Nora Helmer represents the appetizer of A Doll's House: a french onion soup.
So what exactly is this type of soup? Well, simply from the way the dish was named, it ought to be something rather fancy: meant to be consumed only by those of higher status. Well, this fits true to Nora's relationship with her surroundings in the 19th century that she grew up in. The soup gives the impression that she is extravagant and leads a rich and prosperous life. In a way, Nora is only fit to be consumed by those of higher status. Torvald, Nora's rich husband takes in his wife by treating her like his doll. He has her dress up in the most extravagant of ballroom dresses, even in the confines of their home. Her prized figure is shown off by Torvald because of its youth and beauty, not by what is underneath. Of course, 200 years later the world focuses more on women for who they are, yet they are still exploited in magazines and on the internet for the pleasure of others.
Nora's facade is represented by the melted gruyere cheese layer on the top of the french onion soup in number 1. Gruyere is known as the finest cheese used in baking, and the generously topped layer on this soup represents how Torvald's action of dousing the body of his wife in riches depletes from the actual makeup of Nora. By having a mask of cheese that hides the actual soup content of the dish, it is a representation of how much her acquaintances are unaware of Nora's actual characteristics. Throughout the early parts of the play, Nora acts just like a pet in public, serving only to please her hard-working husband. She sucks up to Torvald by ridding herself of any other concerns and making sure the house is decorated perfectly for their Christmas together. I know that by keeping my own thoughts and ideas bottled up inside, it is heartbreaking to not be able to express my true identity in front of others. Her restraint may be a result of fear. For myself, the fear of people's reactions keeps me from going out on a limb and showing the world how I personally stand out. For Nora, this translates as a driving fear of going against the normal customs of her era.
Because Nora's mindset is only set domestically, she is caged from having independence of her thoughts and actions. The strong, firm bowl that retains the soup, marked by the number 2, represents all of the restrictions set in place by Torvald: even the smallest and most ridiculous. One wouldn't really imagine a husband forbidding his wife from divulging on some macaroons, yet Torvald reaches long distances and enforces such peculiar limits. In today's society it seems pretty strange for a mature adult to be dragged down by petty rules about eating sweets or going to bed early. Because Nora is constantly interrupted when attempting to voice her opinion to her husband, she is limited from adding her thoughts to their unbalanced marriage.
Under the torment of the harsh rules set in place by her husband, it wouldn't be a surprise if she were to eventually rebel and stick up for herself. The barely visible onions in number 3 represent Nora's hidden fight for independence. Although onions are most known for their ability to make people cry, they also have healing properties against conditions ranging from the common cold to heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other diseases. Onions effectively translate to Nora's situation because she has a harsh struggle standing up for herself. It is most definitely shown through her adamant nature when dancing the tarantella in front of her husband. She firmly continues, even after being told to stop by Torvald numerous times. She eventually succeeds at obtaining the freedom she has longed for, which shows that her intense labor finally paid off and helped her come closer to a seemingly unobtainable dream.
The dark and cloudy beef broth, represented by number 4, encapsulates everything beneath the bright, elegant surface of the dish. For Nora, this symbolizes the darkness that she hides her secrets in. When I think of darkness, I am reminded of the isolation in my own bedroom, where I can formulate my own ideas without being judged by others. Within this room of darkness, Nora hides a forgery scandal that she had committed from her husband. The hidden pool of darkness at the bottom of the soup also represents true identity, since broth is usually considered to be the basis of most soups. Her core beliefs and opinions are swirled around in this cauldron of liquid, hidden from the naked eye.
When I think of chaos, I'm reminded of events going against the normal routine of society, such as protests, earthquakes, violent fights, tornados, and anything that breaks down the accepted function of the world. Several elements of the soup show Nora's instability and inner-chaos. The cheese draping over the sides of the bowl in number 5 represents Nora's attempts at breaking free from her false image. The heat of the oven problably caused this unintentional overflow of the cheese, which came to represent the forces of nature acting upon not only the dish, but on Nora's conscience: pulling her awake from her repetitive routine of following the duties set in place by her husband. The steam building up from within and rising violently from interior of the bowl in number 6 represents the tension from deep within the bond of their false love for one another.
From the melted cheese to the mouthwatering onion broth, Nora demonstrates all layers of complexity of this delicious soup.
Stick around for the salad course!
So what exactly is this type of soup? Well, simply from the way the dish was named, it ought to be something rather fancy: meant to be consumed only by those of higher status. Well, this fits true to Nora's relationship with her surroundings in the 19th century that she grew up in. The soup gives the impression that she is extravagant and leads a rich and prosperous life. In a way, Nora is only fit to be consumed by those of higher status. Torvald, Nora's rich husband takes in his wife by treating her like his doll. He has her dress up in the most extravagant of ballroom dresses, even in the confines of their home. Her prized figure is shown off by Torvald because of its youth and beauty, not by what is underneath. Of course, 200 years later the world focuses more on women for who they are, yet they are still exploited in magazines and on the internet for the pleasure of others.
Nora's facade is represented by the melted gruyere cheese layer on the top of the french onion soup in number 1. Gruyere is known as the finest cheese used in baking, and the generously topped layer on this soup represents how Torvald's action of dousing the body of his wife in riches depletes from the actual makeup of Nora. By having a mask of cheese that hides the actual soup content of the dish, it is a representation of how much her acquaintances are unaware of Nora's actual characteristics. Throughout the early parts of the play, Nora acts just like a pet in public, serving only to please her hard-working husband. She sucks up to Torvald by ridding herself of any other concerns and making sure the house is decorated perfectly for their Christmas together. I know that by keeping my own thoughts and ideas bottled up inside, it is heartbreaking to not be able to express my true identity in front of others. Her restraint may be a result of fear. For myself, the fear of people's reactions keeps me from going out on a limb and showing the world how I personally stand out. For Nora, this translates as a driving fear of going against the normal customs of her era.
Because Nora's mindset is only set domestically, she is caged from having independence of her thoughts and actions. The strong, firm bowl that retains the soup, marked by the number 2, represents all of the restrictions set in place by Torvald: even the smallest and most ridiculous. One wouldn't really imagine a husband forbidding his wife from divulging on some macaroons, yet Torvald reaches long distances and enforces such peculiar limits. In today's society it seems pretty strange for a mature adult to be dragged down by petty rules about eating sweets or going to bed early. Because Nora is constantly interrupted when attempting to voice her opinion to her husband, she is limited from adding her thoughts to their unbalanced marriage.
Under the torment of the harsh rules set in place by her husband, it wouldn't be a surprise if she were to eventually rebel and stick up for herself. The barely visible onions in number 3 represent Nora's hidden fight for independence. Although onions are most known for their ability to make people cry, they also have healing properties against conditions ranging from the common cold to heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other diseases. Onions effectively translate to Nora's situation because she has a harsh struggle standing up for herself. It is most definitely shown through her adamant nature when dancing the tarantella in front of her husband. She firmly continues, even after being told to stop by Torvald numerous times. She eventually succeeds at obtaining the freedom she has longed for, which shows that her intense labor finally paid off and helped her come closer to a seemingly unobtainable dream.
The dark and cloudy beef broth, represented by number 4, encapsulates everything beneath the bright, elegant surface of the dish. For Nora, this symbolizes the darkness that she hides her secrets in. When I think of darkness, I am reminded of the isolation in my own bedroom, where I can formulate my own ideas without being judged by others. Within this room of darkness, Nora hides a forgery scandal that she had committed from her husband. The hidden pool of darkness at the bottom of the soup also represents true identity, since broth is usually considered to be the basis of most soups. Her core beliefs and opinions are swirled around in this cauldron of liquid, hidden from the naked eye.
When I think of chaos, I'm reminded of events going against the normal routine of society, such as protests, earthquakes, violent fights, tornados, and anything that breaks down the accepted function of the world. Several elements of the soup show Nora's instability and inner-chaos. The cheese draping over the sides of the bowl in number 5 represents Nora's attempts at breaking free from her false image. The heat of the oven problably caused this unintentional overflow of the cheese, which came to represent the forces of nature acting upon not only the dish, but on Nora's conscience: pulling her awake from her repetitive routine of following the duties set in place by her husband. The steam building up from within and rising violently from interior of the bowl in number 6 represents the tension from deep within the bond of their false love for one another.
From the melted cheese to the mouthwatering onion broth, Nora demonstrates all layers of complexity of this delicious soup.
Stick around for the salad course!
Chef Michael
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