Final answer:
The passages cited discuss various characters' interactions with money and moral decisions, from Nora's secret acquisition of funds in 'A Doll's House,' to Zerkow's miserly payment in 'McTeague,' and the ethical decision Heinz faces in a thought experiment about stealing medicine for his wife.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to a scene where Nora reveals to Mrs. Linde that she procured a large sum of money on her own, defying the expectations of her time that women couldn't handle financial matters independently. This conversation reveals much about the societal norms and the character's personal development in taking matters into her own hands to resolve a pressing financial issue. It is part of the broader narrative exploring issues of morality, indebtedness, and personal agency within the context of the 19th-century society depicted in Henrik Ibsen's play 'A Doll's House'.
In the case of Zerkow and Maria from Frank Norris' novel, Zerkow's miserly nature is displayed as he reluctantly agrees to pay for Maria's possessions, revealing his obsessive desire for money and gold which is a recurring theme in his characterization and the novel 'McTeague'.
The excerpt discussing Heinz's dilemma of whether or not to steal medicine for his dying wife explores ethical and moral questions that challenge the legal norms versus human life considerations. This moral quandary can provoke deep thought and discussion about the nature of right and wrong and the lengths we're willing to go to save a loved one, as presented in ethical thought experiments.