4.3.(B) An Enemy of the People
Henrik Johan Ibsen (20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906), was
a Norwegian playwright, theatre director and poet. As one of
the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred
to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential
playwrights of his time. In 1869, he began to write prose plays.
Some critics would say that at this point in his life, Ibsen
abandoned poetry and took up realism. In 1877, he began what
became a series of five plays in which he examines the moral
faults of modern society. In order of appearance, the plays were The pillars of society,
A Doll's House, Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, and The Wild Duck.
Like all of Ibsen's plays, An Enemy of the People was originally written in
Norwegian and is full of untranslatable wordplay. Specifically, a number of the
character's titles exists only in Norwegian bureaucracy.
The holder of the truth, the man who can see the essence of the situation, is
bound to be unpopular, even if the masses catch up with his ideas in due course.
That is why Stockmann finally sums up , the oft-quoted line: 'The strongest man in
the world is he who stands alone!'
Theme
An Enemy of the People, a realistic play by Ibsen, boldly tackles the municipal
politics of a Norwegian town and exposes the hypocrisy and cowardice of the Progressives
and the Democrats. Like all the plays in this series, moral conflict is a significant
element. It deals with the extent to which individual desires and beliefs are compromised
by society. In particular, the play focuses on the ways in which an individual can be
ostracized by the society he is trying to help. The problems of the play's hero, Dr.
Stockmann, are not far removed from the problems that Ibsen experienced after the
publication of Ghosts. In a letter written around the time of the play's composition,
Ibsen noted: "Dr. Stockmann and I got on excellently together; we agree on so many
subjects."
Dr. Stockmann, the central character of the play eventually wins his point, even
though by that time he is ahead of the masses.
You will find this play still relevant to our times as Ibsen attacks the social evils
of his times, notably the status of women and the squeamishness of the nineteenth
century about the open discussion of moral problems.
Plot
The protagonist of the play Dr. Stockmann, a medical officer of the municipal baths,
suspects that the bath water is contaminated. He is proven right after clinical tests.
Therefore he wants to publish an article and expose the corruption. However, Peter
Stockmann, his brother and the mayor of the town and the Chairman of the Bath
committee, warns him of terrible consequences for him and his family if he publishes
the article. Hovstad, the editor of People's Messenger and Aslaksen, the printer, are hand
in glove with Peter and decide not to publish the article. So Dr. Stockmann decides to
hold a town meeting which turns disastrous, in which town people shout," He is an
enemy of the people." His home is pelted with stones, windows are smashed, he becomes
the target of people's ire. His contract as medical officer is terminated, his daughter
Petra is removed from her job as a teacher, his landlord wants to evict him and his
family from their home. But he stands firm in the face of difficulties and ignores Peter's
advice to leave the town for a few months. His wife is afraid that people might drive
him out of the town. But Dr. Stockmann replies that he intends to stay and make the
people understand "that considerations of expediency turn morality and justice upside
down." What is convenient is not always morally right. He ends by proclaiming, "'The
strongest man in the world is he who stands alone."
Synopsis of the extract
Dr. Stockmann has discovered that the new baths built in his town are infected
with a deadly disease and instructs the town to repair or close the baths. The
Mayor, who is Dr. Stockmann's brother, does not believe the report and refuses to
close the baths because it will cause the financial ruin of the town.
Dr. Stockmann tries to take his case to the people, but the mayor intercedes
and explains to the people how much it will cost to repair the baths. He explains
that the Doctor is always filled with wild, fanciful ideas. In a public meeting, he
has his brother declared enem of the people. The doctor decides to leave the town,
but at the last minute comes to the realization that he must stay and fight for the
things he believes to be right.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Dr. Thomas Stockmann, Medical Officer of the Municipal Baths.
Mrs. Stockmann, his wife.
Petra (their daughter) a teachk,er.
Ejlif & Morten (their sons, aged 13 and 10 respectively).
Peter Stockmann (the Doctor's elder brother), Mayor of the
Town and Chief Constable, Chairman of the Baths' Committee, etc.
Morten Kiil, a tanner (Mrs. Stockmann's adoptive father).
Hovstad, editor of the "People's Messenger."
Billing, sub-editor.
Captain Horster.
Aslaksen, a printer.
Men of various conditions and occupations, a few women, and a troop of
schoolboys—the audience at a public meeting.
The action takes place in a coastal town in southern Norway,
ACT III
(SCENE.—The editorial office of the "People's Messenger." The entrance door
is on the left-hand side of the back wall; on the right-hand side is another door
with glass panels through which the printing room can be seen. Another door in
the right-hand wall. In the middle of the room is a large table covered with
papers, newspapers and books. In the foreground on the left a window, before
which stands a desk and a high stool. There are a couple of easy chairs by the
table, and other chairs standing along the wall. The room is dingy and
uncomfortable; the furniture is old, the chairs stained and torn. In the printing
room the compositors are seen at work, and a printer is working a handpress.
HOVSTAD is sitting at the desk, writing. BILLING comes in from the right with
DR. STOCKMANN'S manuscript in his hand.)
Billing : Well, I must say!
Hovstad : (still writing). Have you read it through?
Billing : (laying the MS. on the desk). Yes, indeed I have.
Hovstad : Don't you think the Doctor hits them pretty hard?
Billing : Hard? Bless my soul, he's crushing! Every word falls like—how
shall I put it?—like the blow of a sledgehammer.
Hovstad : Yes, but they are not the people to throw up the sponge at the first
blow.
Billing : That is true; and for that reason we must strike blow upon blow
until the whole of this aristocracy tumbles to pieces. As I sat in
there reading this, I almost seemed to see a revolution in being.
Hovstad : (turning round). Hush!—Speak so that Aslaksen cannot hear you.
Billing : (lowering his voice). Aslaksen is a chicken-hearted chap, a coward;
there is nothing of the man in him. But this time you will insist
on your own way, won't you? You will put the Doctor's article in?
Hovstad : Yes, and if the Mayor doesn't like it—
Billing : That will be the devil of a nuisance.
Hovstad : Well, fortunately we can turn the situation to good account, whatever
happens. If the Mayor will not fall in with the Doctor's project, he
will have all the small tradesmen down on him—the whole of the
Householders' Association and the rest of them. And if he does fall
in with it, he will fall out with the whole crowd of large shareholders
in the Baths, who up to now have been his most valuable
supporters—
Billing : Yes, because they will certainly have to fork out a pretty penny—
Hovstad : Yes, you may be sure they will. And in this way the ring will be
broken up, you see, and then in every issue of the paper we will
enlighten the public on the Mayor's incapability on one point and
another, and make it clear that all the positions of trust in the
town, the whole control of municipal affairs, ought to be put in the
hands of the Liberals.
Billing : That is perfectly true! I see it coming—I see it coming; we are on
the threshold of a revolution!
(A knock is heard at the door.)
Hovstad : Hush! (Calls out.) Come in! (DR. STOCKMANN comes in by the
street door. HOVSTAD goes to meet him.) Ah, it is you, Doctor!
Well?
Dr. Stockmann. You may set to work and print it, Mr. Hovstad!
Hovstad : Has it come to that, then?
Billing : Hurrah!
Dr. Stockmann. Yes, print away. Undoubtedly it has come to that.
Now they must take what they get. There is going to be a fight
in the town, Mr. Billing!
Billing : War to the knife, I hope! We will get our knives to their throats,
Doctor!
Dr. Stockmann. This article is only a beginning. I have already got
four or five more sketched out in my head. Where is Aslaksen?
Billing : (calls into the printing-room). Aslaksen, just come here for a minute!
Hovstad : Four or five more articles, did you say? On the same subject?
Dr. Stockmann. No—far from it, my dear fellow. No, they are about
quite another matter. But they all spring from the question of the
water supply and the drainage. One thing leads to another, you
know. It is like beginning to pull down an old house, exactly.
Billing : Upon my soul, it's true; you find you are not done till you have
pulled all the old rubbish down.
Aslaksen (coming in). Pulled down? You are not thinking of pulling
down the Baths surely, Doctor?
Hovstad : Far from it, don't be afraid.
Dr. Stockmann. No, we meant something quite different. Well, what
do you think of my article, Mr. Hovstad?
Hovstad : I think it is simply a masterpiece.
Dr. Stockmann. Do you really think so? Well, I am very pleased,
very pleased.
Hovstad : It is so clear and intelligible. One need have no special knowledge
to understand the bearing of it. You will have every enlightened
man on your side.
Aslaksen : And every prudent man too, I hope?
Billing : The prudent and the imprudent—almost the whole town.
Aslaksen : In that case we may venture to print it.
Dr. Stockmann. I should think so!
Hovstad : We will put it in tomorrow morning.
Dr. Stockmann. Of course—you must not lose a single day. What
I wanted to ask you, Mr. Aslaksen, was if you would supervise the
printing of it yourself.
Aslaksen : With pleasure.
Dr. Stockmann. Take care of it as if it were a treasure! No
misprints—every word is important. I will look in again a little
later; perhaps you will be able to let me see a proof. I can't tell
you how eager I am to see it in print, and see it burst upon the
public—
Billing : Burst upon them—yes, like a flash of lightning!
Dr. Stockmann. —and to have it submitted to the judgment of my
intelligent fellow townsmen. You cannot imagine what I have gone
through today. I have been threatened first with one thing and then
with another; they have tried to rob me of my most elementary
rights as a man—
Billing : What! Your rights as a man!
Dr. Stockmann. —they have tried to degrade me, to make a coward
of me, to force me to put personal interests before my most sacred
convictions.
Billing : That is too much—I'm damned if it isn't.
Hovstad : Oh, you mustn't be surprised at anything from that quarter.
Dr. Stockmann. Well, they will get the worst of it with me; they
may assure themselves of that. I shall consider the "People's
Messenger" my sheet-anchor now, and every single day I will
bombard them with one article after another, like bombshells—
Aslaksen : Yes, but
Billing : Hurrah!—it is war, it is war!
Dr. Stockmann. I shall smite them to the ground—I shall crush
them—I shall break down all their defenses, before the eyes of the
honest public! That is what I shall do!
Aslaksen : Yes, but in moderation, Doctor—proceed with moderation.
Billing : Not a bit of it, not a bit of it! Don't spare the dynamite!
Dr. Stockmann : Because it is not merely a question of water-supply and drains now,
you know. No—it is the whole of our social life that we have got
to purify and disinfect—
Billing : Spoken like a deliverer!
Dr. Stockmann : All the incapables must be turned out, you understand—and that in
every walk of life! Endless vistas have opened themselves to my
mind's eye today. I cannot see it all quite clearly yet, but I shall
in time. Young and vigorous standard-bearers—those are what we
need and must seek, my friends; we must have new men in
command at all our outposts.
Billing : Hear hear!
Dr. Stockmann : We only need to stand by one another, and it will all be perfectly
easy. The revolution will be launched like a ship that runs smoothly
off the stocks. Don't you think so?
Hovstad : For my part I think we have now a prospect of getting the municipal
authority into the hands where it should lie.
Aslaksen : And if only we proceed with moderation, I cannot imagine that
there will be any risk.
Dr. Stockmann : Who the devil cares whether there is any risk or not! What I am
doing, I am doing in the name of truth and for the sake of my
conscience.
Hovstad : You are a man who deserves to be supported, Doctor.
Aslaksen : Yes, there is no denying that the Doctor is a true friend to the
town—a real friend to the community, that he is.
Billing : Take my word for it, Aslaksen, Dr. Stockmann is a friend of the
people.
Aslaksen : I fancy the Householders' Association will make use of that
expression before long.
Dr. Stockmann : (affected, grasps their hands). Thank you, thank you, my dear
staunch friends. It is very refreshing to me to hear you say that;
my brother called me something quite different. By Jove, he shall
have it back, with interest! But now I must be off to see a poor
devil—I will come back, as I said. Keep a very careful eye on the
manuscript, Aslaksen, and don't for worlds leave out any of my
notes of exclamation! Rather put one or two more in! Capital,
capital! Well, good-bye for the present—goodbye, goodbye! (They
show him to the door, and bow him out.)
Hovstad : He may prove an invaluably useful man to us.
Aslaksen : Yes, so long as he confines himself to this matter of the Baths. But
if he goes farther afield, I don't think it would be advisable to
follow him.
Hovstad : Hm!—that all depends—
Billing : You are so infernally timid, Aslaksen!
Aslaksen : Timid? Yes, when it is a question of the local authorities, I am
timid, Mr. Billing; it is a lesson I have learned in the school of
experience, let me tell you. But try me in higher politics, in matters
that concern the government itself, and then see if I am timid.
Billing : No, you aren't, I admit. But this is simply contradicting yourself.
Aslaksen : I am a man with a conscience, and that is the whole matter. If
you attack the government, you don't do the community any harm,
anyway; those fellows pay no attention to attacks, you see—they
go on just as they are, in spite of them. But local authorities are
different; they can be turned out, and then perhaps you may get
an ignorant lot into office who may do irreparable harm to the
householders and everybody else.
Hovstad : But what of the education of citizens by self government—don't you
attach any importance to that?
Aslaksen : When a man has interests of his own to protect, he cannot think
of everything, Mr. Hovstad.
Hovstad : Then I hope I shall never have interests of my own to protect!
Billing : Hear, hear!
Aslaksen : (with a smile). Hm! (Points to the desk.) Mr. Sheriff Stensgaard
was your predecessor at that editorial desk.
Billing : (spitting). Bah! That turncoat.
Hovstad : I am not a weathercock—and never will be.
Aslaksen : A politician should never be too certain of anything, Mr. Hovstad.
And as for you, Mr. Billing, I should think it is time for you to
be taking in a reef or two in your sails, seeing that you are applying
for the post of secretary to the Bench.
Billing : I—!
Hovstad : Are you, Billing?
Billing : Well, yes—but you must clearly understand I am only doing it to
annoy the bigwigs.
Aslaksen : Anyhow, it is no business of mine. But if I am to be accused of
timidity and of inconsistency in my principles, this is what I want
to point out: my political past is an open book. I have never
changed, except perhaps to become a little more moderate, you see.
My heart is still with the people; but I don't deny that my reason
has a certain bias towards the authorities—the local ones, I mean.
(Goes into the printing room.)
Billing : Oughtn't we to try and get rid of him, Hovstad?
Hovstad : Do you know anyone else who will advance the money for our
paper and printing bill?
Billing : It is an infernal nuisance that we don't possess some capital to
trade on.
Hovstad : (sitting down at his desk). Yes, if we only had that, then—
Billing : Suppose you were to apply to Dr. Stockmann?
Hovstad : (turning over some papers). What is the use? He has got nothing.
Billing : No, but he has got a warm man in the background, old Morten
Kiil—"the Badger," as they call him.
Hovstad : (writing). Are you so sure he has got anything?
Billing : Good Lord, of course he has! And some of it must come to the
Stockmanns. Most probably he will do something for the children,
at all events.
Hovstad : (turning half round). Are you counting on that?
Billing : Counting on it? Of course I am not counting on anything.
Hovstad : That is right. And I should not count on the secretaryship to the
Bench either, if I were you; for I can assure you—you won't get it.
Billing : Do you think I am not quite aware of that? My object is precisely
not to get it. A slight of that kind stimulates a man's fighting
power—it is like getting a supply of fresh bile—and I am sure one
needs that badly enough in a hole-and-corner place like this, where
it is so seldom anything happens to stir one up.
Hovstad : (writing). Quite so, quite so.
Billing : Ah, I shall be heard of yet!—Now I shall go and write the appeal
to the Householders' Association. (Goes into the room on the right.)
Hovstad : (sitting al his desk, biting his penholder, says slowly). Hm!—that's
it, is it. (A knock is heard.) Come in! (PETRA comes in by the
outer door. HOVSTAD gets up.) What, you!—here?
Petra : Yes, you must forgive me—
Hovstad : (pulling a chair forward). Won't you sit down?
Petra : No, thank you; I must go again in a moment.
Hovstad : Have you come with a message from your father, by any chance?
Petra : No, I have come on my own account. (Takes a book out of her
coat pocket.) Here is the English story.
Hovstad : Why have you brought it back?
Petra : Because I am not going to translate it.
Hovstad : But you promised me faithfully.
Petra : Yes, but then I had not read it, I don't suppose you have read it
either?
Hovstad : No, you know quite well I don't understand English; but—
Petra : Quite so. That is why I wanted to tell you that you must find
something else. (Lays the book on the table.) You can't use this for
the "People's Messenger."
Hovstad : Why not?
Petra : Because it conflicts with all your opinions.
Hovstad : Oh, for that matter—
Petra : You don't understand me. The burden of this story is that there is
a supernatural power that looks after the so-called good people in
this world and makes everything happen for the best in their case—
while all the so-called bad people are punished.
Hovstad : Well, but that is all right. That is just what our readers want.
Petra : And are you going to be the one to give it to them? For myself,
I do not believe a word of it. You know quite well that things do
not happen so in reality.
Hovstad : You are perfectly right; but an editor cannot always act as he would
prefer. He is often obliged to bow to the wishes of the public in
unimportant matters. Politics are the most important thing in life—
for a newspaper, anyway; and if I want to carry my public with
me on the path that leads to liberty and progress, I must not frighten
them away. If they find a moral tale of this sort in the serial at
the bottom of the page, they will be all the more ready to read
what is printed above it; they feel more secure, as it were.
Petra : For shame! You would never go and set a snare like that for your
readers; you are not a spider!
Hovstad : (smiling). Thank you for having such a good opinion of me. No;
as a matter of fact that is Billing's idea and not mine.
Petra : Billing's!
Hovstad : Yes; anyway, he propounded that theory here one day. And it is
Billing who is so anxious to have that story in the paper; I don't
know anything about the book.
Petra : But how can Billing, with his emancipated views—
Hovstad : Oh, Billing is a many-sided man. He is applying for the post of
secretary to the Bench, too, I hear.
Petra : I don't believe it, Mr. Hovstad. How could he possibly bring himself
to do such a thing?
Hovstad : Ah, you must ask him that.
Petra : I should never have thought it of him.
Hovstad : (looking more closely at her). No? Does it really surprise you so
much?
Petra : Yes. Or perhaps not altogethre. Really, I don't quite know
Hovstad : We journalists are not much worth, Miss Stockmann.
Petra : Do you really mean that?
Hovstad : I think so sometimes.
Petra : Yes, in the ordinary affairs of everyday life, perhaps; I can
understand that. But now, when you have taken a weighty matter
in hand—
Hovstad : This matter of your father's, you mean?
Petra : Exactly. It seems to me that now you must feel you are a man
worth more than most.
Hovstad : Yes, today I do feel something of that sort.
Petra : Of course you do, don't you? It is a splendid vocation you have
chosen—to smooth the way for the march of unappreciated truths,
and new and courageous lines of thought. If it were nothing more
than because you stand fearlessly in the open and take up the cause
of an injured man—
Hovstad : Especially when that injured man is—ahem!—I don't rightly know
how to—
Petra : When that man is so upright and so honest, you mean?
Hovstad : (more gently). Especially when he is your father I meant.
Petra : (suddenly checked). That?
Hovstad : Yes, Petra—Miss Petra.
Petra : Is it that, that is first and foremost with you? Not the matter itself?
Not the truth?—not my father's big generous heart?
Hovstad : Certainly—of course—that too.
Petra : No, thank you; you have betrayed yourself, Mr. Hovstad, and now
I shall never trust you again in anything.
Hovstad : Can you really take it so amiss in me that it is mostly for your
sake—?
Petra : What I am angry with you for, is for not having been honest with
my fathre. You talked to him as if the truth and the good of the
community were what lay nearest to your heart. You have made
fools of both my father and me. You are not the man you made
yourself out to be. And that I shall never forgive you-never!
Hovstad : You ought not to speak so bitterly, Miss Petra—least of all now.
Petra : Why not now, especially?
Hovstad : Because your father cannot do without my help.
Petra : (looking him up and down). Are you that sort of man too? For
shame!
Hovstad : No, no, I am not. This came upon me so unexpectedly—you must
believe that.
Petra : I know what to believe. Goodbye.
Aslaksen : (coming from the printing room, hurriedly and with an air of
mystery). Damnation, Hovstad!—(Sees PETRA.) Oh, this is
awkward—
Petra : There is the book; you must give it to some one else. (Goes towards
the door.)
Hovstad : (following her). But, Miss Stockmann—
Petra : Goodbye. (Goes out.)
Aslaksen : I say—Mr. Hovstad—
Hovstad : Well well!—what is it?
Aslaksen : The Mayor is outside in the printing room.
Hovstad : The Mayor, did you say?
Aslaksen : Yes he wants to speak to you. He came in by the back door—didn't
want to be seen, you understand.
Hovstad : What can he want? Wait a bit—I will go myself. (Goes to the door
of the printing room, opens it, bows and invites PETER STOCKMANN
in.) Just see, Aslaksen, that no one—
Aslaksen : Quite so. (Goes into the printing-room.)
Peter : Stockmann. You did not expect to see me here, Mr. Hovstad?
Hovstad : No, I confess I did not.
Peter : Stockmann (looking round). You are very snug in here—very nice
indeed.
Hovstad : Oh—
Peter : Stockmann. And here I come, without any notice, to take up your
time!
Hovstad : By all means, Mr. Mayor. I am at your service. But let me relieve
you of your—(takes STOCKMANN's hat and stick and puts them
on a chair). Won't you sit down?
Peter : Stockmann (sitting down by the table). Thank you. (HOVSTAD sits
down.) I have had an extremely annoying experience to-day, Mr.
Hovstad.
Hovstad : Really? Ah well, I expect with all the various business you have
to attend to—
Peter : Stockmann. The Medical Officer of the Baths is responsible for
what happened today.
Hovstad : Indeed? The Doctor?
Peter : Stockmann. He has addressed a kind of report to the Baths
Committee on the subject of certain supposed defects in the Baths.
Hovstad : Has he indeed?
Peter : Stockmann. Yes—has he not told you? I thought he said—
Hovstad : Ah, yes—it is true he did mention something about—
Aslaksen : (coming from the printing-room). I ought to have that copy.
Hovstad : (angrily). Ahem!—there it is on the desk.
Aslaksen : (taking it). Right.
Peter : Stockmann. But look there—that is the thing I was speaking of!
Aslaksen : Yes, that is the Doctor's article, Mr. Mayor.
Hovstad : Oh, is THAT what you were speaking about?
Peter : Stockmann. Yes, that is it. What do you think of it?
Hovstad : Oh, I am only a layman—and I have only taken a very cursory
glance at it.
Peter : Stockmann. But you are going to print it?
Hovstad : I cannot very well refuse a distinguished man.
Aslaksen : I have nothing to do with editing the paper, Mr. Mayor—
Peter : Stockmann. I understand.
Aslaksen : I merely print what is put into my hands.
Peter : Stockmann. Quite so.
Aslaksen : And so I must— (moves off towards the printing-room).
Peter : Stockmann. No, but wait a moment, Mr. Aslaksen. You will allow
me, Mr. Hovstad?
Hovstad : If you please, Mr. Mayor.
Peter : Stockmann. You are a discreet and thoughtful man, Mr. Aslaksen.
Aslaksen : I am delighted to hear you think so, sir.
Peter : Stockmann. And a man of very considerable influence.
Aslaksen : Chiefly among the small tradesmen, sir.
Peter : Stockmann. The small tax-payers are the majority—here as
everywhere else.
Aslaksen : That is true.
Peter : Stockmann. And I have no doubt you know the general trend of
opinion among them, don't you?
Aslaksen : Yes I think I may say I do, Mr. Mayor.
Peter : Stockmann. Yes. Well, since there is such a praiseworthy spirit of
self-sacrifice among the less wealthy citizens of our town—
Aslaksen : What?
Hovstad : Self-sacrifice?
Peter : Stockmann. It is pleasing evidence of a public-spirited feeling,
extremely pleasing evidence. I might almost say I hardly expected
it. But you have a closer knowledge of public opinion than I.
Aslaksen : But, Mr. Mayor—
Peter : Stockmann. And indeed it is no small sacrifice that the town is
going to make.
Hovstad : The town?
Aslaksen : But I don't understand. Is it the Baths—?
Peter : Stockmann. At a provisional estimate, the alterations that the
Medical Officer asserts to be desirable will cost somewhere about
twenty thousand pounds
Aslaksen : That is a lot of money, but—
Peter : Stockmann. Of course it will be necessary to raise a municipal loan.
Hovstad : (getting up). Surely you never mean that the town must pay—?
Aslaksen : Do you mean that it must come out of the municipal funds?—out
of the ill-filled pockets of the small tradesmen?
Peter : Stockmann. Well, my dear Mr. Aslaksen, where else is the money
to come from?
Aslaksen : The gentlemen who own the Baths ought to provide that.
Peter : Stockmann. The proprietors of the Baths are not in a position to
incur any further expense.
Aslaksen : Is that absolutely certain, Mr. Mayor?
Peter : Stockmann. I have satisfied myself that it is so. If the town wants
these very extensive alterations, it will have to pay for them.
Aslaksen : But, damn it all—I beg your pardon—this is quite another matter,
Mr. Hovstad!
Hovstad : It is, indeed.
Peter : Stockmann. The most fatal part of it is that we shall be obliged
to shut the Baths for a couple of years.
Hovstad : Shut them? Shut them altogether?
Aslaksen : For two years?
Peter : Stockmann. Yes, the work will take as long as that—at least.
Aslaksen : I'm damned if we will stand that, Mr. Mayor! What are we
householders to live upon in the meantime?
Peter : Stockmann. Unfortunately, that is an extremely difficult question to
answer, Mr. Aslaksen. But what would you have us do? Do you
suppose we shall have a single visitor in the town, if we go about
proclaiming that our water is polluted, that we are living over a
plague spot, that the entire town—
Aslaksen : And the whole thing is merely imagination?
Peter : Stockmann. With the best will in the world, I have not been able
to come to any other conclusion.
Aslaksen : Well then I must say it is absolutely unjustifiable of Dr. Stockmann—I
beg your pardon, Mr. Mayor.
Peter : Stockmann. What you say is lamentably true, Mr. Aslaksen. My
brother has unfortunately always been a headstrong man.
Aslaksen : After this, do you mean to give him your support, Mr. Hovstad?
Hovstad : Can you suppose for a moment that I—?
Peter : Stockmann. I have drawn up a short resume of the situation as it
appears from a reasonable man's point of view. In it I have indicated
how certain possible defects might suitably be remedied without
outrunning the resources of the Baths Committee.
Hovstad : Have you got it with you, Mr. Mayor?
Peter : Stockmann (fumbling in his pocket). Yes, I brought it with me in
case you should—
Aslaksen : Good Lord, there he is!
Peter : Stockmann. Who? My brother?
Hovstad : Where? Where?
Aslaksen : He has just gone through the printing room.
Peter : Stockmann. How unlucky! I don't want to meet him here, and I
had still several things to speak to you about.
Hovstad : (pointing to the door on the right). Go in there for the present.
Peter : Stockmann. But—?
Hovstad : You will only find Billing in there.
Aslaksen : Quick, quick, Mr. Mayor—he is just coming.
Peter : Stockmann. Yes, very well; but see that you get rid of him quickly.
(Goes out through the door on the right, which ASLAKSEN opens
for him and shuts after him.)
Hovstad : Pretend to be doing something, Aslaksen. (Sits down and writes.
ASLAKSEN begins foraging among a heap of newspapers that are
lying on a chair.)
Dr. Stockmann : (coming in from the printing room). Here I am again. (Puts down
his hat and stick.)
Hovstad : (writing). Already, Doctor? Hurry up with what we were speaking
about, Aslaksen. We are very pressed for time today.
Dr. Stockmann : (to ASLAKSEN). No proof for me to see yet, I hear.
Aslaksen : (without turning round). You couldn't expect it yet, Doctor.
Dr. Stockmann : No, no; but I am impatient, as you can understand. I shall not
know a moment's peace of mind until I see it in print.
Hovstad : Hm!—It will take a good while yet, won't it, Aslaksen?
Aslaksen : Yes, I am almost afraid it will.
Dr. Stockmann : All right, my dear friends; I will come back. I do not mind coming
back twice if necessary. A matter of such great importance—the
welfare of the town at stake—it is no time to shirk trouble, (is just
going, but stops and comes back.) Look here—there is one thing
more I want to speak to you about.
Hovstad : Excuse me, but could it not wait till some other time?
Dr. Stockmann : I can tell you in half a dozen words. It is only this. When my
article is read tomorrow and it is realised that I have been quietly
working the whole winter for the welfare of the town—
Hovstad : Yes but, Doctor—
Dr. Stockmann : I know what you are going to say. You don't see how on earth it
was any more than my duty—my obvious duty as a citizen. Of
course it wasn't; I know that as well as you. But my fellow citizens,
you know—! Good Lord, think of all the good souls who think so
highly of me—!
Aslaksen : Yes, our townsfolk have had a very high opinion of you so far,
Doctor.
Dr. Stockmann : Yes, and that is just why I am afraid they—. Well, this is the point;
when this reaches them, especially the poorer classes, and sounds
in their ears like a summons to take the town's affairs into their
own hands for the future...
Hovstad : (getting up). Ahem! Doctor, I won't conceal from you the fact—
Dr. Stockmann : Dr. Stockmann. Ah I—I knew there was something in the wind!
But I won't hear a word of it. If anything of that sort is being set
on foot—
Hovstad : Of what sort?
Dr. Stockmann : Well, whatever it is—whether it is a demonstration in my honour,
or a banquet, or a subscription list for some presentation to me—
whatever it is, you most promise me solemnly and faithfully to put
a stop to it. You too, Mr. Aslaksen; do you understand?
Hovstad : You must forgive me, Doctor, but sooner or later we must tell you
the plain truth—
(He is interrupted by the entrance Of MRS. STOCKMANN, who
comes in from the street door.)
Mrs. Stockmann : (seeing her husband). Just as I thought!
Hovstad : (going towards her). You too, Mrs. Stockmann?
Dr. Stockmann : What on earth do you want here, Katherine?
Mrs. Stockmann : I should think you know very well what I want.
Hovstad : Won't you sit down? Or perhaps—
Mrs. Stockmann : No, thank you; don't trouble. And you must not be offended at my
coming to fetch my husband; I am the mother of three children,
you know.
Dr. Stockmann : Nonsense!—we know all about that.
Mrs. Stockmann : Well, one would not give you credit for much thought for your wife
and children today; if you had had that, you would not have gone
and dragged us all into misfortune.
Dr. Stockmann : Are you out of your senses, Katherine! Because a man has a wife
and children, is he not to be allowed to proclaim the truth-is he
not to be allowed to be an actively useful citizen—is he not to be
allowed to do a service to his native town!
Mrs. Stockmann : Yes, Thomas—in reason.
Aslaksen : Just what I say. Moderation in everything.
Mrs. Stockmann : And that is why you wrong us, Mr. Hovstad, in enticing my husband
away from his home and making a dupe of him in all this.
Hovstad : I certainly am making a dupe of no one—
Dr. Stockmann : Making a dupe of me! Do you suppose I should allow myself to
be duped!
Mrs. Stockmann : It is just what you do. I know quite well you have more brains
than anyone in the town, but you are extremely easily duped,
Thomas. (To Hovstad.) Please do realise that he loses his post at
the Baths if you print what he has written.
Aslaksen : What!
Hovstad : Look here, Doctor!
Dr. Stockmann : (laughing). Ha-ha!—just let them try! No, no—they will take good
care not to. I have got the compact majority behind me, let me
tell you!
Mrs. Stockmann : Yes, that is just the worst of it—your having any such horrid thing
behind you.
Dr. Stockmann : Rubbish, Katherine!—Go home and look after your house and leave
me to look after the community. How can you be so afraid, when
I am so confident and happy? (Walks up and down, rubbing his
hands.) Truth and the People will win the fight, you may be certain!
I see the whole of the broad-minded middle class marching like a
victorious army—! (Stops beside a chair.) What the deuce is that
lying there?
Aslaksen : Good Lord!
Hovstad : Ahem!
Dr. Stockmann : Here we have the topmost pinnacle of authority! (Takes the Mayor's
official hat carefully between his finger-tips and holds it up in the
air.)
Mrs. Stockmann : The Mayor's hat!
Dr. Stockmann : And here is the staff of office too. How in the name of all that's
wonderful—?
Hovstad : Well, you see—
Dr. Stockmann : Oh, I understand. He has been here trying to talk you over. Haha!—he made rather a mistake there! And as soon as he caught
sight of me in the printing room. (Bursts out laughing.) Did he run
away, Mr. Aslaksen?
Aslaksen : (hurriedly). Yes, he ran away, Doctor.
Dr. Stockmann : Ran away without his stick or his—. Fiddlesticks! Peter doesn't run
away and leave his belongings behind him. But what the deuce
have you done with him? Ah!—in there, of course. Now you shall
see, Katherine!
Mrs. Stockmann : Thomas—please don't—!
Aslaksen : Don't be rash, Doctor.
(DR. STOCKMANN has put on the Mayor's hat and taken his stick
in his hand. He goes up to the door, opens it, and stands with his
hand to his hat at the salute. PETER STOCKMANN comes in, red
with anger. BILLING follows him.)
Peter Stockmann : What does this tomfoolery mean?
Dr. Stockmann : Be respectful, my good Peter. I am the chief authority in the town
now. (Walks up and down.)
Mrs. Stockmann : (almost in tears). Really, Thomas!
Peter Stockmann :(following him about). Give me my hat and stick.
Dr. Stockmann : (in the same tone as before). If you are chief constable, let me tell
you that I am the Mayor—I am the master of the whole town,
please understand!
Peter Stockmann : Take off my hat, I tell you. Remember it is part of an official
uniform.
Dr. Stockmann : Pooh! Do you think the newly awakened lionhearted people are
going to be frightened by an official hat? There is going to be a
revolution in the town tomorrow, let me tell you. You thought you
could turn me out; but now I shall turn you out—turn you out of
all your various offices. Do you think I cannot? Listen to me. I
have triumphant social forces behind me. Hovstad and Billing will
thunder in the "People's Messenger," and Aslaksen will take the
field at the head of the whole Householders' Association—
Aslaksen : That I won't, Doctor.
Dr. Stockmann : Of course you will—
Peter Stockmann : Ah!—may I ask then if Mr. Hovstad intends to join this agitation?
Hovstad : No, Mr. Mayor.
Aslaksen : No, Mr. Hovstad is not such a fool as to go and ruin his paper
and himself for the sake of an imaginary grievance.
Dr. Stockmann : (looking round him). What does this mean?
Hovstad : You have represented your case in a false light, Doctor, and therefore
I am unable to give you my support.
Billing : And after what the Mayor was so kind as to tell me just now,
I—
Dr. Stockmann : A false light! Leave that part of it to me. Only print my article; I
am quite capable of defending it.
Hovstad : I am not going to print it. I cannot and will not and dare not print
it.
Dr. Stockmann : You dare not? What nonsense!—you are the editor; and an editor
controls his paper, I suppose!
Aslaksen : No, it is the subscribers, Doctor.
Peter Stockmann : Fortunately, yes.
Aslaksen : It is public opinion—the enlightened public—householders and
people of that kind; they control the newspapers.
Dr. Stockmann : (composedly). And I have all these influences against me?
Aslaksen : Yes, you have. It would mean the absolute ruin of the community
if your article were to appear.
Dr. Stockmann : Indeed.
Peter Stockmann : My hat and stick, if you please. (DR. STOCKMANN takes off the
hat and lays it on the table with the stick. PETER STOCKMANN
takes them up.) Your authority as mayor has come to an untimely
end.
Dr. Stockmann : We have not got to the end yet. (To HOVSTAD.) Then it is quite
impossible for you to print my article in the "People's Messenger"?
Hovstad : Quite impossible—out of regard for your family as well.
Mrs. Stockmann : You need not concern yourself about his family, thank you, Mr.
Hovstad.
Peter Stockmann : (taking a paper from his pocket). It will be sufficient, for the
guidance of the public, if this appears. It is an official statement.
May I trouble you?
Hovstad : (taking the paper). Certainly; I will see that it is printed.
Dr. Stockmann : But not mine. Do you imagine that you can silence me and stifle
the truth! You will not find it so easy as you suppose. Mr. Aslaksen,
kindly take my manuscript at once and print it as a pamphlet—at
my expense. I will have four hundred copies—no, five or six
hundred.
Aslaksen : If you offered me its weight in gold, I could not lend my press for
any such purpose, Doctor. It would be flying in the face of public
opinion. You will not get it printed anywhere in the town.
Dr. Stockmann : Then give it me back.
Hovstad : (giving him the MS.) Here it is.
Dr. Stockmann : (taking his hat and stick). It shall be made public all the same. I
will read it out at a mass meeting of the townspeople. All my
fellow-citizens shall hear the voice of truth!
Peter Stockmann : You will not find any public body in the town that will give you
the use of their hall for such a purpose.
Aslaksen : Not a single one, I am certain.
Billing : No, I'm damned if you will find one.
Mrs. Stockmann : But this is too shameful! Why should every one turn against you
like that?
Dr. Stockmann : (angrily). I will tell you why. It is because all the men in this town
are old women—like you; they all think of nothing but their families,
and never of the community.
Mrs. Stockmann : (putting her arm into his). Then I will show them that an old woman
can be a man for once. I am going to stand by you, Thomas!
Dr. Stockmann : Bravely said, Katherine! It shall be made public—as I am a living
soul! If I can't hire a hall, I shall hire a drum, and parade the
town with it and read it at every street-corner.
Peter Stockmann : You are surely not such an errant fool as that!
Dr. Stockmann : Yes, I am.
Aslaksen : You won't find a single man in the whole town to go with you.
Billing : No, I'm damned if you will.
Mrs. Stockmann : Don't give in, Thomas. I will tell the boys to go with you.
Dr. Stockmann : That is a splendid idea!
Mrs. Stockmann : Morten will be delighted; and Ejlif will do whatever he does.
Dr. Stockmann : Yes, and Petra!—and you too, Katherine!
Mrs. Stockmann : No, I won't do that; but I will stand at the window and watch you,
that's what I will do.
Dr. Stockmann : (puts his arms round her and kisses her). Thank you, my dear! Now
you and I are going to try a fall, my fine gentlemen! I am going
to see whether a pack of cowards can succeed in gagging a patriot
who wants to purify society! (He and his wife go out by the street
door.)
Peter Stockmann : (shaking his head seriously). Now he has sent her out of her senses,
too.
Glossary :
dingy : dull, colour less
compositor : one who arranges keys text into a composing machine
sledge hammer : heavy hammer used for breaking rocks
mince : cut, chop, crumble
salvation : deliverance, escape, rescue
alderman : an elected member of a city council / next in status to the
Mayor
hypocrite : fraud, deceiver, pretender
trivial : unimportant, little, worthless
subscription : membership fee, donations, contribution
trembling : shake, shiver, vibrate
Character:
1. Mayor Peter Stockmann is a contrast to Dr. Thomas Stockmann. Justify.
Ans= contrast between two brothers are as follows
Mayer Peter is a corrupt politician concerned with his image in the eyes of public while Thomas is a dedicated doctor who is looking for good health of the town people.
Dr stockmann doing morally good things on the other side the Mayor try to suppress the issue raised by his brother that is to publish the report made by him.
Dr wants to change the condition of society by bringing new ideas but his brother tried to resist his changes though it will be going to prove harmful to the people.
The mayor shows his coward nature when he knows that the baths are contaminated and also he refused to take responsibility for the issue.Dr stood firmly on the publishing hit report which shows heat brave nature doctor is good-natured, smart and generous while the mayor is greedy ,dominating, cunning and corrupt politician.
2. Write the character sketch of Dr. Stockmann.
3. Read the given extract (Act III)
(i) Complete the following table.
Sr. No. Character Supportive Character Incident
1. Dr. Stockmann (a)
(b)
(a)
(b)
2. Peter Stockmann (a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
(b)
(c)
3. Aslaksen (a)
(b)
(a)
(b)
(ii) Match the column A with column B.
Sr.No. A B
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Dr. Thomas Stockmann
Katherine
Peter Stockmann
Petra
Hovstad
Billing
Aslaksen
Opportunist
Vulnerable
Honest and upright
Coward
timid but supportive
Cuinng and corrupt
Courageous
Plot:
1. Describe the climax scene in your own words. Write your comments on
it.
2. Describe in your own words the incident when Hovstad's real intention
to help Dr. Stockmann is exposed.
3. Write down the consequences of the following occurrences with the help
of the play.
(a) Dr. Thomas Stockmann wants an article exposing social evils to be printed
in the newspaper.
(b) Mayor Peter Stockmann persuades Mr. Hovstad and Mr. Billing from printing
the article.
(c) Alaksen declares that he would not print Dr. Stockmann's article.
(d) Katherine encourages Dr. Stockmann to proceed in his attempts in the cause
of public attempts.
Setting:
1. The setting of the act is the office of the newspaper 'The Herald'. Explain how
it is the proper background for the theme of the play.
2. Explain the use of the following property in the development of the play.
(a) Hat
(b) Stick
(c) An envelope containing the letter
3. Explain the following statements with reference to the context.
(a) And then, once the ring's broken, we'll get to work and show the public every
day just how incompetent the Mayor is!
(b) From now on The Herald shall be my artillery.
(c) You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
(d) Because your father can't do without my help.
(e) And it's by no means the small sacrifice the town will have to make.
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