Manipulation and Pseudo-Relationships in A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler
             Oftentimes in literature, an author can in two works create two characters that are completely different, yet have very similar significance to the plots of their respective plays. An example of this would be two of Henrik Ibsen's characters: Nora, in A Doll's House, and Hedda, in Hedda Gabler. In both of these works, manipulation is a prominent theme, and revolves around these characters. Pseudo-relationships is another prominent theme, which also revolves around Nora and Hedda.
             At first, Nora and Hedda appear to be complete polar opposites. Nora always wants to please everyone, especially her husband, Torvald. She will change around her whole personality depending on who she is with and/or trying to please. The mask she assigns to her time with Torvald is that of a child or an ornament. Her friend, Christine, see the mask of a strong independent woman who saved her husbands life of her own initiative. The constant change of face causes both personal and interpersonal conflict. Her Marriage is ended because of it. She is a doll, and is a different character depending on who is "playing" with her. In this sense, she is constantly being manipulated by herself in order to please others, and she does nothing to prevent it.
             Hedda, however, is much different. Everyone tries to please her, especially her husband, George. The only time she will change her behavior for others is when she is trying to get something out of them. Her intentions are almost never true. She is constantly manipulating others, and they do nothing to prevent it.
             As we get further into the plays, we start to learn about their marriages. In A Doll's House, Nora and George have a seemingly perfect marriage. We later learn that it is merely cosmetic; There is a total lack of an interpersonal relationship of any depth whatsoever. To Torvald, Nora is simply or...