Many plays and other literary pieces often use symbols to reaffirm or uniquely present themes. Symbols can vary from objects, to colloquial sayings, to even times of day, such as the Sphinx' riddle to Oedipus. Henrik Ibsen uses symbols so precisely in "A Dollhouse", that they are not too obvious, but they deeply enrich all factors of the play's plot and theme.
One of the first symbols Ibsen uses in "The Dollhouse" is the Christmas tree. It is tradition for a tree to be put up during the holiday, even though it serves no purpose other than decoration. This is what Torvald has apparently thought of Nora being, a decoration. He repeatedly addresses her as his "little skylark" and "little squirrel" (1794). Nora doesn't seem to have a problem with it; she often used the pet names to get something from Torvald:.
NORA: If your little squirrel were to ask for something very, very prettily--?.
HELMER: What then?.
NORA: Would you do it?.
HELMER: I would like to hear what it is, first.
NORA: Your Squirrel would run about and do all her tricks if you would be nice and do what she wants.
HELMER: Speak plainly.
NORA: Your skylark would chirp about in every room, with her song rising and falling ".
HELMER: Well my skylark does that anyhow.
NORA: I would play the fairy and dance for you in the moonlight, Torvald.
(1816).
In Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to his Love", the shepherd also seems to love the nymph's beauty just being there, without any real love:.
And I will make thee beds of roses.
And a thousand fragrant posies,.
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle.
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle;.
[ ].
If these delights thy mind may move,.
The live with me and be my love.
(705).
The shepherd only wants to put 'ornaments' on the nymph, seeming to want to play dress-up more than have a meaningful relationship. Ruckert says something similar in "If You Love For the Sake of Beauty", "If you love for the sake of beauty, O never love me!" (766).
