Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People| Characters, Synopsis, analysis, Essay Questions

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: