Guide Note

A Doll's House is an 1879 play by Norwegian writer Henrik Ibsen.

Fast Facts

1. Writer: Henrik Ibsen
2. Premiere Date: 1879
3. Adaptations: Numerous films (1918-1992)
4. Often credited as the first feminist play
5. The ambiguous ending was considered scandalous
6. A 19th Century German actress refused to play Nora unless Ibsen changed the ending; he did, but regretted it later

Nora, wife to promoted banker Torvald Helmer, once forged her late father's signature to help pay off her debts. The banker who lent her the money, Nils Krogstad, is close to losing his job. Desperate, he reveals his knowledge of the forgery to Nora, threatening to go to Torvald with the proof unless she can convince Torvald to keep him employed.

Despite of Nora's efforts, Torvald fires Nils, who mails a letter to Torvald revealing Nora's crime. Contemplating suicide, Nora tries to keep Torvald from reading them, but fails. Torvald harshly criticizes Nora as a wife and mother, but is later informed that Nils had a change of heart and returned the forged papers.

Torvald asks for Nora's forgiveness as he destroys the documents, but Nora chooses to abandon her family.

• Nora Helmer - Main character
• Torvald Helmer - Nora's husband
• Dr. Rank - Family friend secretly in love with Nora
• Christine Linde - Nora's friend
• Nils Krogstad - Employee at Torvald's bank