Henrik Ibsen

An Enemy of the People Henrik Ibsen

An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen

The city in which the work is taking place has built a huge bath complex that is crucial to the city's economy. Dr. Stockmann has just discovered that the bathroom drainage system is seriously contaminated. Alert various community members, including Hovstad and Aslaksen, and receive generous support, and thanks for making your discovery in time to save the city. The next morning, however, his brother, who is also the town's mayor, tells him that he must retract his statements, as the necessary repairs would be too expensive; Furthermore, the mayor is not convinced by Dr. Stockmann's findings. The brothers have a fierce argument, but Dr. Stockmann hopes that at least the Hovstad newspaper will support him. However, the mayor convinces Hovstad and Aslaksen to oppose Dr. Stockmann.

The doctor holds a meeting in the city to give a lecture on the baths, but Aslaksen and the mayor try to stop him from speaking. Dr. Stockmann then begins a long tirade in which he condemns the foundations of the people and the tyranny of the majority. The audience finds his speech incredibly offensive, and the next morning the doctor's house is vandalized. He and his daughter are fired. The mayor hints that the doctor's actions were simply a plan to inherit more of Morten Kiil's money, and Kiil himself soon arrives to suggest that plan to Dr. Stockmann. However, the doctor rejects all those suggestions and decides to defy authority and stay in town. His family supports him and he says that the strongest man is the one who is alone.