SYMBOLS & MOTIFS IN ​A DOLL’S HOUSE

There are many motifs in ‘A Doll’s House’. A motif is a recurring element (object, character, phrase, etc) that has a particular significance.
Look at the example below. Then complete “your” motif and present it to the class. You will need to peruse the play again.

​CHARACTER(S) KEY EXAMPLES SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MOTIF

ASSOCIATED WITH (Give quote, scene & page numbers)
MOTIF

The Christmas Tree - Nora - “Hide the tree carefully, Helene. THe - Emphasize Nora’s character evolution
and decorations children musn’t catch a glimpse of it - Nora’s role - decoration
until its decorated” (11).· - Lighting- secrets
- Lights on tree, page 17 - Nora’s character changes, the christmas changes
- Dressing the tree (47-48) - Secrets kept from family
- “Oh and maybe I have a little something
wrapped in gold paper to hang on the tree”
(52?)
- “The CHristmas tree is now in the corner
by the piano… somewhat tattered
branched” (53)

Doors opening / closing
Entrances and exits and
their significance
- Nora - Nora enters in act 1 humming happily - Division between men and women
- Krogstad to herself (11). - Nora enters and is happy- societal expectations
- Torvald - Krogstad enters, Nora appears - Nora’s entrance vs Krogstad’s- highlights tension and
uncomfortable (38). different expectations between men and women
- Nora is practicing her dance, Torvald - Secrecy
shuts the door (65). - Torvald quickly opening door- secrets being revealed
- “ (She bolts the door of the study)” - Ending
(74).
- “Torvald opens his door quickly and
stands with the letter in his hand”
(104).
- “The sound of a door shutting is heard
from below” (119).
 Clothes / costumes /
dressing up and being a
doll wife
playing roles
- Nora - Nora changes from street clothes to
dressing up for Torvald (11-12)
- “Couldn’t you help me decide what I
should go as, what sort of dress I
should wear?” (49-50)
- “I finally found the box with the fancy
dress… I’d like to tear it to pieces”
- She dresses up for Torvald- appealing to his tastes
but her street clothes are what she is comfortable in
- Asking Torvald’s opinion, doesn’t make decisions on
her own
- Facade that Nora puts up with fancy dresses

Internal landscape - Nora - “Whatever you say, Torvald. (At the - The stove is a substitute that aims to fill the void of
Stove / warmth - Torvald stove)” (13) emotional warmth
manmade and natural - Dr Rank - “(going over to the stove) Dear Dr - Torvald is dismissive to Nora and she goes over to
affection - Mrs Linde Rank, that was really awful of you” the stove to seek comfort/warmth
(71). - Artificial nature of love
- “There now, let’s sit here and be - Comfort and warmth
warm and cozy by the stove” (19).
- “(sitting down by the stove)” (48)

Light/Darkness - Nora - “They’ll all be revealed this evening
- Torvald when we light this tree” (17).
- Dr Rank - “(Maid enters with lamp, sets it down
on the table, and exits)” (71)
- “It’s all dark in here. Oh, of
course--excuse me -- (he goes in and
lights some candles)”
- “Put the front door light out” (102).
- Darkness shows secrets and people kept in the dark,
the light exposes these secrets
- Feelings- Nora’s feelings towards Torvald vs Dr
Rank
- Honesty and forthcoming light dims with
Torvald, she is not honest with him. With Dr
Rank she is honest and open, the light
brightens.
 Letters and mail - Nora - Character foil- Torvald (static) &
- Torvald Krogstad (dynamic)
- Krogstad - “When Torvald has gotten my
letter, I expect a reply” (78)
- “The letter is lying there in the
box” (81)
Names and Nicknames - Nora - “Is that my little lark twittering
and their significance - Torvald away” (12).
- “Has Madam Extravagant been
throwing money away again”
(12).
- “Don’t be a sulky little squirrel”
(13).
- “MAdam stubborn” (64).
- “My own little lark”
Illness / Disease and - “Within a month I’ll lie rotting in
death the graveyard” (66).
- “As soon as I am absolutely
sure that the end is coming, I
will send you my card with a
black cross on it” (67).
- “That when those cards came,
he’d be taking his leave of us.
He’ll shut himself in now and
die”
Sewing / embroidery and
mending
- The one letter highlights changes in Krogstad’s
character
- Torvald’s letter to dismiss Krogstad shows his pride
which is so important to him throughout the play
- Krogstad’s letter is a symbol of Nora fate
- Gender inequality
- Gender roles
- Torvald is belittling and demeaning Nora
- Men and women power differences
- Reveal inequality in relationships
-
Dr Rank’s deterioration of health parallels the
deterioration of Nora and Torvald’s relationship
- Highlights faults in unequal marriages in society
- Symbolism of Rank’s illness
- Ranks hereditary disease- Nora’s moral corruption
from her father
 Money / finances and - Nora - “Spendthrifts” (15) - Torvald oversimplifies concepts of finances when
role of men and women - Torvald - “Even at school you just loved talking to Nora, derogatory
- Krogstad to spend money” (21). - Being incapable of handling money is a quality
- “I’m not asking your husband associated with women
for a penny” (77). - Nora has to pay back Krogstad, women in this era
- “No plan that I would put into had no way to earn money
practice” (76).

Macaroons / treats and - Nora - “She takes a bag of - Gender roles, expectations of women
presents - Torval macaroons from her pocket… - Nora is compared to a child, these rules against sweets are
d puts the bag of macaroons in rules that would be applied to a child, shows Torvald’s
her pocket” (12). control over Nora
- “Macaroons? Well, I thought - Afraid they’ll ruin her teeth- Torvald doesn’t think Nora
they were forbidden in this capable of self control, values her appearance
house” (34)
- “He’s afraid they will ruin my
teeth” (34).

Children and their - Nora - Children asking Nora to play, - Women’s roles
function and role in the Nora says she has a lot to do - Society’s expectations of women
text (47). - Facade of happy family
Adults acting like - Nurse taking care of children - Doll children- facade
children (54).
- “He called me his doll child,
 and played with me just as I
used to play with my dolls”
(110).

Singing, dancing and - Nora - “When he no longer enjoys - Nora’s willingness to play the part that is expected of her
performing watching me dancing and - THe facade Nora puts up
playing roles dressing up” (28) - Nora’s performances are to please Torvald
- “Torvald-I’ll sing for you, - Tarantella - frustration & oppression
dance for you” (48?).
- “I’d be a fairy and dance for
you in the moonlight, Torvald”
(61)..
- The Tarantella “dancing as if
her life depended on it (84).
- Torvald commanding Nora not
to dance so violently (83)

The Doll’s House

the façade
the spaces of Nora and
Helmer