There isn't a child who hasn't rebelled against their parents in some way. Every small action can be seen as an act of rebellion; whether it's secretly buying a book at school book fairs, talking on the phone late at night, or purposely letting trash pile up. In the play A Doll's House, Henrik Ibsen presents the ideas of rebellion for independence. The protagonist, a sweet and lovely housewife, named Nora Helmer, is married to Torvald Helmer who has been promoted to a new banking position. Torvald expects her to be an obedient wife who will follow him wherever he goes and who will stay by his side, whatever the situation. She had fallen into debt to Krogstad, a misunderstood lawyer and loan shark, because he had tried to save Torvald when he was bedridden. She works hard to pay back all the money but can no longer live without her husband finding out her secret. With the recurring use of pet names, macaroons, and symbolic actions, Ibsen gradually reveals that Nora acts more independently than one might think. Torvald gives Nora seemingly harmless nicknames but instead strips her of her character. There is irony in the connotation of the nicknames as she does not feel special but rather complicit in her reputation. Torvald calls Nora by many different pet names such as lark, squirrel, and songbird. Each animal has a symbolic meaning that testifies to Nora's character. Instead of having a strong image of a wife and mother, she looks and acts like a child. Larks are domestic birds that live their lives in a cage, just like Nora who lives in Torvald's dollhouse. Larks, small brown birds, nest in various countries including Europe. Larks can be kept as pets that sing for the pleasure of its owner... middle of paper... men who are devoted to their husbands. But she becomes a strong woman when she realizes that this is not the life she wants to live and decides to leave. The act of secretly eating macaroons was the first small step towards a rebellion. Nora is one of the few women who want to fight for independence. There are people who believe that men are much stronger than women and that women should be more open-minded. Women endure many hardships in order not to have to depend on men despite society's expectations. Without women, men would be lost like a flower without a butterfly to spread its pollen to survive. Works Cited Ibsen, Henrik. A doll's house. Four great theatrical works, trans. R. Farquharson Sharp. Print.New York: EP Dutton & Co., Inc, 1959. 3-68Venefica, Avia . "What sign are you?". Saperaude, 1 January 2005. Web. 1 January. 2014..