his is very deceptive. On the inside, Nora is being torn apart by feelings of guilt and betrayal. She has no idea about what to do or how she will solve her dilemma.In Act II, Nora is begging Torvald to allow Krogstad to keep his job. She gets excited and worked up over her own fear of being caught in a lie. After calming her down, Torvald makes mention of her “frightened dove’s eyes” (1163). Ibsen uses this reference to a dove because a dove is a symbol of peace. Nora wishes to keep her household at peace. She doesn’t want Torvald to find out about the loan because she knows he would see it as a dishonor to his manhood. Also in Act II, Nora refers to herself as a “wood nymph” which is a pretty hummingbird that is very graceful. This fits her well. She wants to be graceful, pretty, and dainty for Torvald so he can be happy with her. She is trying to avoid the inevitable situation, the horrible secret that will destroy her family. If she remains as a “wood nymph” in Torvalds’s eyes, maybe he will overlook her secret.Once the truth about the bank loan is revealed, Torvald scolds Nora. After he learns that the note has been cleared, he then changes his attitude. Torvald tells Nora that despite the incident, he forgives her and will keep her “like a hunted dove rescued out of a hawk’s claws.” He will shelter her with his “wide wing” (1181). This is kind of ironic because Nora borrowed the money so he could get well from his sickness. So really, who is the one being sheltered? Nora’s “wide wings” actually has been what has sheltered Torvald’s honor over the years. Even though Nora is presented as weak, carefree, and flighty from the beginning of the play, what she did for her husband is very honorable. Animal imagery is critical in painting Nora’s character. At the end of the play, Nora decides that she has bee...
