MORTEN KIIL --IMPERSONAL
Morten kiil is first presented to us when he comes to enquire of Dr. Stockmann’s discovery in act II. Though at point, he doesn’t understand the implication the discovery would have on his tanneries, he does not believe that these ‘animals’ are harmful. He however goes on ahead to encourage Dr. Stockmann to ‘pull their legs’.

He doesn’t seem to have any sympathy for the town’s authorities and world really enjoy seeing the conflict and assuming it as a revenge for having been hounded from the town council.
    When he later comes to stage in Act V, he has fully understood that he’s partly to blame for the impurities affecting the baths. He takes the money he would have given as inheritance to Mrs. Stockmann, Petra and the children and uses it to buy shares in the baths. In doing this, he intends to arm-twist Dr. Stockmann to denounce the research he had done and remove his name from the list of those to be blamed. He says in (Pg 100) “the whole of money is invested in the baths now. And now I just want to see whether you are quite stark, running mad, Thomas! If you still make out that these animals and other nasty things f that sort come from my tannery. It will be exactly as if you were to fray broad strips of skin from Katherine’s  body and Petra’s and the boys’  and  no decent  man would do that unless be  were insane .
An impersonal person is one who can be considered lacking in human warmth and sympathy. We find such is Morten kiil who does not sympathize with Dr. Stockmann or his family but goes ahead to try to arm-twist Dr. Stockmann, and in the long run, deny his family the inheritance he would   have given them,.

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Dr. Stockmann's Character Trait: INDIVIDUALISTIC   
    One of the successful methods of characterization that Ibsen uses in an enemy of the people is through dialogue and characters own word in describing the character traits of others.
    In page 9, we find Peter Stockmann saying to his brother Dr. Stockmann: You have an ingrained tendency to take things into your own hands, at least, and, that is almost equally undoubtedly inadmissible in a well ordered community, the individual ought undoubtedly to subordinate himself or herself to the community-or to be more accurate, to the authorities who have the care of the community’s welfare. This brief outburst on peter stockmann’s part gives us an explicit picture of what dr. Stockmanns is; individualistic. He most commonly behaves with a marked independence, almost in total disregard to the community or the people in

authority.
    Dr.stockmann’s nature of being individualistic is not just confined to his past. He briskly moves on through the play against much protests and strong opposition to declare that the strongest man in the world is the man who stands most alone. It is at this point in time when he has come to terms with the traits that he completely dissociates himself from the well ordered society and this is exactly what individualism is.

Dr. Stockmann's Character Trait: IDEALISTIC.
    Idealism is a visionary outlook in life aimed at achieving the most perfect conditions. An idealistic person therefore is one who holds a perfect conception of the standards that should be met.
    Dr.stockman came up with the idea of the baths and laid down the plans for its construction. Alterations to these plans were made by the authorities and these fell below his standards. During the construction, he vehemently opposed these alterations and even wrote to the council. This is given as flashback in pg.19.
    After his discovery Dr. stockmann describes the baths as the gravest possible danger to public healthy. Asked what is proposition are, he simply puts it. To see the matter put right, naturally. This is a very high standard which be achieved which he stands on regardless of the financial or technical implication. at one point, given a compromise solution he asks his brother –and do you oppose that I will have anything to do with such a piece of trickLater, in Act ll (pg 37) he sees an ideal state where everybody should share new ideas with other citizens. The ideal is however not always achieved.

    We find that peter stockman together with other leading men in the town prevent him from sharing his ideas. To them this could be a sign of ill nature towards the town.
At the time climax of the play Dr. Stockmann is addressing the public in captain Horster’s hall, he talks of an ideal society. In such a society it is the freethinkers that will govern the majority. He is therefore proposing a revolution against the lie that the majority has the monopoly of truth.

Dr. Stockmann's Character Trait: RESOLUTE.
    A resolute person is one who stands firm and steadfast to his or her views and opinions. Such a person does not waver or get saved from his/her stand.
Throughout the play several attempts are made to make Dr. stockman change his stand. For instance peter stockmann, foreseeing the struggle that is imminent between them tries to talk to him. His attempt at logic, compromise and even threats yield no results.
Peter stockman, also resolute as his brother does not give up. he goes ahead to dislodge Dr. stockman of all the support he had from the liberal press and the compact majority. Dr. Stockmann therefore becomes so vulnerable but even then, instead of backing down he says in Act3:
    It will be made public –as long as I am a living soul! if I cant hire a hall I shall hire a drum and march through the town with it and read it at every street-corner. His resolve is formidable and he would not bend even when opposition continues to build up against him.
    His resolute nature and determination leads him to conjure up an ideal to start his own school.

Such a school has been foreshadowed by peter in Act one and would be run on very different lines. It would make liberal and high-minded men who would continue the struggle he had started .these men are according to him drive out all wolves from the country.

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Character Trait:  MANIPULATIVE.
Aslaksen, the man who prints The People’s Messenger also gives them other financial favors. He therefore, by his privileged financial position takes controls, of the paper. In fact some people in the town consider that the people’s messenger is owned by Aslaksen,
When Hovstad and Billing consider getting rid of Aslaksen, who apparently would impede the printing of Dr. Stockmann’s paper, they find out that there isn’t anybody in the town who would offer them the privileges. Aslaksen points out to Hovstad: ‘Mr. Stensgaard was your predecessor at that editorial desk. He used to be sheriff.’ This, even said with a smile is threat enough to warn Hovstad of the consequences of rebelling against him.
Aslaksen, therefore manipulates Hovstad’s reaction to Dr, Stockmann and Peter Stockmann’s views. His manipulative ability is enhanced by his financial position while it is being motivated by some personal interest he is protecting of which he says: “When a man has solid interests of his own to protect, he cannot think of everything.”
Aslaksen does not manipulate the people’s messenger only, we find him skillfully manipulating the crowd that attends Dr. Stockmann’s meeting. Before the lecture started, we find him saying: I suggest we elect a chairman first. This is in the pretence that the lecture may read to divergent opinions.

In the ensuing discussion at the lecture, Aslaksen turns the public against Dr. Stockmann making it almost impossible for him to give the lecture peacefully.
In another dimension, Aslaksen is trusted by the householders association. He therefore uses this trust to pit them against Dr. Stockmann. He is able to make all of them refuse to house Dr. Stockmann or even give any kind of work.

Character Trait: INCONSISTENT
As is the case with Hovstad and Billings, Aslaksen is a very inconsistent character. He is quoted in (pg 28 to have said “Oh, it may be very desirable, all the same. I know our local authorities so well, they are never over anxious to adopt suggestions that come from, other people.  That is why I think it would not be at all a miss if we organize a little demonstration” This he says to Dr. Stockmann. About the same local authorities, he says in (Pg 50) “My heart is still with the people, but I don’t deny that I have a certain bias towards the authorities the local ones, I mean.” Asked if he would support Dr. Stockmann in (pg 64) Aslaksen says “Not me, Doctor”
Up, to that point, we are not surprised that Aslaksen has changed his opinion about the baths. Probably he had not understood it all. But the audience is quite taken aback when he declares in (pg 103). Well, the fact is that, now we know things as they really are, we think we might venture to put the people’s messenger at your disposal. This clearly changes the opinion about Aslaksen. He is just like any animal that must fight for survival and get its food whenever it can.

Aslaksen’s support for either party in the struggle between Dr. Stockmann and Peter Stockmann is not on principle basis.  He does it on purpose, either preserving his interest or finding new grounds for exploitation.  His inconsistency is cleverly covered up in h is cry for moderation. He even wants Dr. Stockmann to be moderate while forcing him out of his compound!.

Character Trait:TIMID / FEARFUL
The dictionary meaning of timid is: easily frightened. Fear in the same vein is defined as distress or alarm caused by impending danger or pain. An Enemy of the People is in one level a conflict between this brothers Peter and Thomas Stockmann, and in another level, a conflict between their different ideologies. Conflicts commonly defined as disagreements, struggles or fights have instilled such distress in the affected people like Aslaksen.
A brief exchange of words between Hovstad and Dr. Stockmann throws some fight in Aslaksen’s character IN (pg 30) we find them saying:
Hovstad: Well, what do you think of that, Doctor? Don’t you think it is high time we stirred a little life into all this slackness and vacillation and cowardice?
Dr. Stockmann : Are you referring to Aslaksen ?
Hovstad: Yes, I am. He is one of those who are floundering in a swamp decent enough fellows he may   be otherwise. And most of the people here are just like that. See sawing and edging first to one side and then to another so overcome with caution and scruple that they never take any proper step forward
 Hovstad’s statement, which is a perfect foreshadow of what happens to himself and Billing also describes Aslaksen as coward. 

Considering that Hovstad may have interacted with Aslaksen in the past, his statements may be considered to carry weight and his analysis of Aslaksen’s behavior as authoritative.
A more direct analysis of Aslaksen timidity is signaled by Billing who say to Aslaksen in (Pg 49) You are you are so infernally timid, Aslaksen!
It   is however not until when we meet Aslaken in act 5 that we see his cowardice. Threatened by Dr. Stockman with an umbrella, Aslaksen calls out for help frightened and sneaks out.
Aslaksen’s timidity is somehow covered by his insistence on moderation. He therefore portrays himself as a highly principled person and this gives him headway to become a leader in the temperance society and the householders’ association.

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CHARACTERIZATION -- PETER STOCKMANN is PESSIMISTIC
Pessimism is commonly defined as the tendency to focus on what is bad rather than good. It is a negative outlook in life that always expects the worst.
Pessimism and the pessimistic mood that underlie, An Enemy of the People is more profoundly seen through the main antagonist, Peter Stockmann, From the outset, Dr. Stockmann’s discovery of the dangerous bacteria in the baths is met with rejection and a feeling that Dr. Stockmann had nothing but ruin for the town. In an attempt to explain his bad mood,  Dr. Stockmann first cites peter  Stockmann’s stomach illnesses and later his lack of comfort  at home. Ibsen’s sense of realism does not take anything to chance, but attempts to offer explanation for every action as realistically as possible.
     Even before Peter Stockmann understands what Dr. Stockmann had found out on the baths, he goes a head to imagine awful things and even threatens his brother.  He says in pg 7
“I must say it all sounds most mysterious is there something going on them I am not supposed to know? I should have imagined that I  as chairman of the governing body of the baths….  It is even more unexpected when Peter thinks of Dr. Stockmann as extravagant for furnishing his house exquisitely and for offering his guests a sumptuous dinner.
 The pessimist that Peter Stockman is leads him to manipulating Dr. Stockmann’s lecture. He does not want the public to hear any divergent opinions, ‘otherwise it would lead to disorder or other bad occurrences in the town!’.

He had influenced other people in the town to reject Dr. Stockmann’s plea to rent a hall to address the public.
 Characterizaion of Peter Stockmann

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Theme of Materialism in An Enemy of the People
Materialism is well depicted in an enemy of the people as an excessive interest in or desire for money and possessions. It is an intensive if not exaggerated belief on the importance or possessions. Embodied in the society and most specifically the members of the party in Peter Stockmann’s municipality is a materialistic culture. The whole town is rallied against Dr. Stockmann because of the economic status of the town to an extent of ignoring an impending health crisis for the town.

Peter Stockman, the mayor of the town is quick to assess the economical and technical implications of Dr. Stockmann’s findings and shows little or no regard to the health of the inhabitants of the town. He says in page 35.
I made an excuse this morning to go and see the town engineer and as a thing we might perhaps have to consider same time later on.
    In another instance when Hovstad and Billings are chatting on getting rid of Aslaksen, who seemingly threatens to block their assault to the local government. They say:-
Hovstad: Do you know anyone else who will allow some credit for our paper and printing bill?
Billings: it is an infernal nuisance that we don’t posses the necessary capital.
It is in this understanding of their financial situation that Hovstad and Billings would rather fight against Dr. Stockman’s truth.
            Considering that three illustrations would suffice, we can focus on one more person who appears materialistic.
    Morten Kiil, the owner of the tanneries of the molledal is one rich man who overestimates the value of money and material possession. He gives to Dr. Stockman and attempts to buy him over, making him denounce his discovery and thereby declare Morten kiil as a clean man this attempt is however met by Dr. Stockmann’s assertive stance. His family therefore gives us a glimpse of an on materialistic society. Hovstad goes on as far as to declare that Dr. Stockmann is swayed by his heart and not his head in other words he would rather die poor for his truth than compromise it for material possession.
 Theme of Materialism in An Enemy of the People

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Theme of Suffering in An enemy of the people
In the attempt to show how far an individual can stand against a strong opposition, Ibsen portrays, a man and his family who undergo and endure pain and distress in their endeavour to not only preserve the truth, but also to communicate it to the rest of the society.Dr. Stockmann and his family suffer in two major ways. First, the distress and psychological pain they experienced when   Peter Stockmann influences the whole town to reject them, Members of the family lose their jobs and their children are ejected out of the schools.

This expulsion from public and social amenities would bring a stigma on the family as nobody in the whole town would want to associate with a family that is tagged to be an enemy of the people.
It therefore subjects them to suffering loneliness in a crowded town and this leads him to contemplate exile. The attempt to leave for exile is again disrupted when captain Horster, who would help them sail away is retrenched from his job. Dr. Stockmann then resolves to live on in his town.

Secondly, physical suffering is brought out in the play when Dr. Stockmann’s children, Morten and Ejlif fight out with other boys in the town and at school.  They therefore inflict pain on each other. In addition, at the end of Dr. Stockmann’s lecture people in the crowd decide to mash Dr. Stockmann’s windows and Duck him into the fjords. This violence, decreed on Dr. Stockmann led to them tearing his  trousers though they didn’t duck him into the fjord.

Theme of Suffering in An enemy of the people

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Theme of suffering in an enemy of the people
In the attempt to show how far an individual can stand against a strong opposition, Ibsen portrays, a man and his family who undergo and endure pain and distress in their endeavour to not only preserve the truth, but also to communicate it to the rest of the society.Dr. Stockmann and his family suffer in two major ways. First, the distress and psychological pain they experienced when   Peter Stockmann influences the whole town to reject them, Members of the family lose their jobs and their children are ejected out of the schools.

This expulsion from public and social amenities would bring a stigma on the family as nobody in the whole town would want to associate with a family that is tagged to be an enemy of the people.
It therefore subjects them to suffering loneliness in a crowded town and this leads him to contemplate exile. The attempt to leave for exile is again disrupted when captain Horster, who would help them sail away is retrenched from his job. Dr. Stockmann then resolves to live on in his town.

 Secondly, physical suffering is brought out in the play when Dr. Stockmann’s children, Morten and Ejlif fight out with other boys in the town and at school.  They therefore inflict pain on each other. In addition, at the end of Dr. Stockmann’s lecture people in the crowd decide to mash Dr. Stockmann’s windows and Duck him into the fjords. This violence, decreed on Dr. Stockmann led to them tearing his  trousers though they didn’t duck him into the fjord.

Theme of suffering in an enemy of the people

 

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Theme of change in An Enemy of the People

Ibsen in An Enemy of the People is concerned with change that takes place in the society. Though much of the change he writes about doesn’t happen during the play, the reader is not left with doubts that change will occur.

Dr. Stockmann, Ibsen’s protagonist invests much of his energies, materials wealth and even hope in young people of whom he says: they are the ones to stir up things a bit in future. (Pg6). He finds it necessary to spend time with such people as Hovstad, captain Horster, and Bilings  who have an ambition and are liberal and have active minds.

After Dr. Stockmann makes his discovery, he intends to use these men in agitating for change.

            In the long run, however, Hovstad, Aslaksen, and Billings, controlled and held captive by the compact majority and the subscribers to the peoples messenger fails him. All the forces of the compact majority, the press and the political leaders oppose and declare him an enemy of the people.

Still focused on the change that he finds necessary for his town, Dr. Stockmann disregarding the humiliation he suffers, recollects himself and sets himself on a new path. Change will soon be effected when he has made courageous high minded men in his own school. These men will drive out all the wolves out of the country. It is for this kind of revolution that he accepts to be called a revolutionary.

Theme of change in An Enemy of the People

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Themes in Henrik Ibsen's play: An Enemy of the People

More than any other kind of freedom, an every of the people tackled the freedom of expression. Through Dr. Stockmann, Ibsen seems to be crying against the society and its structures that deny people their freedom of expression.
To peter stockman, Dr. Stockman asks, “is it not the duty of a citizen to let the public share in any new ideas he may have?” (Pg 37)

And to Hovstad he says : “you are the editor and an editor controls his paper I suppose!” This last opinion is only party responded to by Hovstad when he says to Petra; “ou 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”. Hovstad therefore introduces us to another aspect in the field of self expression. There are certain forces in the public that restricts an individual’s freedom.
Closely- following Hovstad’s words to Petra, we find him faced with difficult choices. Aslaksen says: “It is public opinion- the enlightened public – house holders and peoples of that kind who control the newspapers.” saying this, Aslaksen is using his power  over the householders and general public prevail upon Hovstad to reject Dr. Stockman’s article.  Hovstad is therefore not free to express his honest opinion and opts to join Aslaksen in support of peter Stockman rather than face his wrath.
Dr. Stockman, in contrast to Hovstad refuses to bow to the wish of Aslaksen and peter and insists on his freedom of expression.  This pits him against the compact majority and he ends up rejected as An Enemy of the People. He also loses his position as the medical officer of the baths, not to mention his ejection from his house.
Themes in Henrik Ibsen's play: An Enemy of the People

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Stylistic devices employed in an Enemy of the people--Flashback

Flashback is the interruption on the chronological order of events to present an earlier occurrence. Those earlier episodes are literary referred to as the expository material. They are events which though occurred in the past, are vitally important to the present action.
An enemy of the people as the plot has it, starts when the baths are contaminated and the characters are busy trying to deal with the implications. The story however arranged chronologically stats at a time in the past when Dr. Stockmann was exiled in the north. He conceived the idea of the baths, returned to his hometown and fought for the implementation of the project. All this information concerning earlier actions, conflicts and struggles are presented through flashbacks.

Hovstad, for instance reminds Peter Stockmann that the baths owe their existence to Dr. Stockmann. Such a flashback gives an insight to the conflict between Peter and Dr. stockmann. We are able for instance to understand Dr. Stockmann’s dedications to the baths, as well as the hatred with which Peter Stockman related to his brother.
Conflict between Dr. Stockmann andPeter Stockman is exemplified when Peter says to Dr. Stockmann: You have an ingrained tendency to take things into your own hand in this, Peter signals that their conflict had existed before, most likely fueled by Dr. Stockamann’s individualistic tendencies.
These past conflicts are further shown when Dr. Stockmann says to Peter. Ah, you remember Petra, I wrote opposing the plans before the, work begun.
Flashback prepares the audience for the actions that will follow, by enabling them to relate what happened in the past and present and thereby come up with predictions of future outcomes. Flashback also furthers literary styles such as contrast, comparison and foreshadow.

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Aspects of style in An enemy of the People-- use of Biblical allusion

In the play, Ibsen alludes closely to the Bible. Other than the common sibling rivalry seen in every home; we are led to think of the rivalry between Cain and Abel in the Bible. It is on such a motif that Peter and Dr. Stockmann’s conflict is built. Either of them would rather be the best in contributing to his society than the other. As in the case of Cain who opted to eliminate his brother than live in continuous conflict, Peter Stockmann organizes to have his brother declared An Enemy of the People and uses his influence to force him into exile.

    Another clear biblical allusion is found towards the end of the play. Dr.Stockmann uses such notions as

… you will hear more of this enemy before he shakes the dust off his shoes upon you….I do not stay “forgive you, for ye know not what ye do.” In another instance he says that he needed at least twelve boys to start his school. He says that these, when they have become high minded and bold, they would drive all the wolves out of the country. Later, when he has a secret to share with them, he gathers them around himself and talks to them confidentially. All these and many other instances portray Dr. Stockmann in the shoes of Christ as in the Bible.

    The importance of these allusions is to enable the audience to relate to stories it has had more acquaintance with. The reader or the audience is able to learn more about the extent of rivalry between brothers, not to mention how the teachings of Christ and the changes he advocated for changed the world.

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Juxtaposition as a style in Ibsen's 'An Enemy of the People'
This is a major style used by Henrik Ibsen. It denotes placing two or more items side by side to enhance comparison and contrast. Whereas comparison focuses on the similarities, contrast focuses on the differences.

Any critic who reads An Enemy of the People will definitely see how the two main characters are juxtaposed. Dr. Strockmann is depicted as a highly idealistic man with a relatively fixed mind. Peter stockmann on the other hand is more realistic and flexible. Peter focuses more on the financial implications and wishes to effect the   changes slowly and at a lower cost. Thomas, however, sees this as a compromise t o his moral obligation as a medical officer. He does not agree to Dr. Stiockmann’s proposal.
Even in the diversity of their opinion, close scrutiny shows some similarity between the two. The comparison comes in to show that both of them are not only decisive, but are also resolute. Either of them is firm in purpose and is not ready to bend their principles. They both seem to resound the phrase- No retreat No Surrender. This is more pronounced when Dr. Stockmann.  Even in the face of huge opposition declares himself the strongest man in the town, ready to recollect himself for yet another showdown.

Seeing how decisive, revolute and determined the two main characters are, the playwright sets us to yet another juxtaposition. We see how indecisive, irresolute and weak-willed some of the characters are. Hovstad,, Billings and Aslaksen are easily swayed from either side to the other. Having no ground to stand on, they first fall for Dr. Stockamnn, later for peter stockamnn and later still; we are surprised to see them return to Dr.Stockmann.

By placing those newspapermen side by side with the authorities, the playwright ridicules the notion of the independent press. He depicts a press that is controlled by either side of the warring factions and we therefore wonder how they can accomplish their duties.

As these are juxtaposed, the playwright prepares the audience for a higher level of juxtaposition. The fifth that is sleeping into the baths is juxtaposed and compared with vice, corruption and intellectual depravity. At same time the sources of these ugly conditions in life is compared to the compact majority, just as the source of the fifth seeping into the baths is molledal.

The playwright in juxtaposing all these features goes further than to just point out similarities and differences, to a point where one feature is made to represent another. It is upon this juxtaposition that he is able to bring out one of his most successful styles, symbolism.

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Style in An Enemy of the People --Use of irony
    A simplistic definition of irony is that it is an aspect of a situation that is odd or amusing because it is the opposite of what one would expect. This is precisely what it is, concerning situational irony. Dramatic irony in addition occasion stage when one of the actors is oblivious of what the audience already knows.

Ibsen, in our text An Enemy of the People intricately employs both situational and dramatic irony firmly holding the audience to the end of his play. Amusing as it may be – even when an important matter is at stake, dramatic irony is depicted in Act III. It follows in a time when Dr. Stockmann’s popularity is quickly changing, and he has lost the support of Houstad, Biling and even Aslaksen. The audience at that time is in conspiracy with Hovstad, Billing and ASlaken and are thrilled by Dr. Stockmann’s erroneous thoughts in in pg. 61, especially when he says:-
“Well, whatever it is – whatever it is a demonstration in my honour, or a banquet, or 6 subscription list for some presentations to me. At that time, Dr. Stockmann thinks that these people are still with him. The audience however already knows that they have changed their position.

    Situational irony on the other hand covers the whole play. The first part dwells on Dr. Stockmann’s popularity and the support he gets. At the climax of the play however, a paradigm shift occurs and unexpected as it is, Dr. Stockmann is declared to be An Enemy of the People.
Again, when everything crumbles down so fast on Dr. Stockmann, he gives the most spectacular statements, that he is the strongest man in the world saying “the strongest man in the world is he who stands alone”.
This statement comes to show the irony of the situation when Dr. Stockmann says he’s the strongest man. It is the least of the audience’s expectation that at that time, anyone would consider themselves great.

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Style in An Enemy of the People: FORESHADOW

Writing in the realistic style of drama, Ibsen does not leave anything to chance. He does not believe in any ‘underhand’ or unrealistic conclusions. He therefore frequently employs flashback and foreshadows to aid the audience to make realistic conclusions.

Foreshadow is a literary style that enables the playwright to show or indicate beforehand. In that case, the audience is not surprised by the outcome. At the end of an action, episode or dialogue, the audience may as well say, I knew it would happen. Fallout, for instance is expected between Peter and Thomas Stockmann. After the exchange between Hovstad, Peter and Mrs. Stockman, it is apparent that peter is not contented with the credit he is given for his part in starting the baths project. He even goes as far as to give a threat in pg3: oh, ideas yes! My brother has had plenty of them in his time -unfortunately. But when it is a question of putting an idea into practical shape, you need a man of difference mettle, Mr. Hovstad. And I certainly should have thought that in this house at least…we are therefore not surprised when they don’t agree in the ensuing scenes.

Dr.  Stockmann himself in act 1 offers a foreshadow of how young people would stir things a bit in the future. His Statement raises curiosity in Peter Stockmann who follows the matter further making Dr. Stockman to foreshadow their conflict even more clearly when he says in (pg 7)
I know it is all on a very small scale here compared to other places. But there is life here. There’s promise – There’ are innumerable things to work for and fight for and that is what counts.

In this he is able to repair the audience for a fight, a conflict between himself and Peter stockman
Petra’s and Hovstad’s dialogue in act iii is a close juxtaposition which can be considered to foreshadow the closely following conflict between Hovstad and or Dr. Stockman. It is in this dialogue that we learn of Hovstad’s intention of supporting Dr. Stockmann. He at that time desired to win over Petra’s heart. When that fails, it is almost expected that he won’t support Dr. Stockmann any longer. Hovstad therefore in the same act rejects Dr. Stockmans paper saying that was presented in false light Ibsen juxtaposes to Dr. Stockmann’s conflict with Hovstad and Petra, and extends it to Dr. Stockmann’s conflict with Hovstad.
Another foreshadow that is not quite unexpected is Hovstad and Aslaksen’s appeal to Dr. Stockman to take up the people messenger, in act v. The two in the preceding acts are portrayed to be self seeking and opportunistic. When they come to think that Dr. Stockman may now get rich, they cannot miss the opportunity to find financial support from him and the audience approve of their predictions, signaled to by the playwright. Style in An Enemy of the People:

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An Enemy of the People: Act 5 Synopsis

The scene of this act is in Dr. Stockmann’s study. He collects the stones lying in the house. These stones have been used to break the windowpanes as the mob in the previous night’s meeting had suggested.
    Things quickly move from bad to worse for Dr. Stockmann’s family. They are given a notice to quit their rented house, the glazier refuses to come to replace the broken window panes and Petra is dismissed from her job. All these things happen because the people could not dare do anything contrary to the influential people in the town. Indeed, Petra captures this clearly when she reports how Mrs. Busk dismissed her. She said “Mrs. Busk  isn’t a bit like that, mother; I saw quite plainly how it hurt her to do it. But she didn’t dare to do otherwise”, she said; and so I got my notice.
   
 The concept of tyranny of the majority is further exemplified when the town’s people sign a list not to ever employ Dr. Stockmann. Peter stockman says that no head of a family would dare to risk refusing his signature.
     Peter stockman presents doctor stockman with his dismissal letter from the baths committee. He then tries to implore Dr. Stockmann to rethink about his stand and probably write some few words expressing regret and acknowledging error on his part. Dr Stockmann would not hear of such a thing and therefore refuses and stands his ground.
    Unable to convince him, peter stockman then to informs the doctor how he could be blackmailed by Morten kiil. Morten Kiil himself promptly comes in and announces that in order to cleanse his name, he’d bought shares in the baths using the money that could have been his wife’s and children’s inheritance form the old man. This blackmail is meant to make Dr. Stockmann revert his statements and announce that the baths are not infected and polluted by filth from the tanneries. To this too, Dr. Stockmann refuses to listen.
    Aslaksen and Hovstad arrive just as Morten kiil is leaving. Thinking that Dr. stockmann had calculated his move to belittle the baths so that people may sell their shares to Morten kill and later rectify the problem cheaply so that he’s left with a lot of money after reselling the shares, the two thought of putting the people’s messenger at his disposal. Realizing the self seeking intentions held by Hovstad and Aslaksen, Dr. Stockmann doe not entertain them and instead throws them out of his room. Hovstad actually blackmails him by pointing out the darker side of the story.


CRITICAL LESSONS From act five synopsis
ACT V
1. Much of what happens in this, Act is a consummation of what Dr. Stockmann had foreshadowed in act III by saying in pg. 49……they have tried to intimidate me, to make a coward of me, to force me to put personal interests above my most sacred convictions.
2. In this act, we see everything crumbling down in Dr. Stockmann’s family. This spiral downward fall started in Act IV. Dr. Stockmann, Petra and Horster lose their jobs. Morten Kiil withdraws the inheritance he would have given the family and they are given a notice to leave the home.
3. At first, Dr. Stockmann contemplates to leave the town and exile himself in a new country. However, he changes his decision and would stay in the town, assisting the poor and educating a team of young boys in an attempt to make them liberal and high minded to achieve his goals.
A ray of hope arises at this chapter when Dr. Stockmann refuses to let go his struggle and instead he would pass it on to others.

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ACT 4- Synopsis of An Enemy of the people.
    This act, held in Hovstad’s private hall, captures the denunciation of Dr. Stockmann and his research. Presumably, all other public halls could not offer a hall to Dr. Stockmann due to the mayors’ influence. This made the good willed Captain Horster offer a room to Dr. Stockmann
    As the lecture starts, peter stockman, Hovstad, Biling and Aslaksen use their influence to take control of the meeting. They move a motion changing the people’s perception of Dr. Stockmann making it almost impossible for the Dr. to address the people.
    When the doctor is finally allowed to speak to the public he changes the topic remarkably. He tailors it carefully to attack the mayor and more profoundly the majority. He convincingly brings the argument that the greatest enemy to the truth is the compact majority.
    According to him, the majority may have the might, but they lack the right and truth. He is therefore convinced that the stupid compact majority cannot and should not be allowed to lead the clever.

He throws himself upfront against the majority and democracy in this case, saying that it is the few free thinking people who have right and truth. These however, stand a bit too far ahead that the majority behind them cannot conceive their truth.
    He goes on to convincingly and directly attack the so called independent press. He says that the press advocates for old time truths which have become out dated. This marrow less truths are infact lies and the people’s messenger feeds its subscribers on them.
    The doctor, in a surge of anger declares that if he’s denied a platform to declare the truth in his hometown, he would let other states know what is happening there. It does not matter to him if the town is destroyed for living in a lie. A heightened argument ensues and the people, led by Hovstad declare him an enemy of the people.
    At the end of the meeting, Morten kiil has realized that the tanneries at the molledal are the worst in contaminating the baths. He threatens the doctor that if he put that to print, it would cost him dearly.


CRITICAL LESSONS
1. We find Horster coming in to save Dr. Stockmann’s situation by providing him with a hall to meet the public.
2. Aslaksen, Peter Stockmann, Hovstad and Bilings use their influence to manipulate a meeting they had not called.
Dr. Stockmann, in his lecture draws an analogy bringing to consummation lbsen’s symbolism in which the baths represents the moral life of the town, the leadership and the old retrogressive order representing the sources at moral poisoning.

He throws himself upfront against the majority and democracy in this case, saying that it is the few free thinking people who have right and truth. These however, stand a bit too far ahead that the majority behind them cannot conceive their truth.
    He goes on to convincingly and directly attack the so called independent press. He says that the press advocates for old time truths which have become out dated. This marrow less truths are infact lies and the people’s messenger feeds its subscribers on them.
    The doctor, in a surge of anger declares that if he’s denied a platform to declare the truth in his hometown, he would let other states know what is happening there. It does not matter to him if the town is destroyed for living in a lie. A heightened argument ensues and the people, led by Hovstad declare him an enemy of the people.
    At the end of the meeting, Morten kiil has realized that the tanneries at the molledal are the worst in contaminating the baths. He threatens the doctor that if he put that to print, it would cost him dearly.

CRITICAL LESSONS

1. We find Horster coming in to save Dr. Stockmann’s situation by providing him with a hall to meet the public.
2. Aslaksen, Peter Stockmann, Hovstad and Bilings use their influence to manipulate a meeting they had not called.
Dr. Stockmann, in his lecture draws an analogy bringing to consummation lbsen’s symbolism in which the baths represents the moral life of the town, the leadership and the old retrogressive order representing the sources at moral poisoning.

.    In the same vein, the bacteria affecting the baths represent the compact majority who are, according to Dr. Stockmann (pg 76) the most dangerous enemies of truth.
5.    In his inability to stomach Dr. Stockmann’s truths, Hovstad leads the others to declare Dr. Stockmann as an enemy of the people (pg 83)
It is to be considered most emphatically that Hovstad in Act III (Pg 48)  had led others to proclaim that Dr. Stockmann is a friend of the people by saying “you deserve to be supported, Doctor. This statement that Aslaksen and Billing to use the words A friend of the people.

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Synopsis of Act 3 An Enemy of the People

This act, set in the editorial office of the people’s messenger traces the changing popularity of Dr. Stockmann’s research. Hovstad and Billing discuss how powerful Dr. Stockmann’s writing is. The two think of the possible revolution that would be covered by their findings. Whether the mayor agrees with the report or not will bring him in opposition to one group or the other. On one hand, the big stockholder’s would not want the changes implemented, while the homeowners would demand the implementation.
    Dr. Stockmann enters and promptly declares that the article should be put into print. Aslaksen would oversee the printing personally, ensuring that every word is held with utmost care. Although Aslaksen agrees to print the story, he still insists that everything must be done with moderation. Billing is the most excited of them all and would rather act radically, releasing bombshell after bombshell. He tells Aslaksen to his face that he is infernally timid. Hovstad declares that he is not like a weather cock to be turned on every direction by the wind.
    The discussion rises to a high tempo and Aslaksen, who is adamant on his moderation principles hints that he may back the authorities. This throws Hovstad and Billing back and they lament that they don’t have the capital to print their paper and run business. It dawns on them that they would still rely on Aslaksen.

Hovstad holds a brief chat with Petra. She has decided not to translate a certain book (probably the bible or another religious book)
Hovstad betrays the journalists’ inability to stand for their course. He is partly motivated by his attraction to Petra and party for the financial gains he would have, not to mention the fame of being at the center of a revolution. This angers Petra who walks out on them.
    The foreshadow presented by Hovstad falling out with Petra, follows closely. Peter stockman comes to the editorial office and talks to both Hovstad and Aslaksen carefully and craftily, he accuses Dr. Stockmann of malice and points out the loss the town would suffer if the proposed changes were implemented.
    When Dr. Stockmann arrives to see his manuscripts in print and to proof read it, he is surprised at how fast things have changed. All have suddenly turned against him. He realizes that they had compromised their stand because of peter stockmann’s influence.
    Mrs. Stockmann comes in timely enough to see that tables have been turned against her husband. In retaliation, she declares that she would stand by him and let the children join him in his quest to declare the truth to save the society.

CRITICAL LESSONS from Act 3 Synopsis

1. We learn of the inconsistency of the journalists. In the light of the mayor and Aslaksen’s influence, Hovstad and Biling are easily turned against Dr. Stockmann. In contrast, Peter and Dr. Stockmann remain consistent in their points of view and responses.
2.  We question the independence of the press after learning that it is the subscribers, house holders and politicians who control the newspaper.
3. Dr Stockmann realizes that he had underrated his brother the mayor’s influence. He had also put too much faith in the newspaper men.
4. Dr Stockmann, still asserting that he holds the responsibility to tell the truth refuses to bow. His wife and children would stand by him to ensure that the public is fed with the truth.

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Synopsis of An Enemy of the People Act 2

This scene is held in Dr. Stockmann’s study early in the morning. Dr. Stockmann is chatting with his wife as they anticipate Peter Stockmann’s reactions. The doctor ideally thinks that Peter Stockmann will be happy with the discovery. He may however be jealous that it is he, not himself who made the discovery.
    MR Kiil, MRS. Stockmann’s father comes in and does not quite agree with Dr. Stockmann’s findings. He is however exited that Dr. Stockmann is able to attack the city’s leadership. This would be like revenge after Morten Kiil was hounded out of the town council.

He is even willing to donate ten pounds to a charitable organization in celebration. Apparently, Morten Kiil does not understand the effect the discovery would have on his tannery. It is this tannery among other industries that are polluting the baths
    Hovstad’s visit opens another debate. He intends to use Dr. Stockmann’s findings to bring a political revolution. He says that his main idea was to break the ring of the self opinionated old fossils that held all influence. He even declares himself a journalist of democratic tendencies of his own, taking it upon himself to emancipate the humble and oppressed masses.
    Further discourse when Aslaksen arrives leaves the doctor overwhelmed. Aslaksen has promised him support of the temperance society as well as that of the house owners association. Aslaksen is well respected in these organizations. The doctor sees it unthinkable for the mayor to refuse to make the changes. He nevertheless allows Hovstad to print the article if it comes to that.
    When Peter Stockmann arrives, he is not only concerned that the doctor avoided telling him before, but also the thought that the report is exaggerated.  This report, apart from costing the town a lot of money, will taunt his name. This is because he had made a damnable blunder during the establishment of the baths. He demands that the report be withheld so that the committee may introduce certain improvements slowly with a reasonable expenditure.
    Dr. Stockman, convinced that he had the truth and the compact majority behind him stands his ground. He asserts that the liberal-minded-independent press would take up the issue and force the leaders to oblige. The mayor is not impressed. He points out that the issue is not entirely scientific -it had an economical and a technical side as well.
    In the height of their argument, Peter tells his brother that his offensive insinuation makes him an enemy of the community. The mayor leaves angrily again. Meanwhile, Mrs. Stockmann, who takes a slightly different opinion from her husband – if only for her family, tries to cool him down. Though she is loyal to him, she doesn’t find it practically viable to put up a fight between himself and the major. Petra secretly worships her fathers stand and encourages him to keep up the fight.

    CRITICAL LESSONS From Act two Synopsis

1. The doctor is supported by the independent press. He does not however realize that Hovstad’s plans are eccentric and self-seeking. He would only support him to make a name for himself and the newspaper, for having started a revolution.
2. Aslaksen’s support is overwhelming yet considering his personality and the caution and moderation he advocates for, one gathers that he cannot move anywhere.
3. The mayor raises serious questions against the doctor’s report. Failure to consider financial and technical implications is a big blow to him. Even in the face of all these, the doctor does not want to come to a compromise and find a new solution.
4. The doctor is warned about the effects of his discovery to him and his family. He however does not take it kindly. He vows to fight for his truth even when called an enemy of the people.

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Synopsis of the Play, An Enemy of the people By Henrik Ibsen. Synopsis of Act One

The first scene is held in Dr. Stockmann’s living room some time after the evening meal. A door at the back of the room leads into the dining room where Billing is being served a meal by Mrs. Stockmann.
    Peter stockman enters but does not want to eat at the moment. He is followed by Hovstad the editor of the people’s messenger newspaper. Both Hovstad and Peter Stockmann engage in a talk about the baths a project in town that is of great importance. This project, Peter Stockmann says will become the focus of the municipal life, seeing that money is flowing in. Assets are rising in value and unemployment is diminishing.

Hovstad goes into the dining room to eat and slightly latter, Dr. Stockmann enters with his two sons and another visitor, captain Horster.
    Hovstad goes into the dining room too leaving the two brothers, Peter Stockmann and Dr. Stockmann to talk. When Peter Stockmann asks his brother about the article he had written about the baths, Dr. Stockmann says he wished to withdraw it presently. He hints that there’s a problem he is yet unsure of that makes the article inappropriate.
    Peter tries to coax his brother to explain to him the problem which Dr.Stockmann refuses saying that it would be making a report before the proper time. This exchange angers Peter who threatens his brother that he would suffer for it sooner or latter, and with that, Peter leaves in a bad temper.
    After the visitors have finished eating they come into the sitting room to chat and take beer. Petra, Dr.Stockmann’s daughter enters as they chat and presents a letter that Dr.Stockmann can hardly wait to read he rushes into his study to read it.
    Meanwhile the others continue chatting and are particularly shocked to discover that Hovster doesn’t even care that he would miss the upcoming elections. He does not appear to have any knowledge of the political atmosphere of the town.
    Coming back to the sitting room, Dr.Stockmann broaches the subject that he had made a discovery. Having investigated the health of the baths, he had found out that the water in the baths is polluted. His investigation was prompted by sicknesses experienced in the past by those who used the baths. The presently received letter is the confirmation after having sent samples for testing at the University.

Dr. Stockman has proposed that the pipes conducting water into the baths should be re-laid and the intake should be lifted higher up. These had to be done, naturally for he says that the baths would not only be useless, but also harmful if these changes were not made. The people are enthusiastic about it and Hovstad would write about it in people’s messenger.

   
    CRITICAL LESSONS From Act One Synopsis

1. In this act, we learn of the conflict existing between Dr.Stockmann and his brother Peter Stockmann. Peter feels that his brother is much more celebrated for having borne the idea of the baths. It’s actually him as the chairman of the baths committee who should be credited for having converted the idea into a project.
2. When Dr.Stockmann receives the letter, we learn that the baths formerly designed to be a health resort (spa) are in fact a health hazard. Ideally though, and with expenses on the side of the municipality, the problem can be rectified.
3. Dr. Stockmann is very proud of his discovery and sees an opportunity to trample down his rivals (apparently Peter Stockmann and Morten Kiil), who failed to listen to his proposed plans during the construction of the baths.
4. At the present situation, Hovstad, the editor of an independent newspaper is convinced that the discovery should be made public immediately. Though not mentioned overtly, we can infer that Morten kill and Peter Stockmann are the enemies of the people. This view is inspired by the fact that the two opposed Dr.Stockmann’s proposals, leading to the present pollution in the baths.
5. Captain Horster is generally interested in Petra’s ideas and is quite willing to assist her to start a     new school, which according to her, will be conducted on different lines. He however seems to be disinterested in country’s politics.The concept of free thinking is introduced when Biling, Hovstad, Captain Hovster, Petra and Mrs.Stockmann are talking. Prevalence of lies, radical political ideas and paganism are freely discussed. Mrs.Stockmann, though in agreement with free thinking is anxious that her children are being exposed to them.
6. Free thinkers in this case are members of the society who are enlightened and whose ideas do not necessarily agree with the society’s traditions.

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GENERAL CRITIQUE OF THE PLAY, AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
It is quite a debatable point to determine whether a literary work is to be considered great or not. However, various critics have termed An Enemy of the People as one of the greatest plays. It has not escaped their notice that the play transcends time to not only entertain and educate its audience in the 19th century, but also in the present.

 The ability of the author to address universal themes such as true democracy, conflicts among others has made him a literally giant classified with and only comparable to such others as Sophocles, Shakespeare and Bertolt Bretch. More often than not however, other authors have tried to address universal themes such as Ibsen addresses to no avail. I would therefore like to associate the greatness of An Enemy of the People to Ibsen’s style. Ibsen, also considered to be the father of realism adopts a formidable style. He explored a new ground just as Sophocles and Shakespeare explored the tragedy, and Bertolt Bretch the epic theatre. Each of these in their time brought a revolution to the stage in a unique and memorable way acquiring a place among the great playwrights.

The title, An Enemy of the People is an ironical statement that presents to the audience an unforgettable paradox. Tracing the relationship of the protagonist and the antagonist to the society at different times, the audience is stuck by the irony at the end of it all. This successful use of irony may as well be said to have influenced Africa writers such as Francis Imbuga in writing Man of Kafira and even Chinua Achebe who wrote the novel A Man of the People. Also great in Ibsen’s style is his ability to manipulate symbols. In the play, symbolism is not consummated until Dr. Stockmann rises to the platform to address the crowd in act IV. His high-minded argument is not a little surprise to the audience in which he bombards them with one point after another like bombshells refusing at all cost to spare the dynamite! His success again in this area is not to be compared expect with George Orwell’s in his Animals Farm.

In an attempt to avoid a simplistic overgeneralization, it is also important to mention something about Ibsen’s characterization. Having been an actor, a stage director and nationality recognized playwright Ibsen was well acquainted with creation and illustration of character traits. He uses both other characters’ and the specific character’s words to reveal their true selves as well as using action in characterization He concentrates not in judging characters’ actions but in revealing them to the audience for the audience to make its own judgments.
Close critique of the play will demand that the critic does not just focus on the different aspect of the play individually, but in totality. One is required to intensively study the play with a view to capture the big picture and not the parts only. Again, it would be erroneous for a critic to try to analyze the whole play without considering the parts that constitute the whole.

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Setting of "An Enemy of the People"
    This play is set in a coastal town of Norway. The town has launched a very profitable project- the baths. The mayor, Mr. Peter Stockman actually believes that the baths will become the focus of municipal life. It has encouraged an influx of tourists, rise of property value and decline of unemployment.
    The doctor of these baths, Dr. Stockmann is always at loggerheads with other authorities in the town and discovers that the baths are infected with infusoria. These ‘animals’ are in hundreds of thousands and cause diseases to those who use the water. They are however invisible.
    The play traces the rivalry between the mayor on one hand and Dr. Stockmann on the other. It is very surprising to note that the two are brothers and their conflict is therefore extraordinary. Each of the two has some truths to struggle for; Dr Stockmann’s agenda is to fight for the ‘truth’ concerning pollution of the baths. Peter Stockmann, the mayor, a conservatist on the contrary fights against this truth, in order to protect another ‘truth’ –the growing economy and political stability.
    At the disposal of the protagonist and the antagonist is the independent press represented by the people’s messenger and the compact majority led by an agreeable citizen, Aslaksen. The play therefore follows the change of loyalty pledged by the press and the compact majority.
    Focusing more on Dr. Stockmann, it shows how one man’s bravery and self respect can survive overwhelming odds.
    The play, written in realistic ideals enjoys a rich use of flash back, foreshadows, contrast, symbolism, dialogue and everyday language to faithfully present the message. Its didactic nature enables both the extremely conservatists and the extremely liberal to learn something. It is, according to my view, a faithful – if not slightly exaggerated representation of the reality other than a judgment on people’s political and moral views.

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HENRIK IBSEN's Profile
Henrik Ibsen was born in a tiny coastal town in the south of Norway. His father, Knud Ibsen, was a merchant. His mother was an avid painter who loved theatre. Later Ibsen bitterly recalled how his father's friends broke all connections with him. In disgrace the family moved to a farmhouse provided to them by creditors.

As a child Ibsen dreamed of becoming an artist. His education was interrupted by poverty and at the age of 15 he was apprenticed to a pharmacist. Ibsen moved in Oslo in 1850, where he attended an irregular school for university candidates, and occasionally earned from his journalistic writings.

Other than An Enemy of the People which he wrote in1882, He is credited for having written other plays such as Catiline(1850), The Burial Mound(1850), Lady Inger of Ostrat (1855), The Vikings of Helgoland (1858), The Pretenders (1864), Love's Comedy (1862), Brand (1866), Peer Gynt (1867), The Emperor and the Galilean (1873), Pillars of Society (1877), A Doll´s House (1879) Ghosts (1881), Hedda Gabler (1890), among other works of art.

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It was a time when our town seemed to be flourishing in every way. We were all excited that a recently started project, the baths was making our town to prosper. The baths were health resort meant to bring a healing effect on the people who used them. It was a project started by my father in conjunction with the town’s authorities.

My father was working as the medical officer, whereas my uncle, mayor of the town was the chairman of the council governing the baths.
At such a time when the baths were the talk of the town, my father made a discovery that would change our lives. The baths were affected by deadly bacteria. This discovery infuriated my father because he felt that he had been short-changed in the construction of the baths. My uncle Peter and other authorities in the town did not implement the project as my father had designed it. He had tried to oppose their places even in writing to no avail.

My father made public his discovery on an evening in our house when we were in the company of free-thinking and independent minded family friends, including captain  Horster, Hovstad and Billings. All of us were excited and we pledged to give our support to him in pressurizing the authorities to rectify their mistakes. Hovstad even offered to print a note on the people’s messenger concerning the discovery. Billings went as for as to suggest some sort of appreciation for my father.

 Later, I went to the editorial office of the people’s messenger where Hovstad and Billing work. I had all along known their stand on most issues concerning life. Nevertheless, I was shocked beyond words to realize that Hovstad wanted to print articles in the newspaper which grossly went against his beliefs and opinions in order to capture the readers. The articles were from a book he had wanted are to translate from English to our Norwegian language. This was not characteristic of Hovstad but I was yet to receive a greater shock, which I did when he confessed that his support for my father was more precisely that his because of me. He didn’t support my father for his belief in my father’s truth. This confession made me to furious and being unable to stomach anything beyond it I walked out on him.

It was later that evening that I was informed on how Hovstad, Billing and Aslaksen has denounced my father to his face. My father is a highly principled man. Even in the face of the building opposition, he swore to proclaim the truth to the public. He therefore hired captain Houster’s apartment and called a public meeting. He didn’t achieve his intentions of calling the meeting. Instead the public was made to term him as an enemy of the people. I couldn’t believe my eyes to see Hovstad and Billing joining with Peter Stockmann and Aslaksen in support for the corrupt administration.

Having been declared enemies of the people, my family contemplated a self exile. This did not occur however but instead, Captain Horster offered us a place in   his house where we would engage in assisting the poor and educating them. We will forever be grateful to Horster for standing with us in such tough times.

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When one tries to take stock of Horster in the play An Enemy of the People, it is quite easy to form a low opinion of him. He is one of the characters who are seen least on stage, and even when on stage he speaks very few words. He is presented to us at the start of the play only to disappear until towards the end. This may derail us to think that he is unimportant. That however is inaccurate. A close scrutiny of the role he plays reveals how much value Ibsen has invested in him.
     To start with, Captain Horster enhances Ibsen’s style. He is used first of all symbolically to represent a section of the society that is consistent, resolute and which values truth and personal affections above material possessions. This fact is clearly seen when Horster, unlike many other characters, hold on to Dr.Stockmann even at the risk of losing his job. He therefore signifies that there are people in the society who would rather die for the truth. Another style that he enhances in the play is contrast. He is juxtaposed with such other characters as Hovstad, Billing and Aslaksen.
    Horster can also be credited for enabling effective characterization. This is because much of characterization is brought out through contrast. It is therefore easy to recognize for instance Billings’ inconsistency in the light of Horster’s consistent character. The materialistic character of such others as Hovstad and Peter Stoickmann are also shown clearly in light of Horster’s character.
    In addition, it is in Horster that the resolution of the play is built. Ibsen finds it necessary to include Horster in order to save the situation.

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Write a Composition on how ironic some situations appear in the play.

Ironic Instances in An Enemy of the People by Henrik. Ibsen

 Introduction

Most of the story is dealing with irony

Accept general or contextualized introduction

• Dr. Thomas Stockmann turns against his brother the Mayor after getting employed by him.

The effect of this is that the Doctor comes out as a principled person.

• The Mayor turns against his brother and sacks him. This shows his selfish nature. He will stop at nothing even if it means sacking his brother

• Hovstad and Aslaksen run away from Dr. Stockmann after promising to print his article. Hovstad had earlier promised to stand by him. They come back to him asking if they could put the people’s messenger at his disposal after they had already betrayed him. The society Dr. Thomas is helping through research turns against him. They brand him an enemy. The society is gullible, hypocritical, unappreciative
• It is ironic that Peter stockman who is a liar, corrupt and a propagandist manages to buy the support of the public. This portrays the society as ignorant and gullible
• The press that is supposed to tell the truth supports lies. They want their business to thrive (selfish reason) and they fear the authorities.
• Accept instances of dramatic irony, for example when the mayor is hidden in the printing room by Aslaksen and Hovstad when the doctor comes Dr. Stockmann does not know this yet the readers are aware. It is only when he sees the mayor’s hat and walking stick that the doctor realizes that the mayor is in the building.
• Any other valid instance eg. Morten Kiil buys shares from the bath after learning they are contaminated. He also disinherits Katherine and the children
• Instances should be tied to effect

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Using Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the people for your illustrations, write an essay explaining     why Peter Stockmann was able to tilt the public’s opinion against Dr. Thomas Stockmann’s     discovery.
Introduction
At first, Dt. Stockmann’s discovery about the contamination of the town’s water supply had a lot of support. However, with time, the support dwindled up to a point that he is declared a public enemy.
i)     The support he had banked on from the press failed to be forthcoming. It happened that  the press had their own shortcomings which the Mayor prudently exploited. Their failure to print Dr. Stockmann’s manuscript even at his own expense deprives him the opportunity (forum) to shape the public’s opinion in his favour. On the contrary, they printed the Mayor’s version on the issue.
ii)     Dr. Stockmann’s discovery had a lot of goodwill at first. Members of the press, Aslaksen, Mortein Kiil all supported it. However with time, personal/individual interests and or weaknesses overrode the support. For example Hovstad, Billing are not quite morally principled. Once they realize the stakes they switch camps. Others e.g. Aslaksen, Mortein Kiil supported it for varied reasons but not as a matter of principles.
iii)     There exists inherent fear of the authority best exemplified by Aslaksen who seemed too cautious in criticizing local authorities. He advocates moderation. Peter, as the Mayor of the town used this fear to his advantage. Dr. Stockmann’s discovery is portrayed as an ‘agitation’ against the authorities and the Mayor’s ‘official version’ printed in newspapers is readily believed by the public.
iv)     Dr. Stockmann’s weaknesses: he makes several blunders. He underrates his brother’s resolve and the manuscript to the press and lets known the fact. This enables Peter to manouvre and tact for instance he had prematurely given block him. He is too indiscreet with such an important matter and seems to take it as a personal issue.
v)     Peter on the other hand is tactful and a good schemer. He is able to manipulate facts by portraying the modifications called for by the doctor as uncalled for, expensive and a burden to taxpayers. He exploits his position to endear himself as the ‘protector’ of the public. Even getting a venue to air his speech proved tricky to Dr. Stockmann as all avenues are blocked. Pgs 57 – 59.

in conclusion, It is evident that the Mayor was able to manipulate events to his favour and paint Dr. Stockmann as an enemy of the people.

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“Poor leadership is the main cause of many problems in the society.”
Introduction: mention problems caused by poor leadership.  It can be general or specific (should be first paragraphed)

Body
a.    Nepotism is caused by poor leadership.  Peter Stockman appoints his brother Dr. Stockmann as the medical officers of the baths p. 37 – 38

b.    Leaders intimidate and manipulate the people to stop fighting for the truth e.g. the mayor intimidates subordinate member of staff p. 39, others on p. 55 – 59

c.    There is inefficiency and negligence in leadership.  Dr. Stockmann says he had advised against the pipes being laid where they were but nobody listened to him p. 19-others p. 35.

d.    Greed is also portrayed in leaders. The mayor would rather have the tourists die from disease than incur expenses to relay the conduit pipes.   P. 18, 34, 52, 103 -104.

e.    Leaders are corrupt 102 – 103, 35.

f.    The leaders are arrogant. P. 80 P2
Dr. Stockmann refers to other people as ill-bred-strain of animals.
P. 19 – mayor does not know the name of his maid.

g.    Poor leadership leads to the problem of underdevelopment and wastage to taxpayers’ money. Pipes have to be relaid- P-19, P57-58. visitors are getting diseases P. 17 – 18
h.    Poor leadership breeds violence e.g. the one meted on Dr. Stockmann by the crowd. P 87

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“The press has failed in its responsibility.” Drawing your illustrations from An Enemy of the People write an essay in support of this statement
a)    The press is indecisive/ easy to manipulate- Hovstad, Aslaksen and Billing promise to support the doctor fully to inform the public about the rot in the baths. However, they refuse to do so later.
b)    Treacherous- They betray the doctor. They change their view towards him and fail to tell him so until late. They support his rival.
c)    Selfish- According to Hovstad, the initial intention of putting Dr stockmann’s articles on the peoples messenger is to sell more newspapers- not the ideas but out who.
They refuse to support the doctor because they will suffer financially if the baths are shut.
d)    Opportunistic- Hovstad and Aslaksen rush over to Dr. Stockmann  to cash in on what they believe to have been a plot to make money by the doctor and Morten Kiil.
e)    Dishonest- Hovstad admits to Petra that the article he wants translated may be untrue but since it  says what people want to read, it will make the newspaper sell.

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Drawing illustrations from Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of  The People, write an essay in support of the following statement: “ The Love for money and power can make one inhuman”.
-    A general statement on the effect of the love for money and power.
-    A definition of love for money and power. It must be tied to the question
-    Accept any other relevant introduction be it general or contextual.
Content
The candidate should use different characters whose lover for money or power makes them act inhumanly.
    (i)    The Mayor: Peter Stockmann
-     His love for power makes him manipulate the pressmen who end up rejecting the Dr. Stockmails report. They instead publish his.
    -    He doctor Stockmann’s his brother.
-    He claims that the residents will pay for the relaying of the pipes a process which will take two years.
    (ii)    The Pressmen(Hovstad , Billing and Aslaken)
-    They withdraw their support for Dr. Stockmann because they feared for their newspaper as well as the payments for they would have to make as citizens for the relaying of the pipes .
-    They later visit the  doctor to strike a deal with him.
(iii)    Morten kill
-    His tannery being the major pollutant he urges the doctor to manipulate the report.
-    He buys the shares from the baths cheaply hoping to sell them later expensively when the doctor his son – in – law ‘ owns up’ that he was wrong.
(iv)    The town council
-    They are money – minded. When Dr. Stockmann discovers that the baths are contaminated and comes up with a plan of relaying the pipes, they sack him.
-    They would rather risk the health of the town’s people than tell the truth about the baths.
Accept any other relevant well illustrated point.

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Highlight the character of the pressmen and show how it has impacted on Dr. Stockmann’s mission.

Introduction:
In an enemy of the people, the men of the press include Hovstad, Billing and Aslaksen who run .  the people’s Messenger.  Dr. Stockman is a medical officer who discovers that the town’s water supply is contaminated hence is on a mission to correct the situation.  However, the pressman prove to be a stumbling block to the doctor due to their negative character.
i)    Hypocritical/Liars;
In the beginning, all three congratulate the doctor on his discovery.  They even toast to his health Pg. 20.  They pledge their support pg 48 and Aslaksen and Billing call Dr. Stokmann a friend of the people.  Aslaksen assures him of the support of the Householders’ association.
They press refuse to publish Dr. Stockmann’s article and instead publishes the mayor’s. The effect is that the doctor loses his arsenal, the people’s Messenger, and the compact majority.  He is denied a venue for the meeting and is branded an enemy of the people.
ii)    Opportunistic/selfish
Hovstad uses Petra to translate the English story for his own selfish interests.  Billing thinks of approaching Dr.  Stockman to finance the paper because he’s bound to come by money from Morten Kiil Pg. 50. Aslaksen and Hovstad return to convince the Dr. to take over The people’s Messenger because they think he now has money from the Bath’s shares.  Give that Hovstad correctly observes that the press is supposed to liberate the masses; this selfish/opportunistic nature hinders the doctor’s mission.  They do not believe in his mission and are ready to jump ship as long as it suits them.

iii)    Cowards/fearful
Aslaksen hides under his principle of moderation when in actual fact he fears the authorities. Hovstad lies to the Mayor that he knows nothing about the bath report and behaves in a fearful manner when he sees the Mayor pg. 55. Dr.Stockmann says Hovstad has never had the courage to admit in public that he is a free thinker.  This trait in the pressman inhibits the doctor’s mission.  They know the truth but chose to kill it due to their fear of the Mayor.  Hovstad refuses to back the doctor yet he’s a freethinker lie Dr. Stockman. The result is that the baths are not fixed due to cowardice.

iv)    Ruthless/callous/unreliable
These three are frequent visitors to the doctor’s house.  When the play opens, Billing is seen having roast beef.  Pg. 1 Hovstad too pg.5 Aslaksen comes to pledge his support for the doctor having heard from billing that the Dr. would bring about a new water supply.  Their true nature however is soon revealed.  The three quickly side with the Mayor without verifying the fact of the time to e take and the costs involved.  Consequently the doctor is barred from addressing the issue of the baths at the meeting.  It is Aslaksen who proposes that the meeting declare Dr. Decree Stockmann an enemy of the people.  Billing’s lies about the doctor pg. 85. Further turn the people away from Dr. Stockmann.  This culminates in the doctor being roughed up and his house. Stoned.

Conclusion
The press has the important function of disseminating information to the public. The press should never be partisan or take sides.  They therefore have a duty/obligation to inform the public about the baths but they fail due to their negative character of hypocrisy, opportunism, cowardice and cruelty. The doctor is denied an opportunity to correct a health issue due to a negative press.

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Lust and greed for power may lead to environmental degradation,” Discuss with illustrations from Henrik Ibsen's 'An Enemy of the People'
In an attempt to enrich oneself or remain in power or in business, man has done several activities that are
destructive to the environment for example in the play, an Enemy of the People several activities although gainful destroy the water system of the town.  
                 
Officials in the town would like to remain in power. Dr. Stockmann has scientific proof that the water system of the town is polluted and the situation should be corrected but Peter Stockmann sees this as a threat to his leadership and will have nothing to do with that.
-    Collection of revenue. Officials collect revenue from the baths for individual gains and are reluctant to take suggestions meant to rectify the degradation.
-    Gains from tourism. Should the baths be closed down even for repairs, the tourists would stop coming and this would affect the income they generate. The town’s officials are unsupportive to suggestions on closure of the Baths,
-    Investors: investors like Morten Kiil whose firms are polluting the water do not want them rectified or admit liability as they stand to lose profit/
-    Cost of repair: correcting the degradation involves relaying the conduit pipes and would cost a lot of money. For that reason, the mayor and his gangs are unwilling to have the situation remedied.
Businessmen won’t risk losing business. Although initially Hovstad wanted change when he discovers what may happen if the Baths condition is to be remedied he changes otherwise his paper may lose popularity and then he would be out of business

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Dr. Stockmann is a symbol of morality in the play, ‘An Enemy of the People’ With illustrations from the text write an essay on the truth of this statement

• Dr. Stockmann refuses to be blackmailed by Mr. Mortein Kill to say he was wrong so as to inherit his wife’s and children’s shares.
• When Peter tries to persuade him to write a letter of apology so as to consider his situation, he tells his brother, “A free man has no right to mess up with filth.
• When Aslaksen and Hovstad come offering the services of the people’s messenger after they had let him down, he throws them out using an umbrella.
• When everything has gone wrong for him, his landlord has evicted him, Petra has been dismissed from school and the boys have been told to stay at home he decided to educate his own children together with other street children, helped by Petra.
• Determined to stand up and tell the truth about the rot in the community, he continues giving his speech amidst protests and he is not deterred.

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Betrayal is a common vice in our society. Support this statement, drawing your illustrations from “An Enemy of the people” by Henrik Ibsen
Betrayal can be termed as a breach of the trust placed on a person or a group of people by others. An illustration is where by one’s best friend lets out a secret which the friend never expected to be done/politicians abdicating their responsibility to serve their electorate

• In the play, the town authorities have neglected their duty of ensuring the good health of the citizens. They do this being inconsiderate to the state of the baths.
• The tourists and invalids who visit this town spend huge sums of money on recreation and recuperation. They trust that the water is clean, yet the same water is contaminated with bacteria that cause diseases. This is betrayal of the trust the consumer places on suppliers.
• Peter Stockmann feels bitter that his brother has made the report known to the public. He argues that he is the one who organized for Thomas to be employed as the medical offices of health. For that matter he feels utterly betrayed by his brother arguing that Thomas is ungrateful.
• The masses are manipulated by the mayor into viewing Stockmann as insensitive to their welfare. They get convinced that it is them who shall foot the cost of rebuilding the baths (forty or fifty thousand pounds). It is for this reason that they are led to believe the doctor has betrayed their welfare, crowning him an Enemy of the people. Morten kill gets utterly enraged at the doctor report that the biggest source of pollution comes from his as his son – in – law should not have come up with such a report. He views it as a great form of betrayal.
• Morten kill gets utterly enraged at the doctors report that the biggest source of pollution comes from his tanneries at molledal.  He feels that Thomas as his son-in-law should not have come up with such a report.  He views it as a great form of betrayal.
• Morten kill in revenge purchases shares from the contaminated Baths with the estate he was to bequeath to Katherine and Thomas’ son’s it stems from selfishness.
• The masses insult Dr. Stockmann, tear his best trousers and want him expelled from the town yet he was all along fighting for their welfare. This is betrayal.
• Hovstad, Billing and Aslaksen assure Dr. Stockmann of their support in printing his report in the “People’s Messager”. They even praise his finding and Hovstad says it is a true reflection of the happenings in the town. However they later twin against him terming his report ‘a mere rumour and an exaggeration’ they refuse to print it thus betraying him.

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Drawing your illustrations from Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the people write an essay on how satire has been used.
i) Introduction                                                                                             (2mks)
   -Expect a definition of satire or an example of satire
   -Expect also a general statement of what to expect in the essay
    ii) Body                                                                                                          (12mks)

• The role of the media is satirized. Its role in community matters has been ridiculed. The Mayor through the media counter attacks the Doctor’s discovery that the Baths are a health hazard to the whole society. In his letter to the peoples’ messenger, he claims to have put the essential facts before the public in such a way that every fair-minded citizen can easily form his own opinion.
• It is ironical that Houstad makes comments that portray the people’s messenger positively yet it is clear that the paper is wrong. The writer uses this to satirize the media. The paper fails to portray the clear picture of the unscrupulous and the poor state of affairs the society is in.
• Hovstad, the editor of the people’s messenger is also satirized. He rejects a positive comment from the Doctor that he claims to be a free thinker. Hovstad in fear of the crowd is astonished. Yet as a writer and an editor he ought to be a free thinker not influenced by the common majority.
• To satirize the common or compact majority and their leaders the imagery of common mongrel and common barnyard hen he is used. The leaders are compared to well bred Spanish or Japanese hen, good pleasant or turkey or poodle whose brain is developed to a different degree from that of the mongrel.

• The common people including the Mayor are satirized – their intensive nature and twist of truth to suit themselves is summarized in the following imagery and comments:

  
  

  “The kind of common people….. not only to be found low down in the social side, they crawl and swarm all around us – even in the highest social positions. You have only to look at your own fine pretty Mayor! My brother Peter is every bit as plebeian as anyone that walks on two legs.

• The political situation in the country is also satirized. Dr. Stockmann says that from one end of the country to the other every man is slave of his party. That every man had no freedom to free thinking and has to go by his party’s whims.
• The crowd that attacked the Doctors house is satirized. They threatened to break every bone in his body. They do not do anything apart from following each other. They suffer from the fear of doing what is right for fear of the opinion the public will have.

iii) Conclusion
-Expect a recap or general statement/remark on the use of satire in the novel.

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Write a composition to show how relevant the title An Enemy of the People is to the play.
Introduction – relevance of the title – it is relevant – ref to Dr. Stockman at end of the play for –
His stand of condemning the towns baths when they are a source of the town’s livelihood
However point out that it is ironical.
point out who are the true enemies of the people.

a)     The Mayor who has no people’s welfare at heart and wants to conceal the truth of the matter for selfish reasons.
b)     Journalists – pressmen – refuse to publish the doctor’s manuscript to enlighten the masses and visitors on the dangers of the baths.
c)     Masses are their own enemies when they support the leaders blindly and for their ignorance.
d)     Father-in-law (mortein kill) buys shares, in the contaminated bath to sell at a higher price.

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Write an essay to support the statement: “The strongest man is he who stands alone.” Base your illustrations on Henrik Ibsen’s ‘An Enemy of the People.’
In the face of all opposition and betrayal by his trusted nemeses, Jesus Christ stood steadfast in his defence of God and Christianity that eventually led to his crucifixion. Similarly, in ‘an Enemy of the People,’ Dr. Stockman is declared “an enemy of the people” because of speaking the truth. His determination to emancipate the masses from oppression does not augur well with many characters in the play.
(i)    The Health resort
-    Dr. Stockman becomes the first person to see that the town could be made into a flourishing health resort.
-    However, this idea was met by stiff opposition from the town’s authorities who termed it ‘fancy and a crazy man’s imagination’ (p.16)
-    He had to fight single-handedly in support of the idea for many years through writing until he succeeds.
(ii)    The Discovery
-    Dr, stockman makes a great discovery about the Baths which are currently the main artery of the town’s life blood.
-    The Baths have become poisoned, causing diseases like typhoid, gastric fever. (p. 17 – 18)
-    The report indicates that the bacteria have got into the pipes, contaminating the water.
-    His discovery faces stiff opposition from the mayor who claims the doctor has made it behind his back.
-    The mayor demands that he withdraws his report – publicly denounces it.
-    Nonetheless, the doctor would not bow down to any forum of intimidation from the mayor i.e. the mayor threatens to sack him.
(iii)    The Press
-    The article was supposed to be published in the People’s messenger and the press had agreed to do so.
-     However, after being compromised by the mayor, the newspapers editors and the printer i.e. Hovstad, Billing +Aslaksen, withdraw their support for Dr. Stockmann
-    Once again, the doctor stands alone. He vows to press on + reveal the truth. He says, ‘Do you imagine that you can silence me and stifle the truth! You will not find it as easy as you suppose,’
(iv)    Public Meeting
-    At the meeting in captain Horster’s house, Dr. Stockmann is determined to reveal the contents of the report to the masses.
-    Yet again, his efforts are thwarted for the programme is hijacked by the press and the mayor who wants to control what Dr. Stockman says.
-    In his resolute + firm nature, the doctor out-maneuvers them and tells the people his mind: the contaminated Baths, the corrupt nature of the town’s authorities and the gullibility of the “compact majority”
-    He sacrifices all his energy for the sake of his society only for him to be declared ‘an enemy of the people’ through a popular vote but he remains unmoved in his quest for the truth.
(v)    Morten Kiil
-    Even his father-in-law applies pressure on him to change his mind and withdraw his report.
-    If this discovery spills out to the masses, his ginnery at Molledal risks being shut down for it is a source of the contamination of the Baths.
-    Consequently, he blackmails the doctor using Katherine + the children’s inheritance in order to coerce him tow his line.
-    On the contrary, he gets a rude shock when Dr. Stockmann’s resilience makes him not to buy his idea.
(vi)    The Aftermath
-    As a result of Dr. Stockmann’s determination +resilience, negative repercussions follow:
a)    He is sacked as the medical officer of the baths.
b)    His landlord kicks him out of the house
c)    His house is vandalized
d)    His family and friends suffer humiliation i.e. Petra, the boys and Captain Hoister.
-    Amidst all these upheavals, he remains optimistic and swears not to leave town, but stay on to continue fighting for the truth.
(N.B accept other relevant, well illustrated points)
Conclusion    
From the above discussion, it is true that the strongest man in the world is one who stands alone. Amidst all opposition, Dr. Stockmann does not give up, he remains optimistic hat the truth will eventually prevail.

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Cowardice is one of the factors that contribute to injustices in many societies even today. Write a composition giving clear evidence of this based on the play.

2.  C (i) The Mayor is a coward
    -he fears losing the next election
    -he fears facing the people to admit having messed up the construction of  the Baths, especially the laying of the conduit pipes
            The resultant injustice
           -the citizens’ lives and those of the visitors are exposed to dangerous  diseases e.g. typhoid and gastric fevers because he insists on lying that the Baths are clean
         C (ii) The aristocrats (owners of the baths) are cowards
-    They fear losing money through funding the relaying of the conduit pipes. Injustice
-    They attempt to pass the cost onto the middle and low class rate payers who have no stake in the project.
          C (iii) The press are cowards.
-    They fear losing their jobs if the people’s messenger fails to get funding from Aslaksen for printing.
-    They also fear the Mayor’s wrath
        Injustice
    -They fail in their duty of upholding and publishing the truth for the sake of the people and allow contamination, disease and death to continue to be a threat
C (iv) The school administration are cowards.
-    They fear the public after Dr. Stockmann has been declared public enemy.
Injustice
-    Mrs. Busk apologetically dismisses Petra knowing well that she herself has no justified complain against Petra’s performance as a teacher.
-    Mr. Rorlund suspends Ejlif and Morten indefinitely out of fear of being seen to identify with Dr. Stockmann’s family.
C (v) The business community are cowards
-    Mr. Vic fears the people and the political class and dismisses captain Horster unfairly.
-    The landlord gives Dr. Stockmann quit notice for fear of housing a tenant who is “An enemy of the people”
-    The glazier fears to come and replace broken window panes
    Injustice
-    The dismissal  makes Captain Horster jobless for no apparent reason
-    Dr.Stockmann’s is threatened with the possibility of being homeless yet he is fighting for the welfare of the people
-    Dr. Stockmann’s family is exposed to the cold because the glazier fears the public
C (vi) The masses are cowards
-    They are not resolute as to how much punishment Dr. Stockmann deserves
-    It is said they use pebbles and only two large pieces of hard core
Injustice
-    They attack an innocent man with his family because of the wishes of the political class (the mayor, Aslaksen and the press)

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