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A Dolls House


            The Christmas tree in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House is symbolic of Nora and her role in the household. Nora is very attractive; she is an ornament that adds flare to the general atmosphere in the house. She is also Torvald's accoutrement that he uses to display his power and wealth; she is not to work or voice her opinions to him, her simple purpose is to please him. The symbol is not universal because Christmas trees usually symbolize the birth of Christ. Rather, the tree is a contextual symbol that relates to the Helmers" relationship. The symbolism of the Christmas tree is carefully developed by Ibsen through parallelism. In the play, Nora does not allow Torvald to see her in her gown before she dances the tarantella, just as the children are not allowed to see the tree before it is properly decorated. The symbol is once again reapplied towards the end of the play when it dies; the stage directions indicate that the tree is to be thrown out. This once again symbolizes Nora because she also leaves the house due to the fact that she is feeling "dead inside". Nora does not feel like she can identify herself and therefore has to leave Torvald so that she is able to do just that. The Christmas tree is a crucial indicator that affects the overall depth of the play because it indicates the fluctuating character that Nora represents. It identifies her to the reader, during a time when she cannot even identify herself.
            


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