Detailed Analysis of Symbolism in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House

This essay provides an analysis of the symbolism employed in Henrik Ibsen's play, "A Doll's House." The author explores how specific symbols like macaroons and the game of Hide-and-Seek represent Nora's character traits, including her innocence and defiance against societal norms. The essay further examines the symbolic significance of the Christmas season and the Christmas tree, illustrating their connection to Nora's emotional and mental state throughout the play. Additionally, the analysis delves into the symbolic connotations of entrances and exits, highlighting how they reflect Nora's evolving journey and her ultimate rejection of a submissive role in a male-dominated society. The essay effectively demonstrates how Ibsen uses these symbols to convey deeper meanings and themes within the play, enhancing the understanding of Nora's character and the play's overall message.

Running head: SYMBOLISM IN “A DOLL’S HOUSE”
SYMBOLISM IN “A DOLL’S HOUSE”
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1SYMBOLISM IN “A DOLL’S HOUSE”
Symbols Dramatic Function
Macaroons & the game
of Hide-and-Seek
The macaroons which Nora eats in the play “A Doll’s House” are
symbolical representations of her happy-go-lucky nature,
childishness, innocence and others. More importantly, the
macaroons which are eaten by Nora in the play can also be seen as
a representation of her revolt against the male dominated society of
the 20th century since she eats the macaroons even after Helmer
forbids her to do so. Thus, by eating the macaroons she can be seen
as challenging the authority or the dominance of Helmer. On the
other hand, the game of Hide-and-Seek which is being played in the
play by Nora is a representative of her innocence. Therefore, it can
be said that although Ibsen takes the help of two different symbols
yet both of them have been used in the play under discussion here
to shed light on the innocence, playfulness, childishness and other
important characteristic features of Nora, the central protagonist of
the play.
Christmas season & the
Christmas tree
The symbol of the Christmas tree had been used in the play to
denote life itself. Furthermore, the tree is also representative of
positive energy or for that matter of spiritual energy and in a way
represents the life and spiritual energy of Nora. Thus, by the end of
the play the Christmas tree becomes completely dishelved as well
as stripped which in turn is representative of the mental and the
emotional deterioration that Nora herself undergoes during the

2SYMBOLISM IN “A DOLL’S HOUSE”
course of the play. On the other hand, the Christmas season in the
play is representative of merriment and the joy with which Nora is
redolent with. However, just like the Christmas tree which
undergoes a significant amount of deterioration in the play, the joy
or the merriment of the Christmas season also gets ruined which in
turn is yet another symbolical representation of the degradation in
the condition of Nora that she undergoes during the entire course of
the play under discussion here.
Entrances & exits (Who
enters? Who leaves?
What effects do their
entrances & exits
provide? How? Why?
The different entrances and the exits in the play are redolent with
symbolical connotations. For instance, in the final section of the
play, the exit of Nora denotes her act of shutting down the
submissive life that she had led under the dominance of her
husband. This also means that she no longer desires to live in a
male dominated society and is finally ready to embrace the life of a
modern woman who does not have to depend on any man for her
identity or for fulfilling her needs. Furthermore, the different
entrances in the play are representatives of the numerous
opportunities which she offers to her husband to leave behind the
masochistic approach that he had been following till now and
thereby embrace the modern life wherein he would be able to treat
his wife with the dignity as well as the respect that she rightfully
deserves as his wife.