Homework Help

Good students ask more questions. eNotes educators are standing by.

user profile pic

studjenn

Student

College - Sophomore

  • Up
  • 3
  • Down

Topic: A Doll's House

What symbolism is represented in "A Doll's House"?

Posted by studjenn on May 18, 2008 at 11:20 AM via web and tagged with a doll's house, a doll’s house, literature, symbols

Share this question:


7 Answers | add yours

    user profile pic

    kwoo1213

    Teacher

    Community / Jr. College

    Educator, Expert, Instructor, Dickens, The Bard

    • Up
    • 0
    • Down

    An obvious symbol is Nora herself.  She is the "doll" of the house, pretending to be the perfect wife that her husband wants, but dying inside. Torvald also treats her as if she were...

    (The entire answer is 103 words.)

    This is an expert answer, written by an eNotes educator. To read the entire answer, please join eNotes.

    Posted by kwoo1213 on May 18, 2008 at 11:46 AM (Answer #1)

    user profile pic

    pmiranda2857

    Teacher

    High School - 10th Grade

    Educator Emeritus, Expert, Dickens, The Bard

    • Up
    • 0
    • Down

    An interesting symbol that is usually not mentioned is the dance, the Tarantella, that Nora practices for Torvald. 

    During this dance, Nora is full of excitement, nervous energy and...

    (The entire answer is 220 words.)

    This is an expert answer, written by an eNotes educator. To read the entire answer, please join eNotes.

    Posted by pmiranda2857 on May 19, 2008 at 7:08 AM (Answer #2)

    user profile pic

    bookworm-dg

    Student

    High School - 10th Grade

    Honors

    • Up
    • 0
    • Down

    Adding to what pmiranda2857 said, the tarantella is quite a wild dance and could perhaps indicate Nora's inner struggle. The dance is a chance for her to break free and prove herself indirectly.

    Maybe a question for yourself, looking at kwoo1213's answer, do you think that the author shows signs of feminism?

    Posted by bookworm-dg on May 26, 2008 at 4:06 AM (Answer #3)

    user profile pic

    jomabo

    Student

    High School - 12th Grade

    eNoter

    • Up
    • 0
    • Down

    Although there are many symbols in A Doll's House, an important symbol is the Christmas tree.  The Christmas tree represents Nora; it is something nice to look at.  Both the tree and Nora are used to dress up or decorate and for people to admire.  Throughout the play it becomes obvious that the tree and Nora are one in the same.  AS the tree becomes disheveled and messy so does Nora.  Also like the tree, Nora is not to be revealed in her party dress until she looks completely perfect. 

    Posted by jomabo on October 7, 2009 at 1:55 PM (Answer #4)

    user profile pic

    lopezlopez261

    Student

    High School - 12th Grade

    • Up
    • 0
    • Down
    Although there are many symbols in the play, one of the most important ones is the dress change at the end of the play. By doing that it represents her decision to become new women. She takes out her dress to wear a usual everyday day garment, with that. she puts her new persona of a free women.

    Posted by lopezlopez261 on October 7, 2009 at 2:44 PM (Answer #5)

    user profile pic

    roro902

    Student

    College - Junior

    eNoter

    • Up
    • 0
    • Down

    THE SYMBOLISM OF NORA BEEN A DOLL

    Posted by roro902 on December 29, 2010 at 3:32 AM (Answer #6)

    user profile pic

    asaly

    Student

    College - Senior

    eNoter

    • Up
    • 0
    • Down

    thanks everyone :)

    Posted by asaly on June 27, 2011 at 3:22 AM (Answer #7)

Join to answer this question

Join a community of thousands of dedicated teachers and students.

JOIN eNOTES