Symbolism of the Christmas Tree in Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House".
Symbolism of the Christmas Tree in Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House”
The Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree is minor object/props of the play; it does not have any direct link to the plot of the play. However, the presence of the Christmas tree within the play is used by Ibsen as an instrument to symbolically express an intense personal experience, which cannot be expressed directly.
The Christmas tree itself is a decorative object that is linked to the traditional idea of Christmas. Its characteristic is parallel to Nora’s, whom is seen in the household as the (according to the traditional idea of) a mother, but in reality is only a plaything (for Helmer) who is pleasing to look at and adds superficial festivity to the home.