This summary analyzes two characters, Kurtz from Heart of Darkness and Nora from A Doll's House, who undergo significant changes and realizations throughout their respective stories. Both characters awaken from a state of enforced ignorance to recognize their true situations. Kurtz realizes the Africans are civilized and human, despite European views, while Nora realizes she is living a life of "wretchedness" under the control of men. The characters develop from their initial states through experiences that challenge their preconceived notions.