By the end of the 19th century naturalism was emerging as the major movement in the literature of that period. The movement was greatly influenced by discoveries made in politics, science and psychology of the time. Discoveries such as Darwin's evolutionary theories, Marx's Das Kapital and even Freud's research into the psychology of human beings were creating shock and disturbance and began to revolutionize society's view of the world. The naturalist movement in literature also coincided with the beginnings of women's emancipation throughout the Western world. Scandinavia, in addition to experiencing the modern turn, was also facing its own political struggles for national identity. For Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg the early women's movement would greatly influence their writing. Many associate both playwrights with playing key roles in the rise of feminism. However, were Ibsen and Strindberg attempting to write about women's emancipation in the 19th century as a feminist issue? To explore this issue, this essay will consider key play texts by both writers, Ibsen's A Doll's House and Strindberg's Miss Julie. A Doll's House will be analyzed through the reaction of 19th-century London critics, women's political movements in Norway, and other influences in Ibsen's life at the time of writing. Miss Julie will be examined through the women's movement in Sweden at the time and also through Strindberg's original manuscript. Finally there will be a confrontation between the male protagonists and issues relating to their social status. Many believe that A Doll's House is a play purely about the emancipation of women. Nora is often seen as a catalyst for women's equality within a dominant male society. In fact, when A Doll's House was born...... middle of the paper...... [Online book] pp. 152-163. Available from: http://www.site.ebrary.com/lib/qmuc [Accessed 11 January 2010]Scott, C. 1889. A Doll's House. In: Egan, M. ed. The critical legacy, Henrik Ibsen. [Online book] pp. 101-103. Available from: http://www.site.ebrary.com/lib/qmuc [Accessed 12 January 2010]Scott, C. 1889. Clement Scott on Ibsen's Unlovely Creed. In: Egan, M. ed. The critical legacy, Henrik Ibsen. [Online] p. 114. Available from: http://www.site.ebrary.com/lib/qmuc [Accessed 12 January 2010]Simonds, W, E. 1890. WE Simonds on Nora's altruism. In: Egan, M. ed. The critical legacy, Henrik Ibsen. [Online book] page. 147. Available from: http://www.site.ebrary.com/lib/qmuc [Accessed 12 January 2010]Strindberg, A. 1992. Miss Julie. USA: Dover Thrift Editions.Templeton, J. 1997. Ibsen's Women. Cambridge New York: Cambridge University Press