Enemy Of The People Dr Thomas Stockmann example essay topic

An Enemy of the People Dr. Thomas Stockmann was a determined and caring man who was passionate when it came to his beliefs. However, Stockmann was also an idealist who was rather naive when it came to reality. As the Medical Advisor of the baths, he wanted to expose the truth of the hazards that the baths presented before any more people became ill. He fought with the fervor of a true patriot, but was accused of trying to sabotage the hometown that he was fighting for and was condemned as a traitor. Was Dr. Stockmannreally an enemy of the people or just an idealist with all the odds against him?

Right from the beginning of the play it was apparent that Dr. Stockmann was a man of character. He welcomed the company of his fellow townspeople by offering food and drinks to anyone who entered the Stockmann house. He was very active in town and was constantly publishing articles and pamphlets concerning various ideas he had to improve the health or lives of his fellow citizens. The main reason he took such a strong position on the issue of the baths was because it concerned the health of the public. Even after the whole town was against him, Dr. Stockmann was still looking out for the well-being of the people by not giving in to the Mayor's request that he take back his accusations in order to save his job.

One of the several things the doctor had against him was that not many people took his ideas and discoveries seriously. Therefore, when he declared that the town's baths were actually cesspools he didn't get the reaction he had hoped for. The Mayor warned Dr. Stockmann that fixing the problem of the baths would hurt the town economically and therefore they should cover the problem instead. Dr. Stockmann refused to let people suffer illnesses from the toxic water just to save the town money. The Mayor retaliated by refusing that there was as much danger as Stockmann claimed, therefore turning the public against the doctor. However, being the idealist that he was, Stockmann believed the truth would prevail and continued to try to fight the system and preach his findings to anyone who would listen.

His naivet'e was another thing hindering Stockmann. When he had the aid of the independent newspaper of the town on his side it is understandable that Stockmann believed he had the power to overcome authority. But even when the paper refused to let him print his article and the Mayor refused him the right to hold a citizen's meeting in town hall, Stockmann still believed that he had the majority on his side. With fierce independence he spoke out against the authorities and accused them of "poisoning the sources of spiritual life". Then he went on to accuse the townspeople of being fools forgoing along with the authority. All he got in return was an angry mob of people chanting that he was an enemy of the people.

Dr. Stockmann continued his fight until the very end, refusing to leave town despite the fact that he had lost his job and his home. He pulled his family together and held on to his beliefs claiming that he will not let the truth be killed by a "conspiracy of silence". Instead, Dr. Stockmann decided to stay in town and open up a school in the very room of Captain Horster's house where he was branded an enemy of the people. Here he will teach his children and other children the importance of being "freethinkers". Due this strong beliefs in the truth and his refusal to succumb to authority, the narrow-minded people of the town considered Stockmann a threat to society.

However, he was simply a good-hearted and determined man with a mission who just didn't seem to know when enough was enough. If Stockmann was truly an enemy to the people he would have been determined to destroy them, not determined to save them.