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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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HELMER I would gladly work for you day and night, Nora-bear sorrow and want for your sake. But no man sacrifices his honour, even for one he loves. NORA Millions of women have done so. HELMER Oh, you think and talk like a silly child. NORA Very likely. But you neither think nor talk like the man I can share my life with. When your terror was over-not for what threatened me, but for yourself-when there was nothing more to fear-then it seemed to you as though nothing had happened. I was your lark again, your doll, just as before-whom you would take twice as much care of in future, because she was so weak and fragile. [Stands up.] Torvald-in that moment it burst upon me that I had been living here these eight years with a strange man, and had borne him three children.- Oh, I can’t bear to think of it! I could tear myself to pieces! HELMER [Sadly.] I see it, I see it; an abyss has opened between us.- But, Nora, can it never be filled up? NORA As I now am, I am no wife for you. HELMER I have strength to become another man. NORA Perhaps-when your doll is taken away from you. HELMER To part-to part from you! No, Nora, no; I can’t grasp the thought. NORA [Going into room on the right.] The more reason for the thing to happen. [She comes back with out-door things and a small travelling-bag, which she places on a chair. HELMER Nora, Nora, not now! Wait till to-morrow. NORA [Putting on cloak.] I can’t spend the night in a strange man’s house. HELMER But can we not live here, as brother and sister-? NORA [Fastening her hat.] You know very well that wouldn’t last long. [Puts on the shawl.] Good-bye, Torvald. No. I won’t go to the children. I know they are in better hands than mine. As I now am, I can be nothing to them. HELMER But some time, Nora-some time-? NORA How can I tell? I have no idea what will become of me. HELMER But you are my wife, now and always! NORA Listen, Torvald-when a wife leaves her husband’s house, as I am doing, I have heard that in the eyes of the law he is free from all duties towards her. At any rate, I release you from all duties. You must not feel yourself bound, any more than I shall. There must be perfect freedom on both sides. There, I give you back your ring. Give me mine. HELMER That too? NORA That too. |
