The symbolism of the Christmas tree in Nora's transformationThe idea of ​​women's equality has been the subject of countless books, speeches and performance for decades. The concept of a world in which a woman can be considered equal to a man is not a new concept in today's society, but it was in 19th century Norway. . This is the world of the famous playwright Heinrik Ibsen, an avant-garde individual whose ideas continually challenged the strictures of society. A precursor to the women's rights movement, Ibsen's play A Doll's House offers a well-advanced commentary on the dangers of a patriarchal society through the evolution of its protagonist, Nora. In his play, Ibsen uses the Christmas tree to symbolize Nora's growing empowerment and independence, as well as the steady deterioration of Nora and Helmer's marriage. The beginning of the play depicts the Christmas tree as well put together and beautiful, the same way as the protagonist, Nora. Her relationship with her husband Torvald can be considered perfect, a fact which may largely contribute to her submission. As long as Nora knows her place in the house and remains docile, their relationship seems wonderful. Nora's blind obedience at the beginning of the play is evident when she adorns the tree with beautiful flowers and candles, promising to "do whatever she can think of to please", even offering to sing and dance to his pleasure (act 1). . This illustrates how Nora always strives to maintain the appearance of her family and her tree, dressing the tree to look "splendid" and also promising to carry out Torvald's orders to ensure its contentment. This also establishes a correlation between the medium of paper and failure, but also creates ripples that extend far beyond these individuals. Nora and Torvald Helmer seem to be the archetypal example, since their unequal relationships led them to prioritize material things. Once Nora realizes her mistake, she discovers that she must put herself first and no longer finds fulfillment in the superficial aspects of her life that she once found so fascinating. Through the subtle correlation between the tree and Nora, Ibsen indicates to the audience that not only does the oppression of women lead to the destruction of healthy relationships (a concept that is brought up in various ways throughout the play), but that It also distorts everyone's priorities. an individual.Works CitedIbsen, Henrik. A doll's house. Trans. William Archer. Boston: Walter H. Baker & Co., 1890. Gleeditions. Internet. April 12 2014