Source: Work, Ford Madox Brown
Guide Navigation
1. A Guide to Victorian Literature
2. A Doll’s House
3. The Importance of Being Earnest
A Doll’s House
Henrik Ibsen, 1879 (1828-1906)
Extract
Nora. Sit down here Torvald. You and I have much to say to one another.
Hel. Nora- what is this? – this cold, set face?
Nora. Sit down. It will take some time; I have a lot to talk over with you.
Hel. You alarm me Nora! And I don’t understand you.
Nora. No, that is just it. 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.
Hel. What do you mean by that?
Nora. Isn’t there on thing that strikes you as strange in our sitting here like this?
Hel. What is that?
Nora. We have been married now eight years. 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?
Hel. What do you mean, serious?
Nora.…
