English 251: Introduction to Literature

Study Guide

to Ibsen's A Doll House --

Torvald's tirade in the various English translations

 

A key passage in Torvald Helmer’s reproach of his wife Nora has been quite differently treated in the various translations of the play into English.  Pay special attention to the phrase highlighted in bold. 

• Which alternatives indicate to us that we are to think of Torvald as inadvertantly revealing that he has betrayed a position of public trust by filing a false report, attested by oath, of his examination of whether Nora’s father had abused his own position of public trust by some act of personal dishonesty? 

• Which alternatives prompt invite us to suppose that Torvald is reproaching himself only for having overlooked the poor moral character of a potential father-in-law in choosing a mate, who should be assumed to be subject, by the laws of heredity, to the same moral weaknesses? 

• How does how we understand what Torvald is referring to here affect how we understand what he means by "for your sake" in the next sentence?

from the translation by William Archer (1906):

I ought to have known how it would be. I ought to have foreseen it. All your father’s want of principle — be silent! — all your father’s want of principle you have inherited — no religion, no morality, no sense of duty. How I am punished for screening him! I did it for your sake; and you reward me like this.

from the translation by R. Farquarson Sharp (London: J.M. Dent & Sons, 1910):

I ought to have suspected that something of the sort would happen. I ought to have foreseen it. All your father’s want of principle — be silent! — all your father’s want of principle has coume out in you. No religion, no morality, no sense of duty. How I am punished for having winked at what he did! I did it for your sake, and this is how you repay me.

from the translation by Eva LeGaulienne (Modern Library edition, 1951):

I maight have known what to expect. I should have foreseen it. You’ve inherited all your father’s lack of principle — be silent! — all of your father’s lack of principle. I say! — no religion, no moral code, no sense of duty. This is my punishment for shielding him! I did it for your sake; and this is my reward!

from the translation by James McFarlane (Oxford University Press, 1961)

I should have realized something like this would happen. I should have seen it coming. All your father’s irresponsible ways. . . . Quiet! All your father’s irresponsible ways are coming out in you. No religion, no morals, no sense of duty. . . Oh, this is my punishment for turning a blind eye to him. It was for your sake I did it, and this is what I get for it.

from the translation by Rolf Fjelde (Sutton Signet / New American Library, 1965):

I should have expected something of the kind. I should have known. All your father’s flimsy values — Be Still! All your father’s flimsy values have come out in you. No religion, no morals, no sense of duty — Oh, how I’m punished for letting him off! I did it for your sake, and you repay me like this.

from the translation by Peter Watts (Penguin Books, 1965):

I might have known that something of this sort would happen — I should have foreseen it. All your father’s shiftless character — be quiet! — all your father’s shiftless character has come out in you. No religion, no morality, no sense of duty . . . So this is what I get for condoning his fault! I did it for your sake, and this is how you repay me!

from the translation by Michael Meyer (London: Rupert Hart-Davis, 1965):

I ought to have guessed something of this sort would happen. I should have foreseen it. All your father’s recklessness and instability — be quiet! — I repeat, all your father’s recklessness and instability has has handed on to you!  No religion, no morals, no sense of duty! Oh, how I have been punished for closing my eyes to his faults!  And now you reward me like this.

from the translation by Frank McGuiness (New York: Stage & Screen, 1997):

I should have known something like this would happen. Your father was a reckless man, and you are his reckless daughter — don’t interrupt. No religion, no morals, no sense of duty. I’m being punished for closing my eyes to his faults. I did it for your sake. This is how you repay me.

What difference does it make whether we think of Torvald in this instant as castigating himself for having overlooked the weak moral character of Nora's father or for having collaborated in the cover-up of some illegalities in her father's conduct as a public official?

  Suggestions, comments and questions are welcome.  Please send them to lyman@ksu.edu .

      Framework contents copyright © 2000 by Lyman A. Baker.  Permission is granted for non-commercial educational use; all other rights reserved.

      Excerpts from translations provided for educational purposes only.  Copyrights are reserved to the several publishers.

      This page last updated 27 April 2000.