Comprehensive Characterization of Doctor Thomas Stockmann

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.