Mrs Kristina Linde

Page 153-163

• Appears in travelling clothes
• She is 'subduedand hesitant'- she hasn't seen/spoken to Nora in years and has turned up without warning at her door. Shows that they have a past relationship which was strong, but is no more.
• She has changed in the years "nine years-nearly ten" that Nora has not seen her.
• She has travelled by herself in winter, which Nora discribes as "brave," at this time few women would have travelled alone, especially during mid winter when the weather is worst.
• Kristina knows that she is older, says it outright.
• She is understanding, still came to Nora even though they had not communicated at all over the last 9-10 years. Nora hadn't written Mrs Linde a message when she found out that she had become a widower, yet it appears that Nora is the first person that Mrs Linde turned to now in her time of troubles.
• He left her nothing, no money, no children, no regrets
• Mrs Linde puts herself last, she doesn't want to dwell in her own sorrow whilst at the Helmer's home, she asks about how Nora is, and listens actively, asking the odd question or stating the odd fact amidst Nora's chatter about how well her life is at the time. She is pleasent and takes the minor role in the first part of the conversation.
• Mrs Linde did not love her husband, she felt that she was unable to refuse his offer for the sake of her family. In the past, marriages were less based on love, and social status was important-more like arranged marriages.
• She has no reason to live for now, she married to help her mother and brothers (and is proud of herself for helping them), but now her mother is dead therefore nolonger neading support, and her brothers are working supporting herself so she no longer has the drive to work to help them as they are fine without her, she feels "unspeakably empty," which is why she left the area that she was in, in an atempt to regain her purpose in life.
• She needs another job, and on the ouside looks overworked nd needing of a holiday, but she has not money to pay for one. She thinks Nora's husband might be able to help her get a better paying job. Kristina also thinks that Nora's had it easy, as Nora has already given an explanation of what she has been doing for the last number of years, which appears that she does nothing particularly worthwhile.
• She knows that a wife can not borrow money without her husband's consent. She believes the heirachy of husbands over wifes, saying that "I think it's rash to do anything without his knowing." She is shocked that Nora has gone behind her husbands (and in a way fathers also) back.
• Feels pity on Nora for having to save up all the money
• She knows Krogstad from the past.