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English: Symbol of Tarantella in A Doll’s House

Plays

Henrik Ibsen, a Doll's House

1ST PARAGRAPH, TARANTELLA, PAGES 82-87
In Ibsen's play, A Doll's House, the tarantella is a symbol of the internal desperation Nora suffers
from. She hides her crime from Torvald for it has the potential to ruin both their entire lives
because of the role gender roles partake in society- but in the tarantella, she can express her
distress and agony through movement. Through stage directions and setting, the audience is able
to envision the chaotic passion Nora pours into dancing the Tarantella- as Torvald is actively
trying (and failing) to make her dance to his steps rather than hers. As "Nora dances more and
more wildly", "Torvald is standing by the stove and gives her frequent instructions" however
she pays no mind and "her hair falls down over her shoulders" (Ibsen 84). In Norway, the setting
of Ibsen's work, Tarantella is a spider goddess that spins the thread of life. Torvald struggles to
guide her dancing as her fate has been determined or wove already as her frenzied steps show
she is no longer the "angel of the house" wife. For example, he takes Nora into his arms and says
to her that "My little one shall have her own way" (Ibsen 85). Torvald's words and actions
contradict each other-he speaks to his wife as though she is in control, whilst having himself
wrapped around her, like a snake around a mouse. Ultimately, the violent dance shows that she
escapes his grasps. This tarantella acts as not only a melancholic goodbye to her domestic life
but also to the Nora she was while in a happy nuclear marriage, because she is made painfully
aware by Krogstad that her secret will be discovered regardless.
2ND PARAGRAPH, ENTIRE PLAY UP TO PAGE 87 (LOOK BACK)
In Ibsen's "A Doll's House" the tarantella is a visual representation of a violent, beautiful
destruction of life. It is a symbol of themes such as illness and health, life and death, or good and
evil; all of which are prevalent in the cast. The center of Tarantella's "weaving norne" is Nora,
whose anguish seeps into the threads slowly, poisoning the people who are trapped in the web.
When Dr. Rank makes light of his faltering condition, Nora exclaims "What a disgusting thing to
say!" in contrast to when she admits to Krogstad she has contemplated suicide "How did you
know I had thought of that?" (Ibsen 66, 76). Dr. Rank's greatest conflict (apart from unrequited
love) is death while Nora's is life. When Nora dances in intense chaos, Rank is seated and plays
piano, watching her descend into the darkness of her desperation. To Dr. Rank, the Tarantella is
a parallel of their relationship. He will always be chasing Nora but will never be close enough as
she spirals further away for he is death and she is the embodiment of life at its fullness. A symbol
of this are the two dresses Nora has for the Tarantella, one that is old but is repaired by Mrs.
Linde and the other one that is new. Nora says to Dr. Rank that "This is a new one. I ordered it.
Torvald mustn't find out about it-" (Ibsen 73). Dr. Rank assumes this is the secret Nora wants
help with hiding from Torvald, and Nora does not elaborate further because it proves to her Dr.
Rank won't be able to solve her situation with Krogstad. Nora dances violently for she really is
dancing for her life at the realization that there is no way out from the darkness she is descending into.

English: Symbol of Tarantella in A Doll’s House

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English: Symbol of Tarantella in A Doll’s House

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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

Knowunity was a featured story by Apple and has consistently topped the app store charts within the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

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950 K+

Still not sure? Look at what your fellow peers are saying...

I love this app so much [...] I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a C to an A with it :D

The application is very simple and well designed. So far I have found what I was looking for :D

Love this App ❤️, I use it basically all the time whenever I'm studying