Symbolism has been used in a dolls house to bring out the theme of feminism in the play. Women have been displayed to be part of a man’s property who do not necessarily have their own rights. Women delight in having men who are able to provide for them as they believe they are to remain dependant on the man. The man is a symbol of strength and provision in the play which has been displayed by their need to have adequate resources. The title of the paper, ‘a doll’s house’ is a symbol that has been used to refer to Nora in reference to the treatment he receives from his husband (Ibsen 13). The Christmas tree and the new year eve are also some of the symbols that have been naturally used by Ibsen to clearly bring out the theme. In this paper, we shall be discussing the significance of the symbols in relation to the theme of feminism in the play.
Nora is a woman in distress who is doing all he can to please his husband just as the society demands. She is a woman who actually does not believe on depending on his husband and is willing to go that extra mile to supplement for the needs of the family. However, she is forced to carry out such responsibilities in secret so that she is not looked at as a woman who is disrespecting her husband. Ibsen has however displayed this in a natural way as to what any other person would do (Templeton 35). For instance, it is natural for a woman to cover up the weaknesses of the family by getting some extra cash just to clear debts or supplement for the income. It is only at the end of the story that we actually realise that it was a form of unfair treatment that Nora and other women in the play have been subjected to. Nora confesses that she has not enjoyed any freedom simply because she was not allowed to be herself. She had to live in lies and pretence just to please her husband and the society.
A doll is a toy that can be played with at anytime and in anyway. It is a lifeless thing that cannot complain no matter how much pressure it is subjected to. It is clear from the novel that Nora is being treated as a doll despite the fact that she is the one in control of the house. Her husband who plays with her around treats Nora as a doll. She is not entitled to her own opinion and has to live in accordance to the directives of the husband (SparkNotes Editors 1). Despite the fact that the family is doing well financially, Nora is not entitled to spend the cash the way she wants. She is treated like a child who may not contribute to financial decisions of the family. This is also revealed through the other women in the play who feel incomplete without the provision of their husbands. They are not only treated as dolls by the society but have since accepted the title even though they are uncomfortable.
The Christmas tree is also a symbol that has been naturally used to display the prevailing season of Christmas and the excitement that comes with it. However, Torvard seems less excited about the season considering the spending that comes with it and the fact that Nora seems to care less about the spending. This shows the different views that men and women have towards the festive season, which has naturally been displayed by Ibsen (Alexander 18). Nora believes that the festivity is a time to enjoy in fact considering the fact that the family has recovered from an economic hardships. Even with such a transformation, Nora does not have the freedom to spend. Her husband still feels that money should not be spend on such luxuries like gifts and Christmas decorations.
Lastly, the New Years Eve has been used naturally to signify a new dawn especially for the women in the play. It is a time for new life and being set free from the pressure that has been subjected to them by the men. Secrets that had been kept by the women due to fear of being stigmatized by the society are revealed (Ibsen 23). On the other hand, the men also display the attitude they had towards the women by how they react to the situations around them. The perfect example is that of Nora and Torvard whose life turns out to the worst when Nora reveals what she has been keeping for some time. The fact that Torvad was treating Nora as a toy came out clear when he abused her on learning that she had taken a loan that she was secretly paying. He did not understand her simply because he believed he was in control of the house and that Nora had no ability to make and implement decisions on behalf of the family.
Works cited
Alexander, Peter C. "Building a Doll's House: A Feminist Analysis of Marital Debt Dischargeability in Bankruptcy." Vill. L. Rev. 48 (2003): 381.
Ibsen, Henrik. "A Doll's House (1879)." Ibsen Plays (1980).
Ibsen, Henryk. A doll's house. DoverPublications. com, 1992.
SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on A Doll’s House.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2002. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
Templeton, Joan. "The Doll House Backlash: Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen." Publications of the Modern Language Association of America (1989): 28-40.
