Krogstad

Krogstad

Within the words of his 19th century play, “A Doll’s House,” Henrik Ibsen presents an effectively startling twist on characters by providing insightful details about them. These details, sometimes subtle, act in such a way that they change the reader’s perspective on major characters from the way that they had been previously described. However, Ibsen does this in a way that is not at all hypocritical; instead, it forces the reader to give pause and reflect how, in hindsight, they could possibly have missed that character’s true nature. Ibsen fills the characters in “A Doll’s House” with these unique twists, giving new light to Nora, Mrs. Linde, and even the supposed antagonist, Krogstad, whom we will focus on here. Although shown as a rude, crass, and criminal schemer, Ibsen allows his eye for the details shine to show us that Krogstad is not a villain in any traditional sense.
Krogstad initially comes into the play around the middle of the first act. In his first interaction with Nora, badgering her and first letting the reader know about her financial woes, the man looks to be the stereotypical villain. His dealings with Nora are conniving, and his manner is rather brutal, appearing to have no qualms about ruining her reputation and very likely her life. This is made all the more interesting when one learns that Krogstad has come to Nora for help; which is refused, since to help him, Nora would have to tell Helmer everything and she is unwilling to do that. Krogstad, in true villainous form, refuses to accept her explanation and simply tells her, "if I lose my position a second time, you shall lose yours with me". We see at this moment how far he is willing to go to save himself. Although she is a woman, a fact bearing a great deal of significance in the time period surrounding the play, he has no sympathy for her situation when he realizes that everything he has is at stake. Krogstad is deserving of compassion because he is situationally...