An Enemy of the People Analysis - Essay Example

An Enemy of the People Henrik Ibsen, the world renowned playwright born in 1828 was well known for his devotion to theatre. His childhood in Skien- a Norwegian village, with poor living circumstances forced him to be an apprentice to an apothecary. One can see that Ibsen’s childhood experiences and bitter memories deeply influenced rest of his life as a playwright and poet. The play An Enemy of the People by Ibsen, published in 1882 is closely related to the democratic evolution of Europe. The play deals with a number of social issues in the domain of family unit, truth, honesty and political views. Besides, the play portrays different interpretations of the same truth. When one tries to prove that his/her ideas or viewpoints is the ultimate truth, the scope of compromise become limited. In the play, difference in opinion due to individual difference leads to conflict and eventually to never-ending hatred in the family. Thesis statement: An investigation to unearth Ibsen’s view of Human Nature, critique of ideas, values, and features of democratic community, and its strengths and weaknesses. Summary The setting of the play is a Norwegian town which is governed by Peter Stockmann. The main plot of the play is the conflict between two brothers, Dr. Peter Stockmann and Dr. Thomas Stockmann. Besides, the play related to a man who happens to be against a town in which he lives in. The conflict between Dr. Peter and Dr. Thomas extends beyond the private domain of their family and spreads to their community. Dr. Thomas, who is public-minded, discovers that the water supply did undergo pollution. As a public minded citizen, he tries to trace the reason behind pollution. In addition, he meets politicians, journalists and economists and other citizens in his locality, but for vain. But Dr. Thomas’ idealism leads to further issues in the society and the people began to consider him as an enemy. For instance, the annoyed mass forced Dr. Thomas and his family to leave the same town which he tries to save from health issues due to water pollution. But Dr. Thomas Stockmann was not ready to part with his idealistic view of social responsibility of a citizen towards his/her community. But his idealism leads him to suffer a lot. For instance, his family life, career as a doctor, his private property etc is totally ruined. The character of Dr. Thomas reminds an exceptional character who is ready to face risks in one’s life but not ready to part with one’s belief/ideology. Ibsen’s view of Human Nature and his critique of ideas, values, and features of democratic community Ibsen’s characters acts the role of a mouthpiece which helps one have clearer ideas on the playwright’s views on human nature, ideas, values, and features of a democratic community. Through the character Dr. Stockmann, Ibsen makes clear that one’s individual responsibility to lead the mass towards truth must not be manipulated by the selfish economic and political motives of the authorities. In the play ‘An Enemy of the People’ by Henrik Ibsen (2008), Dr. Stockmann reveals Hovstad, Mrs. Stockmann and Billing that the Bath establishment is a serious threat to public health and sanitation (p.24). From a different angle of view, the play An Enemy of the People is an immediate response to the rejection of his previous play ‘Ghosts’. Ibsen’s critique of ideas, values, and democratic community is deeply rooted in Voltaire’s Republican ideas and atheism. But, at the initial stages, the Norwegian society was not ready to accept Ibsen’s ideas on democratic community because he was against traditional way of life and loyalty towards the authority. For instance, in the play, Mr. Hovstad, who is the editor of the news paper ‘People’s Courier’, was ready to publish Dr. Stockmann’s discoveries. But when the whole community turned against the doctor, he gave up his liberal ideas and turned against the doctor. On the other side, Aslaksen, the chairperson of the Home Owner’s Council turned against Dr. Stockmann. He thought that controversies may lead to devaluation of homes in that locality and eventually to more difficulty in tax collection. Dr. Stockmann tries to reveal his discoveries in a public meeting but people were not ready to believe him and began consider him as their enemy. But he was not ready to give up and finds a new home to live in and decides to start a new school for children from now-home owned families. Dr. Stockmann’s idealism leads him to unending suffering from his own community. But he was not ready to give up, but stood up as a strong individual. From the characters like Mr. Hovstad and Aslaksen, one can easily identify Ibsen’s view of Human Nature to follow the mass without considering reality or truth. Ibsen’s plays provide importance to principles, liberalism, and individual freedom of thought and expression in a democratic society. Loyalty and obedience to the authorities without considering truth is the main characteristic of traditional society/community. But Ibsen’s idea on democratic community is entirely different from this concept and gives due importance to individual freedom to act upon one’s ideology. Besides, truth replaces loyalty in Ibsen’s concept of democratic community. Gosse (2007), in the work ‘Henrik Ibsen’ makes clear that Ibsen was aware of the fact that revolutionary ideas are capable to break the old world of illusions (p.149). One can see that traditional way of community life provide less room to revolutionary theories related to individual freedom and democracy. It leads narrow mindedness and prime concern is given to traditional way of life and loyalty. It hinders the citizens from thinking and acting according to his/her capacity. Besides, traditional way of community living hinders the growth of an individual and forces him/her to shrink into the shell of idleness and eventually to conditioned life without any question. When conflict occurs in such communities, people become less active and show interest to follow the authorities without any question. Michael Egan (1997), in the work ‘Henrik Ibsen: the critical heritage’ opines that Dr. Stackmann is a martyr hounded down by the public and authorities (p. 301). But Ibsen totally rejects this attitude and his character of Dr. Stockmann is the best example for individual freedom and democratic thought and action without considering further consequences. In the Act 4, Ibsen portrays Dr. Stockmanns speech to the mass gathered at the home of Capt. Horster. But people who were gathered at Capt. Horster were already against Dr. Stockmann. Almost all of them were influenced by the news paper ‘People’s Courier’ and community leaders. Besides, they were not ready to act against the community leaders and were incapable to form their opinion in the issue of polluted water. They thought that it is their responsibility to follow the community leaders, not to oppose them in public. But Captain Horster was brave to open his home for a public meeting. When Dr. Stockmann began to blame the leaders, people turned against him. But Dr. Stockmann was not ready to accept defeat. Instead, he strongly protested against manipulated public opinion, without considering its consequences. For instance, in the play by Henrik Ibsen (2008), Dr. Stockmann makes clear that it is the responsibility of a duty minded citizen to serve his/ her community without considering the consequences (p.27). This proves that Dr. Stockmann is with strong personality and will power to resist manipulated public opinion and its consequences. One can see that public opinion manipulated by authorities to fulfill selfish economic and political interest veils the scope of truth in public sphere. Dr. Stockmann’s deeds are not based on selfish motives but well-being of his community as a whole. From Ibsen’s play, one can easily identify that it is important to accept truth, which may be difficult to average citizens. Strengths of Ibsens criticism of democratic community Generally, Ibsen’s criticism is based on ideas/ themes like individual freedom, gender equality, and environmental issues. Besides, primary concern in the play is a controversy between an ideal citizen and his community. The main strength of Ibsens criticism of democratic community, in the play is that it is a challenge against the Victorian belief that one must show utmost trust towards the community. His criticism of democratic community is revolutionary because no one in Norway was ready to challenge the community leaders and their selfish economic and political motives. Through the character, Dr. Stockmann, Ibsen mocks upon community leaders and points out the scope of democratic community in changed circumstances. Besides, Ibsen argues that major opinion which is manipulated may not represent reality/truth. Instead, it hinders the growth of individual who is without any selfish motive. But people hesitate to accept truth because they are ignorant of its power. For instance, in the play, people do not consider the scientific findings/discoveries of the doctor on polluted water supply and possible health hazards. Instead, they are ready to follow public opinion. But Dr. Stockmann considers that speaking truth is more important that economic and political interests. At the time of Ibsen, the Norwegian drama was undergoing gradual and evolutionistic change from comedy/musical to social drama of liberalism and individualism. Ibsen was the first person to write plays against Danish influence on Norwegian dialect. Besides, the theme of romantic nationalism was the dominating theme in Norway. But Ibsen consciously ignored traditional techniques and themes in his works and concentrated on the usage of prose. Weaknesses of Ibsens criticism of democratic community The most important weakness of Ibsens criticism of democratic community in the play is that the theme is strictly limited to different dimensions of truth and individual freedom in a democratic community. One can see that no one will be ready to be a scapegoat like Dr. Stockmann, who was ready to accept hatred for the wellbeing of the community. Individual freedom is important but ultimate freedom will lead to utter chaos. Besides, Dr. Stockmann was not ready to have a compromise on the issue. Instead, he fiercely fights against the community leaders in a public meeting. If Dr. Stockmann did wait for a little to convince the people about the selfish motives of the community leaders by providing solid proof, the climax may be different. The message of the play for an average viewer is that individual freedom is important but one must be ready to face critical situations to save one’s individual freedom. At the same time, Dr. Stockmann was not able to convince the people about the importance of his discoveries. So, one cannot prove that Ibsens criticism of democratic community in the play ‘An Enemy of the People’ is successful. Summing, Ibsen’s view of human nature to follow the mass without considering truth, and criticism on democratic community based on individual freedom and collective responsibility is a revolutionary attempt. As his ideas are based on Voltaire’s Republican ideas and atheism, his criticism of democratic community is genuine. But utmost importance given to individual freedom ignores the importance of collective responsibility in a community. So, Ibsen’s views are innovative and revolutionary but ignore some essential factors of democracy. References Egan, M. (1997). Henrik Ibsen: the critical heritage. New York, NY: Routledge. Gosse, E. (2007). Henrik Ibsen. BiblioBazaar, LLC. Ibsen, H. (2008). An Enemy of the People. BiblioBazaar, LLC. Read More