With both authors' realistic description and depiction of two dysfunctional families, Ibsen and Strindberg truly push the boundaries of how realistic they may appear . They are not afraid to depict families as they really are, often ugly and unseemly. In Ghosts, everyone's roles as mom, dad, son, and daughter are abandoned and told like normal human beings, but especially those of mothers. In Strindberg's The Father, one cannot deny the existence of the conception of a feminist home. Laura is clearly seeking power, but her exclusion of the Captain's self-given power pushes her to use her daughter for maternal rule. Additionally, Ghosts paints a brilliant picture in helping convey the state this family is in. We should really start by talking about the plague, about man compared to the devil, Engstrand. Reading the play, we understand that Engstrand is not Regina's legitimate father, and there seems to be evidence that she knows this too. The notion of family is one of the social crutches that Engstrand tries to manipulate as he pleases (he does the same with religion). “What the hell do you mean?” Are you opposing your father, you naughty girl? (I.12) Engstrand clearly sounds paranoid in the tone of his voice and internally knows the truth about Regina's situation. There is an idea that is one of the “ghosts” that Ms. Alving talks about: MME.ALVING. Ah, but there he has his mother, you see. My own darling boy, he has not forgotten his old mother!MANDERS. It would indeed be regrettable if the absence and absorption in art of this kind of thing blunted its natural feelings (I.24). This theory of filial respect is one of the “ghosts” to which Hélène clings until the very last drama. ... middle of paper ...... the art of all evil in society, a place where woman can be sensual, man can ground himself and a prison for children (60). As we have exhausted, these families are unfamiliar yet real. Their mothers play a vital role in the present and future of both plays. Both plays support this theme of families and their dysfunctional ways of being and their unprecedented patterns that oppose those of normal, traditional norms. Works Cited Carlson, Harry G. Introduction. Strindberg: Five pieces. Trans. Carlson. Berkeley: Cal University P, 1983.1-13. Print.Ibsen, Henrik. Ghosts in Ibsen: four major plays: Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, The Lady from the Sea and John Gabriel Borkman, Vol. 2. Trans. Rolf Fjelde. New York: Penguin, 2001. 1-81. Print.Strindberg, August. The Father in Strindberg: five plays. Trans. Harry G. Carlson. Berkeley: U of Cal P, 1983. 19-62. Print.