Bollocks Essay Research Paper Act II is

Bollocks Essay, Research Paper

Act II is largely a continuation of themes and character development

that were introduced in the first act: Helmer’s preoccupation with beauty in

the household continues to be prevalent in Act II. Nora says “Yes, Torvald

knows how to make it nice and pretty around here.” Nora seems to have

been raised in a setting that valued appearance and beauty as well. Mrs.

Linde comments that Nora also knows how to make things “nice and

pretty” undoubtedly, because she is “her father’s daughter.” As for Helmer,

Nora says that “Torvald can’t stand having sewing around.” This is probably

because he likes the idea and the appearance of a carefree wife who does

not have to work, but is mostly a showpiece.

Nora herself uses Helmer’s pet names for herself when she is trying

to get something out of him, because she knows he likes it. Her own speech

shows how part of her wifely duties seems to be putting on a cute show:

“Squirrel would run around and do all sorts of fun tricks if you’d be nice and

agreeable . . . Lark would chirp and twitter in all the rooms, up and down .

. . I’ll be your elfmaid and dance for you in the moonlight, Torvald.”

The idea of moral corruption being transferred to the children of the

morally decrepit is carried on in Act II as well. While in Act I, Helmer tells

of the phenomenon of young criminals being the result of a household full of

lies, in Act II Nora explains Rank’s poor health by saying that his father was

adulterous.

Nora continues to demonstrate her perception of gender roles in

Act II. Referring to the money-borrowing business, she says “A man

manages these things so much better than a woman.” Helmer adds to the

idea of a subservient wife when he teases Nora by ridiculing the idea that a

woman has a right to choose whether or not to obey her husband. Helmer’s

delight in Nora’s dependence on him is also shown when he uses “you

helpless little thing” and “the child” almost as terms of endearment.

The theme of a woman’s influence over her husband is also

continued in Act II. Helmer is worried about what people will think of him if

they believe that his wife influenced his business decisions. He says that this

would make him look ridiculous before his entire staff.

In Act II, “the wonderful” is introduced. Nora uses this term to

describe what will happen when Helmer finds out what she has done. The

meaning of this is explained in Act III.

Act III begins with Krogstad and Mrs. Linde in the Helmers’ house.

The audience learns that Mrs. Linde broke off romantic relations with

Krogstad in order to marry her husband, who was better off financially.

Mrs. Linde says that she felt she had to do this for the sake of her brothers

and mother. She now sees now that she was wrong to ignore her heart,

which told her to stay with Krogstad. She says that she wants to get back

together with him and to take care of him and his children. She indicates

that this is why she came to town in the first place. She admits that her

original reason for talking with Krogstad that night was to help Nora, but

she says that she realizes that “you may sell yourself once for somebody

else’s sake, but you don’t do it twice.” Krogstad says he will wait for Mrs.

Linde downstairs and walk her home.

Nora and Helmer come in the door, Nora resisting and saying that

she wants to go back to the party. Mrs. Linde secretly tells Nora that after

talking to Krogstad she realizes that Nora must tell Helmer everything. Mrs.

Linde leaves and Helmer makes a rude comment about her after she leaves.

Helmer begins to make sexual advances towards Nora and she tries to stop

him. Rank knocks on the door. Nora and Rank have a private conversation

which Helmer does not participate in, about the experiment that Rank was

to do on himself. He says that the result is “certainty.” Rank leaves. Helmer

goes to get the mail and notices that someone has been tampering with the

lock using one of Nora’s hairpins. Nora blames it on the children. In the

mail, Helmer finds that Rank has left two calling cards with black crosses

on them. Nora explains to Helmer that this means he has gone away to die.

Then she encourages Helmer to read his letters.

He goes into the other room and Nora paces for a while. She puts

on Helmer’s cloak and her shawl on her head. She is saying her goodbyes

when Helmer comes out of the study in a rage. So begins the climax of the

play. She tries to get out but he will not let her. She confesses to loving him

more than anything and he accuses her of making silly excuses. Helmer

bemoans the ugliness of the business of borrowing from Krogstad and the

forgery, and is extremely upset that his wife is a hypocrite and criminal. He

cannot fathom how she could do such a thing to him. He says that they will

have to pretend to go

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