A Dolls House Written Commentary

This excerpt from A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen presents Nora practicing her Tarantella as she tries to
hide her guilt from her husband, Torvald. The excerpt is filled with high tension as Nora is shown to have little time
to live. Ibsen uses this dancing act to show his audience the changes in of the protagonist and foreshadow the
conclusion of his play.
The passage begins with Nora dancing in front of Torvald and his friend, Doctor Rank. Now play for me,
and Ill dance! she exclaims this as if she was a doll to be played with a child, who in this case is her husband. As
she begins to dance she is told to go slower as she moves wildly. Torvald and Noras dialogue in the beginning can
be interpreted to show the conflict in their relationship:
NORA : I can only do it this way.
HELMER : Not so violently, Nora!
NORA : This is how it should go.
HELMER [stops playing] : No, no, thats all wrong. (Line 5-8).
The text shows Nora's belief that she had to do things differently from what Torvald desired. His rejection
of her actions shows his disapproval of Noras belief and is very similar to the way he responds during the
conclusion of the play. Ibsen implements other elements to symbolize the couples relationship and its ending,
such as when Torvald ironically tells his wife, You can rely on me, a statement which is shown to be a lie when
her secret is unraveled and when Nora tells Torvald that *hell+ be free after the dance, hinting at her departure
from the house, leaving him free of responsibilities to her. (Line 23, 31).
Ibsens scene also shows a change in personality and diction from Nora in front of her husband. Usually
acting well-mannered and presenting herself as a child to him, Nora, in this scene, shows herself as more reckless,
much to the distress of Torvald. Her change in diction is clearly shown when she dances wildly in front of Torvald
and tells her maid to have a champagne supper lasting till dawn... And some macaroons, a request which
clearly displeases Torvald as he responds: Now now now! You mustnt be so wild and excitable. Be my own little
skylark again. (Line 36-37). His statement to Nora shows his inability to deal with Nora when she is not in her dolllike state.
Alongside the elements of foreshadowing is the symbolism that is used by Ibsen during the dance and
dialogue. Ibsen chose the Tarantella specifically because during the time setting of the story, it was common belief
that one would have to dance in order to cure themselves from bite of a wolf spider, which was thought to have
been highly poisonous. Noras dance is her last attempt to cure herself from her poison, which in this case is her
secret debt, and save herself from having to leave, as she replies to Helmer:
HELMER : But, Nora darling, youre dancing as if your life depended on it!
NORA : So it does. (Line 15-16).
As the excerpt ends, Ibsen shows Noras true feelings of worry as she tells herself that there are thirtyone hours to live. (Line 50). This is followed by an immediate change in her expression when Torvald enters,
exclaiming, But wheres my little skylark? to which she replies with her arms outstretched, Here she is! (Line
51-52). This shows how she immediately changes her image for Torvald, showing the child-like diction she uses to
manipulate Torvald.
The passage of the Tarantella rehearsal in A Dolls House is used by Ibsen to incorporate a scene of high
tension for the main protagonist, Nora. A clear change in diction and atmosphere is shown along with Ibsens
usage of foreshadowing in the excerpt. With the dramatic suspense rising, these scene represents the climax of the
play, the scene where the turning point for Nora takes place.