Nora Nora

grown-ups

Nora 1 and Helmer 1, as well as Nora 2 and Helmer 2, consciously identify with the characters in Ibsen’s Nora. For the former, a romantic relationship is just beginning, while for the latter, it is rapidly coming to an end. The two couples live parallel lives in the same apartment without knowing about each other (although they are aware of the parallelism of their worlds – internal, of course, not external). In Nora Nora, the parallel couples are those who represent each other’s “imaginary” partners with whom they would like to live – until their wish is fulfilled and reality begins to repeat itself; then they become “imaginary” partners who are real until the possibilities are exhausted and the “giraffe” is beheaded forever. For both couples in Nora Nora, the illusion of an “ideal” partner turns out to be a mistake. Why this desire can never be fulfilled is the fundamental question posed by Nora Nora.

NORA 2: I just want to help you …

HELMER 2: I do not want to be helped. I want to be left alone.

NORA 2: We are husband and wife …

HELMER 2: That’s why. A normal wife lets her husband breathe.

NORA 2: It’s I who cannot breathe …

HELMER 2 (pressing the knife against her throat): And how does it feel? Because that’s how I feel most of the time.

NORA 2: Torvald, no …

HELMER 2: Why not?

NORA 2: Because of love … Your love for me … And mine for you …

HELMER 2: Love? Where have you stumbled on that fossil?

NORA 2: I won’t any more … I promise.

HELMER 2: Will you let me be from now on?

NORA 2: I swear.

HELMER 2 (removes the knife and pushes her head away): Don’t get me wrong. Everybody has a right to breathe.

NORA 2 (massaging her throat): Breathe, Torvald. Breathe as much as you like.

HELMER 2: How generous of you.

Any use or reproduction of all or any part of this text without the written permission of the author is strictly prohibited. 

For the author's contact please write to sigledal@gmail.com.