The Tarantella Dance in A Dolls House :: A Dolls House Essays

The Tarantella Dance in A Dolls House In A Dolls House, Ibsen uses many symbols. One symbol that is apply to symbolize Noras character is a dance called the Tarantella. The Tarantella is a folk dance from southern Italy. It goes from an already quick tempo to an even quicker one, age alternating between major and minor keys. It is characterized by swift movements, foot tapping, and on the womens part, exaggerated ruffling of petticoats. It involves a lot of very fast spinning and leap until one cannot dance anymore and is so exhausted they fall to the ground. It is in constant uncertainty, like Noras character. The tarantella has a very interesting history. Its name derives from a little southern town of Italy called Taranto. It was believed that if a spider called the tarantula bit the townspeople, the moreover way to survive its bite was to do a dance called the Tarantella. The locals believed this was the only cure. If the people bitten did not dance they would suf fer severe pain, muscle spasms, vomiting most eventually died. There were not any drugs that could counteract the venom. Many believed that the perspire associated with the dance flushed the venom from the dancers bodies. They would continue dancing for hours and even days. It was so common that musicians patrolled the fields where most of the bites took place in expectation of being employ to play for the injured. Just as the dancer is trying to get rid of the venom, Nora was trying to rid herself of the deadly outside poison. The tarantella serves as her last possibility to be Torvalds doll, to dance and amuse him. HELMER But, my dear Nora, you look so worn out. Have you been practising too much? NORA No, I have not practised at all. HELMER But you will need to - NORA Yes, indeed I shall, Torvald.