Transformation Of Humanism In Henrik Ibsen's A Doll House

Decent Essays
In Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House, humanism is shown through every single word and every single detail. A Doll House centers on humanism, because it demonstrates the search for identity, living up to societal standards, and believing that men and women are equal. A Doll House is bursting with symbolism through imagery and irony, which represent the oppression and polemic view of the individual from society.
These symbols not only successfully illustrate the transformation of each character, but the oppression and tension that society has consigned them to. In Ibsen’s A Doll House the play starts out with deep-seated symbolism in the imagery of Christmas time. The Christmas tree symbolizes Nora’s position in her home as a plaything who adds
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Much like Sahin and Rizwan-ul explain, “Kristine is quite rational, someone who has went through many things of life, has seen many faces of the human race, has went through necessary torment to be a self-inclined and a self-searching individual” (290). While Kristine unmistakably analyzes Nora as someone who is not independent, when she declares “Nora, you’re just a child” (Ibsen 1257). It is important to realize that Nora is envious of Kristine’s individuality and freedom “How free you must feel” (Ibsen 1256). Nora furthermore expresses to Kristine “You don’t have to act so superior” (Ibsen 1257), signifying that Nora regards Kristine as someone who is not only above her, but has more power in society than her. Respectively, Nora would like to be the independent person Kristine has become and resents the fact that she cannot be this person because of her husband and …show more content…
Amid almost every term of endearment Torvald has for Nora the word ‘little’ is included, imparting the impression that he is talking down to her. Torvald uses a lot of bird imagery because he perceives Nora as a skylark, which is known for its song while in flight. Nora is often very energetic ‘flying around’ and spouting fanatical things and fickle like an animal. Accordingly, the animal names Torvald calls Nora are relevant, considering they directly relate to how Nora acts, or more applicable how Torvald wants her to act. In Act 1, Torvald asks, "Is it my little lark twittering out there?" referring to Nora (Ibsen 1251). A lark is a happy and carefree songbird. In the beginning of the play Nora appears to be a lively-spirited and carefree woman, just like a lark. As Sahin and Rizwan-ul enlighten, “It 's a pretension of happiness and fulfillment, whereas her identity, her true self is captive to the cage of an autocratic husband. As if she is really the little 'skylark ', a metaphorical manifestation of her psychological captivity”

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