Ibsen’s 1879 play, “A Doll’s House,” portrays a dynamic character, Nils Krogstad, as a man in conflict with society. On the one hand, he wants to make up for his previously shady behavior. On the other, he constantly meets pressures to return to his illegal activities. Because this one character, more than any other, creates drama and tension in the play he specifically alters the lives of Nora and those around her. He is the troubled antagonist who changes Nora’s cozy marriage forever.
Ibsen explores the effects of harsh Victorian society on those perceived to be morally corrupt through the character Krogstad’s earlier life, first appearance in the play, and struggle to overcome an ugly past. Krogstad’s past is fed to the reader largely through snide comments from the other characters. All the main characters at some point in Acts I or II make a rude or negative comment about Krogstad, demonstrating through these few people how an entire judgmental town must behave around him.
For example, Dr. Rank, who hardly knows Krogstad, calls him “morally diseased.
” What Krogstad minimizes as an “indiscretion,” Helmer refers to as a horrible corruption that creates a poisonous atmosphere of lies in the Krogstad home (Act I). Even Christine, who is in love with him, comments that he is “greatly altered” from their last meeting. All of this combines to portray a man who is deeply affected by the burden of his well-known wrongdoings. Still, Rank notes metaphorically, Krogstad wants to “live. ” Ibsen uses this as a double-meaning: Krogstad wants to physically exist in the world, but also live back in the society that currently stigmatizes him.
Krogstad himself only ever mentions his crime directly once, and that is to Nora when he makes the point that they are both forgers. Despite this shared guilt, the two characters are treated very differently because it is not the act itself that creates strife or disadvantages, but rather the reactions of people who hear about it. Later in the play he says that the job at the bank was an act of charity, illustrating the difficulties he must have experienced before getting it. The reader has already read a glum characterization of him before he initially appears.
Krogstad’s first real appearance in the play is unpleasant. Early on he has a cold, seemingly cruel conversation with Nora. Even when he stands at the door after speaking with Helmer, Nora must reassure her children that the strange man will not hurt their mother. It is like a visible wickedness follows him that even those new to society’s faultfinding, like children, can see. He is forced to return to criminal behavior, blackmailing her to keep his job. He reasons that if Helmer learns of his wife’s forgery Helmer will let him stay and advance in the bank just to keep the ordeal quite.
In Act I Krogstad says that he must recover as much respectability as he can, because his sons are growing and he doesn’t not want them to be punished by people for his mistake. Krogstad does not necessary want to harm Nora, but he does want his family to be accepted in society more than he wants to help her or her husband. Krogstad uses the bond as a way to drag someone else down to his level, as he at least twice compares himself and Nora, while also trying to gain status.
It is one element of power that he has against what is otherwise a insurmountable situation. How ironic that he turns to crude, criminal methods to appear legitimate. When he sees Mrs. Linde, his potential replacement, he goes to great measures to force Nora to help him. Still, throughout the play he longs to overcome his nasty reputation. All of Krogstad’s actions are colored by his attempt to rise above his past. Because society is so concerned with appearances, Krogstad’s reputation ruins many opportunities for him.
Childhood friend Torvald tries to distance himself, telling Nora in Act II that he must dismiss Krogstad because the ill-fated man acts too familiar with him. Torvald does not want to seem lenient or chummy with someone so disreputable. Although Rank, Helmer, and Nora are all aware of his efforts at the bank and his attempts to act better, this does so little to soften the negativity suffocating him. In Act I Krogstad says that he is prepared to fight for his little position at the bank as if he is fighting for his life, but in a way he is.
That job symbolizes the honest, acceptable life that he wants to create for himself. It is a very small movement away from his form crime, or as he calls it “the first step up” (Act I). The major change in Krogstad’s subplot comes when Mrs. Linde, who knows about society’s judgmental nature as a working woman at that time, proposes marriage in Act III even though she is fully aware of the stigma surrounding him. By doing this, Christine fulfills his need for support and encouragement that he was seeking from society, therefore negating his extreme efforts to keep the bank position.
The “happy change” he refers to in his note can definitely be attributed to the two ship-wrecked souls finding their way back to each other. With this acceptance from Christine, he is finally able to overcome his criminal past by giving back the bond and forfeiting his blackmail attempt. In conclusion, Krogstad is disadvantaged by his own reputation. His past continues to harm him now, and the fact that he resorts to something illegal to get what he wants proves that the society that pressures him only serves to force him back into the mold that they have crafted for him.
It isn’t until Christine accepts him as he is, with full knowledge of his crime, that he can put immoral activities behind him and return to a legitimate life. In many ways Krogstad is a victim of strict, unforgiving Nineteenth Century norms just like Nora. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Henrik Ibsen section.
Remember! This is just a sample.
You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers.
Get your custom essay
Helping students since 2015
Essay Writing Service Features
Our Experience
No matter how complex your assignment is, we can find the right professional for your specific task. Contact Essay is an essay writing company that hires only the smartest minds to help you with your projects. Our expertise allows us to provide students with high-quality academic writing, editing & proofreading services.
Free Features
Free revision policy
$10Free bibliography & reference
$8Free title page
$8Free formatting
$8How Our Essay Writing Service Works
First, you will need to complete an order form. It's not difficult but, in case there is anything you find not to be clear, you may always call us so that we can guide you through it. On the order form, you will need to include some basic information concerning your order: subject, topic, number of pages, etc. We also encourage our clients to upload any relevant information or sources that will help.
Complete the order form
Once we have all the information and instructions that we need, we select the most suitable writer for your assignment. While everything seems to be clear, the writer, who has complete knowledge of the subject, may need clarification from you. It is at that point that you would receive a call or email from us.
Writer’s assignment
As soon as the writer has finished, it will be delivered both to the website and to your email address so that you will not miss it. If your deadline is close at hand, we will place a call to you to make sure that you receive the paper on time.
Completing the order and download