A Doll's House Men and Masculinity Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Act.Line) Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue.

Quote #1

NORA: "How painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald, with his manly independence, to know that he owed me anything!" (1.197)

By rescuing her husband, Nora has emasculated him, at least by the standards of the society they live in.

Quote #2

NORA: "Many a time I was at my wits' end […] I used to sit here and imagine that a rich old gentleman had fallen in love with me […] that he had died; and that when his will was opened it contained […] the instruction: "The lovely Mrs. Nora Helmer is to have all I possess paid over to her at once in cash." (1.205-1.207)

Even in Nora's dreams, it's a man who saves her.

Quote #3

NORA: "Christine is […] is frightfully anxious to work under some clever man, so as to perfect herself." (1.282)

Nora cleverly manipulates Torvald by taking advantage of his stereotypical views of man/woman relations.