What drives a person to commit suicide? This is an age-old question that is never (if ever) easy to answer. Literature has been an excellent source for addressing the complexity of such a horrific personal act. Two exemplary literary dramatists tackled this subject head-on two years apart in Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabbler" in 1890 and August Strindberg's "Miss Julie" in 1888. A Woman's Life at the End of the 19th century was very difficult. James McFarlane candidly and generally describes the dilemma of middle- and upper-class women during this period in his introduction to Henrik Ibsen's Four Major Plays: "These women of the modern era, mistreated as daughters, as sisters, as wives , not educated according to their talents, prevented from pursuing their true mission, deprived of their heritage, embittered in spirit... what will result? The protagonists of the two aforementioned plays, Hedda and Julie, both commit suicide. Does the plight of 19th-century women, as McFarlane suggests, provide compelling reasons why Hedda and Julie are right to commit suicide? Although these reasons may be what defines “tragedy” in these two plays, Hedda and Julie must be held accountable for their actions. It is true that their education and the mores of society influence their mental state. However, Hedda and Julie demonstrate a great deal of individual choice and determination, even in circumstances where they are "put to the test." They also made the conscious choice to only see the negative side of their existence; while coveting a selfish and delusional “ideal” of a fairy tale life. The real tragedy is that none of them allowed their true potential to have a chance at life. From the beginning, Hedda and Julie are both in the middle of a paper... they only see their lives through a glass. 'half empty.' Perhaps if they had been able to recognize the redeeming qualities of the life before them, they would not have felt so hopeless and helpless. They have spent so much time and effort selfishly focusing on the negative and unwanted circumstances in their lives, that they have simply neglected to step back and recognize the positive things that could have brought them as much, if not more, benefit. joy, than the pessimism they seemed to have. so determined to shelter. They were just too ordinary to fight for it. Works Cited Ibsen, Henrik; Translated by James McFarlane and Jens Arup. Henrik Ibsen Four major plays. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1981. Strindberg, August; Translated by Michael Robinson. Miss Julie and other plays. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.