Henrik Ibsen believed that a drama should "proceed from the individual," for he viewed the character, not the plot according to Aristotle, was the most important element in a drama. The carefully constructed character, according to Ibsen, has the ability to create a conflict in lieu of the conflict resulting from the plot. In Ibsen's work, A Doll House, the plot focuses on Nora's attempts to overcome the "doll house," or society's view regarding the role of people in the family. In this drama, the depth of the character is accentuated through Ibsen's meticulous construction of Dr. Rank. Dr. Rank's virtue can be seen through his similarities and differences with Krogstad.

Dr. Rank and Krogstad, though seemingly different from each other, share similarities that exemplify Dr. Rank's virtue. Both Dr. Rank and Krogstad committed unthinkable acts that are viewed poorly by society. Krogstad "committed an impropriety" when he...