Nurse to both Nora and Nora's children, the nursemaid, whose name is Anne Marie, is a kind woman who was forced to give up her own child, who it is suggested was born out of wedlock. The nursemaid is an example of a woman in bad circumstances forced to do anything in order to survive. When Nora first thinks of leaving she considers the fact that her children will be raised by the nursemaid and, remembering what a good mother the nursemaid had been to her, decides that she would also raise Nora’s children well.
The nursemaid Quotes in A Doll's House
The A Doll's House quotes below are all either spoken by The nursemaid or refer to The nursemaid. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act Two
Quotes
When a poor girl’s been in trouble she must make the best of things.
Related Characters:
The nursemaid (speaker)
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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The nursemaid Character Timeline in A Doll's House
The timeline below shows where the character The nursemaid appears in A Doll's House. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act One
...all go to leave. As they go, Nora asks that they return that evening. The nursemaid and the children enter, and Nora runs excitedly to let them in. Nora kisses her...
(full context)
Nora talks to her children, who tell her what they’ve been doing outside. The nursemaid offers to take the children’s coats and hats off but Nora says she will do...
(full context)
...that he wants to talk to Nora. Nora tells her children to go to the nursemaid, and assures them that the “strange man” won’t do anything to her. Once the children...
(full context)
Nora repeats to herself “it’s impossible.” The nursemaid calls saying that the children keep asking if they can be let in to see...
(full context)
Act Two
The nursemaid enters, carrying a large cardboard box. She announces that it is the box of fancy...
(full context)
Nora asks how the children are, and the nursemaid replies that they are playing with their presents, and asking for their mother. Nora tells...
(full context)
