Everyone Is Going Through Something By Henrik Ibsen

Depression, anxiety, and many other mental health issues have plagued humans since the beginning of time. They affect all people, no matter race, gender, social status, etc. Kevin Love, who plays professional basketball for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has admitted that he suffers from panic attacks. In his essay, “Everyone Is Going Through Something”, Love wrote “...but what I was worried about wasn’t just my own inner struggles but how difficult it was to talk about them” (Love). He had to confront his biggest fear, his feelings, before he could open up and recover. The theme of struggling before recovering can also be seen through literature. Specifically, Henrik Ibsen’s characters have to face internal conflicts before they can express their authentic self to others. In A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen’s
First, Ibsen changes the syntax of Nora throughout the play to demonstrate her expanded thoughts after she endures her struggles. For example, when Torvald talks about how wonderful it is to have a sufficient income, Nora answers “It’s wonderful!” (Ibsen 1.5). Ibsen makes Nora’s response to Torvald very short and terse. While she is stating that their current situation is great, she does not extrapolate beyond two words because she feels as if she can not express her true feelings to him. Inside she knows that their finances are not as wonderful as they can be; however, at this moment, she does not have the courage to convey her worries. In addition, after Torvald recalls their tough times and says how much of a blessing it is that they are now gone, Nora responds “Yes, it is really wonderful” (1.5). Again, Ibsen implements a small and abrupt statement as Nora’s response.