How unreasonable and how ungrateful you are, Nora! Have you not been happpy here?
No, I have never been happy. I thought I was, but it has never really been so.
Not-not Happy?
No, only merry. And you have always been so kind to me. But our homehas been nothing but a playroom. I have been your doll-wife, just as athome I was papa's doll-child; and here the children have been my dolls
. Ithought it great fun when you played with me, just as they thought itgreat fun when I played with them. That is what our marriage has been,Torvald.
There is some truth in what you say--exaggerated and strained as yourview of it is. But for the future it shall be different. Playtime shall be over,and lesson-time shall begin.
Indeed, you were perfectly right. I am not fit for the task. There isanother task I must undertake first. I must try and educate myself--youare not the man to help me in that. I must do that for myself. And that iswhy I am going to leave you now.
It is no use forbidding me anything any longer. I will take with me whatbelongs to myself. I will take nothing from you, either now or later.