Henrik Ibsen’s Symbolism in A Doll House - 695 Words

A Doll House was written in 1879 by playwright Henrik Ibsen. Ibsen is known as the creator of modern realistic style drama. The play tells the story of a nineteenth century woman who breaks the chains of society that decide her role in life so that she can find herself. The woman, Nora, lives a relaxed and seemingly untroubled life until her husband Torvald Helmer becomes sick. She then must forge her father’s name on a contract that would allow her to borrow enough money from a lawyer named Nils Krogstad to travel to Italy to save his life. When Torvald finds out what Nora did he becomes furious instead of appreciative for his wife. Nora begins to realize her husband does not truly love her, he just sees her as a trophy of some sort that will help his social status. At the end of the play, Nora decides to leave Torvald in order to find true happiness. Throughout Ibsen’s exploration of women’s role in society in A Doll House, his use of symbolism can be found in objects and characters. The characters have the greatest symbolism in the play. Nora Helmer herself is the most significant symbol. She embodies the way the majority of women are treated, as a possession of their father and then their husbands. Nora also represents irresponsibility, which is seen in the way she raises her children. Torvald Helmer symbolizes a materialist old-fashioned man, one who seeks a trophy wife instead of a companion. Christine Linde and Dr. Rank both portray false friendship in the play.Show MoreRelatedSymbolism Of A Doll House By Henrik Ibsen937 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in A Doll House In Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House, the play is framed around symbolism and its irony. Symbolism throughout the play acts as a subliminal foreshadowing, each individually hinting at the impending end. The irony is continually represented through Ibsen’s play between perception and reality - perception being the evident meaning of each symbol and reality, being the ironic opposite connotation exclusively in Nora and Torvald’s situation. Symbolism and its ironic opposite connotationRead MoreRights of Women in the Nineteenth Century and in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House1103 Words   |  5 PagesHenrik Ibsen, who was born in Norway but made his name internationally, was a painter as well as the one of most famous playwrights during the period of Realism. Ibsen’s plays are well-known by the themes of domestic and political issues and conflict in nineteenth century. Scholars call it â€Å"Ibsen’s problems play† (Henrik Ibsen, 650). In addition, in Ibsen’s plays, the general topics that are usually discussed are hypocrisy of the society, restriction of women, and the self-sacrifice. Under theRead MoreAnalysis of A Dolls House Essay1108 Words   |  5 Pageshistorical reality has on an audience. 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Nora had to have Torvald to be able to do anything, because of when she lived. Nora borrows money behind her husband’s back (which is illegal at this time) and tries to cover up everything she has done. Ibsen employs the use of many themesRead More Symbolism in A Doll’s House Essay949 Words   |  4 PagesHenrik Ibsen’s â€Å"A Doll’s House† is a controversial play focusing on the marriage of Nora and Torvald Helmer. The play is filled with symbols that represent abstract ideas and concepts. These symbols effectively illustrate the inner conflicts that are going on between the characters. Henrik Ibsen’s use of symbolism such as the Christmas tree, the locked mailbox, the Tarantella, Dr. Rank’s calling cards, and the letters allows him to give a powerful portrayal to symbolize aspects of characters andRead MoreMarxism is the belief that human consciousness is a product of one’s economic conditions, social600 Words   |  3 Pageseducational status, physical appearance, or ability. (Merriam) I n the play â€Å"A Doll House† by Henrik Ibsen, it has been debated for many years which of these factions are being referenced by the playwright. In this essay, I will show that through symbolism and characters, Ibsen’s play is a representation of Marxism; based on money and power, not Feminism. From the beginning and throughout this play, Hendrik Ibsen has symbolism revolving around money. In the beginning of ACT I, Ibsen paints a pictureRead MoreA Doll House by Henrik Ibsen564 Words   |  2 Pagesâ€Å"Forgery. Do you have any idea what that means† (1745), Torvald questions his wife Nora in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House (1879). In this play, Henrik Ibsen features individuals struggling for an authentic identity. The story focuses on an unspoken matter. Nora Helmer secretly borrowed a large sum of money for the sake of her husband’s, Torvald Helmer’s, life. Nora has never revealed the loan to Torvald and has been privately paying it off with her household allowance. When Torvald is appointed as bankRead MoreSymbolism and Sexism in Ibsen’s â€Å"a Doll’s House† Essays949 Words   |  4 Pages Symbolism and Sexism in Ibsen’s â€Å"A Doll’s House† Henrik Ibsen, the author of the controversial play â€Å"A Doll’s House† said, â€Å"There are two kinds of moral laws, two kinds of conscience, one for men and one, quite different, for women. They don’t understand each other; but in practical life, woman is judged by masculine law, as though she weren’t a woman but a man†¦A woman cannot be herself in modern society.† Isben created the plot of â€Å"A Doll’s House† from those ideas. Ibsen