A Doll’s House SYMBOLISM
Consider the following list which mentions stage properties, parts of settings, concepts, and plot
details. How does each item contribute to your understanding of the play? What does each item
symbolize for you? The more you write, the better. :)
SYMBOL Where it appears in the text What it might represent
It shows up in act two where Nora is In a past “A Doll’s House” assignment a
talking about it and practicing. question gave the information that the
It also shows up in Act 3 which is tarantella is sometimes used to represent
The tarantella
talked about because that is the act a womens frustration with being
that she had performed it. oppressed because of her gender. I think
in this
Nora was decorating the christmas This represents how Nora puts up a
tree during act 1. facade and pretends that her life is very
The
good and that she is happy. Nora decorts
Christmas tree
her life like she does with a christmas
—adorned or
tree, making it seem like her life, and
unadorned
especially her marriage, is nice and
perfect.
This comes up at the very end of act Dolls represent how women are used
three where Nora is finally explaining and played with by the men in their lives.
to Torvald that she has been Since this is a story about a time where
Doll-wife,
oppressed her whole life because she women were very much not treated as
doll-child
is a woman. equal, they were under the authority of
men. Women and children were
controlled by men.
This shows in act 1 when Mrs. Linde This shows how Mr. Linde is the
comes over to visit Nora and brings gateway for Nora to finally free herself
Macaroons. from Torvald. At the end of the book it
was Mrs. Linde who said to keep the
letter in the box because she thought
Macaroons that Nora and torvalsds relationship
needed it and that Nora needed to just
let her secret out. This connects to
macarons because it was mrs. Linde who
brought them not knowing that torvald
doesn't allow Nora to have them.
Nora’s This is the beginning of act 3 when I believe Nora’s costume has the same
costume she comes back from dancing and is kind of symbolism that the tree does.
talking with Torvald, and was also Nora looks beautiful and elegant on the
discussed towards the end of act 2 outside because this is how she presents
when Mrs. Linde is helping make it herself and her life to other people. It
for her. also represents her marriage, I'm pretty
sure there is a part in the play where she
says she wants to rip apart her dress, she
wants to break free from her marriage.
The first time a problem shows up The mailbox is for the house which is
because of the mailbox is in act 2 shared by Nora and Torvald because it is
which is where Krogstad first puts the both their home. The owner of the
A mailbox letter in there. It also shows up in act mailbox’s key though is Torvald alone,
with a key 3. this shows that he has the last say and
final overall power in the relationship. It
shows Nora’s lack of authority and
control in her relationships.
This first comes up around the time Frozen water might represent Nora
where Nora is saying she wants to kill feeling stuck in her unhappy marriage
herself because she is just so sinces ice is not something that is very
unhappy. flexible. Black water could also represent
The freezing
the deep despair Nora feels. She's very
black water
stressed about situations and is also
coming to realize she is oppressed in her
relationship. it represents her
unhappiness.
I think this is talking about the The disease might represent Nora
disease that Dr. Rank has. This shows coming to accept the flaws of her
up in act 2 when Dr.Rank reveals to marriage? It is revealed to us that Dr.
Nora that he is sick and also that he Rank has the disease around the time
loves her. It also shows up in act 3 that Nora is scared her relationship is
Disease
where Doctor Rank dies. going to fall apart because of a mistake
she made in the past. In act three where
doctor rank leaves his last goodbye, this
is also the night where Nora leaves her
marriage.
