Who Nils Krogstad is
Nils Krogstad works in a low position at the bank where Torvald Helmer is about to become manager. An old scandal has damaged his reputation, and Torvald plans to dismiss him when he takes charge.
Krogstad is also the man who lends Nora Helmer money during her husband's serious illness. That private connection gives him power over a household that appears cheerful and secure.
What Nils Krogstad wants
Krogstad wants to keep his post, and he is hungry for respect. When his employment is threatened, he tells Nora that losing his position will mean exposing her secret.
His pressure turns Nora's past act of love into a source of fear. The way she obtains the loan breaks the law, giving his threat weight beyond an embarrassing revelation.
Nils Krogstad and the others in the story
Nora asks Torvald to keep Krogstad at the bank, but her pleading does not change his decision. Torvald objects both to Krogstad's character and to the familiarity with which Krogstad addresses him.
Krogstad's claim over Nora connects the bank's affairs with the hidden tensions of her marriage. His threatened dismissal brings questions of money, reputation and trust into the Helmer home.
Questions
Who is Nils Krogstad?
Nils Krogstad is a bank clerk whose old scandal has harmed his standing in town.
Why does Krogstad threaten Nora?
He wants to prevent his dismissal from the bank. He threatens to reveal her secret borrowing if he loses his job.
How is Krogstad connected to Nora's loan?
Krogstad lends Nora the money she borrows secretly for Torvald's health. He knows that the way she obtains it breaks the law.