DH3.Questions+11-15

11. What does Doctor Rank mean when he says he will be invisible at the next ball? Doctor Rank means that his appearance will be limited in the ball. He will be there, but yet he will not announce his physical status publically. Although his relationship with Helmer can be seen as ‘best friends’ in the beginning of the play, their actual ‘closeness’ can be debated as his news was only told to Nora. He wants only her to know as he is the only thing that he cares about.

12. When Nora and Helmer are discussing Doctor Rank’s impending death, what is the significance of Nora’s comments “If it has to happen, it is best it should be without a word—don’t you think so, Torvald?” Nora’s comments also apply to the forgery she committed – she had to have money from somewhere, and thus borrowed it without letting Torvald know, and they also refer to a previous conversation between Nora and Korgstad about the thought of suicide she one had, in order to avoid any problems associated with the crime she committed. By asking for Torvald’s opinion on this comment, Nora anticipates his possible reactions when he learns about her crime.

13. What literary device is Ibsen using when he has Helmer say, “Do you know, Nora, I have often wished that you might be threatened by some great danger, so that I might risk my life’s blood, and everything, for your sake” ?

14. What is symbolic about the key to the letter box? The key represents the portal/path to cross the void of misunderstanding between Nora and Helmer. It grants Helmer access to Krogstad's letter about Nora's forgery and debt. It can also be seen as a symbol of ownership and control for Helmer. He he owns the key and controls whether or not the letter is read.

15. Why does Nora want Helmer to read his letters? Nora wants to use the time Helmer is reading his letters to leave and house and "Never to see him again".

DH3.Questions 16-20