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Clothing Symbolksm in A Doll's House

 

Torvald's control over Nora is shown through this dance which also shows Nora's lack of freedom. The power that Torvald holds over Nora represents her lack of freedom. Nora cannot dance the Tarantella like she wants to, because of her husband controlling her. Ibsen illustrates Nora's absence of freedom through Torvald's choice of what she will wear while performing a dance which acts as a symbol of her poisonous marriage. The poisonous marriage, like clothing, restricts her freedoms. Nora is given many rules by her husband to make sure their life is happy and perfect. Just as Torvald gives her the dress as a way to help her portray the dance correctly, Torvald also wants Nora to portray that she is a happy housewife. Nora wears the dress for her husband as a way to make his fantasy perfect. Once Nora removes the dress, the fantasy falls apart, and Nora discovers she was in a poisonous marriage. Ibsen's use of the Tarantella and the fancy dress shows Nora's unhappy marriage and lack of freedom. .
             Ibsen exposes Nora's realization of adulthood through changing what she wears. In Act three when Torvald begins to apologize for saying the mean things to his wife, she begins to change out of her fancy dress. "(In everyday dress) Yes, Torvald, I have changed my things now". Soon after, Nora tells him to sit down and have ponder why they have never had a serious conversation before. Nora has changed from child into adult through the change of her clothing. From a garment that Torvald had chosen to one she had chosen for herself. Ibsen uses this realization as way to show the change from no freedom to freedom. Nora gains this freedom by realizing everything Torvald has controlled in her life. In Act 3, after this realization, Nora states: "I mean that I was simply transferred from Papa's hands into yours". Not only does Nora take her ring back from Torvald but she leaves the household not wanting any contact from Torvald later on in her life.


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