Drosselmeyer quickly makes amends and presents Clara with an unusual prize, a colorful Nutcracker. Delighted, Clara instantly is enthralled with the gift. Sibling rivalry takes hold and in a tussle to wrest the Nutcracker away from Clara, Fritz breaks him. Drosselmeyer repairs the poor Nutcracker, but Clara is disappointed. Drosselmeyer promises that all will be well.
Evening overtakes the party and the guests depart.
Clara is shooed to bed. Clara has awakened and longing for her Nutcracker comes back to the living room. She quickly finds her doll and falls asleep again. Thematically, Clara is cast as a teen just beginning to bud into adulthood. She is young enough to display childlike emotions, yet mature enough to fantasize that a doll turned human can have idyllic qualities of heroism, selflessness, tenderness and a zest for adventure.