In Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House”
In Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” and in August Wilson’s “Fences,” several significant symbols were utilized. These symbols allowed readers to gain a better and deeper understanding of the story. It gave readers a clearer perspective on the message that the said plays were trying to convey. In Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House,” a very important symbol is the Christmas tree. The tree serves as a symbol of Christmas. It has no real purpose. It is only a decorative ornament and is merely admired for its beauty. The tree symbolizes Nora, the wife of Torvald and the woman of the house.
Just like the tree, Nora is a mere ornament in the life of Torvald. She expressed these sentiments in the latter part of the play when she was explaining to her husband why she wanted a divorce. Symbolism added drama to the play. It provided readers with hindsight. It reflected the essence of the story in simple everyday objects. In “Fences”, the fence that Rose was asking Troy to build is the primary symbol. The fence connotes entrapment. It connotes being caged in one area. It connotes restriction and lack of freedom.
The fence is a symbol of how Troy treats those close to him, particularly his wife Rose and his son Cory. The life that Troy wants them to live is a form of entrapment. They cannot do as they wish and they need to obey and follow what Troy tells them to do. Again, the use of the symbol adds flare to the play. It brings to life the message of the play as readers see the significance of the message in actual, real, and everyday objects. Both plays have two main female characters, Nora in “A Doll’s House,” and Rose in “Fences.
” In both plays, the women live a very restricted life. They do not have the freedom to do as they please. They are subordinates to their husbands and must give in to all their husbands’ wishes and orders. Rose attempts to tell Troy what must be done but in reality, Troy is in control of her life. She is but a mere part of her husband’s life. Rose is caring and nurturing. She places great faith in her husband that he will be able to pull their family out of their sorry state. However, she knows that she can only watch from the sidelines.
She does not possess the authority nor the power to make decisions even when she knows that such decisions will greatly benefit their family. This is evident in the way by which Rose remains passive on the affairs of their son, Cory. Although Rose knows that college football would have been a great opportunity for her son, she does not attempt to argue with her husband when he said that Cory should not play. The same holds true for Nora. Although Nora seems to be able to do the things she wants, her actions are still tightly guided by Torvald. It is Torvald who shapes Nora’s life.
Torvald wants his wife to reflect him and his success. He sees her as his accessory. That is why Nora’s actions are all determined by what Torvald would say or how the said actions would affect Torvald. Both plays reflect inequality in society. It reflects the patriarchal nature of society where men and women are unequal. Furthermore, the two plays show inequality in other aspects of society such as race and gender. Women are shown as subordinates of men which is why they end up marrying for the sole purpose of fitting in and belonging. Nora and Rose married for this same reason.
Sample Essay of AssignmentExpert.com