In the following excerpt, Simonds calls A Doll's House "one of the strongest plays that Ibsen has produced," praising the playwright's ability to create a narrative that grows in intensity and captivates its audience. Simonds also examines the pivotal role of Nora Helmer in communicating the play's themes and tone to the audience.

The Doll's House is one of the strongest plays that Ibsen has produced. In the way of character-painting, and artful and artistic handling of the situations, he has done nothing better. It is a pity that we could not have had The Enemy of Society, with its strong autobiographic suggestiveness, first; but there is no more characteristic play upon the list, nor one more indicative of the author's mind and power if only it be read with fairness and appreciation, than the one selected. The heroine of The Doll's House is its light-hearted pretty...