Important Quotes & Their Themes

"I have been performing tricks for you, Torvald. That’s how I’ve survived. You wanted it like that. You and Papa have done me a great wrong. It’s because of you I’ve made nothing of my life" 

I believe this quote is extremely significant within the novel as it reflects the context of women's roles within the time period. I believe that Ibsen included this to make the audience reflect on gender roles and the equality and fairness of the sexes and their roles within society. The fact that women were solely dependant on men for their lifestyle and what they were able to do with minimal power they had is clearly reflected within this quote, as for women it was not socially acceptable for them to have jobs (with or without consent from their male figure) they were unable to earn money and therefore had minimal power and only appeared to have power once it was gained from the male. This quote reflects the theme of both Nora's idea of freedom and the Unreliability of appearances as Nora through out the play pretends and acts upon a little innocent girls persona which she abuses to manipulate Torvald into giving her what she wants however it is clear that Torvald enjoys her acting this way as it portrays him as being more dominant which reflects on his masculinity and male role within the house. The use of "I've been performing tricks for you Torvald" relates closely to previously when he calls her little pet names like "squirrel" he uses this type of language to keep Nora in her place to prevent the change of the hierarchy as he is a clear Marxist, both of the characters are aware that it is all an act however Nora is only just awakening them up to the realisation as she is now left with no purpose but the typical role of a housewife and having little independence of her own. "You and papa have done me great wrong" this shows that she is now beginning to realise the harm in who she has been transformed into through growing up and through purely pleasing men, she begins to realise that in life there is more than just acting child-like to make males more satisfied. Moreover, Ibsen could have used this to suggest that women are seen as objects and ornamental as they have little freedom and must put on a show to please men as their only purpose.

"One day I might, yes. Many years from now, when I’ve lost my looks a little. Don’t laugh. I mean, of course, a time will come when Torvald is not as devoted to me, not quite so happy when I dance for him, and dress for him, and play with him" 

This quote clearly shows the theme of Nora's idea of freedom, this tends to be the idea that if she pays all her debt she can dedicate herself to Torvald completely and her family however after Krogstad threatens her she begins to think of a new idea of freedom; relief from her domestic obligations. She wishes to have her own goals and ambitions and believes that her family is holding her back. This is clearly shown within this quote as she begins to reflect on her future life, the use of her exclaiming that Torvald will not need her when she expresses "a time will come when Torvald is not as devoted to me, not quite so happy" this shows that she expects other things from her life other than being a wife or mother, it juxtaposes against any other beliefs we have about Nora as typically she is perceived as being Naive however this shows that she is being rather realistic to circumstances as she knows that the love and attraction between her and Torvald with not last forever which also contrasts against her expressing her shock to Mrs.Linde when she expresses that she did not love her husband who recently died. The fact that she is discussing her appearance and happiness when she thinks may be appropriate to tell Torvald about the loan shows that she has an understanding of the foundations of the relationship as we previously know that Torvald likes to show off Nora to increase his social exterior furthermore she shows that she is aware of what Torvald love depends on - her appearance. She knows that when she begins to become older and less attractive the love that Torvald will have will become less apparent and passionate.

"Has it got the sulks, that little squirrel of mine? {takes out his wallet} Nora, what do you think I've got here?"

Here, I believe that Ibsen has included this line to show the male dominance within the relationship. Torvald patronises Nora however she frequently plays along as she knows she will get what she wants out of it which is extremely smart considering she is perceived as being childish and naive, the fact that she can manipulate Torvald shows that she has more control and power over him than he does to her. The use of Torvald describing her as a "little squirrel of mine" shows that he is possessive and objectifying her as she isn't allowed to be her own person but what Torvald wishes her to be which is shown later within the play, "little squirrel" is a way of demeaning her and making her appear less powerful alongside animalising her as she has minimal freedom; just like an animal. However later on when he says "Nora, what do you think I've got here" shows that he is playing on this idea of her being a child as the tone he is speaking to her in is rather patronizing, the fact that he can give her what she wants is elongated to ensure that he receives the best reaction he can get from her as she knows that it will make him feel more dominant and masculine knowing that he has pleased her, The use of the wallet signifies power as with money comes great power, showing that Torvald has and controls a lot of money suggests that Nora's power and independence is controlled by her husband again reflecting on women's rights. Torvald doesn't give Nora huge sums of money regularly or shares what he earns with her equally as then it would give her equal power to him making him appear more immasculine and weaker towards society. 

“Free. To be free, absolutely free. To spend time playing with the children. To have a clean, beautiful house, the way Torvald likes it.”

This quote is extremely ironic and contradictory as Nora’s idea of freedom is what Torvald her husband wants, the fact that she is basing her happiness on somebody else’s and the idea that her freedom is to make somebody else happy is not freedom at all also representing the theme of Nora’s idea of freedom. Within this quote in act one she is expressing that after she has paid all is owed from Krogstad she will be left with nothing more to worry about than her children, here the audience has a hint of what Nora could have done wrong as it links in well with later on within the play when Torvald states that a person who commits fraud is unfit to be a parent when talking about Krogstad as once the debt is paid Nora will be fit to be a mother again and return back to the lifestyle of being a housewife. As dealing with business is commonly a man’s role within this time era it is suggesting that Nora is unable to cope with a male role and that she is incapable of being under stress which makes the audience reflect on their ideology of women. This quote also relates with the previous quote of “you and papa have done me a great wrong” as it reflects the idea that all she has been taught is to make the male dominant in her life happy and doing so she has created a lifestyle that she does not wish to be involved in again making the audience reflect on to what extent women’s “rights” were concerned.

"From now on, forget happiness. Now it’s just about saving the remains, the wreckage, the appearance."

This quote also supports the theme of The unreliability of appearance as it shows that appearance is everything to Torvald. The fact that everything is not at all normal and that Nora has commited a criminal act shows that from the external point of view everything is so perfect and happy - as he wishes. Torvald immediately is more concerned about his reputation than he is about comforting and supporting his wife possibly as he feels as though he doesn't know who she is any more as the child-like Nora he knew was an act in order to please, he shows to care about the appearance of being perfect and content rather than being perfect and content as the family could remain happy if they talk it through and support one another however as he appears so fixated on maintaining the appearance of the family he is losing the actual love and compassion that makes a family which he shows minimal concern for in this situation. The use of "saving the remains, the wreckage" shows that his appearance matters to a great deal in order to keeping him dignified and respected by others which he perceives as being more important. Furthermore, the idea that Nora has created a "wreckage" suggests that his love was purely based on the immature persona she acted for him, as she did something that was mature and male like his image of her has also been destroyed alongside this describing it as a "wreckage" refers to the idea that because she is a woman she was unable to carry out such a "masculine" business task successfully.