When Nora Stayed: More Light on the German Ending

Abstract

Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (Et dukkehjem. Skuespil i tre akter, 1879) owes its worldwide reputation to the last scene, where Nora leaves her husband and children. A little less known is the German, alternative ending of Nora – the title commonly used in the German speaking world – where she stays. In the field of theatre studies, this ending is commonly recognized. The fact that Ibsen himself wrote it in 1879 – and tolerated its performance for a while – also belongs to established knowledge. The circumstances of the genesis and distribution of this very special piece of text have, however, not yet been presented in a manner giving attention to all aspects. My main arguments are: