_Nora_ is the beloved, adored wife of _Torvald Helmer_. He is an admirable man, rigidly honest, of high moral ideals, and passionately devoted to his wife and children. In short, a good man and an enviable husband. Almost every mother would be proud of such a match for her daughter, and the latter would consider herself fortunate to become the wife of such a man. _Nora_, too, considers herself fortunate. Indeed, she worships her husband, believes in him implicitly, and is sure that if ever her safety should be menaced, _Torvald_, her idol, her god, would perform the miracle. When a woman loves as _Nora_ does, nothing else matters; least of all, social, legal or moral considerations. Therefore, when her husband's life is threatened, it is no effort, it is joy for _Nora_ to forge her father's name to a note and borrow 800 cronen on it, in order to take her sick husband to Italy. In her eagerness to serve her husband, and in perfect innocence of the legal aspect of her act, she does not give the matter much thought, except for her anxiety to shield him from any emergency that may call upon him to perform the miracle in her behalf. She works hard, and saves every penny of her pin-money to pay back the amount she borrowed on the forged check. _Nora_ is light-hearted and gay, apparently without depth. Who, indeed, would expect depth of a doll, a "squirrel," a song-bird? Her purpose in life is to be happy for her husband's sake, for the sake of the children; to sing, dance, and play with them. Besides, is she not shielded, protected, and cared for? Who, then, would suspect _Nora_ of depth? But already in the opening scene, when _Torvald_ inquires what his precious "squirrel" wants for a Christmas present, _Nora_ quickly asks him for money. Is it to buy macaroons or finery? In her talk with _Mrs. Linden_, _Nora_ reveals her inner self, and forecasts the inevitable debacle of her doll's house. After telling her friend how she had saved her husband, _Nora_ says: "When Torvald gave me money for clothes and so on, I never used more than half of it; I always bought the simplest things.... Torvald never noticed anything. But it was often very hard, Christina dear. For it's nice to be beautifully dressed. Now, isn't it?... Well, and besides that, I made money in other ways. Last winter I was so lucky--I got a heap of copying to do. I shut myself up every evening and wrote far into the night. Oh, sometimes I was so tired, so tired. And yet it was splendid to work in that way and earn money. I almost felt as if I was a man." Down deep in the consciousness of _Nora_ there evidently slumbers personality and character, which could come into full bloom only through a great miracle--not the kind _Nora_ hopes for, but a miracle just the same.