Ibsen: A Doll House Act 3
Helmer: You no longer love me.
Nora: No. That's exactly it.
Helmer: Nora! You can't be serious!
Nora: But I can't help it. I don't love you anymore.
Helmer: Are you also clearheaded and sure about that?
Nora: Yes, completely. That's why I can't go on staying here.
Helmer: Can you tell me what I did to lose your love?
Nora: Yes, I can tell you. It was this evening when the miraculous thing didn't come - then I knew you weren't the man I imagined.
Helmer: Be more explicit; I don't follow you.
Nora: I've waited now so patiently for eight long years - for, my Lord, I know miracles don't come every day. Then this crisis broke over me, and such a certainty filled me: now the miraculous event would occur. While Krogstad's letter was lying out there, I never for an instant believed you could give in to his terms. I was so utterly sure you'd say to him: go on, tell your tale to the whole wide world. And when he'd done that -
Helmer: Yes, what then? When I'd delivered my own wife into shame and disgrace - !
Nora: When he'd done that, I was so utterly sure that you'd step forward, take the blame on yourself and say: I am the guilty one.
Helmer: Nora - !
Nora: You're thinking I'd never accept such a sacrifice from you? No, of course not. But what good would my protests be against you? That was the miracle I was waiting for, in terror and hope. And to stave that off, I would have taken my life.
Helmer: There's no one who gives up honor for love.
Nora: Millions of women have done just that.
Helmer: Oh, you think and talk like a silly child.
Nora: Perhaps. But you neither think nor talk like the man I could join myself to. When your big fright was over - and it wasn't from any threat against me, only for what might damage you - when all the danger was past, for you it was just as if nothing had happened. I was exactly the same, your little doll, that you'd have to handle with double care now that I'd turned out so brittle and frail. (Gets up). Torvald - in that instant it dawned on me that for eight years I've been living here with a stranger, and that I'd even conceived three children - oh I can't stand the thought of it! I could tear myself into bits.
Helmer: You no longer love me.
Nora: No. That's exactly it.
Helmer: Nora! You can't be serious!
Nora: But I can't help it. I don't love you anymore.
Helmer: Are you also clearheaded and sure about that?
Nora: Yes, completely. That's why I can't go on staying here.
Helmer: Can you tell me what I did to lose your love?
Nora: Yes, I can tell you. It was this evening when the miraculous thing didn't come - then I knew you weren't the man I imagined.
Helmer: Be more explicit; I don't follow you.
Nora: I've waited now so patiently for eight long years - for, my Lord, I know miracles don't come every day. Then this crisis broke over me, and such a certainty filled me: now the miraculous event would occur. While Krogstad's letter was lying out there, I never for an instant believed you could give in to his terms. I was so utterly sure you'd say to him: go on, tell your tale to the whole wide world. And when he'd done that -
Helmer: Yes, what then? When I'd delivered my own wife into shame and disgrace - !
Nora: When he'd done that, I was so utterly sure that you'd step forward, take the blame on yourself and say: I am the guilty one.
Helmer: Nora - !
Nora: You're thinking I'd never accept such a sacrifice from you? No, of course not. But what good would my protests be against you? That was the miracle I was waiting for, in terror and hope. And to stave that off, I would have taken my life.
Helmer: There's no one who gives up honor for love.
Nora: Millions of women have done just that.
Helmer: Oh, you think and talk like a silly child.
Nora: Perhaps. But you neither think nor talk like the man I could join myself to. When your big fright was over - and it wasn't from any threat against me, only for what might damage you - when all the danger was past, for you it was just as if nothing had happened. I was exactly the same, your little doll, that you'd have to handle with double care now that I'd turned out so brittle and frail. (Gets up). Torvald - in that instant it dawned on me that for eight years I've been living here with a stranger, and that I'd even conceived three children - oh I can't stand the thought of it! I could tear myself into bits.
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
Helmer: You no longer love me.
Sucks.
Hello.