A DOLL'S HOUSE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR KCSE STUDENTS

A DOLL’S HOUSE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

These are short study questions on A Doll's House to help KCSE students understand the set book better.

Note: You should read the actual set book several times in order to have a mastery of the text and be in a position to respond to A Doll's House essay questions. 

1.What is the message in a dolls house?

The main message in A Doll's House is the need for equal partnership in relationships and marriages.

Nora and Helmer's marriage is shrouded in lies and secrets. Eventually Nora leaves Helmer because she’s not happy. 

Human relationships that are based on lies or pretense are always bound to crumble.

 

2. What does A Doll’s House say about society.

The society in A Doll's House has a conventional set of norms that tend to stifle an individual into behaving the way the society dictates as opposed to how they really feel. Such a repressive atmosphere may cause suffering.

Characters like Torvald, Nora, Mrs. Linde and Krogstad bear the brunt of the unforgiving society.

Women in this society have restricted freedom. They are not allowed to carry out certain roles that are preserved for men. A woman can neither borrow money nor carry out serious financial transactions without their husband’s permission.

Mrs. Linde tells Nora, “A wife cannot borrow without her husband’s consent” (pg. 18)

Torvald is also swayed by the society’s expectation. He treats his wife like a doll. He forbids her from petty issues such as eating macaroons to serious matters like raising her own children. (pg. 105)

He says, “But I shall not allow you to bring up the children “(pg. 105)

His repressive nature causes his wife untold misery.

Nora says, “I am a resonable human being just as you are” (pg. 114)

She has never been happy in Torvald house. (pg. 111)

On pg. 112 Nora says “I must try and educate myself”

The society’s suffocating codes also control and shape Krogstad and Mrs. Linde’s life.

 

3. Does Nora really love Torvald? 

Yes, she does. She makes great sacrifices to save Torvald’s life. She tells Krogstad, “I did it for love's sake” (pg. 42)

When Torvald overworks himself and falls ill (pg. 12), Nora is forced to borrow £250 from Krogstad (Pg. 31). They needed money for a trip to Italy as recommended by the doctor (pg. 19). She is forced to forge her father’s signature since women are not allowed to borrow. Nora keeps the whole affair secret from Torvald in order to protect his manly independence (pg. 20). She also makes a great sacrifice by repaying the loan secretly.

She does all this for the sake of love. She loves Torvald.

On pg. 40 she tells Krogstad, “That trip was to save my husband’s life, I couldn’t give that up.”

Nora tells Torvald that she loved him above everything else in the world (pg. 103)

Even Torvald understands that Nora committed fraud and kept secrets from him out of love (pg. 107)

 

4. Does Nora kill herself in A Doll's House?

No, she does not follow through with the plan. Nora does not commit suicide. 

 

5. What is wrong with Nora and Torvald's marriage?

Nora and Torvald’s marriage is full of lies, secrets and pretense. Also the marriage is devoid of love and equality (pg. 111). This causes lack of happiness. Nora tells Torvald “I have never been happy”. (pg. 111)

The secrets ruin the marriage when Torvald finds out about Nora’s secrets, he becomes furious and this leads to an unsalvageable rift in their marriage. (Pg. 103-120)

Torvald does not treat Nora like an equal partner in marriage, rather like a subordinate.

He calls her pet names like squirrel, skylark and little spendthrift. (pg. 2-3)

They never have a serious meaning full conversion and he talks to her playfully (pg. 3) (pg.110)

Torvald does not know who Nora really is. He calls her a spendthrift. He thinks she’s wasteful when it comes to money (pg. 5).

He feels that everything she does is silly and insignificant (pg. 44).

 He controls every aspect of Nora’s life. He chooses Nora’s character at the Stenborg’s fancy dress bull and even makes her dress (pg. 52). He’s jealous and narcissist (pg. 54). He makes promises he cannot keep(pg.61-62). His promises turn out to be empty when he finds out Nora’s secret (pg. 103)

Torvald turns out to be a weak, selfish man.

Nora is unhappy in the marriage (pg. 111). She says Torvald never loved her (pg. 110)

When Nora decides to leave, Torvald has the audacity to forbid her (pg. 113)

Nora knows that she’s is a reasonable human being just like Torvald. This means that men and women are equal (pg. 114)

Nora knows that Torvald only cares about his reputation.

“And it was not fear for what threatened me, but what might happen to you” (pg. 117)

She leaves Torvald in pursuit of “perfect freedom” (pg. 119)

In summary, Torvald and Nora’s marriage is riddled with falsehood, simulation and selfishness. 

 

6. What is the main conflict in A Doll's House? 

The main conflict in A Doll's House is selfishness and falsehood in Nora and Torvald's marriage. The marriage breaks because of secrets and pretense on Nora’s side and pride, ego and selfishness on Torvald’s side. The conflict arises from friction between individual and society. The society’s repressive nature causes a strain in human relationships. 

 

7. What does A Doll's House title mean? 

The society treats women like dolls: silly insignificant beings. Torvald treats Nora like a child. Their house is like a doll's house or a bird’s cage. She has no liberty to do as her mind pleases. The title captures the society’s controlling nature. A human being can never thrive under a repressive environment. 

 

8. How many acts is A Dolls House? 

A Doll’s House has three acts. Act One-Christmas Eve. Act Two-Christmas day. Act Three-A day after Christmas. 

 

9. What does money symbolize in A Doll’s house? 

Money is a symbol of power in A Doll’s House. Torvald considers Nora a spendthrift. Last Christmas Nora had to lock herself up for 3 weeks to make handmade ornaments. Now that Torvald has a new job, she doesn’t have to struggle anymore (pg. 8). Since Torvald has money he can make decisions like whom to fire and whom to hire. Krogstad’s job is at his mercy. Since men are in authority in this society, they are the ones allowed to carry out serious transactions, work and help women. Women are not allowed to work or borrow money. 

Krogstad can control Nora and threaten to blackmail her because he was in position to lend her money. Krogstad lends Nora money without her husband’s knowledge yet women are not allowed to borrow.

In brief, money symbolizes power.

10. Does Dr. Rank die in A Doll’s house?

Dr. Rank suffers from a terminal illness called consumption of the spine which he inherited from his father. (pg. 53)

He tells Nora that he will send her a card, when he’s dying “I shall send you a card with a black cross on it and then you will know that a loathsome end has begun" (pg. 34) 

He sends the card. Torvald says it as if he is announcing his own death “there is a black cross over the name. It looks as if he were announcing his own death” (pg. 101)