An enemy of the People by Arthur Miller - Essay Example

An enemy of the People, adopted by Arthur Miller Individual desires and beliefs are some of the identifiers of thosewho make up a society. There are people in the society who have desires and beliefs so strong that nothing can sway them from their stand. However, this is not usually the case because in most communities people face a number of challenges that might make them revisit their personal decisions. Some of these decisions are for the good of society, but it is the same society that challenges them. In his play entitled “An enemy of the People,” Henrik Ibsen uses the character of Dr. Stockmann to bring out the extent to which the society can compromise the desires and beliefs of an individual. Reading through the play, one gets to understand how hard it is for people who have compromised their principles to be confronted by someone who has not. The use of the styles of characterization, irony, and symbolism help the author to show the reader ways in which a person can be disliked by the very same society he is doing his best to help. Dr. Stockmann, the main character of the play is a popular practicing medical doctor as well as the medical officer of a small coastal town in Norway. He is the brother of the mayor, an authoritative figure in the town. In the play, Dr. Stockmann is the protagonist who struggles to do the right thing and stand against the social intolerances that he encounters in his day to day activities. As a health officer of the town, Dr. Stockmann discovers a problem with pollution that is causing illnesses to the town’s tourists. To this effect, he comes up with a solution to the pollution problem which he presents to the Mayor. However, he discovers that it would not be an easy task to get the attention of the authorities and the townspeople as it becomes clear to him that they only care about the financial gain of the baths and not the problems they present. He realizes that he is alone in his quest for being right and notes “….. I tell you now that the majority is always wrong” (Ibsen 1011). Dr. Stockmann experiences a lot of negativity from the very same people of the town he is trying to help. When he discovers the extent of pollution in the waters, he believes that people will be interested in finding a solution. However, the townspeople, even his friends term him an “enemy of the people” mainly because his suggestions take the prosperity associated with the benefits of the baths back. He even notes himself "I've decided. I am an Enemy of the People"(Ibsen 1028) when he finally accepts that most of the towns people will never support him. This brings out irony in the play. It is ironic because Dr. Stockmann had the best of intentions when he proposed limiting the damages of pollution by closing the baths. In any case, the people are their own enemy because their greed and desire for prosperity will in the end bring harm and destruction to the town. It is clear that people do not realize the shortsightedness of their stand against Dr. Stockmann’s opinion of what is best for the town. Ibsen’s use of imagery as brought out by the character of Dr. Stockmann who points out images of pollution throughout the play. At the beginning, Dr. Stockman literally discovers the polluted baths which in this case, are getting polluted by literal filth from the tanneries. As the play progresses, images of dirty water are used as a symbolic representation of moral and societal corruption. According to Roshwald, there is the physical filth, as well as moral pollution, and one can see the biological poison as a representation of the moral corruption in the society (229). In a community, there are always selfish individuals who have compromised their principles and find it challenging when confronted by someone of integrity. The mayor is dishonest and callous, but his brother is an honest man and that is why as Roshwald notes, Dr. Stockman accuses his brother by saying “We are making our living by retailing filth and corruption!” (229). Focusing on the character of Dr. Stockmann, Ibsen illustrates the courage and personal integrity of an individual who believes in doing the right thing. First, we experience the representation of this trait in the play when the mayor refuses the suggestions by Dr. Stockmann to remedy the pollution problem because of the costs involved. Dr. Stockmann refuses to back down and goes ahead to hold a town meeting with the people. His refusal to accept the mayor’s decision as the authority of the town shows how principled Dr. Stockmann is, and not even the highest authority of the town could convince him to back down. He maintains his stand regarding the matter even when all the townspeople go against him and denounce him as a lunatic. In addition, he says "I am ready to die for my convictions" (1023) to support his claim that he will not join the rest in being wrong just because no one supports him, part from his family and his friend Captain Hoster. He preferred to be the alienated moralist and chose not to follow the rest. According to Roshwald, “an individual who defies society because of his moral convictions, and subsequently suffers for his independent and unbending stand” is a common occurrence in human history as well as contemporary societies (227). In all his struggles to save the town from facing further damage caused by the baths, although he is right, Dr. Stockmann faces the united will of the people as well as the collective interest of the community in defense for his integrity (Roshwald 230). Roshwald further stresses on the trait of personal integrity by noting that a single individual detaches himself from the community by choosing to stand by his beliefs rather than bending to its general will (230). Dr. Stockmann takes the issue of being morally correct more seriously given that he concerns himself with the people's well-being and not only the will of the people. Roshwald looks at the irony of the doctor’s stand with regards to the view of the townspeople. It is ironical how the doctor chooses to stand alone in his decision regarding the community's well-being while the people themselves choose prosperity against their own well-being (Roshwald 230). One wonders how an individual can care that much about the community whose people do not care about themselves. Works Cited Ibsen, Henrik. An Enemy of the People. 1882. Literature: A Pocket Anthology. 5th Edition. R.S. Gwynn, New York:Penguin Academics, 2010. 960-1030. Print. Roshwald, Mordecai. "The Alienated Moralist In An Enemy Of The People." Modern Age 46.3 (2004): 227-233. Web. 5 Dec. 2012. Read More