Linde says that he is out of town but will be back the next day. Nora then counts that hours until her Tarantella dance and the scene ends.

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The act begins with Mrs. Linde reading a book and music being played from upstairs. Mrs. Linde checks the time, as she is waiting for someone. A knock is heard at the door and Mrs. Linde opens it and Krogstad enters. Mrs. Linde tells Krogstad that she needed to speak with him, regarding the note she left him, and that the Helmers’ are at a ball. Both characters reveal they have had a past where Mrs. Linde left Krogstad for a richer man because she felt the need to support her mother and two brothers. Krogstad is still hurt by this and Mrs. Linde wonders is she was right in what she did. Mrs. Linde then offers for them to come together as they could help one another, saying that they both have miserable lives and used she needs someone to work for and look after for it to have a purpose in her life. Krogstad asks Mrs. Linde if she knows what she’s getting in to and after she tells him that they both need each other, he agrees. Krogstad must leave as the music begins to end but he becomes worried that the only reason Mrs. Linde promised to marry him was to save Nora. He regrets what he has done to Nora and admits he must ask for his letter back unread, but Mrs. Linde asks him not to. She tells Krogstad that Torvald must know the truth and Krogstad exits. The Helmers enter and meanwhile Torvald goes to light some candles, Mrs. Linde tells Nora what has happened. As Torvald returns, Mrs. Linde exits and tells Nora of how much he desires her while she refuses and thinks that she is just playing a game. Then, a knock at the door is heard and it is Dr. Rank. He stops by to tell them about how much he enjoyed the ball and celebrated his results of a laboratory test. After Torvald lights and gives him a cigar, Dr. Rank leaves. Torvald then goes to the letter box and finds Dr. Ranks letter with a black cross suggesting he is dying. He then goes in about how he can’t imaginen Dr. Rank being gone. Nora then tells Torvald to read the rest of his letters. Just as Nora was about to go to sleep, Torvald returns and asks her if she knows what is in Krogstad’s letter. Nora says that she does and tells Torvald to let her go but she doesn’t. Torvald blames himself for Thai punishment in not taking into consideration Nora’s father when he married her. He tells Nora that she has ruined their happiness and future. Torvald then says he must find a way to appease Krogstad and that they must appear the same but that Nora is not allowed to raise the children. The doorbell rings and the maid answers it with a note for Nora from Krogstad. Torvald reads the notes and exclaims with relief that he is saved and Nora, after asking, is saved too. He takes the IOU and burns it after reading that Krogstad’s situation is now improved and tells Bora it must have been hard to keep this from him. She agrees. Torvald asks Nora why she looks upset and she says she can’t believe he forgave her but thanks him and goes to leave. As Nora leave to change, Torvald reminds her that it his duty as her husband to help and guide her but when Nora returns she asks him to talk. She tells Torvald that both he and her father have never understood her and are only in love with the idea of loving her. She has been played with like a doll and that is why she has never made anything of herself. Torvald is very mad with her and asks if she was happy in their marriage, Nora replies that she thought she was happy but she actually wasn’t. Torvald admits that Nora does tell some truth but tells her things will change and that playtime will be over, but Nora says that she cannot learn to be a better wife nor teach the children so she must leave to educate herself. Nora tells Torvald she does not care what others will say and she has a duty to better herself. Torvald tries to appeal to Nora through religion and morality but it is no use and come to the conclusion that Nora is leaving because she no longer love him. Nora agrees and says that after what had just happened she realized that he was not the man she thought he was and fell out of love with him because he wanted him to sacrifice himself for her but he did not. Nora leaves without wanting to see the children and refuses any contact or help from Torvald. The play ends with the sound of the door slamming shut.

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Nora
Torvald Helmer's wife and the protagonist of the play. Nora seems to be a playful, innocent young girl who has had little exposure to the world outside of her home at first. She does, however, have some life experience, and her slight defiance actions indicate that she is not as innocent or happy as she seems. She has a better understanding of her role in her marriage and the courage to break away from her abusive condition.

Torvald
Torvald is Nora's partner. He  is ecstatic about his new job at the bank and his new place of authority as a husband. He handles Nora as if she were an infant, being both kind and patronizing. Nora is not seen as an equal by him, but rather as a toy or a doll to be mocked and loved. Torvald is excessively obsessed about his position and standing in society, and he causes the promise of society's respect and the expectation of society's disdain to strongly influence his emotions.

Mrs. Linde
A childhood acquaintance of Nora's. Mrs. Linde is a realistic, down-to-earth lady, and her sober perspective on life contrasts with Nora's childlike outlook. Mrs. Linde's account of her poverty-stricken childhood emphasizes Nora's privileged position. We also discover that Mrs. Linde took care of her ailing parent, while Nora deserted her father when he was sick.

Krogstad
A lawyer who attended school with Torvald and works as a subordinate at Torvald's bank. Though his bad behavior seems to stem from a need to protect his children from criticism, Krogstad is perfectly content to use unethical means to achieve his goals. His determination to let Nora suffer is reprehensible, but his declarations of sympathy for her and his own difficult circumstances force us to sympathize with him to some extent.

Dr. Rank
A doctor, and best friends with the Helmers. He has spinal tuberculosis and is believed to die soon because of it. He is in love with Nora but is unmarried. He is the only character believed to not notice nor care what others think.

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Christmas Tree- used to symbolize Nora's position. Parallels can be drawn between both, such as when the tree is not to be seen by the children until it is decorated, just as Nora cannot be seen in her costume until the ball.

New Years Day- This day was a day both Nora and Torvald were looking forward to but the day itself is a symbol for a change in the family by Nora leaving and Torvald finding out what Nora did.

Macaroons- symbolize Nora's disobeyment from torvald. In the beginning of the play, Nora eats them even though Torvald has told her not to.

Tarantella Dance- Another symbol on how Nora is portrayed. The dance is used to please others, such as Torvald, and portrays her only for her appearances.l

A Doll's House- an extended metaphor of the whole play that symbolizes how family structure is portrayed like a doll's house. The family is being manipulated by society to look and act a certain way, hence, Nora reveals that she has been treated like a doll by her father and torvald.

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"Free. To be free, absolutely free. To spend time playing with the children. To have a clean,

beautiful house, the way Torvald likes it" (Act 1 pg 4)

"you helpless little mortal" (Pg 50)

Nora : "Our home has been nothing but a playroom. I have been your doll-wife, just as at home I was papa's doll-child; and here the children have been my dolls." (Act 3 pg 67)

Torvald: "From now on, forget happiness. Now it's just about saving the remains, the wreckage, the appearance." ( Act 3)

Torvald: "Try to calm yourself...my frightened little singing-bird. Be at rest, and feel secure; I have broad wings to shelter you under." (Act 3 pg 65)

Nora: "he will have a salary and lots of commissions" ... " we can do just as we like"..."it will be splendid to have heaps of money" ( Page 12)

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Love and Marriage
Gender Roles
Money and Status
Deceit
Societal Expectations
Family Structure

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A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen | Summary & Analysis

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Henrik Ibsen's 'A Doll's House' in 5 minutes: plot, characters & themes | Narrator: Barbara Njau

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A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen | Characters

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“A Doll's House .” SparkNotes, SparkNotes, 2021, www.sparknotes.com/lit/dollhouse/.

“A Doll's House Infographic.” Course Hero, Course Hero, 2021, www.coursehero.com/lit/A-Dolls-House/infographic/.

Ibsen , Henrick. A Doll's House . Methuen , 2021.

LitCharts. “A Doll's House Study Guide.” LitCharts, LitCharts, 2021, www.litcharts.com/lit/a-doll-s-house.