Ibsen uses the motif of sickness and disease throughout the play. Often, characters are described as being "sick" when they're not literally sick. For instance, Dr. Relling says that Gregers has "an acute case of moralistic fever" (Ibsen 178) which is almost a joke, poking some fun at Gregers. It's another way of saying that Gregers is pretentious and believes he is morally better than others, and has a desire (almost an obsession) to bring everyone else up to his level of supreme morality.
Gregers, in turn, considers Hjalmar sick. He says to Hjalmar that "you've got an insidious disease in your system" (Ibsen 170). He means that Hjalmar is being kept in the dark, and is infected by his own unawareness. Hjalmar has no idea that Hedvig is not his daughter, nor that Gina had an affair with Werle, nor that Werle fixed them up to cover Gina's pregnancy. Gregers thinks that if Hjalmar knew the truth, Hjalmar would be enlightened and cured of his sickness.
Ibsen uses the motif of disease to show that humans have an inherent "sickness" that is necessary for their survival. Relling calls it a life-lie, the thing that guides people through life and allows them to keep living. This same sickness, though, can create destruction and havoc, as it did in Greger's case. His "sickness" caused the destruction of Hjalmar's family and the death of Hedvig.
Gregers, in turn, considers Hjalmar sick. He says to Hjalmar that "you've got an insidious disease in your system" (Ibsen 170). He means that Hjalmar is being kept in the dark, and is infected by his own unawareness. Hjalmar has no idea that Hedvig is not his daughter, nor that Gina had an affair with Werle, nor that Werle fixed them up to cover Gina's pregnancy. Gregers thinks that if Hjalmar knew the truth, Hjalmar would be enlightened and cured of his sickness.
Ibsen uses the motif of disease to show that humans have an inherent "sickness" that is necessary for their survival. Relling calls it a life-lie, the thing that guides people through life and allows them to keep living. This same sickness, though, can create destruction and havoc, as it did in Greger's case. His "sickness" caused the destruction of Hjalmar's family and the death of Hedvig.
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