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.

Read more...

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

Read more...

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.

Read more...

“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

Read more...

“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.

Read more...

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.

Read more...

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.

Read more...