The symbol of the Christmas Tree parallels Nora, which also reflects to the larger meaning regarding women’s place in society. The Christmas Tree displays that women are meant to be something pretty to be admired by the men of the household and the outside world, this reinforces the idea that women are merely accessories for men and not actual, thinking beings. Looking specifically at Nora, however, the tree mirrors her actions, feelings, and how she is viewed by the other characters in the play. As Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” opens, the first words spoken are by Nora and read as, “Hide the tree well, Helene. The children mustn’t get a glimpse of it till this evening, after it’s trimmed.” This is incredibly important because it reflects that …show more content…
Ugh, that was the dullest time I’ve ever lived through.” Through this example, the symbol of the Christmas tree enlarges the meaning of women’s role in society and with men. By Nora locking herself in a room and preparing the Christmas tree, it represents the women preparing themselves for the men and the society. This furthers the notion that women are viewed as accessories for men that are simply meant to be quiet and pretty. Similarly to when Nora did not allow the children to view the Christmas tree before it was trimmed and decorated, Nora doesn’t allow the Torvald or the rest of her family to view the tree or it’s decorations the year prior. This could be seen as Nora’s character growing to where she is hiding less of herself from Torvald, her children, and the society that surrounds, which allows parallels her as a …show more content…
This is symbolic of women being expected to give everything to their children and families, even if it destroys them. The society expects women to be completely selfless, even if it is dangerous or harmful to themselves, which is portrayed through the destruction of the Christmas tree. Moreover, the tree is ignored from this point to the end of the story, which is builds on the representation of women’s place in society. This is particularly representative of women being good for nothing, but providing for their families. After the children are taken care of with their presents and the Christmas tree is no longer beautiful or relevant, neither is the women or Nora to their husband and children.
In conclusion, the author uses the symbol of the Christmas tree to provide satire at the gender roles of women during the time period this was written. This calls into question women’s roles beyond the family. Through this symbol, Ibsen asks readers to question and challenge their society to find worth in women, themselves, rather than women’s identity through their social class and
The Christmas tree is an important symbol because it represents Nora’s life. The beginning of Act 2 states that the tree was tattered and stripped of ornaments, just like Nora’s life was falling apart.
In the end, all three minor characters have undergone a radical change, having arrived at some other position in life. Krogstad and Mrs. Linde have become a couple, and Dr. Rank is soon to pass away. This is significant, as Nora has chosen to abandon her family to pursue her own independence and individuality. She will no longer play the part of a doll and depend on Torvald to support her and resolve all of her problems and thus, takes a giant step forward towards the development of women as their own individuals. Ibsen’s A Doll’s House explores the role of women in the late 1800’s and stresses the importance of their realization of this believed inferiority. Living in our present day society sometimes causes us to underestimate the transition that women have undergone throughout these last hundred years. However, Nora’s progression at the end of the play arouses an awareness to an awakening society recognizing the changing view of the status of women at that time.
Langås, U. (2005). What Did Nora Do? Thinking Gender with A Doll's House. Ibsen Studies, 5(2), 148-171. doi:10.1080/15021860500424254
The nineteenth century was truly a different time for women and what their assumed roles in life would be. Henrik Ibsen’s play “A Doll’s House” is an examination into those assumed roles and a challenge to them. It was a time of obedience and inequality and in the first act each character is shown to portray these qualities. However, the characters in this play have multiple layers that get peeled back as the story progresses. As each new layer is revealed the audience is shown that even with the nineteenth century ideals, the true nature of each character is not quite what they appeared to be initially.
Henrik Ibsen paints a sad picture of the sacrificial role of women throughout all social economical classes in his play “A Doll House”. The story is set in the late 19th century and all minor female characters had to overcome adversity to the expense of love, family and self-realization, in order to lead a comfortable life. While the main female protagonist Nora struggles with her increasingly troubled marriage, she soon realizes, she needs to change her life to be happy as the play climaxes. Her journey to self-discovery is achieved by the threat of her past crime and her oppressing husband, Torvald and the society he represents. The minor female characters exemplifying Nora’s ultimate sacrifice.
The Christmas tree in itself is symbolic and it means the play takes place during Christmastime. Ibsen uses Christmas tree to mainly construct the character of Nora. The Christmas tree symbolizes the feelings of Nora. At the start of the play, Nora enters the room carelessly and her mood is festive. The Christmas tree, a festive object used for decorative purposes, represents the function of Nora in her household who is pleasing to look and who adds the charm to their home. Nora dresses the tree just as Torvald dresses her up for the Stenborgs’ party. Like other married women during the period, Nora is simply decorative and is not allowed to make familial decisions. Nora instructs the housemaid, “Hide the Christmas tree carefully, Helen. Be sure the children do not see it till this evening, when it is dressed” (Ibsen 793), the same as when she tells Torvald that no one can see her in her dress until the evening of the dance. The Christmas tree also imitates the psychological state of Nora when it is described to be “…stripped of its ornaments and with burnt-down candle-ends on its disheveled branches” (Ibsen 812). This describes Nora when she receives the bad news from Krogstad; as a result her min...
Imagery symbolically guides the process of self-emancipation for Nora, the protagonist of A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen. Objects like the macaroons, the lamp, the Christmas tree, and costumes represent the movement towards freedom of a woman who was a victim of society. Ibsen painted Nora as a youthful and lovely creature who was brought through life treated as a plaything by both her father and then her husband, Torvald. She must break society's unwritten laws. Although the consequences of her actions are initially minor, they start her along the path towards crisis when she realizes her position and the injustice of it. Through Ibsen's use of symbolism, objects in the play echo her process of anguish to liberation.
Nora loves her husband very much, even to the point of idolizing him. As she first enters the home with the Christmas packag...
The idea of equality for women has been the subject of countless books, speeches, and performances for decades. The concept of a world in which a woman can be considered equal to a man is not a new concept in today’s society, but it was in that of 19th century Norway. This is the world of noted playwright Heinrik Ibsen, a forward thinking individual with ideas that challenged the restrictions of society time and time again. A forerunner in the women’s rights movement, Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House offers a commentary much before its time on the dangers of a patriarchal society through the evolution of its protagonist, Nora. In his play, Ibsen uses the Christmas tree to symbolize the growing empowerment and independence of Nora, as well as the steady deterioration of Nora and Helmer’s marriage.
Nothing does this better than the Christmas tree. It first appears at the top of Act 1, and Nora decorates it as the Act progresses. Then at the top of Act 2, the tree is described right away as, “The same room, in the corner by the piano stands the Christmas tree, stripped, bedraggled, with its candle-stumps all burned down” (Ibsen 741). The Christmas tree mirrors the Helmer family’s happiness and harmony. At the beginning of the show, it is beautiful and put together. Nora is the one fluffing it up and making it look as pretty as she’s trying to make her life look. Then as soon as Torvald goes into a discussion about how he thinks a lying mother will poison her children, the tree is next described as a tattered
Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” a nineteenth century play successfully uses symbolism to express many characteristics of Helmer’s life, together with the way that the main character Nora feels towards her marriage at the end of the play. Ibsen’s use of symbolism to convey about the social setting, including the harsh male-controlled Danish society, seen mostly in Torvald in the play and the role of women, signified mostly in Nora. These symbols act as foretelling before the tragic events at the end of the play, as they show the problems which lead to the demise of the Helmer’s ‘perfect’ family life.
During the time in which Henrik Isben's play, A Doll?s House, took place society frowned upon women asserting themselves. Women were supposed to play a role in which they supported their husbands, took care of their children, and made sure everything was perfect around the house. Nora is portrayed as a doll throughout the play until she realizes the truth about the world she lives in, and cuts herself free.
Ibsen writes his play A Doll House to explain the life of a housewife and her struggles with her own actions. Ibsen examines the emptiness in the lives of Nora and Torvald as they lived a dream in a Doll House. Both awaken and realize this emptiness and so now Torvald struggles to make amends as he hopes to get Nora back possibly and then to restore a new happiness in their lives. Ibsen examines this conflict as a rock that breaks the image of this perfect life and reveals all the imperfections in the lives of those around.
The Christmas tree, a festive object meant to serve a decorative purpose, symbolizes Nora’s position in her household as a plaything who is pleasing to look at. Ibsen’s use of the Christmas tree is portrayed throughout the play. The Christmas tree symbolized Nora’s feelings. In the First act there is a festive tree with “pretty red flowers” and Nora comes in the house carelessly. Nora’s mood is festive and tree gives a merry glow to the reader. At the end of act 1, Nora has been threatened by krogstad that if she doesn’t help him keep the job, he will tell Torvald about the illegal loan. Torvald on the other hand believes that Krogstad “forged someone name” and will be fired. So in act II, the tree is striped of his ornaments. In the act the tree is dropping along with Nora’s Hope and Happiness. The tree helps the reader fell the anxiety of Nora’s feelings. A Christmas tree itself is a symbol for joy so that is why it is used. Through all times and even in the bible trees and flowers have been a subject of wonderment; a symbol of life, that is why Ibsen uses this as a symbol of Nora’s feelings.
“A Doll’s House” is a play written by a Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen. The play was published in 1879, and is a literary piece that triggered almost vigorous reactions from the audience. Moreover, the play was considered Ibsen’s masterpiece and he was determined to provoke a reaction from the public. His intention was to bring awareness to the problem of gender roles in the 19th century society: the role of women who were used as decorations of the household. The title this play, “A Doll’s House”, foreshadows the play’s protagonist, Nora Helmer, and her role in the household. The title of the play suggests that Nora is a doll in her own home.