"Ibsen's message to you is - If you are a member of society, defy it; if you have a duty, violate it; if you have a sacred tie, break it; if you have a religion, stand on it instead of crouching under it; if you have bound yourself by a promise or an oath, cast them to the winds; if the lust of self-sacrifice seize you, wrestle with it as with the devil; and if, in spite of all, you cannot resist the temptation to be virtuous, go drown yourself before you have time to waste the lives of all about you with the infection of that fell disease."
~ G.B. Shaw [8]
Growing up, Henrik Ibsen was raised in a lively and sociable town. He was christened and brought up Christian; he also attended balls and socialized with travelers. [6] He read the Bible regularly but was never a practicing Christian. Before the downfall of his family, Ibsen's mother was thought to have had a passion for theater which may be where Ibsen inherited his love for the art. Along with the family's demise, there were also rumors that Ibsen was not Knud Ibsen's son both of which could have tormented Henrik Ibsen in his childhood. Both issues could be the inspiration for the context of some of his plays: money and family/petty conflicts. His love for reading was the first sign of his passion for the humanities and art. Ibsen also loved drawing and painting, focusing primarily on clothing. Despite leaving school at age 15, Ibsen continued his education while at the apothecary by studying Latin. [7] Ibsen's spirituality becomes an individualistic awareness as he grows in his writings. In a letter, he describes himself as "separated from both God and Man" (131). [4] He is in touch with his emotions and the journey he has been on since beginning his writing, and his psychological inquiries involve the effects of bourgeois life as the main plot point. [5] As he grew in success and had more opportunities for study and writing, Ibsen frequently traveled and used these experiences to frame his view of society, both in Norway and globally. This influence can be seen in his plays which he uses to express social critiques as questions. [7]