Self Preservation In A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

In his play, “Doll’s House”, Henrik Ibsen explores the idea of an individual's self-preservation influencing their response to multiple demands, showing that individuals generally choose to align themselves to the demands that best preserve their wants and needs. Ibsen primarily uses Nora to illustrate this idea through her actions in regards to her marriage with Torvald, and her deception. Beyond Nora, Ibsen also uses Torvald to show this, as throughout the story he frequently makes decisions and speaks in a way to benefit himself primarily. In addition to Torvald, Ibsen uses Krogstad in a very similar way in order to further present the idea of an individual responding to demands, whether personal or societal, to benefit themselves. Ibsen …show more content…
Krogstad acts to maintain and improve his own image, but his main motivation is his sons, as revealed when he says: “My sons are growing up; for their sake I must try and win back as much respect as I can in the town.” (Page 189) He responds to this demand by blackmailing Nora into convincing Torvald not to fire him . In this, he is not only responding to the demand of raising his two sons, but also the demand of society to maintain good-standing in order to live a decent quality of life. His response is seen again in the second act, when again he confronts Nora, reiterating that “I want to rehabilitate myself, Mrs. Helmer; I want to get on; and in that your husband must help me.” (Page 209) After reconciling with Mrs. Linde, Krogstad offers to take back the letter, and as a better life for him and his children is ensured, he acts in a complete opposite way to his previous behaviour, demonstrating that his former actions were based in self-preservation. In using Krogstad, Ibsen shows again that individuals will act in ways they do not normally in order to ensure self-preservation in the face of the demands of society, individuals, and