Symbolism in A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen Essay example

Symbolism in A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen is perhaps one of the most hotly debated plays to come out of the 19th century. The 19th century continued the process of the demystification that began with the Enlightenment. Because of the discoveries of the Enlightenment, humans could no longer be sure about their place in the universe. This, of course, had an impact on the theater. The movement toward realism, which, like the 19th century in general, was an attempt to become more scientific. Ibsen is considered by many as the father of realism, and one of the plays that belong to Ibsens realism period is A Dolls House. But the play would come to be noted for more reasons than its†¦show more content†¦In order for Ibsen to create a modern hero out of a Victorian housewife he had to rely on all the tools of the trade. One of these tools that he employed in this and in other plays was symbolism. Mining symbolism in Ibsen can be a difficult task indeed. Ibsen is first and foremost a poet; to the point where even his prose sounds like poetry. Every line and every phrase comes across as packed full of meaning and symbolism. It has been observed about A Dolls House, that literally not a phrase is without its direct contribution to the structure (Bradbrook 85), and that One of the marvels of Ibsens craft is that he hardly wastes a word (Clurman 112). Symbolism in Ibsen is not limited to the set devices, such as the Christmas tree. But because we are dealing with realism, even phrases that come across just as ordinary every day speech are symbolic: In Ibsens theatre the symbolic is always the real seen from another perspective--often a perspective a plays characters try to evade...Such symbolism...permeates Ibsens dramatic method because, to the awakened imagination, it permeates reality (Johnson xiii). This paper will discussShow MoreRelated Symbolism in A Dolls House. by Henrik Ibsen Essays1637 Words   |  7 Pages Henrik Ibsen’s â€Å"A Doll’s House† a nineteenth century play successfully uses symbolism to express many characteristics of Helmer’s life, together with the way that the main character Nora feels towards her marriage at the end of the play. Ibsen’s use of symbolism to convey about the social setting, including the harsh male-controlled Danish society, seen mostly in Torvald in the play and the role of women, signified mostly in Nora. These symbols act as foretelling before the tragic eventsRead MoreHenrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House Essay example1182 Words   |  5 Pagesoppositions in a work of literature, is present in Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 Norwegian play A Doll’s House. The title itself suggests a misogynist view, while the work mainly consists of feminist ideology, as Ibsen was a supporter of the female as an independent, rather than a dependent on a m ale. 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Today, Ibsens work remains as such, although often conveyed as more focused on womens rights. The Norwegian playwrights vision of a seemingly common home is quickly translated through Ibsens use of symbolism, setting, and diction. Symbolism is a key aspect in much of Ibsens writing, much of which can