Ibsen Journal #5

In the argument between Relling and Gregers, they talk essentially about what we had our debate in class today. Gregers believes that a marriage and/or relationship has to be based on truth and not lies, while Relling thinks that living with a lie will just make a person unhappy and not ready for truth, "Deprive the average man of his vital lie, and you've robbed him of happiness as well." (203). Relling takes the opposing side of idealism and thinks of it as useless and pointless when you've got "lies" to base your life upon. "Mr. Werle junior -- don't use that exotic word ideals. Not when you've got a fine native word -- lies" (203). A man will become discontent with their life once they are exposed to the truth. He also sort of implies why bother a man that is already happy with his life to screw it all up in the attempt to tell him the truth. So basically, the truth has nothing to do with happiness. But on the other hand Gregers has a different point of view on what will make a happy life, "He certainly had to pare down his early ideals." (203). Gregers thinks that everybody should have an idealistic life, and feels bad when Old Ekdal had to lower his ideals in life. Relling, at one point, compares people with ideals as sick, "Most of the world is sick I'm afraid. [...] I try to keep up the life-lie in him." (202). Relling was the one who set up Hjalmar's life of lies in order to curtain the truth from him. I think Ibsen's central point on the matter of idealism and truth is that it doesn't matter how you view or live your life whether it being based upon lies or based upon truth. All that matters in life is to be happy whether it is based on lies or the truth. At least that is what I believe on the matter.