People all over the world are moved by Henrik Ibsen’s writings. He was a Norwegian citizen, but he was a universal writer.

If we are to use the Ibsen Year 2006 effectively, we must renew our contact with both the writer and his works.

We must remember that Ibsen could be sharply critical of Norway and Norwegians.

The scenes he creates are set in Norway and are typical of their time. But he put freedom of expression, environmental protection, gender equality, human dignity, corruption and use of power on the agenda in such a way that his plays have continued to be relevant.

These are issues that belong at the top of our agenda today.

But Ibsen does not resolve them for us. As he said himself, his calling is to ask questions, not to give answers.

Ibsen’s calling is to ask questions, not to give answers (Article by the Foreign Minister)
See also www.norway.org/ibsen