The act opens in the same room on the next night, Boxing Day.

 Mrs. Linde is
absentmindedly trying to read. As the sounds of dance music
suggest, Torvald and Nora are upstairs at the party. Mrs. Linde is waiting for Krogstad so
that she can talk to him about Nora’s situation. When Krogstad arrives, he and Mrs. Linde
turn almost immediately to a discussion of why Mrs. Linde jilted him (for her now-
deceased husband) many years ago. Mrs. Linde explains that, though she has questioned
her decision many times, she had to pursue her former husband’s money given that her
mother and brothers depended on her to survive. Krogstad reveals that her departure left
him “a shipwrecked man clinging to a spar.” Mrs. Linde replies that she is now in his
position and that she longs for them to come together. She tells him that he is the reason
that she came to town. She still wants a family to look after.
The music of the tarantella is heard above, and Mrs. Linde urges Krogstad to be quick.
Krogstad now grows suspicious, questioning whether she is saying all of this simply on
behalf of Nora. She denies it, and he then offers to take the letter back. She now urges
him not to, admitting that this had been her original intention after all. She explains that,
since her first discovery of the problem the day before, she has witnessed enough in the
house to convince her that Torvald must read the letter. The Helmers need a “full
understanding” of their situation in order to maintain a successful marriage. Krogstad
leaves, promising Mrs. Linde that he will meet her in a few minutes. Hearing Nora and
Torvald coming, Mrs. Linde prepares to leave, commenting on what a difference having
people to care for makes in her life.
The Helmers appear in costume: Nora is a Neapolitan fisher-girl, and Torvald is in
evening wear and a black coat. Torvald is bringing Nora into the room almost by force.
She is trying to get him to return to the party upstairs. Torvald refuses, citing their earlier
agreement. They greet Mrs. Linde, who explains that she stayed up in order to see Nora in
her dress. Torvald brags about how lovely Nora looks, describing his wife’s successful
evening. He tells Mrs. Linde that Nora danced the tarantella marvelously—even if her
performance was “a trifle too realistic.” He tried to make her exit equally artistic by
ushering her around the room for a last bow and then disappearing into the night, but
Nora did not appreciate his exit attempts. “An exit,” Torvald claims, “should always be
dramatic.” Torvald then leaves to light some candles and air out the house a bit, giving
Nora a chance to ask Mrs. Linde for news from Krogstad. Mrs. Linde says that Nora must
tell Torvald everything. Nora is not shocked; she simply thanks Mrs. Linde for telling her,
and she now knows what she must do.
Torvald returns and Mrs. Linde soon leaves. Nora then asks Torvald if he is tired, telling
him that she is quite sleepy. Torvald replies that he is quite awake and has been waiting to
be alone with his wife all evening. He calls her beautiful and fascinating, his “treasured
possession.” He observes that she must still have the alluring tarantella in her blood. He
launches into an explanation of why he pretends not to know her at parties: it is his
fantasy about meeting and seducing her for the first time. He likes to feel that she is his
new bride about to be his for the first time. Nora tries to push him off, much to his
confusion and displeasure.
They are interrupted by Dr. Rank. The three talk about the ball and all its finery.
Unknown to Torvald, Dr. Rank reveals to Nora through his conversation that he will soon
die. Dr. Rank eventually leaves, and Nora calls to him, “Sleep well.” Torvald begins to
head out to empty the mailbox so that the newspapers can be delivered in the morning.
Nora unsuccessfully tries to stop him. At the mailbox, Torvald is surprised to find that
someone has tried to pick the lock with one of Nora’s hairpins. Nora tells him that it must
have been one of the children.
Torvald is surprised to find two visiting cards from Dr. Rank with black crosses just
above his name. Torvald comments on the gruesomeness of the mark, and Nora confirms
that he has used it to announce his death. Torvald thinks it might be “best this way,” for
now he and his wife have only each other. Torvald embraces Nora, telling her how much
he cares for her. He wishes that he could somehow save her from some great danger so
that he could risk everything for her sake. Nora disengages herself from his embrace. She
tells him with resolution that he must now read his letters; she no longer is delaying the
inevitable but is avoiding his advances. Torvald agrees that something ugly has come
between them—he believes it is because of the news of Dr. Rank—and that it would be
best to spend the night apart. They separate, and Torvald goes off to read his letters.
Alone, Nora prepares to rush off to commit suicide by jumping into the icy depths of the
river, throwing on Torvald’s coat and her shawl. As she bids adieu to her family and
rushes out the door, Torvald hurries out of his room and stops her, letter in hand. Torvald
asks her if she knows what is in the letter, but Nora still tries to leave. He stops her,
locking the door. He continues to wonder out loud how the letter’s allegations could be
true. He dismisses her pleas that all was done out of love. He protests that he will not
suffer at her hands.
Nora realizes that Torvald has no intention of taking the burden of this problem upon
himself; he is blaming her for ruining his life. She grows still and cold while Torvald
berates her and her character. Not allowing Nora to speak, Torvald speculates about their
future. They will keep up appearances but, of course, Nora will not be allowed near the
children and the normal aspects of their marriage will no longer be maintained in private.
He is interrupted by the maid, who is bearing a note from Krogstad to Nora. Torvald
intercepts the letter and reads it himself, learning that Krogstad has had a change of heart
and has sent back the bond after all. Torvald is overjoyed and shouts, “I am saved!” Nora
asks whether she is saved as well, and he says yes since “nobody has any hold over you.”
Overcome with relief, he now discusses how hard this all must have been for Nora and
tells her that he has forgiven her—he will think of it only as a bad dream. It is all over.
Realizing perhaps that Nora is not having the same reaction, Torvald explains to her that
he knows that she did everything out of love and that he can forgive her because he also
knows that, as a woman, she is unequipped to make proper decisions. He even tells her
that her helplessness and full dependency on him make her all the more endearing to him.
Nora thanks him for his forgiveness and leaves the room to take off her ball dress.
As she is removing her dress, Torvald stands in the doorway and muses about the comfort
of their home and how much he wants to and will protect her. He assures her that
everything will soon be as it was before. The helplessness of a wife makes her even more
attractive because she becomes both a wife and child, doubly his own. Moreover, when
the husband forgives her, he gives her new life and becomes even closer to her.
The change of heart apparently rings hollow. Nora changes not into bed clothing but into
everyday clothing. She explains that she will not sleep tonight, and she asks him to sit
down with her in order to “face facts.” She tells him that he has never understood her and
that, before tonight, she has never understood him. She points out that, over eight years of
marriage, they have never before sat down to have a serious discussion. Torvald protests
that such conversations would not have made sense, given Nora’s interests.
Nora tells him that she has been greatly wronged by both her father and her husband.
Torvald protests that they are the men who have loved her the most. Shaking her head,
Nora corrects him, telling him that he has never loved her for herself but has only thought
it pleasant to be in love with her. She explains to him that, just as her father did, Torvald
has treated her as a doll to be played with, arranging everything to suit himself and
forcing her to live only to entertain him. As a result, she has not made anything of her life
and has never been truly happy.
Torvald agrees with this analysis, though he qualifies it as exaggerated and strained. He
pledges that, from now on, he will stop playing with her and start educating her. Nora
refuses the offer, observing that he is not the man to educate her. Only a few minutes
before, he had told her that she was unfit to raise her own children. She agrees with him
about her inability at present; she must first educate herself before she can educate the
children. This is why, she concludes, she is going to leave him.
Torvald is shocked and jumps out of his chair, calling her mad and trying to prevent her
from leaving. He accuses her of neglecting her “most sacred duties” as wife and mother,
refusing to acknowledge Nora’s opinion that her duty to herself as a reasonable human
being is at least as sacred. He appeals to her sense of religion and then morality, both of
which Nora agnostically rejects by explaining that she has never had a chance to examine
and embrace these things on her own and, as a result, she does not know if she agrees
with these principles. He finally argues that he must conclude that she does not love him.
Apologetic, she agrees. He lost her love earlier tonight (if not before), and she cannot stay
in the house.
Nora explains that her love was lost because the miracle did not happen: he did not refuse
Krogstad’s conditions and offer to take up the problem for himself. Instead, he berated
her. Torvald replies that, though he would gladly work day and night for her, he would
never assent to jeopardizing his honor for a loved one. Nora simply replies that many
wives have done just that. Torvald dismisses her words as those of a heedless child.
Admitting the possibility that he might be right, Nora changes tack. She describes his
selfish perspective and her own horror at having realized that she had lived with and
borne children with a stranger for eight years. Torvald sadly acknowledges the gulf
between them but asks if there is still a way to fill it. Nora reiterates that they both will be
better off apart. She somewhat formally releases him from all obligations to her. She says
that there must be perfect freedom on both sides. They return their wedding rings to each
other, and she leaves her keys.
Nora adds that a future relationship of some sort would only be possible if “the miracle of
miracles” were to happen—if they both change is such a way that they could have a real
marriage. She leaves. Sinking down into a chair with his hand in his face, Torvald moans
her name. He then looks up and observes how empty the room has become without her.
The play ends with the hope of the “miracle of miracles” crossing Torvald’s mind and
with the sound of the street door slamming.