A Dolls House Symbols and Themes

Symbol #2: Pet Names

"My poor, helpless, bewildered little creature" (226)

Statement Of Intent/Purpose

The pet names Torvald gives to Nora are symbolic of the way he views her (as a pet or child) and the fact that he doesn't take her seriously or view her as an individual capable of serious thoughts and decision making. This changes when Nora makes the decision to leave Torvald and proves to him that she isn't just his "little songbird" and is, in fact, capable of independent thoughts and actions.

Symbol #3: Krogstad's Letter

Symbol #1: Clothing/Nora's Costume

Nora removing her fancy dress before leaving Torvald is symbolic of her decision to stop pretending to be something she's not for the sake of her husband.

The letter is symbolic of the impending end of Nora and Torvald's Marriage. Nora's desperate attempts at stalling Torvald and her avoidance of him reading the letter is symbolic of her denial of the state of their marriage. This changes once the letter is read and she realizes how fragile her relationship with Torvald was and comes to see that it wasn't really worth saving in the first place.

Nora's Tarentella costume is symbolic of her willingness to pretend to be something she's not in order to make her husband feel that he is in complete control of her. Nora consistently plays dumb with Torvald in order to stroke his ego. Nora asking for Torvald's help in picking her costume is one of the ways in which she plays the role of the helpless little girl who is unable to make even the smallest decisions without the help of a man.

The thematic idea I am trying to explore with this prezi is the contrast between meeting expectations (set by both society and the people an individual holds dear) and making decisions for self-interests and needs as a person. In trying her best to project the behaviors Torvald saw desirable and trying to protect him from seeing her in a way he wouldn't approve of, Nora was simply meeting expectations. When Nora makes the decision to leave for her own development as a person she is doing something for herself instead of other people. I chose to use macaroons as my background picture because they symbolize one of the many ways Torvald controls Nora's behaviors. I chose a picture of a Tarantella costume because it symbolizes one of the ways Nora tries to meet the expectations of both her husband and society as well as another way in which Torvald has control over Nora. I chose to use a picture of a bird in a cage to show how Nora felt caged and trapped in her role as a mother and wife.

"The squanderbird's a pretty little creature but she goes through an awful lot of money. Its incredible what an expensive pet she is for a man to keep" (page 174)

"Helmer: Aha! So little miss independent's in trouble and needs a man to rescue her, does she?

Nora: Yes, Torvald. I can't get anywhere without your help" (Page 194)

" Nora: Yes, it's been a hard fight" (226)

A Doll's House Visual Thingy

By Robynn Janewski