Appearance and societal acceptance is a fundamental characteristic that the average individual tends to underestimate. It may seem that individual morality runs counter to social appearance, but in terms of value, individuals perceive the need for appearance to convey a sense of belonging. Within two diverse but equally realistic dramas, A Doll's House and Death of a Salesman, societal appearance is above all else. Henrick Ibsen's A Doll's House takes on the genre and domestic life of the Victorian era at its worst as Nora Helmer's unrealistic marriage falls within its reach, leading to rebellion. Arthur Miller, on the other hand, exposes the “tragedy of the common man” through the tragic hero of Willy Loman and the “American dream” in Death of a Salesman (Shmoop Editorial Team 4). In comparison, Nora and Willy follow the ethics put forward by society, but in contrast, Nora's will leads to rebellion, while Willy's dramatized deprivation leads to conformity. Through Nora, Ibsen clearly shows that the atmosphere stems from the influence of the Victorian era. Domesticity was a central theme, the division between the sexes a common ground. Depending on their gender, women were placed under the responsibility of children and the home. In addition to the domestic role, women were expected to be completely submissive to their husbands (Shmoop Editorial Team 1). Nora fit perfectly with the societal aspects of what was expected at the time. Her total devotion to Helmer makes it clear that she recognizes him as the dominant figure and degrades her own position as a wife. At the beginning of the play, Ibsen describes Nora as she secretly eats her husband's cookies. Helmer states, "Hasn't Miss Sweet-Tooth been... middle of paper...... used it to awaken and become aware of her surroundings." With Helmer's final words of reproach towards her, she realized that the relationship did not include her as a wife or partner. Instead of being fully submissive and devoted to her husband, Nora rebels against society's ideals and chooses for herself despite her husband's domination. Unlike Nora, Willy chose to give up his life in the hope that once he died, his dream would come true through his sons. How society and how he left it meant everything to him, but what Willy didn't realize was that he was conforming to society's perceived appearance of the American dream and the took with him. The images and stereotypical atmosphere that society creates for the individual play a role in thinking, but it is the responsibility of the individual to control and maintain their appearance, to personalize it as their own rather than restrict..