Question

Which line in the excerpt from Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House reflects the idea of obedience and control?

HELMER: Nora, Nora, and you would be a party to that sort of thing? To have any talk with a man like that, and give him any sort of promise? And to tell me a lie into the bargain?

Nora. A lie—?

HELMER: Didn't you tell me no one had been here? (Shakes his finger at her) My little songbird must never do that again. A songbird must have a clean beak to chirp with--no false notes! (Puts his arm round her waist) That is so, isn't it? Yes, I am sure it is. (Lets her go) We will say no more about it. (Sits down by the stove) How warm and snug it is here! (Turns over his papers.)

NORA (After a short pause, during which she busies herself with the Christmas Tree): Torvald!

HELMER: Yes.

NORA: I am looking forward tremendously to the fancy-dress ball at the Stenborgs' the day after tomorrow.

HELMER: And I am tremendously curious to see what you are going to surprise me with.

Answer 1

the answer to the question you are asking is "A songbird must have a clean beak to chirp with--no false notes!"

Answer 2

The correct answer and the line in the mentioned excerpt from Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House that reflects the idea of obedience and control is "A songbird must have a clean beak to chirp with--no false notes!"

While the idea of control is conveyed in the entire part of Helmer, it is that sentence which best reflects it. First, he builds the tension shaking his finger at Nora when he realises she has "lied" to him and tells her that she must not do that again. Even when he grabs her by the waist he is physically showing his dominance. But the sentence "A songbird must clean beak to chirp with--no false notes!" states his control and orders obedience, with the exclamation mark and comparing her to a songbird, not even a person, and that must "chirp" whenever he wants and the "notes" or words that he wants.

The sentence shows paternalistic control, which Nora seems to confuse with love and marriage.