(the door.)

A Doll's House monologues, printed in full

Nora's last scene is the most requested modern classical piece for women, and it is here whole, along with everything leading up to it: Helmer's fifteen speeches, Krogstad's three. The translation is public domain, so every speech prints in full.

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1
Nora Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · dramatic · 1:03 min
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…
2
Nora Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · dramatic · 1:46 min
Yes--someday, perhaps, after many years, when I am no longer as nice-looking as I am now. Don't laugh at me! I mean, of course, when Torvald is no longer as devoted to me as he is…
3
Torvald Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · dramatic · 2:01 min
No fine speeches, please. Your father had always plenty of those ready, too. What good would it be to me if you were out of the way, as you say? Not the slightest. He can make the…
4
Nora from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · joyful · 0:54 min
Yes, tremendous! A barrister’s profession is such an uncertain thing, especially if he won’t undertake unsavoury cases; and naturally Torvald has never been willing to do that,…
5
Nora from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · anguished · 1:25 min
But it was absolutely necessary that he should not know! My goodness, can’t you understand that? It was necessary he should have no idea what a dangerous condition he was in. It…
6
Nora from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · joyful · 1:22 min
Good gracious, can’t you understand? There was no old gentleman at all; it was only something that I used to sit here and imagine, when I couldn’t think of any way of procuring…
7
Nora from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · joyful · 1:02 min
How fresh and well you look! Such red cheeks like apples and roses. Have you had great fun? That’s splendid! What, you pulled both Emmy and Bob along on the sledge? —both at…
8
Krogstad from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · anguished · 0:51 min
The matter never came into court; but every way seemed to be closed to me after that. So I took to the business that you know of. I had to do something; and, honestly, I don’t…
9
Krogstad from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · dramatic · 1:07 min
Your father died on the 29th of September. But, look here; your father has dated his signature the 2nd of October. It is a discrepancy, isn’t it? __ Can you explain it to me? __…
10
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · anguished · 0:58 min
And I hear he is a good worker, too. But I knew him when we were boys. It was one of those rash friendships that so often prove an incubus in afterlife. I may as well tell you…
11
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · defiant · 0:52 min
My dear Nora, I can forgive the anxiety you are in, although really it is an insult to me. It is, indeed. Isn’t it an insult to think that I should be afraid of a starving…
12
Krogstad from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · defiant · 0:52 min
I will tell you. I want to rehabilitate myself, Mrs Helmer; I want to get on; and in that your husband must help me. For the last year and a half I have not had a hand in anything…
13
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · anguished · 0:54 min
No fine speeches, please. Your father had always plenty of those ready, too. What good would it be to me if you were out of the way, as you say? Not the slightest. He can make the…
14
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · anguished · 1:18 min
It is so incredible that I can’t take it in. But we must come to some understanding. Take off that shawl. Take it off, I tell you. I must try and appease him some way or another.…
15
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · joyful · 0:57 min
You too, of course; we are both saved, both you and I. Look, he sends you your bond back. He says he regrets and repents—that a happy change in his life—never mind what he says!…
16
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · joyful · 0:55 min
And suffered agonies, and seen no way out but—. No, we won’t call any of the horrors to mind. We will only shout with joy, and keep saying, “It’s all over! It’s all over!” Listen…
17
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · dramatic · 1:01 min
You have loved me as a wife ought to love her husband. Only you had not sufficient knowledge to judge of the means you used. But do you suppose you are any the less dear to me,…
18
Nora from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · anguished · 0:57 min
(undisturbed). I mean that I was simply transferred from papa’s hands into yours. You arranged everything according to your own taste, and so I got the same tastes as you—or else…
19
Nora from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · anguished · 1:05 min
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…
20
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · defiant · 1:02 min
It seems most commonly to be the mother’s influence, though naturally a bad father’s would have the same result. Every lawyer is familiar with the fact. This Krogstad, now, has…
21
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · comedic · 1:21 min
Listen to her, Mrs Linde! She had danced her Tarantella, and it had been a tremendous success, as it deserved—although possibly the performance was a trifle too realistic—a little…
22
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · romantic · 0:55 min
. He had so grown into our lives. I can’t think of him as having gone out of them. He, with his sufferings and his loneliness, was like a cloudy background to our sunlit…
23
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · anguished · 1:02 min
(walking about the room). What a horrible awakening! All these eight years—she who was my joy and pride—a hypocrite, a liar—worse, worse—a criminal! The unutterable ugliness of it…
24
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · romantic · 2:18 min
. Yes, do. Try and calm yourself, and make your mind easy again, my frightened little singing-bird. Be at rest, and feel secure; I have broad wings to shelter you under. How warm…
25
Nora from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · anguished · 1:04 min
That isn't the reason, Torvald. It is for your own sake. This fellow writes in the most scurrilous newspapers; you have told me so yourself. He can do you an unspeakable amount of…
26
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · anguished · 3:13 min
No tragedy airs, please. ((Locks the hall door.)) Here you shall stay and give me an explanation. Do you understand what you have done? Answer me? Do you understand what you have…
27
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · joyful · 3:14 min
You too, of course; we are both saved, both saved, both you and I. Look, he sends you your bond back. He says he regrets and repents--that a happy change in his life--never mind…
28
Helmer from A Doll's House
Henrik Ibsen · play · romantic · 2:42 min
No, don't go--. ((Looks in.)) What are you doing in there? Nora (from within). Taking off my fancy dress. Helmer (standing at the open door). Yes, do. Try and calm yourself, and…

Length is estimated at a spoken pace of about 150 words a minute. Public-domain pieces are printed in full on their own page; copyrighted ones list the character and the source.

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