Nora Goes Off Script

In Nora Goes Off Script, the tea house is an important symbol of Nora’s independence. To her, it is “a sacred space” where she has “been able to preserve [her]self by writing” (9). The small structure is sturdy, made of stone, and “airtight against the elements” (9), making it a secure, safe place where Nora feels protected from Ben’s hostility. When she and Ben first buy the house in Laurel Ridge, the tea house is a primary point of contention. In enchants Nora, giving her “the feeling of endless possibility” (9). Ben sees it as a storage unit, which illustrates the vast disconnect between Nora and her ex-husband.

To Nora, the tea house is where she works and maintains her independence. For Ben, it is a reminder of his failings. He sees Nora working in the tea house and is reminded of his inadequacy and inability to fill the “shed” (3) with all the things he feels are missing from his life.

When Leo arrives, he takes over Nora’s tea house along with her ability to regulate and control her life. After he leaves, she cannot bring herself to go inside because the memory of making love with him on the daybed is too strong. Waiting for Leo to call, she describes feeling “uniquely powerless, as if the entirety of [her] happiness lies in someone else’s hands” (147). The confidence and independence she enjoyed at the novel’s start are gone, causing Nora to avoid both writing and the tea house for months. However, as she starts to get over Leo and reclaim her sense of self, she can also reclaim her place in the tea house. Eventually, the “combination of inspiration and motivation” (172) returns and Nora is able to reenter the tea house, symbolizing the reclamation of her power and the return of her independence.