Symbols in Literarature
Many plays and other literary pieces often use symbols to reaffirm or uniquely present themes. Symbols can vary from objects, to colloquial sayings, to even times of day, such as the Sphinx' riddle to Oedipus. Henrik Ibsen uses symbols so precisely in "A Dollhouse", that they are not too obvious, but they deeply enrich all factors of the play's plot and theme. One of the first symbols Ibsen uses in "The Dollhouse" is the Christmas tree. It is tradition for a tree to be put up during the holiday, even though it serves no purpose other than decoration. This is what Torvald has apparently thought of Nora being, a decoration. He repeatedly addresses her as his "little skylark" and "little squirrel" (1794). Nora doesn't seem to have a problem with it; she often used the pet names to get something from Torvald: NORA: If your little squirrel were to ask for something very, very prettily--? HELMER: I would like to hear what it is, first. NORA: Your Squirrel would run about and do all her tricks if you would be nice and do what she wants. NORA: Your skylark would chirp about in every room, with her song rising and falling—
NORA: I would play the fairy and dance for you in the moonlight, Torvald. New Year's is another symbol in the play. Nora and Torvald are in the best of sprits, both looking forward to Torvald's new job. Nora says, "You are going to have a big salary and earn lots and lots of money" (1794). She is overjoyed because now she will be able to more easily pay back the money she owes. But at the end of the play, both of them seem completely different, and instead of a new happy change, they must begin their lives anew separate from each other; in fact, Nora's conditions for her return are, "Both you and I would have to be so changes that--. Oh Torvald, I don't believe any longer in wonderful things happening" (1842). She has all ready changed enough to wish to live, to no longer live with him anymore, and Torvald changes in that he even has a streak of hope to be back with his Nora, and if it happened, he would be the partner who would be trying to be sweet to the other one for things.
Some topics in this essay:
Initially Nora,
Shepherd Love,
Nora Torvald,
Oh Torvald,
Christmas Tree,
Sake Beauty,
Dollhouse Christmas,
HELMER Speak,
,
Henrik Ibsen,
christmas tree,
little squirrel,
shepherd love,
beauty love,
little skylark,
love sake,
sake beauty love,
love sake beauty,
sake beauty,
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Approximate Word count = 910
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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