Act 4 Synopsis

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.