Symbolism In Henrik Ibsen's A Doll House

One of the most important symbols is evidence from Norah's action of shutting the door and leaving her husband behind in the house. Nora slamming the door and existing showcases a new woman who leaves behind the male-dominated society and chooses to go her way and be free. This represents modernity and women’s revolutionary step in the 19th century that was done in attempts to seek identity, and dignity in a society that demoralized and viewed them to be inferior. The title itself, “A Doll House” is a fundamental symbol of a real house. The acts occurred in a Doll’s house. In any given house, children play with their games and dolls (Törnqvist 17). Here, it is evident that Norah is told what to do in the house by her husband and she is thus a doll in the house. Notably, Norah is the doll of the house, she responds without question and acts like a squirrel. The …show more content…
Evidently, the play’s actions are happening at Christmastime. Here both Torvald and Norah look forward to ushering in the New Year with great expectations of living happy lives. They anticipate that the New Year will make Torvald secure a new job. He also has hopes that New Year will bring him more money and be admired by the society. Nora is also happy with this idea, and she does look forward to the New Year blessings of her husband getting a new job. She understands that if this happens, she will be able to pay back her secretive loan that she owns Krogstad. Nonetheless, it is revealed to the reader that the concept of New Year is a symbol (Törnqvist 13). It is evident that when it arrives, the two characters had undergone dramatic changes. For example, Norah leaves her husband behind and depicts the move to get away from the traditional rules that bind her to the society. For this reason, the New Year is a sign of the new beginning that Torvald and Norah have to accept due to the changes in their lives and personalities (Törnqvist