doors
represent transitions, boundaries between the characters, escape
windows
show us the outside, warmth, also represents the role of women in norweigan society
christmas tree
represents the materialistic properties and decoration of christmas, similar to the personality of Nora
locked mailbox
represents secrecy, control, and where power lies in the household
christmas presents
represents how nora pushes the role of being dolls onto her children, nora's role as a spendthrift
macaroons
the struggle between nora and helmer and where the power lies. the symbolic indication of rot at the center of their marriage, foreshadowing nora's rebellion
the fireplaces
represent the wealth and comfort of the helmer's lifestyle
letters
represent the inner thoughts of the characters and the reality of their behaviour
nora helmer
represents the way most women are treated as a posession of their father and then their husbands, also represents immaturity
torvald helmer
materialist traditional man, not self aware, hypocrite, victim of abritrairy roles
christine linde
represents the reality of society and contrasts with nora, betrayal of friendship, pragmatism
dr. rank
false friendship, he is infected with an STD from his father, love is lust
nils krogstad
represent the pitfalls of society, the villain but also a victim (not the antagonist, rules of society are)
anne marie
represents the consequences of the materialistic world, and how she had lost her child (the mother figure but a failure for nora and her children)
the children
represents how society and traditions remained unchanged, they are responsibilites, they represent immaturity (the way nora was raised as well, nora says their lines)
nora's father
the cause of nora's inability to grow up
the miracle (failed)
nora' mistaken belief in torvald's chivalry
the helmer marriage
represents the ideal norweigan society which is a lie
nature
nature represents the hostile, dangerous conditions outside
the black mail
represents a threat and the hidden corruption (related to forgery and fraud)
music
represents the control that helmer has over nora, tarantella dance represents sexuality in this play
pet names
demonstrates torvald's "possession" over nora in their marriage, how torvald keeps her as a child (bird, squirrel, skylark)
post christmas costume party
represents how the way of life of the helmer's is like a put on or fake (helmer instructs nora how to dance)
hide and seek
avoidance of reality, refusal to grow up
new year's
new phase in life; usually met with high expectations (nora's new beginning)