Henrik Ibsen was ahead of his time. To this day, the strong women in his plays are sought-after roles for actresses: Nora, who leaves her marriage when she realizes her life resembles a gilded cage; Hedda Gabler, who takes her own life in her mundane home so that an act of courage can occur in this world. Ibsen's dramas, which were major scandals on stages around the world in their time, have lost none of their impact even after a hundred years: What they exemplarily portray in women's fates is the human quest for self-determination and the longing for uniqueness. With contributions to both works from Kindler's Literary Encyclopedia. Includes data on life and work, exclusively written by the editorial team of the literary journal TEXT + KRITIK.