In the book "The Chest", Torvald and Martha live an unhappy and boring life, often fighting over minor issues. One day, Torvald finds a chest and it changes their lives. His response to the chest is very religious, to the point that he worships it. Martha is not pleased with his find and the that becomes problematic for them. Torvald is no longer interested in his wife. He would rather be with the chest. While Terije Stigen conveys the chest as a holy female goddess, I interpret the chest as a beautiful woman seducing Martha's husband, Torvald; thus Martha's jealousy over the chest is a natural human tendency that should not be in object of contempt.
From the author's perspective, the chest represents a religious point of view. Torvald had continuous religious faith in the chest and says "it really won't matter if it is empty, and [he] can go on thinking there is something in it."" (121, Stigen) Religion is an essential component in Scandinavian culture and consistently influences how people think, set their values and establish norms. He "took a new lease on life" (121, Stigen) by having something to worship: religious practices. Finding the chest is a turning point in Torvald's life and triggers his sudden change in perspective and affection. .
However, my understanding of the chest and Torvald's reaction to it are very different than that of the author. According to Torvald's description of the chest, "it is beautiful- really a work of art" "(120, Stigen) and "a crime to destroy that precious lock""(121, Stigen), it seems like the chest has Torvald in a trance, as if the chest had some kind of spell, binding him with so much desire that he's determined to treat it even better than he does his wife. Torvald is a man who was bored and indifferent to everything in life and when he finds the chest, he evolves into man who is excited and full of energy, as if he has discovered a new girlfriend.