How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Act.Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue. We used William Archer's translation.
Quote #4
MRS. ALVING. That has been my ceaseless struggle, day after day. After Oswald's birth, I thought Alving seemed to be a little better. But it did not last long. And then I had to struggle twice as hard, fighting as though for life or death, so that nobody should know what sort of man my child's father was. (1.399)
Mrs. Alving wrote lying letters to her son, describing his father as a hero. She worked hard on the estate and gave Captain Alving all the credit. She took care of the Captain's illegitimate child. It must have been exhausting to keep up such a juggernaut of lies.
Quote #5
MRS. ALVING. It always seemed to me impossible but that the truth must come out and be believed. So the Orphanage was to deaden all rumours and set every doubt at rest. (1.417)
Mrs. Alving wants a break. If she gets the orphanage up and running, Captain Alving will be remembered as a noble benefactor. She won't have to work so hard to make him look good, in order to protect Oswald.
Quote #6
MRS. ALVING. [Drumming on the window frame.] I ought never to have concealed the facts of Alving's life. But at that time I dared not do anything else-I was afraid, partly on my own account. I was such a coward. (2.46)
Mrs. Alving takes the blame for deceiving her son. In calling herself a coward, she seems to admit that her motives for protecting Alving's reputation weren't completely pure and self-sacrificing.