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NAMA KAD PENGENALAN NO MATRIK / TELEFON
NURHAFIZAH BINTI AJLAN 801204-14-5448 D20102040807
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BIS 3013 – INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH LITERATUREBIS 3013 – INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE
ASSIGNMENT 1
SYMBOLISM IN - ‘A DOLL’S HOUSE’
S HOUSE
ASSIGNMENT 1
SYMBOLISM IN - ‘A DOLL’S HOUSE’
S HOUSE
GROUP
UPSI 01
LECTURER
DR. LAJIMAN BIN JANOORY

2. Definition of symbolism in literature.
Symbolism is an iconic representation that is used to carry particular conventional
meanings. It also as a figure of speech where an object, person, or situation has
another meaning other than its lateral meaning which have the deeper meaning in the
context of the whole story.
For example, some of the people said ‘time is money’ which is carrying the meaning of
symbolic warn to us that when we spend our time, we are giving up the opportunity to
do something else with that time ( just as when we spend our money, we give up our
chance to do something else with the money ) Furthermore, like money, time is not
infinite.
Another sample of symbolism is, life is like a roller coaster, which is telling us
symbolically that there will be ups and downs in our life that we have to cater and
overcome. The formation of how the roller coaster moves also telling that the obstacles
that we need to face and deal with it in our daily lives.
It is the same like what has been said in a short story of ‘The Pearl’ by John Steinbeck
who was born in Salinas, California in 1902 and grew up in a rural valley near the
Pacific coast. He was the writer of the novel entitled ‘The Pearl’ and he has used some
of the symbolisms in his novel. The title itself, at the moment, is telling about providence
which can be seen when Kino and his wife were having the prophecy to get the pearl
greatly in order to change their life especially for their baby, Coyotito, for better life. But,
at last, ‘The Pearl’ symbolizes to negative attitude of the people at the town when all of
them become more greedy to get it just to change their life into easy and luxurious life.
So, in this novel, ‘The Pearl’ symbolize two things, there are the providence and the
greediness of the people.
Another symbolism which is used in the novel is the scorpion. It is telling that the
destruction of the innocent people from what the mistakes that the other people have
done. In this novel, Coyotito, baby of Kino and his wife, Juana, is the victim of their
greediness to get the pearl to fulfill their intention, that is to be rich and luxurious.
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3. Next is the use of the word canoe which is symbolizing the cultural tradition because
Kino is coming from a rural place nearby the sea and it is something to do with the
spirituality of their community.
All those samples as mentioned above are showing that each objects represents their
own perspectives or meanings to describe the abstract meanings which are directly and
indirectly in the story.
It is the same goes to a play of ‘A Doll’s House’ by Henrik Ibsen, who was the father of
modern drama in the era of 1851 to 1864 in Norway. There are many symbolisms used
in the play of ‘A Doll’s House.’
THE MAJOR THEME OF A DOLL’S HOUSE.
Theme is can be either the meaning or the lesson that a story is trying to convey or
implied to the audience. And it also like the message of the story is trying to get across .
In the play of ‘A Doll’s House, the major theme is about the sacrifice of women in which
can be seen from the situation of a woman from economic class, Mrs Linde, who has
abandoned her true love that is Krogstad . Eventhough Krogstad is a penniless man,
but she really loves him so much. But, in order to support her mother and two brothers,
she left her love by marrying another man who is richer than Krogstad.
It also same goes to the nanny, who had to abandon her own child just to support
herself by working in Nora’s house as a caretaker ( take care of Nora’s children ). The
nanny feels so lucky to have this job since she was a poor girl and now, she got the
chance to raise up her children using the payment from her job as a caretaker.
And, when we talk about Nora, who had sacrificed a lot for Torvald, her husband by
making loan just to help his husband’s financial problem. Meanwhile, at the same time,
she had to hide it from her husband as she knew that her husband would not accepted
her action ( making loan ). These three samples of situations by the three women are
showing the sacrificial role of women in real life.
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4. Symbolisms from ‘A Doll’s House’
There are three main symbolisms used in the play. The first one is the Christmas itself
is representing as a decorative thing in the eve of Christmas. And, it is similarly to Nora,
who is a woman in the house, positioning as a plaything who is pleasing to look at and
as the person who cheers up the house too. This can be seen when Nora asked her
maid to hide the Christmas tree from her children until the tree has been decorated. It
shows that Nora is a person who likes something which is decorative and likes
something cheerful in her life. It also can be known when Nora tells Torvald that no one
can see her in her dress until the evening of the dance and at the same time, it is telling
that Nora is a person with full of surprise too. The use of the Christmass tree also ells us
that the scene took place during the coming new year celebration too.
Second symbolism is the use of word ‘squirrel’ by Torvald to symbolize his wife, Nora is
a proof to show the attitude of Nora too. Nora is symbolized as ‘squirrel’ because of her
childish character in the house even though towards her husband, Torvald. By looking
at the first scene when her husband came back from his work, Nora acted like a child
who waited for some sweets.
The third symbolism to describe the characters of Nora is, the use of macaroon ( a type
of light, baked confection, described as small cakes like cookies consisting largely of
ground almonds ) which is telling and describing the characters of her, who is a bit
naughty like a kid and always do something hidden. For example, she has made a loan
in order to help her husband but without informing her husband,Torvald ( do it secretly )
without her husband’s concern.
The third symbolism is showing that Nora is sacrificing a lot towards her husband
because of her intention to help him from the financial problem and it showing the major
theme of this play is the sacrificial of woman in their lives.
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5. REFERENCES
Retrieved on 12th
May 2013 at : http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dollhouse/section1.rhtml
Retrieved on 12th
May 2013 at : http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dollhouse/context.html
Retrieved on 12th
May 2013 at : http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pearl/context.
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6. REFERENCES
Retrieved on 12th
May 2013 at : http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dollhouse/section1.rhtml
Retrieved on 12th
May 2013 at : http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dollhouse/context.html
Retrieved on 12th
May 2013 at : http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pearl/context.
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