Question

Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House. Mrs. Linde: [goes on sewing. A short silence] Does Doctor Rank come here everyday? Nora: Everyday regularly. He is Torvald's most intimate friend, and a great friend of mine too. He is just like one of the family. Mrs. Linde: But tell me this—is he perfectly sincere? I mean, isn't he the kind of man that is very anxious to make himself agreeable? Nora: Not in the least. What makes you think that? Mrs. Linde: When you introduced him to me yesterday, he declared he had often heard my name mentioned in this house; but afterwards I noticed that your husband hadn't the slightest idea who I was. So how could Doctor Rank—? Nora: That is quite right, Christine. Torvald is so absurdly fond of me that he wants me absolutely to himself, as he says. At first he used to seem almost jealous if I mentioned any of the dear folk at home, so naturally I gave up doing so. But I often talk about such things with Doctor Rank, because he likes hearing about them. Mrs. Linde: Listen to me, Nora. You are still very like a child in many things, and I am older than you in many ways and have a little more experience. Let me tell you this—you ought to make an end of it with Doctor Rank. How does the conversation between Mrs. Linde and Nora affect the plot?

Answer 1

In "A Doll's House," by Henrik Ibsen, the conversation between Mrs. Linde and Nora exposes Nora's inexperience and reveals Doctor Rank's interest in her. Besides, Nora and Kristine have not seen each other for years, so the encounter also serves as a summary of their past lives and provides background information to further understand the characters and the story. As a matter of fact, Kristine is now a widow who has come to Torvald to obtain employment, but she also learns that Nora has secretely got in debt so that her huband could afford a health treatment in Italy to save his life.