Characterizaion of Peter Stockmann

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