cultural resources in henrik ibsen's early environment - Ibsen.net

months at home. After spending the greatest part of the year on board ships, they had
abandoned spiritual development, nor was this state-of-mind overcome in the few months
before new trade commenced.
As far as that goes there were in Grimstad especially good moral conditions.
Moderation, liberal ideals, and above all a high degree of peacefulness, were prominent
traits among the people, who lived their quiet, modest family life, each among his closest
ties. With few exceptions, there were almost no interests apart from the shipping trade.
The few families that were not completely preoccupied with the materialistic philosophy
of life made a rather sharp contrast to the majority of the town, and therefore stood out
strongly on certain occasions.
Like Ibsen in his time, I preserve warm memories of the gracious people I knew
there during the 13 years I associated with them, in clean, wholesome social relations, and
I want to close this section with a short story about the old Grimstad-families. I have
earlier emphasized the charming peacefulness that reigns there.
This is not always the case in small towns. I know several, where only dissension
and conflict thrive best. A contributing cause of the good social spirit that prevails in
Grimstad I want to ascribe to the influence that made itself apparent from the old
families, that provided a good example to imitate by their honesty and peacefulness in all
their dealings. In the time we lived there I can therefore mention as true representatives
for the old Grimstad the extended Holst family, who in those years were very numerous
and of whom several are still alive.
Among these people and under their conduct as depicted here, Henrik Ibsen also
lived, and it is easily understandable that he was not understood or appreciated when in
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