Symbols and Characters of Importance A Doll’s House Symbols and Characters of Importance LI: We are learning to be able to discuss and analyse the significance of Ibsen’s literary choices in the play

We will start today with a fishbowl activity To have a successful conversation, you… MUST- Reference quotes to support your points SHOULD- Be able to analyse the symbolic representation of the objects in the entire play COULD- Be able to comment on the effect on the audience/readers of the play

FISHBOWL ACTIVITY SYMBOL SIGNIFICANCE LETTERS (AND WRITING in general) Group 1 DR RANK’s CALLING CARD TARANTELLA DANCE Group 2 NORA’S DRESSES and CHANGING DOLLS Group 3 KROGSTAD’S BOND THE HOUSE (SETTING) Group 4 HIDE AND SEEK GAME

LETTERS (Can you extend to the Written Word?) Many of the plot’s twists and turns depend upon the writing and reading of letters, which function within the play as the subtext that reveals the true, unpleasant nature of reality. Krogstad writes two letters: the first reveals Nora’s crime of forgery to Torvald; the second retracts his blackmail threat and returns Nora’s bond. The first letter, which Krogstad places in Torvald’s letterbox near the end of Act Two, represents the truth. The second letter releases Nora from her obligation to Krogstad and represents her release from her obligation to Torvald.

DR RANK’S CALLING CARD His calling card with a black cross is a death notice It comes from the letterbox with Krogstad’s first letter It symbolises the death of Nora and Torvald’s marriage ‘Nora. No; yesterday it was very noticeable. I must tell you that he suffers from a very dangerous disease. He has consumption of the spine, poor creature. His father was a horrible man who committed all sorts of excesses; and that is why his son was sickly from childhood,  do you understand?’  Dr Rank represents the rotten backbone of VICTORIAN society- he is a product of an evil, selfish man

TARANTELLA DANCE ‘Nora. Look here. Tomorrow evening there is to be a fancy-dress ball at the Stenborgs', who live above us; and Torvald wants me to go as a Neapolitan fisher-girl, and dance the Tarantella that I learned at Capri.’ A wild southern Italian dance Tarantism, as a ritual, has roots in the ancient Greek myths. Reportedly, victims who had collapsed or were convulsing would begin to dance with appropriate music and be revived as if a tarantula had bitten them. The music used to treat dancing mania appears to be similar to that used in the case of tarantism.

NORA’S DRESSES (AND CHANGING) ‘Enter NORA, humming a tune and in high spirits. She is in outdoor dress and carries a number of parcels; these she lays on the table to the right. She leaves the outer door open after her, and through it is seen a PORTER who is carrying a Christmas Tree and a basket…’ The MAID ushers in Mrs. LINDE, who is in travelling dress ‘Don't laugh at me! I mean, of course, when Torvald is no longer as devoted to me as he is now; when my dancing and dressing-up and reciting  have palled on him; then it may be a good thing to have something in reserve’ But it was often very hard on me, Christine--because it is delightful to be really well dressed, isn't it?

Christmas Tree What connotations are associated with Christmas? The Christmas tree, a festive object meant to serve a decorative purpose, symbolizes Nora’s position in her household as a plaything who is pleasing to look at and adds charm to the home. There are several parallels drawn between Nora and the Christmas tree in the play. Just as Nora instructs the maid that the children cannot see the tree until it has been decorated, she tells Torvald that no one can see her in her dress until the evening of the dance. Also, at the beginning of the second act, after Nora’s psychological condition has begun to erode, the stage directions indicate that the Christmas tree is correspondingly “dishevelled.” ‘Nora. Hide the Christmas Tree carefully, Helen. Be sure the children do not see it until this evening, when it is dressed.’

Christmas Tree (Cont’d) Nora (begins dressing the tree). A candle here-and flowers here—The horrible man! It's all nonsense--there's nothing wrong. The tree shall be splendid! I will do everything I can think of to please you, Torvald!--I will sing for you, dance for you—’

DOLLS Who treats whom like a doll? Why does this matter? ‘Look, here is a new suit for Ivar, and a sword; and a horse and a trumpet for Bob; and a doll and dolly's bedstead for Emmy,--they are very plain, but anyway she will soon break them in pieces…’ ‘Nora. Really! Did a big dog run after you? But it didn't bite you? No, dogs don't bite nice little dolly children.’

DOLLS He called me his doll-child, and he played with me just as I used to play with my dolls. And when I came to live with you--  I have been your doll-wife, just as at home I was papa's doll-child; and here the children have been my dolls. I thought it great fun when you played with me, just as they thought it great fun when I played with them. That is what our marriage has been, Torvald.  DOLLS HAVE A PASTE ON FACE AND CAN APPEAR ‘ONLY MERRY’.

HIDE AND SEEK GAME Who is Nora symbolically hiding from? What happens when Torvald finds out? ‘Come, let us have a game! What shall we play at? Hide and Seek? Yes, we'll play Hide and Seek. Bob shall hide first. Must I hide? Very well, I'll hide first. (She and the children laugh and shout, and romp in and out of the room; at last NORA hides under the table, the children rush in and out for her, but do not see her; they hear her smothered laughter, run to the table, lift up the cloth and find her. Shouts of laughter. She crawls forward and pretends to frighten them. Fresh laughter. Meanwhile there has been a knock at the hall door, but none of them has noticed it. The door is half opened, and KROGSTAD appears, he waits a little; the game goes on.)’

EXAMINE AND P-E-E-L Nurse. At last I have found the box with the fancy dress. Nora. Thanks; put it on the table. Nurse (doing so). But it is very much in want of mending. Nora. I should like to tear it into a hundred thousand pieces. Nurse. What an idea! It can easily be put in order--just a little patience. Nora. Yes, I will go and get Mrs. Linde to come and help me with it. Nurse. What, out again? In this horrible weather? You will catch cold, ma'am, and make yourself ill. Nora. Well, worse than that might happen. How are the children?