In “A Doll’s House,” by Henrik Ibsen, Nora comes to realize she has a challenge that must be faced; she has allowed a lie to come between her, and her husband, Torvald. Nora illegally borrows money so that she could pay for a trip that was needed to save Torvald’s life. The loan was being repaid by Nora, but by working and saving behind her husband’s back. Nora shares this secret to an old friend Mrs. Linde, who cannot understand why Nora would keep such a secret from her husband, and tries to persuade Nora to tell Torvald the truth. Nora feels that a secret kept is better than the consequences of a secret known, that to say anything would just upset Torvald, “he would be ashamed and humiliated if he thought he owed me anything, our happy home and relationship would be over” (Ibsen 555). Nora has no remorse about forging her father’s name to the loan, and believes the right choice was made, because of her love for Torvald.
Nora’s secret is at risk of being exposed when Krogstad tells her that he knows she has forged the loan, and uses this to bribe her so she will help him keep his job at the bank. Krogstad tells Nora that if he loses his position at the bank he will reveal everything to Torvald, and their