Assignment On The Christmas Tree

Task 1
1. (a) In act 2, the Christmas tree acts as a tool to depict time lapse in the play. When we
compare this tree with the Christmas tree which was depicted in Act one, we find that
tree in the second act depicts the chaotic mindset of Nora. The decoration on the tree
shows that she is heading towards pessimism and things are out of control for her.
(b) The Christmas tree in the second act of the play is indicating towards a disaster that is
on the cards for Nora. It symbolizes the cyclic nature of the events that are taking place in
the life of Nora, during the act 2, Nora passes through a phase where she first realizes that
she is weak enough to commit suicide and strong enough to enjoy few moments amidst
the crisis that she is into. The Christmas tree foreshadows the uncertainties in the life of
Nora, it symbolizes that life is full of uncertainties but the festivity makes it worth living.
2. Kristine was under the suspicion that Dr. Rank has given a loan to Nora. She was suspicious
that since Dr. Rank is a good friend of Nora and visits her regularly, it is a possibility that Nora
might have asked for a friendly loan from him because he is a “man of means.”
3. The second act of the play is full of instances where Nora tries to hide the letter written by
Krogstad from her husband, she takes the support of Dr. Rank and Kristine in the task. Nora’s
desperation to distract Mr. Helmer can be seen in her dance when Mr. Helmer remarks that Nora
is dancing in such a way as if her entire life is dependent on it. Finally, Nora forbade Helmer to
open the mailbox because she doesn’t want anything horrid to come between them. The last part
of the second act signifies a game of hiding and seeks between two lovers, the husband is
anticipating a pleasant surprise whereas the wife is trying to save him from an unpleasant
revelation.

4. In act 2 of the play, we discover that Dr. Rank is suffering from tuberculosis and it can
become precarious for him. He also confesses that he is in one-sided love with Nora. We also
discover his love for seafood and his desire to be remembered as a noble and healthy man rather
than an ill man struggling with life. This act explains the simplicity of this character, his love for
Nora is complex because he is in love with a married woman. However, his expression of love is
simple and honest. At points, it also looks as if he has become a victim of the flirtatious
advances of Nora.
5.
Character Evaluation with the relationship with Nora Textual Evidence
Torvald Helmer He is protective of Nora and shares a love
bond with her where paternalistic feelings
guide him. However, he is aware of the fact
that sometimes Nora can hide a few facts
from him because deep down she is
insecure and sometimes she can act
childishly. He is aware that Nora has a
secretive side attached to her but she is a
noble soul and she doesn’t believe in paying
serious harm to anyone.
The paternalistic feelings of
Helmer can be witnessed in
the last dialogue of act 2 when
Helmer says “Where is my
little skylark.”
Helmer is aware of the
secretive nature of Nora, it can
be seen in the dialogue where
he says
“You are dancing as if your
life is dependent on it.” The
dialogue is ambiguous, apart
from appreciating the dance
moves, Helmer also indicates

towards the fact that he is
aware that Nora is trying to
hide something from him.
Dr. Rank Nora shares a flirtatious but platonic
relationship with him. She acknowledges
his love for her and respects his feelings
from the core of her heart. Dr. Rank is
happy with this status of being a “one-sided
lover” of Nora and admires her
Nora says “ I shall dance and
you can imagine, I am doing it
all for you .” This statement
shows that Nora shares a
flirtatious relationship with
Dr. Rank, after saying these
lines she shows him the silk
stockings that she is going to
wear, it also testifies the
flirtatious attitude of Nora
towards Dr. Rank, sometimes
Nora wants to act as a
temptress with him.
When Dr. Rank says “To have
loved you as much as anyone
else.” He confesses and
reaffirms his love for Nora.
When Dr. Rank offers his help

and says “ at all events you
know now that you can
command me, body and soul.”
He shows that he is happy
with this status of being a
“one-sided lover.”
Nils Krogstad The relationship between Krogstad and
Nora can be compared with the relationship
between a blackmailer and a victim.
Krogstad only treats her as a victim and
consider her as a weak lady with low self-
esteem.
When Krosgad says “ I have a
letter for your husband in my
pocket” he shows the signs of
a blackmailer, although he is
not asking for anything in
return, still his conduct shows
that he treats her as a victim.
When Krosgard says “you
hadn’t the courage either?” He
refers to the weaknesses of
Nora and indicates that she
suffers from low esteem that
can force her to commit
suicide.

Task
Least Morally Offensive
Character
Justification Evidence
Torvald Torvald is aware of the fact
that Nora is trying to hide
something horrid in nature.
Still, he trusts her and takes it
in good sport. His intentions
are clear, he wants to address
the better side of the issues.
Apart from it, he is under debt
and ready to pay his debt,
instead of some opportunities
that can safeguard him.
When he says “The child shall
have her ways,” he gives a
testimony that he is
considerate about the
happiness of his wife and
sometimes he can overlook a
few things, just to keep her
happy.
Krogstad Krogstad is not vicious, he
keeps his promises and he is
very much worried about his
reputation which forces him to
follow moral conduct, even
when he wants to see others in
trouble.
He says “ I have not had a
hand in anything dishonorable,
amid all that time I have been
struggling in most restricted
circumstances.” This
statement proves that he wants
to keep his moral record clear
and this is why he is avoiding
a few situations.

Kristen Kristine suggests that Nora
should try to get the advantage
of Dr. Rank in sorting out the
financial trouble that she is
facing. By doing this act she
somehow shows a morally
wrong path to Nora.
When Kristine says that Dr.
Rank is a man of means, it
shows a manipulative side
attached to this character. It
also shows that she can
compromise the morals for a
certain type of worldly gains.
Nora Nora flirts with Dr. Rank and
tries to tease him quite often.
However, when she gets an
opportunity to earn some gains
from him, she decides against
it because she doesn’t want to
cheat a good man like him.
When she says that “you are a
nice sort of man” she
acknowledges his novelty and
refuses his help on moral
grounds.
Dr. Rank Dr. Rank is in love with Nora,
he understands the fact that
she is a married woman, this is
why he hides his feelings from
her. Although he offers help to
her during the period of
Dr. Rank loves Nora;
however, he never crossed his
limits and never promoted
conduct where he said that she
should deceive his husband.

distress he never tries to take
advantage of the situation.
Scrambles Unscramble Word Text Specific Sentence
OLFRIYVIT Frivolity The marital arrangement
between Mr. Helmer was
based on Frivolity, Mr.
Helmer never allowed her to
interfere in his serious matters.
ECTINOUSFI SEDIEAS Infectious Disease Dr. Rank was suffering from
tuberculosis. It is an
infectious disease.
MAPRTICAG Pragmatic Krogstad acted as a pragmatic
person his ambitions of
occupying the post of Mr.
Helmer are evidence of it.
OREPW Power Dr. Rank never misused the
power of money and status to
influence Nora. He always
pleaded for love.
RGRYFEO Forgery Helmer could have become a
culprit of forgery in case of his
inability to pay the sum to the

competent authorities.
CECRSAIFI Sacrifice Nora was ready to sacrifice
everything because she was in
love with Helmer.
LMECOEANTNC Concealment The secretive nature of Nora
forced her to practice
concealment while dealing
with Mr. Helmer, however,
her intentions were pure, she
was doing it because she was
not ready to hurt Helmer.
IAMRARGE Marriage The bond of Marriage between
Nora and Mr. Helmer was
thriving on a bond which was
based on paternalistic love of
Mr. Helmer
RANO Nora Nora is the protagonist of the
play “A Doll’s House.”
NEOY M Money The debt on Mr. Helmer forms
the crux of this story because
the activities of the character
and the plot points revolve
around it.

TPE SMNAE Pet Names Mr. Helmer uses to call Nora
with various pet names to
express his love towards her.
ACBLKILMA Blackmail Krogstad tried to blackmail
Nora by divulging her secret
to Mr. Helmer.
LODL FOMIT Doll Motif The doll in the play Dollhouse
acts as a motif of the character
of Nora.
Love Letter
Norway, April 15, 2020,
Dear Torvald,
When they say love is all about sharing a life, they refer to thick and thin times of life. Your
pretty Skylark is thankful for all the moments of happiness that you filled in my life. “Love is a
powerful bond between a male and female where they decide to share the happiness and sorrows
of life. Sometimes I feel that your presence in my life gives me a feeling that I am protected.
However, sometimes I feel that your presence in my life is overshadowing my existence and
personality.

My life indeed revolves around you and I don’t find anything wrong in it, you are a gentleman
and most importantly you care for me a lot. However, sometimes I feel that Nora should have an
independent personality, a personality that can act as an extension to your personality.
Let me confess this in front of you, I am blessed to have you in my life. The rest of the world
looks at us as a family unit, however, I want to change it, I want an identity of my own. I am
yours, there is no doubt about that, however, I am a living person and I have strong reasons to
come out of the shadows of this name Mrs. Helmer.
I don’t know, how you will react to it, as far as I know, your basic nature, you will call it a
progressive move on my part. Your Sky Lark wants to fly in the sky, it never means that she
wants a liberation, she only wants to explore the sky so that she can support you in this tough
world. I am indeed hiding a few things from you; however, I am sure that the bond of the trust is
strong enough to accommodate these petty secrets. So keep guessing about the new surprise that
I am going to offer you.
Your Sky Lark Bird Nora