DH.3.Changes+in+BEHAVIOR

=Changes in Behaviour =

Changes in behavior: Significant idea number 1:

The changes in behavior through the three acts lend itself to making the play more realistic. Goes along with Ibsen being the first writer to incorporate realism to his plays. So that they people can feel more comfortable with setting, environment that you are familiar with helps audience to relate more easily to what is happening. Instead of having the characters stay static throughout the play, some of the characters behavior does fluctuate and change. For example, Krogstad goes from being someone in charge and intimidating to someone who’s heart-broken and down-to earth.

Act I, page 174: While interrogating Nora he speaks with force and power over her as he dances around the truth although he obviously knows the answers to all his questions: Krogstad: That is correct—I’ve confirmed that for myself. And that brings us to a curious thing [producing a paper] white I’m quite unable to explain. Krogstad: the curious thins, Mrs. Helmer, is that your father signed this note of had three days after his death. Can you explain it? Isn’t it a curious thing?

Act II, page 198: In act two, Krogstad is actually revealed to have children as well. Which makes him more humane, his motifs for doing what he did are somewhat explained. Morals. Nora: Then show it. Think of my little children. Krogstad: Have you or your husband every thought of mine?

Act III, page 208: Act III, he is portrayed as just any other male, not a antagonist of a story, but a lonely, heartbroken ex-lover of Mrs. Linde Krogstad: Was there anything to understand—except what was so obvious to the whole world: a heartless woman throwing a man over when someone richer turns up? Krogstad [//softly//]: When I lost you it was just as if the very ground had given way under my feet. Look at me now—a shipwrecked man clinging to a spar.

“No, Nils, you mustn’t ask for your letter back.” (pg 211) “Helmer must know the whole story. This wretched secret must be brought into the open so there is complete understanding between them” (pg 211)
 * Mrs. Linde **
 * fairly static character throughout the play and there is no major change in her behaviour
 * one instance where she tells Krogstad, which is a change from earlier acts in which she was trying to help Nora get the letter back.
 * she believes that the “wretched secret must be brought into the open so there is complete understanding” between Nora and Torvald
 * While her behaviour changes, her intention of helping Nora remains the same. She still continues the role as the ‘moral advisor’.
 * By telling Krogstad not to get his letter back, the plot is allowed to develop so that Torvald will read the letter and there would be a confrontation between Torvald and Nora

"[softly] When I lost you, it was just as if the very ground had given way under my feet. Look at me now - a shipwrecked man clinging to a spar." (pg 208) [grasping her hands] (pg 210) [with a searching look at her] (pg 210)
 * Krogstad **
 * In the past two acts Krogstad has always presented himself to be a composed man, a man who is in control.
 * It seems that Krogstad is always confident in getting what he wants, and strives to achieve his goal through any means.
 * But in the third act, Krogstad exposes his vulnerable side. He is much more emotional and opens up to Mrs.Linde about his feelings, and when Mrs. Linde expresses her confidence in him, he grasps her hands and repeats "thank you - thank you" (210).

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[going round to the other side of the table]: You mustn’t say things like that tonight. (pg 216) “No, Torvald, go away. Leave me alone – I don’t want” (pg 216)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Nora **
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Nora is much less welcoming to Torvald’s advances and tries to maintain distance from him.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[freeing herself, and speaking firmly and purposefully]: Now you must read your letters, Torvald. (pg 219)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Before, Nora kept preventing Torvald from reading his letters, but now she tells him ‘firmly’ that he has to read them
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Shows that she has made up her mind and is willing to accept and face the consequences of her actions

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Nora: [She goes out through the door to the right] (pg 223) <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Nora [off] Taking off my fancy-dress. (pg 224)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">In previous acts, Helmer was always the one who walked away from Nora and entered the door to the right.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Here, the roles are reversed as Nora is the one walking away from Helmer to take off her fancy dress

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">“Sit down here, Torvald – you and I have a lot to talk over." [She sits down at one side of the table.] (pg 224)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Nora is stepping up and telling Torvald to sit down
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Tone of voice - commanding
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">appears to be the dominant character, has more power over Torvald

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[She returns with her outdoor clothes, and a little bag which she puts on a chair by the table.] <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[putting on her coat] <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[putting her hat on] <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[She pulls her shawl round her.] (pg 231)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">As Helmer tries to convince Nora not to leave, she puts on her outdoor clothes piece by piece and prepares to leave
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The step by step process is a visual representation of how Nora is taking control of her life and is serious about seeking independence

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[She goes out through the hall.] <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[From below comes the noise of a door slamming.] (pg 232)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">In the beginning of the play, Nora walks into the house in outdoor clothes after shopping outside
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">She remains in the house the whole duration of the play
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">At the end of the play, Nora walks out of the house in outdoor clothes, leaving the house and her duty as wife and mother
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Demonstrates Nora’s change from a woman confined in the household to a woman going out into the world to seek her own identity

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[kissing her on the forehead] (pg 214) (pg 219)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Helmer **
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Helmer was previously intimate with Nora, by putting his arm around her waist and by flirting playfully with her
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">However, he had never kissed her until Act Three
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Helmer is intoxicated, adds to the sexual tension
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Reflects the intensifying emotions and mood

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[pacing about the room] (pg 220) <span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[He paces up and down by the door] (pg 223)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">After reading the letter, Helmer is distressed to find out the truth.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">As Helmer tries to calm Nora down, he paces at the door.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">His pacing around the room demonstrates his anxiety that everything is falling out of his control.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[sinking down on a chair by the door and burying his face in his hands] Nora! Nora! (pg 232)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Shows Helmer’s vulnerability and incapability in accepting that he can’t be in control of everything
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">His actions demonstrate his desperation and despair

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ah yes, this dear familiar place; you two must be very happy and comfortable here. (Pg216) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Georgia,serif;">At the next fancy-dress party, I will be invisible. (Pg217) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[She holds the match while he lights the cigar] (Pg217)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Dr. Rank **


 * Dr Rank has accepted his death and is treating this dress party as his last.
 * He doesn’t tell Helmer why he is going to be invisible at the next party instead he changes the conversation by asking for a cigar, which shows that he still thinks Helmer is delicate and won’t he able to handle the truth.
 * Nora lights his cigar, which creates an emotional image as it implies that she has accepted his death as well.Nora also says, “Sleep well, Dr Rank”(Pg 217) instead of good-bye which also indicates that she has accepted Dr Ranks death.