A Dolls House

A.P. English A Doll’s House Essay Through the use of symbols, Henrik Ibsen turns two-dimensional, fictional characters into profound, sincere personas that relay Ibsen’s themes to the reader. These symbols, including the macaroon, Dr. Rank’s disease, and the Christmas tree, divulge the intricate ideas that lay beyond the simple events in the plot. In the beginning of the play, Nora is seen nibbling secretly at a macaroon, which she hides from …

…until the third act of the play. The Christmas tree is also a symbol of the birth of Christ. This represents Nora’s separation from the chains of her husband, and her birth as a new woman. To express the themes of his play to the reader Henrik Ibsen uses a simple plot sequence intermingled with powerful symbols. These symbols aid the reader in understanding the characters and the basis of A Doll’s House.