Because of the Puritan covenant with God and the belief in predestination, conformity and social order was necessary. There was no "separation of church and state” as we
know it. Rather, the Puritans in Massachusetts lived under a theocracy, a government
in which God is viewed as the supreme leader. Town authorities were essentially
religious authorities, so people were not allowed to question those in charge. To do so
would have been like questioning the bible or God himself.
QUESTION: Imagine you were born into the Puritan faith. How would you feel about
predestination and theocracy? Explain your reaction to both.
I

Read the excerpt from act 3 of a doll’s house. mrs. linde: you seemed to me to imply that with me you might have been quite another man. krogstad: i am certain of it. mrs. linde: is it too late now? krogstad: christine, are you saying this deliberately? yes, i am sure you are. i see it in your face. have you really the courage, then—? mrs. linde: i want to be a mother to someone, and your children need a mother. we two need each other. nils, i have faith in your real character—i can dare anything together with you. krogstad [grasps her hands]. , , christine! now i shall find a way to clear myself in the eyes of the world. ah, but i forgot— how does the conflict in this passage develop a theme? mrs. linde creates a conflict by promising something she cannot give to krogstad, which develops the theme that empty promises can destroy relationships. krogstad continues the conflict by choosing clearing his name over having a life with mrs. linde, which develops the theme that you must often choose yourself over others. krogstad creates a conflict by deceiving mrs. linde about his intentions, which develops the theme that, in love, actions speak louder than words. mrs. linde resolves the conflict by committing to a new life with krogstad, which develops the theme that new beginnings are always possible.