The Christmas Tree Symbolism

The symbol of the Christmas Tree parallels Nora, which also reflects to the larger meaning regarding women’s place in society. The Christmas Tree displays that women are meant to be something pretty to be admired by the men of the household and the outside world, this reinforces the idea that women are merely accessories for men and not actual, thinking beings. Looking specifically at Nora, however, the tree mirrors her actions, feelings, and how she is viewed by the other characters in the play. As Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” opens, the first words spoken are by Nora and read as, “Hide the tree well, Helene. The children mustn’t get a glimpse of it till this evening, after it’s trimmed.” This is incredibly important because it reflects that

Ugh, that was the dullest time I’ve ever lived through.” Through this example, the symbol of the Christmas tree enlarges the meaning of women’s role in society and with men. By Nora locking herself in a room and preparing the Christmas tree, it represents the women preparing themselves for the men and the society. This furthers the notion that women are viewed as accessories for men that are simply meant to be quiet and pretty. Similarly to when Nora did not allow the children to view the Christmas tree before it was trimmed and decorated, Nora doesn’t allow the Torvald or the rest of her family to view the tree or it’s decorations the year prior. This could be seen as Nora’s character growing to where she is hiding less of herself from Torvald, her children, and the society that surrounds, which allows parallels her as a

This is symbolic of women being expected to give everything to their children and families, even if it destroys them. The society expects women to be completely selfless, even if it is dangerous or harmful to themselves, which is portrayed through the destruction of the Christmas tree. Moreover, the tree is ignored from this point to the end of the story, which is builds on the representation of women’s place in society. This is particularly representative of women being good for nothing, but providing for their families. After the children are taken care of with their presents and the Christmas tree is no longer beautiful or relevant, neither is the women or Nora to their husband and children.

In conclusion, the author uses the symbol of the Christmas tree to provide satire at the gender roles of women during the time period this was written. This calls into question women’s roles beyond the family. Through this symbol, Ibsen asks readers to question and challenge their society to find worth in women, themselves, rather than women’s identity through their social class and