Themes and Symbols in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House
by Barry Wright
Essay: Themes and Symbols in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House
Pages: 10
Rating: 3 stars
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“I’ve been your doll-wife here, just as at home I was Papa’a doll-child” (Ibsen 1491). Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House
tells a story of scandal and deceit set in the Victorian era. Nora Helmer is married to Torvald Helmer and she feels
more like his toy than his wife. Nora had to have Torvald to be able to do anything, because of when she lived.
Nora borrows money behind her husband’s back (which is illegal at this time) and tries to cover up everything she
has done. Ibsen employs the use of many themes and symbols in his A Doll House to show the reader just how
Nora was a doll-child who evolved into a doll-wife.
The central theme of A Doll House is a true marriage us a joining of equals. The entire play centers in on the
crumbling of a marriage that is just the opposite of this. At the beginning of the play both of the Helmers seem
happy with their marriage. Though, as the play moves along the imbalance becomes more and more apparent. By
the end of the story, the marriage falls apart because of a complete lack of understanding between Torvald and
Nora. Together in wedlock, the two cannot realize who they are as individuals. They can only see themselves as
part of the marriage.
Another very important theme in this play is the home. From the very beginning of the play home is a place of
comfort, joy, and shelter. The idea of home is woven into the idea of a happy family, which the Helmers seem to
be. Towards the end of the play, the happiness in the Helmer household changes and the imbalance of power
becomes a major issue. At this point, the seemingly happy home is revealed as just people putting on an act for
each other and the outside world. The Helmers put up a façade, a doll's house, as a way of hiding the tension
between the...
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