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

easily influenced by what is new, whether it is wise or foolish, were the first to embrace
this idea, in which there apparently lay such great things hidden; however, it is a fact that
it has now become a subject for many older people's attention and interest as well; it
obtrudes itself increasingly as a current issue, and is discussed everywhere far and wide
on the right and on the left.
The idea of Scandinavian unity, like every other large and comprehensive idea, as
it developed to greater preciseness, had to expose great oppositions and accordingly to
awaken conflict, which is the more fervent the blinder it is, and the more that everyday
interests and passions have come into play. The Scandinavian Idea has been interpreted,
or rather misinterpreted in every way, celebrated with enthusiasm as Scandinavia's only
salvation, but also on the other hand written off [udstregen] as fanaticism, even as treason
against the fatherland. There are enthusiasts who would tear down all boundaries and
proclaim one Scandinavia, so that Norway, Sweden and Denmark should disappear; there
are also those who suspect every approach to the brother peoples as dangerous. We recall
seeing in a Norwegian provincial newspaper twelve reasons, which were to prove the
Scandinavian Idea's harmfulness. As is natural, we also have "middle-of-the-roaders"
enough, and these manage as usual with a distinction: "as a gesture towards a literary
rapprochement Scandinavianism is harmless, perhaps even desirable; [but] as politics--
may God deliver us from that!"
As long as everyone makes The Scandinavian Idea into whatever he thinks fit,
there is no explanation in this confusion, and the controversy "over whether it is
beneficial or harmful for Norway to embark upon it" comes to no end. On the whole it is
an improper reversal of the matter, when one is asked about the benefit or harmfulness of
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