Haunted and motivated by public opinion, the eccentric characters of Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen destroy their own lives and those of others. Regina, the maid, Manders, the pastor and Mrs. Alving, a widower, are all prime examples of this. Each character in his or her own way, disregard their own values, opinions, and family, only to fit in with society. Their false appearances hold up for some time, but ultimately backfire. Through minor conflicts, to the climax of the play, these characters find their reputations shattered. This, in turn ruins the lives of those who trusted them and by the end of the play nothing is as it had seemed.

Almost all characters in the play show some type of concern for the opinion of the public and end up discontented because of it. This is first revealed in a minor incident, when Regina, a proper, well educated...