Theme of change in An Enemy of the People

Ibsen in An Enemy of the People is concerned with change that takes place in the society. Though much of the change he writes about doesn’t happen during the play, the reader is not left with doubts that change will occur.

Dr. Stockmann, Ibsen’s protagonist invests much of his energies, materials wealth and even hope in young people of whom he says: they are the ones to stir up things a bit in future. (Pg6). He finds it necessary to spend time with such people as Hovstad, captain Horster, and Bilings  who have an ambition and are liberal and have active minds.

After Dr. Stockmann makes his discovery, he intends to use these men in agitating for change.

            In the long run, however, Hovstad, Aslaksen, and Billings, controlled and held captive by the compact majority and the subscribers to the peoples messenger fails him. All the forces of the compact majority, the press and the political leaders oppose and declare him an enemy of the people.

Still focused on the change that he finds necessary for his town, Dr. Stockmann disregarding the humiliation he suffers, recollects himself and sets himself on a new path. Change will soon be effected when he has made courageous high minded men in his own school. These men will drive out all the wolves out of the country. It is for this kind of revolution that he accepts to be called a revolutionary.

Theme of change in An Enemy of the People

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Themes in Henrik Ibsen's play: An Enemy of the People

More than any other kind of freedom, an every of the people tackled the freedom of expression. Through Dr. Stockmann, Ibsen seems to be crying against the society and its structures that deny people their freedom of expression.
To peter stockman, Dr. Stockman asks, “is it not the duty of a citizen to let the public share in any new ideas he may have?” (Pg 37)

And to Hovstad he says : “you are the editor and an editor controls his paper I suppose!” This last opinion is only party responded to by Hovstad when he says to Petra; “ou are perfectly right; but an editor cannot always act as he would prefer. He is often obliged to bow to the wishes of the public in unimportant matters”. Hovstad therefore introduces us to another aspect in the field of self expression. There are certain forces in the public that restricts an individual’s freedom.
Closely- following Hovstad’s words to Petra, we find him faced with difficult choices. Aslaksen says: “It is public opinion- the enlightened public – house holders and peoples of that kind who control the newspapers.” saying this, Aslaksen is using his power  over the householders and general public prevail upon Hovstad to reject Dr. Stockman’s article.  Hovstad is therefore not free to express his honest opinion and opts to join Aslaksen in support of peter Stockman rather than face his wrath.
Dr. Stockman, in contrast to Hovstad refuses to bow to the wish of Aslaksen and peter and insists on his freedom of expression.  This pits him against the compact majority and he ends up rejected as An Enemy of the People. He also loses his position as the medical officer of the baths, not to mention his ejection from his house.
Themes in Henrik Ibsen's play: An Enemy of the People

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Stylistic devices employed in an Enemy of the people--Flashback

Flashback is the interruption on the chronological order of events to present an earlier occurrence. Those earlier episodes are literary referred to as the expository material. They are events which though occurred in the past, are vitally important to the present action.
An enemy of the people as the plot has it, starts when the baths are contaminated and the characters are busy trying to deal with the implications. The story however arranged chronologically stats at a time in the past when Dr. Stockmann was exiled in the north. He conceived the idea of the baths, returned to his hometown and fought for the implementation of the project. All this information concerning earlier actions, conflicts and struggles are presented through flashbacks.

Hovstad, for instance reminds Peter Stockmann that the baths owe their existence to Dr. Stockmann. Such a flashback gives an insight to the conflict between Peter and Dr. stockmann. We are able for instance to understand Dr. Stockmann’s dedications to the baths, as well as the hatred with which Peter Stockman related to his brother.
Conflict between Dr. Stockmann andPeter Stockman is exemplified when Peter says to Dr. Stockmann: You have an ingrained tendency to take things into your own hand in this, Peter signals that their conflict had existed before, most likely fueled by Dr. Stockamann’s individualistic tendencies.
These past conflicts are further shown when Dr. Stockmann says to Peter. Ah, you remember Petra, I wrote opposing the plans before the, work begun.
Flashback prepares the audience for the actions that will follow, by enabling them to relate what happened in the past and present and thereby come up with predictions of future outcomes. Flashback also furthers literary styles such as contrast, comparison and foreshadow.

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Aspects of style in An enemy of the People-- use of Biblical allusion

In the play, Ibsen alludes closely to the Bible. Other than the common sibling rivalry seen in every home; we are led to think of the rivalry between Cain and Abel in the Bible. It is on such a motif that Peter and Dr. Stockmann’s conflict is built. Either of them would rather be the best in contributing to his society than the other. As in the case of Cain who opted to eliminate his brother than live in continuous conflict, Peter Stockmann organizes to have his brother declared An Enemy of the People and uses his influence to force him into exile.

    Another clear biblical allusion is found towards the end of the play. Dr.Stockmann uses such notions as

… you will hear more of this enemy before he shakes the dust off his shoes upon you….I do not stay “forgive you, for ye know not what ye do.” In another instance he says that he needed at least twelve boys to start his school. He says that these, when they have become high minded and bold, they would drive all the wolves out of the country. Later, when he has a secret to share with them, he gathers them around himself and talks to them confidentially. All these and many other instances portray Dr. Stockmann in the shoes of Christ as in the Bible.

    The importance of these allusions is to enable the audience to relate to stories it has had more acquaintance with. The reader or the audience is able to learn more about the extent of rivalry between brothers, not to mention how the teachings of Christ and the changes he advocated for changed the world.

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Juxtaposition as a style in Ibsen's 'An Enemy of the People'
This is a major style used by Henrik Ibsen. It denotes placing two or more items side by side to enhance comparison and contrast. Whereas comparison focuses on the similarities, contrast focuses on the differences.

Any critic who reads An Enemy of the People will definitely see how the two main characters are juxtaposed. Dr. Strockmann is depicted as a highly idealistic man with a relatively fixed mind. Peter stockmann on the other hand is more realistic and flexible. Peter focuses more on the financial implications and wishes to effect the   changes slowly and at a lower cost. Thomas, however, sees this as a compromise t o his moral obligation as a medical officer. He does not agree to Dr. Stiockmann’s proposal.
Even in the diversity of their opinion, close scrutiny shows some similarity between the two. The comparison comes in to show that both of them are not only decisive, but are also resolute. Either of them is firm in purpose and is not ready to bend their principles. They both seem to resound the phrase- No retreat No Surrender. This is more pronounced when Dr. Stockmann.  Even in the face of huge opposition declares himself the strongest man in the town, ready to recollect himself for yet another showdown.

Seeing how decisive, revolute and determined the two main characters are, the playwright sets us to yet another juxtaposition. We see how indecisive, irresolute and weak-willed some of the characters are. Hovstad,, Billings and Aslaksen are easily swayed from either side to the other. Having no ground to stand on, they first fall for Dr. Stockamnn, later for peter stockamnn and later still; we are surprised to see them return to Dr.Stockmann.

By placing those newspapermen side by side with the authorities, the playwright ridicules the notion of the independent press. He depicts a press that is controlled by either side of the warring factions and we therefore wonder how they can accomplish their duties.

As these are juxtaposed, the playwright prepares the audience for a higher level of juxtaposition. The fifth that is sleeping into the baths is juxtaposed and compared with vice, corruption and intellectual depravity. At same time the sources of these ugly conditions in life is compared to the compact majority, just as the source of the fifth seeping into the baths is molledal.

The playwright in juxtaposing all these features goes further than to just point out similarities and differences, to a point where one feature is made to represent another. It is upon this juxtaposition that he is able to bring out one of his most successful styles, symbolism.

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Style in An Enemy of the People --Use of irony
    A simplistic definition of irony is that it is an aspect of a situation that is odd or amusing because it is the opposite of what one would expect. This is precisely what it is, concerning situational irony. Dramatic irony in addition occasion stage when one of the actors is oblivious of what the audience already knows.

Ibsen, in our text An Enemy of the People intricately employs both situational and dramatic irony firmly holding the audience to the end of his play. Amusing as it may be – even when an important matter is at stake, dramatic irony is depicted in Act III. It follows in a time when Dr. Stockmann’s popularity is quickly changing, and he has lost the support of Houstad, Biling and even Aslaksen. The audience at that time is in conspiracy with Hovstad, Billing and ASlaken and are thrilled by Dr. Stockmann’s erroneous thoughts in in pg. 61, especially when he says:-
“Well, whatever it is – whatever it is a demonstration in my honour, or a banquet, or 6 subscription list for some presentations to me. At that time, Dr. Stockmann thinks that these people are still with him. The audience however already knows that they have changed their position.

    Situational irony on the other hand covers the whole play. The first part dwells on Dr. Stockmann’s popularity and the support he gets. At the climax of the play however, a paradigm shift occurs and unexpected as it is, Dr. Stockmann is declared to be An Enemy of the People.
Again, when everything crumbles down so fast on Dr. Stockmann, he gives the most spectacular statements, that he is the strongest man in the world saying “the strongest man in the world is he who stands alone”.
This statement comes to show the irony of the situation when Dr. Stockmann says he’s the strongest man. It is the least of the audience’s expectation that at that time, anyone would consider themselves great.

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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:

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