Question 4 • CMS 2026-2027 English II CREDIT RECOVERY
Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll’s House. Nora: Maybe. But you neither think nor talk like the man I could bind myself to. As soon as your fear was over—and it was not fear for what threatened me, but for what might happen to you—when the whole thing was past, as far as you were concerned it was exactly as if nothing at all had happened. Exactly as before, I was your little skylark, your doll, which you would in future treat with doubly gentle care, because it was so brittle and fragile. [Getting up.] Torvald—it was then it dawned upon me that for eight years I had been living here with a strange man, and had borne him three children—. Oh, I can't bear to think of it! I could tear myself into little bits! How does the passage demonstrate a view that was commonly held during the 1800s?
Answer
A
In the 1800s, women were expected to be submissive to men, and Nora is discovering that Helmer has taken advantage of that.
B
In the 1800s, women were supposed to be dependent, so when Nora claims independence, Helmer responds by acting strangely.
C
In the 1800s, men were supposed to do everything in their power to please their wives and families, and Helmer has failed at that.
D
In the 1800s, women and men were expected to share the burden of raising children, and Helmer does not share the burden equally.
Explanation
Nora describes herself as Torvald’s “little skylark” and “doll,” suggesting he has treated her as someone to control and protect rather than as an equal partner. She realizes that when the crisis passed, Torvald’s concern was for what might happen to him, not for her. This illustrates the 1800s expectation that women be submissive to men, and Nora’s recognition that Helmer has taken advantage of that role.
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