A Doll's House – Act 2
Page 975
Objective
Students will analyze the difference
between social norms and social
injustice in Act 2 of A Doll's House
in order to formulate a selection
summary.
Nora and Anne-Marie

46:09 - 50:05
Relevancy

We have discussed how Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's
House is a modern realistic drama. However, we
have already started discussing how some of the
situations, especially gender roles, in Act 1 are not
comparable to how we live today. Keeping in mind
the historical context (moods, attitudes, and
conditions of a certain time period), when discussing
the treatment of characters, where do we draw the
line between social norms and social injustice?
When making these implications, we will find that
the line is still very blurred in our society today.
Vocabulary
First, repeat after me: Social Norm, Social Injustice


Social Norm – an expected form of behavior in a
given situation
Social Injustice – the unfair treatment of a group of
people based on their view of humanity
1. Would domestic violence during the late nineteenth
century be considered a social norm or social
injustice?
2. Would women not being allowed to work typical
male jobs in today's society be considered a social
norm or social injustice?
Vocabulary

Pair Share – say the terms social norm and social
injustice in the following sentence stem:
An example of a social norm in today's society would
be _______________________________, whereas a
social injustice would be _________________
________________.
Reading Skill / Formative
1. Nora having to hide from Torvald that she had a
copying job is an example of social injustice.
2. Torvald referring to Nora as a helpless child is an
example of social norm.
3. Torvald taking control of the household money is an
example of a social injustice.
4. Nora borrowing a bank loan is an example of a
social norm.
5. Nora staying home with her children is an example
of a social norm.
Choral Reading

You have each received a card with one of the
following characters:
Nora
Anne-Marie
Mrs. Linde (Kristine)
Helmer (Torvald)


Together, those of you who have the same character
will be reading aloud that character's lines.
Be on the look out for any examples of social norms
and social injustice as we begin today's reading.
Selection Summary 1 – Act 2
pages 975 - 977

What is Nora's relationship with her children?

Describe Anne-Marie's relationship with her daughter.


Do these relationships apply to the terms social norm or
social injustice? Explain your reasoning.
Nora has had no contact with her children since she began
feeling she would morally corrupt them. Anne-Marie put
her daughter up for adoption because she had no money and
had to take work full time as a nanny for Nora. It is social
injustice to imply that only Nora's actions will directly affect
her children. However, it was a social norm for single
mothers to have to give up their children to find work.
Selection Summary 2 – Act 2
pages 978 - 980

What does Mrs. Linde do for Nora?

What does Nora suggest about Torvald's personality?


What is Nora hiding from Mrs. Linde? Does Mrs. Linde
suspect anything?
Mrs. Linde is sewing Nora's dress for the tarantella dance.
Nora suggests that her husband is extremely territorial and
will get jealous if Nora speaks to even a friend, such as
Kristine. Nora is hiding that Krogstad plans to blackmail
her by revealing the forged bank loan to Torvald. Mrs.
Linde definitely suspects something and may still believe it
has to with Dr. Rank.
Selection Summary 3 – Act 2
pages 981 - 983

What decision of Torvald's does Nora try to challenge?

How does Torvald handle Nora's request?

What is Torvald's reasoning for his actions?

Nora is trying to convince Torvald not to fire Krogstad.
Torvald is angered that Nora would try to persuade and
undermine him. Torvald decides he is still going to fire
Krogstad because he cannot let his employees think he is
indecisive or easily manipulated by his wife. Also, he does
not like the fact that Krogstad addresses him by his first
name. He feels that is very disrespectful for an employee to
address his boss in such a manner.