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

therefore Dr. Ole Jacob Broche accordingly later gave Ibsen one of his well-known
"sixes" (i.e., a failing grade).
Reading for the entrance exam not only occupied much of his precious time, but
also caused him a good deal of trouble and worry. Then, by an easily understandable
inner need, he had to devote part of the day to the authorship which soon more and more
occupied his thoughts. And still on many occasions he had the time also to occupy his
talent for drawing. Just as his pencil was continually active, in addition Ibsen was a
landscape painter. And as such he had an undubitable talent. Some small pieces from
Telemark were respectable dilettante work.
It will be understood that if in addition to this, the circle of friends also occupied
his time every day, in this way most of the twenty-four hours passed, so that there were
only a few left for rest or sleep. But yet I never heard Ibsen complain about weariness.
His physical hardiness was unparalleled. He must have had an unusually robust
nature. This was evident among other things from the fact that since his economic
situation required him to use the greatest possible thrift, he tried to manage without
underclothes and later also without stockings. Since among Grimstad's many feminine
beauties there was one young lady to whom he was attracted, I joked with him that he was
playing "Love Without Stockings." 8 We had a good laugh at this. Ibsen was always
inclined to regard his penurious circumstances from a humorous point of view. These
experiments therefore succeeded even in the winter, without an overcoat. Yet I never
noticed that he caught a cold, or complained of other physical inconveniences.
8 Kærlighed uden Strømper, a parody of a neoclassical tragedy, which had been written in Copenhagen in
1772 by a Norwegian, Johan Herman Wessel, and as one of the oldest authentic Norwegian dramas, was
known to almost everyone.
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