DH2.Questions+11-15

11. What errand does Helmer give to Helen, the maid? Helmer asks the maid Helen to deliver Krogstad's unemployment notice, giving her some money to ensure quick and reliable delivery.

12. What assurances does Helmer give Nora when she is horrified about the firing? After Nora's nervous reaction, Helmer "forgive[s] the anxiety you (Nora) are in" and assures Nora by asserting his courage and manliness ("I shall have both courage and strength if they be needed. You will see I am man enough to take everything upon myself"). He proceeds to comfort her through physical contact (//Takes her in his arms, Caressing her//), calling her immature names ("these frightened dove's eyes") and suggesting absurd activities for her to do ("you must go and play through the Tarantella and practice with your tambourine"); Helmer basically doll-ifies Nora.

13. What news does Doctor Rank reveal about himself?

Dr. Rank reveals that he is suffering from a spinal illness and his love for Nora. He tells Nora because he knows his time of death is nearing and tells her that he will signal to her when he will die with a black cross. He also asks her to keep Torvald away because of his disgust towards the "ugly", which suggests a superficial side of Torvald. The abruptness of Dr. Rank confiding in Nora about his situation implies the idea of a formal ending, where Dr. Rank uses the black cross as a symbol and his confession of love towards Nora to represent his formal ending of life, leaving it without any regrets.

14. What is Doctor Rank’s confession to Nora, and how does it change the dynamics among the characters?

Doctor Rank confesses to Nora that he had always had a crush on her, and that wished many times it was him rather than Torvald who was married to Nora. Before this confession Nora treated Dr. Rank as an extremely close friend, and was very attached to him, often telling him whats on her mind and chatting with him about sensitive matters. After she found out about Dr. Ranks feelings she became more conservative around him, and was careful with what she said. Overall they were still good friends but not as close as they once were.

15. What does Krogstad propose? Krogstad proposes that the conflict between Nora, Torvald, and himself can be resolved if Torvald could promote him to a higher position in the bank. Though Nora noted that she would rather die than let Torvald learn of the truth, Krogstad reminds her that even if she dies, her reputation is in his hands.