Question

read the excerpt from act 3 of a doll’s house.
helmer: you have loved me as a wife ought to love her husband. only you had not sufficient knowledge to judge of the means you used. but do you suppose you are any the less dear to me, because you don’t understand how to act on your own responsibility? no, no, only lean on me; i will advise you and direct you. i should not be a man if this womanly helplessness did not just give you a double attractiveness in my eyes. you must not think anymore about the hard things i said in my first moment of consternation, when i thought everything was going to overwhelm me. i have forgiven you, nora, i swear to you i have forgiven you.
what evidence from the text best supports the theme that the roles of women are defined by society?
○ “you have loved me as a wife ought to love her husband. only you had not sufficient knowledge to judge of the means you used.”
○ “but do you suppose you are any the less dear to me, because you don’t understand how to act on your own responsibility?”
○ “i will advise you and direct you. i should not be a man if this womanly helplessness did not just give you a double attractiveness in my eyes.”
○ “you must not think anymore about the hard things i said in my first moment of consternation, when i thought everything was going to overwhelm me.”

Explanation:

This question focuses on identifying text evidence that supports the theme of society-defined women's roles. The correct option shows Helmer framing Nora's helplessness as an attractive, expected trait for women, and positioning himself as her advisor/director—directly reflecting societal norms that cast women as dependent and men as authoritative over them. Other options either focus on forgiveness, Nora's lack of judgment, or retracting harsh words, which do not directly address the theme of socially prescribed female roles.

Answer:

○ "I will advise you and direct you. I should not be a man if this womanly helplessness did not just give you a double attractiveness in my eyes."