Question

Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll’s House. Krogstad [with a searching look at her]. Is that what it all means?—that you want to save your friend at any cost? Tell me frankly. Is that it? Mrs. Linde: Nils, a woman who has once sold herself for another's sake, doesn't do it a second time. Krogstad: I will ask for my letter back. Mrs. Linde: No, no. Krogstad: Yes, of course I will. I will wait here until Helmer comes; I will tell him he must give me my letter back—that it only concerns my dismissal—that he is not to read it— Mrs. Linde: No, Nils, you must not recall your letter. Krogstad: But, tell me, wasn't it for that very purpose that you asked me to meet you here? Mrs. Linde: In my first moment of fright, it was. But twenty-four hours have elapsed since then, and in that time I have witnessed incredible things in this house. Helmer must know all about it. This unhappy secret must be disclosed; they must have a complete understanding between them, which is impossible with all this concealment and falsehood going on. Krogstad: Very well, if you will take the responsibility. But there is one thing I can do in any case, and I shall do it at once. Which evidence from the text best supports the theme that it is better if the truth comes out?

Answer 1

Answer:

The evidence from the text that best supports the theme that it is better if the truth comes out is:

This unhappy secret must be disclosed; they must have a complete understanding between them, which is impossible with all this concealment and falsehood going on.

Explanation:

Mrs. Linde is an old friend of Nora's, a main character in the play "A Doll's House". Nora is keeping a secret from her husband, a sexist and authoritative man who treats her as his inferior. Krogstad, a former boyfriend of Mrs. Linde's, has written a letter to Nora's husband in which he tells the truth. From the passage we learn that Mrs. Linde, instead of asking Krogstad to get hold of the letter before it is read, asks him to leave the matter alone. It is her opinion that truth should come out. Perhaps Mrs. Linde believes that Nora will only be free when there is nothing more to hide. As long as there is a secret, her husband will have power over her, will control her. The passage that best represents the opinion that it is better if the truth comes out is:

This unhappy secret must be disclosed; they must have a complete understanding between them, which is impossible with all this concealment and falsehood going on.