The Dramatic Effect of the Antagonist in Henrik Ibsen's a Doll's House: An Analytical and Descriptive Study

Abstract

This study aims at probing into Nils Krogstad's characterization in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House. Mainly, it tries to prove that Krogstad is the actual antagonist in Ibsen's masterpiece by analyzing the antagonistic attributes in his characterization, his motivational impulses towards villainy, as well as his dramatic effect on the protagonist and on the plot. After the analytical discussion, the study found that the motives of Krogstad refer to social, emotional and financial variables. In the case of Krogstad's dramatic effect, the study asserted that his dramatic effect is strong on Nora by bringing her close to the reality of her life with Torvald as a doll. As well as, he is the character who incites the play's events and the one who causes the main conflicts in the plot. Moreover, the results of the study indicated that Krogstad's happy end is not a proof that he is not antagonistic to the protagonist, Nora, but also it is to show a sample, victimized in an unforgiving society. Finally, the study did prove that Krogstad is the most qualified character to be the play's antagonist for his antagonistic features including the conflicts with Nora, the strong dramatic effect on her and the dramatic effect on the play's events.