Nora+and+Torvald+(147-150)

**Characterization**
Here are the guiding questions and answers that our class answered for our Act 1, which specifically have to do with our pages!

At the very beginning, Nora's act of paying the porter twice of what she owes him suggests that she may not be very adept at handling money in terms of saving it up. This is especially significant as she owes Krogstad money that she claims she can not raise. This event foreshadows the eventual importance of the theme of money and the responsibility often associated with it.
 * 1. Why does the fact that Nora pays the porter twice what she owes him suggest about Nora? What might this incident foreshadow in the play?**


 * 2. What is the significance of the fact that Nora eats macaroons, hides them in her pocket, and wipes the crumbs from her lips?**

The significance of this is to represent her deceit. Helmer had banned macaroons from the house and Nora eating the macroons shows her rebeling slightly against her husband's will.


 * 3. Torvald Helmer has several pet names for Nora. What do they include, and what do they say about how he regards her?**

Little skylark (148), Little squirrel (148), Little featherbrain (148), Little scatterbrain (148), Little songbird (149, 151, 177, 180), Little bird (150), Sweet little bird (150), Little Sweet-Tooth (151), Darling (152) Torvald’s way of addressing his wife through cute pet names such as “little songbird” and “little squirrel” reveals that, perhaps like most other men and husbands at the time, he saw himself as a superior to his wife Nora. The animal references in the names even dehumanize her and her capabilities to a certain degree, proving that Torvald possed a prejudice towards genders and believed that a women’s role should simply be domestic. These names show that he finds her helpless and childish especially when dealing with important financial matters, however that it is also to be expected in a woman.


 * 4. What points do Helmer and Nora each make in their first conversation about money?**

Nora: "Pooh! We can borrow till then!" Helmer: "No debt, no borrowing. There can be no freedom or beauty about a home life that depends on borrowing and debt." Nora: "Yes Torrald, we may be a wee bit more reckless now, mayn't we? Just a tiny wee bit. You are going to have a big salary and earn lots and lots of money."


 * 5. What does Nora's flirtatious behavior suggest about her relationship with Helmer?**

Nora’s flirtatious behavior illustrates women’s inferior role in society compared to men throughout the 19th century. Her only job is to keep her family satisfied and to maintain the facade of a happy family. She pampers her husband and engages in child activities in order to maintain the perfect life that she has always known. 6. What literary element is used when Helmer refers to Nora's father, and what does Helmer say about the father? Helmer says Nora is just like her father, who is 'always on the look-out' for money, and once they have it, it seems to slip through their fingers and they never know what becomes of it.


 * 7. What does the audience learn when Helmer raises the subject of sweets saying, "Hasn't Miss Sweet-Tooth been breaking the rules in town to-day"?**

When Helmer raises the subject of sweets, Nora lies, promising that she did not eat any sweets during her shopping trip. Subsequently, Nora mentions that she "wouldn't do anything that [Helmer] didn't like" (151). Here the audience learns that, contrary to her word, Nora may well do many things that Helmer would not appreciate. This implication also foreshadows the revealing of Nora's fraudulent loan later in the act.


 * Other Characterization:**

NORA: -giving the porter the leftover change, audience first impression of Nora. Makes her seem generous and warm -hiding her macaroons from her husbands, suggests she doesnt fully feel comfortable with him knowing about her little flaw -wanting to spend more money since husbands promotion, her careless personality. -gives off being dumber than she actually is.

HELMER: -pet names, showing his adoration and affection for his wife -oblivious to everything that his wife is up to. doesnt mind being kept in the dark as long as she it outwardly perfect.

**Plot**
As the opening scene, this conversation between Nora and Torvald has major ramifications in relation to the plot for the rest of the play. Not only does it open the play and thereby introduce motifs and character traits that would continue throughout the play, it also foreshadows significant events in the future.

- Before the conversation even begins, Nora checks to see whether Torvald is in his study. When she realizes that he is, she immediately begins humming—this gives the first indication to the reader that her childish and naïve attitude may really simply be a façade that she shows to Torvald and the rest of the world. This has major implications for the rest of the plot as Nora tends to maintain this image as she is usually within the confines of her (Torvald’s) house. - In addition, Nora eats macaroons, hides them in her pocket and wipes the crumbs from her lips. This indicates the seeds of dissent towards the qualities expected of an obedient housewife. - Torvald brings up the topic of the conservation of money relatively quickly, which foreshadows the future importance of this to the plot. After all, the events within the plot revolve around Nora’s loan that she took when they were short on funds. - Their conversation also gives context to the play—it informs the reader that Torvald is earning more money than usual for the first time in a while. This contextualizes the readers’ interpretation of the rest of the plot as they now may view Torvald’s economization and Nora’s objection to that differently.

__**Relevant Questions and Answers:**__
 * 2. What is the significance of the fact that Nora eats macaroons, hides them in her pocket, and wipes the crumbs from her lips?** The significance of this is to represent her deceit. Helmer had banned macaroons from the house and Nora eating the macroons shows her rebelling slightly against her husband's will. (Adrian)


 * 7. What does the audience learn when Helmer raises the subject of sweets saying, "Hasn't Miss Sweet-Tooth been breaking the rules in town to-day"?** When Helmer raises the subject of sweets, Nora lies, promising that she did not eat any sweets during her shopping trip. Subsequently, Nora mentions that she "wouldn't do anything that [Helmer] didn't like" (151). Here the audience learns that, contrary to her word, Nora may well do many things that Helmer would not appreciate. This implication also foreshadows the revealing of Nora's fraudulent loan later in the act. (Emily)

**Motifs/Themes**
-money -power in Nora/Torvald relationship -animals -deceit -household/societal roles

**Stage Directions/Speech Patterns**
[//The// PORTER //thanks her and goes.// NORA //shuts the door...laughing quietly and happily to herself. taking out a bag of macaroons from her pocket, she eats one or two, then goes cautiously to her husband's door and listens]// Nora is portrayed as immature and childish from the start, here particularly evident by her girlish laughter and apparent innocent happiness; She is clearly living in her own world. Her childish image is further reinforced by her consumption of the sweet macaroons.

//[He goes to her and takes her playfully by the ear]// Very patronizing, like the behavior of a parent towards a child or a school teacher to a very young student. This action asserts Helmer's authority as well, establishing him as the authoritative figure and Nora as the weaker subject. [//putting a hand over his mouth]// This is a very childish gesture, and she constantly seems to be acting cute and playful.

[//squealing//] The way Nora speaks and expresses herself is extremely immature and not befitting for a woman who is a wife and a mother. She seems socially stunted in this sense, because she is so at ease in all of her childish behavior. There is something almost animalistic in squealing, which also makes Nora seem like she is not a whole person, not completely alert or self aware.

[//not looking at him--playing with his waistcoat buttons//] The childish behavior continues, this time in the form of Nora's physical behavior and body language. She is very "touchy-feely" with her husband and seems to have a constant need to touch him, emphasizing her immature nature. This interaction is not normal between two mature adults, but almost like a parent-child relationship. Her avoidance of his eyes also reasserts Nora's submissiveness and Helmer's dominance.

[//wagging a finger at her]// Nora and Helmer's relationship is definitely unbalanced, with Helmer in the role of a parent/teacher, and Nora in the role of the student/child. This relationship is so unhealthy in its inequality, and Helmer keeps her as immature and childish as she is with how he treats her and humors her; He encourages her to see herself as a child and a plaything.

[//She tidies the room a little//] Although Nora should be occupying the role of a wife/mother, she is merely going through the motions and filling the role superficially. She is not mature or experienced enough to handle the responsibilities that come with her role and thus does not truly know how to behave/act.

The speech pattern is a quick back-and-forth between Nora and Helmer. Their sentences are simply, and their conversations extremely trivial and lacking substance. Helmer asks Nora a question, and Nora responds with a short answer. They appear to be having a happy and normal exchange, but it seems a conversation more befitting to a student and teacher or a parent and child.

**Props**
armful of parcels, Christmas tree, hamper: Nora holding them makes her seem quite occupied and busy with household matters, however ironic because later it is revealed that she is restless and her role is unimportant, she can be replaced by maid

purse: gives more power to her character, money, however this is ironic again because she has restrictions, an allowance from Helmer

outdoor clothes: when she takes them off, emphasizes Nora returning to the domestic realm

bag of macaroons: a forbidden snack, Nora hides them from her husband, the audience is aware of her deception throughout Nora and Helmer's conversation

pen that Helmer is holding when he looks into living room: emphasizes his intellect, his legal career, his status as breadwinner, decision maker because of supposed greater intelligence than Nora

the separation, hidden study vs. visible living room: sets the focus in the living room, where Nora mostly spends time, focus on her, also shows separation between her world and Helmer, he talks to her from a distance

Helmer's wallet and money given to Nora: shows his power in the conversation, highlights Nora’s fixation on money

Nora’s unwrapped purchases: highlights what Nora takes pride in, what matters consume her life