Question

nora: breathlessly. torvald—what was that letter?
helmer: krogstad’s dismissal.
nora: call her back, torvald! there is still time. oh torvald, call her back! do it for my sake—for your own sake—for the children’s sake! do you hear me, torvald? call her back! you don’t know what that letter can bring upon us.
helmer: it’s too late.
nora: yes, it’s too late.
—a doll’s house, henrik ibsen
which statement best describes how the interaction between nora and helmer develops the plot?
○ the letter is a symbol for the couple’s incompatible relationship.
○ the couple is always in conflict, which will continue throughout the play.
○ the couple has reached a point where the conflict has become more complicated.
○ the couple will need to come to an agreement about krogstad, as things cannot get any worse.

Explanation:

• Analyze Option 1: The letter here is about Krogstad’s dismissal, not a symbol of their relationship incompatibility. Eliminate.
• Analyze Option 2: The dialogue shows a specific conflict about the letter, not that they are always in conflict. Eliminate.
• Analyze Option 3: Nora is desperate to call back regarding the letter (Krogstad’s dismissal), and Helmer says it’s too late. This implies the conflict (related to the letter’s consequences) has become more complicated as the chance to reverse the action is lost.
• Analyze Option 4: The line “it’s too late” and Nora’s fear of what the letter brings suggest things can get worse, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

The couple has reached a point where the conflict has become more complicated.