Significance of tarantella dance in A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen

1. WELCOME
Nawrin Akhtar
Nawrin Akhtar

2. SIGNIFICANCE OF TARANTELLA
DANCE
IN
A doll’s house

3. TARANTELLA
• A wild southern Italian dance.
• Tarantella dance is characterized
by swift movements, foot tapping,
spinning, and extreme ruffling of
the petticoat on a women’s part.

4. BACKGROUND
 Name derives from a little
southern town of Italy called
“Taranto”
 The tarantella is commonly
known as a dance that is
supposed to rid the dancer of the
bite of the tarantula.

5. Tarantella is the perfect
metaphor for Nora’s
conception of love and life.
Tarantella symbolizes Nora’s
character.

6. SIGNIFICANCE
• Nora wishes to please Torvald.
“You will see how beautifully I shall dance”.
Helmer’s way of controlling Nora.
“Come, come, don’t be so wild and nervous”.

7. SIGNIFICANCE CONT….
• Nora attempting to rid her life of a poison.
• The letter from Krogstad, and Torvald’s
reaction, could be the poison.
NORA: Oh Yes, I must, I must! But, Torvald, I
can't get on at all without your help. I have
forgotten everything.

8. SIGNIFICANCE CONT…
Nora’s last attempt
 Being her husband doll.
 The subservient wife.
 To preserve her marriage
 Independence, and self-
expression.
Helmer [as he plays]. Slower,
slower!
Nora. I can't do it any other way.
Helmer. Not so violently, Nora!
Nora. This is the way.
Helmer [stops playing]. No, no--that
is not a bit right.

9. DEATH AND REBIRTH