A Look at “A Doll House” The famous drama “A Doll House” by Henrik Ibsen begins with Nora and Torvald Helmer that are happily married with children. When Torvald is sick and needs to recover in Italy, Nora secretly bought a huge loan to pay for the trip. After Torvald is well, he gets a new job at a bank that pays well. Nora is ecstatic. As the story continues, Nora and Torvald’s marriage relationship begins to drop. Ibsen shows various symbols throughout the play, but the most important symbols are the Christmas Tree, the degraded name-calling of Torvald, and the locked mailbox.
The most important symbol is the Christmas Tree. “A Doll House” is set during Christmas and New Years’ season. To start the season off right, Nora is delivered a Christmas Tree. She is joyful and starts decorating immediately to make her home stunning. A Christmas Tree symbolizes family gatherings, union, and happiness. However, at the beginning of Act Two, the stage directions say, “The Christmas tree is in the corner by the piano, stripped shabby-looking, with burnt-down candles” (1512). The ornaments and decorations are falling off the tree like Nora and Torvald’s marriage. Nora’s secret also begins to appear as the …show more content…
Women’s rights are unknown and small when “A Doll House” is published. Torvald felt Nora was not responsible outside the house. Throughout the play, Torvald calls Nora names like a “songbird” or “squirrel” that belittles Nora like a child. When Nora bought presents for Christmas, Torvald responded, “I'm busy! (After a little while he opens the door and looks in, pen in hand.) Bought, eh? All that? So little wastrel has been throwing money around again?” (1077). In the late 1870’s, most women were treated the same way as Nora was. Therefore, Nora and women tolerated being treated like children. Nora is Torvald’s doll because he controls her and assures that she looks like a trophy
The most important symbol is the Christmas Tree. “A Doll House” is set during Christmas and New Years’ season. To start the season off right, Nora is delivered a Christmas Tree. She is joyful and starts decorating immediately to make her home stunning. A Christmas Tree symbolizes family gatherings, union, and happiness. However, at the beginning of Act Two, the stage directions say, “The Christmas tree is in the corner by the piano, stripped shabby-looking, with burnt-down candles” (1512). The ornaments and decorations are falling off the tree like Nora and Torvald’s marriage. Nora’s secret also begins to appear as the …show more content…
Women’s rights are unknown and small when “A Doll House” is published. Torvald felt Nora was not responsible outside the house. Throughout the play, Torvald calls Nora names like a “songbird” or “squirrel” that belittles Nora like a child. When Nora bought presents for Christmas, Torvald responded, “I'm busy! (After a little while he opens the door and looks in, pen in hand.) Bought, eh? All that? So little wastrel has been throwing money around again?” (1077). In the late 1870’s, most women were treated the same way as Nora was. Therefore, Nora and women tolerated being treated like children. Nora is Torvald’s doll because he controls her and assures that she looks like a trophy