Hovstad After Dr Stockmann example essay topic

An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen is a theatrical drama which portrays important characteristics such as honesty, integrity, and courage. All of which could be seen as hazardous to European politics at the time. Dr. Thomas Stockmann is a common man who attempts to create a revolution in his town. With the help of his naturally defiant personality the doctor makes a discovery that he hopes will better the town.

This discovery was meant to lead a change in the physical structure of the water source. Instead it created a waterfall of political disaster. Despite numerous stabs in the back and lack of free-thinking, Dr. Stockmann stood tall and never backed down from what he believed in. The play is set in a small town in Norway that has just begun to develop the wings it needed to expand and become prosperous.

This is in the most part due to The Baths; a business Dr. Stockmann and his brother Peter began, to cure the sick through spa treatments and rest. At the beginning, it seems as though The Baths had just begun to take off. The play is set in the Stockmann's kitchen where Mr. Billings, a close friend and member of the People's Herald, is having dinner. He is then joined by Hovstad, also a member of the People's Herald, and in the absence of Dr. Stockmann they discuss the future of The Baths. The Mayor, who is also Thomas' brother, stops in unexpectedly to have a word regarding The Baths. Since Dr. Stockmann has not yet arrived home from his walk with his sons; Billings, Hovstad, and the mayor begin to discuss future events.

Hovstad explains to the mayor that he can see nothing but good in the future for the town, and that Dr. Stockmann had been holding an article he had written that was sure to spark interest in his recent discovery. At this point it is obvious that the relationship between Dr. Stockmann and his brother Peter is not the strongest. They seem to struggle on seeing eye-to-eye on several issues. Before Dr. Stockmann arrives home, his wife Katherine is comforting Peter, since he has taken great offense to Hovstad's comment about The Baths being Thomas' discovery. Dr. Stockmann arrives and is pleasantly surprised to see another dinner guest, Captain Horster, on his way in. His friends and brother have been awaiting him.

A string of many arguments between the Stockmann brothers begins when Peter disagrees with the way Dr. Stockmann lives his life, and more importantly the steps being taken to promote The Baths, such as the secret article. After the Mayor exits, the dinner party at the Stockmann's continues. Thomas becomes very anxious about the mail and an awaited letter. His daughter Petra arrives with the letter, and explains that the postman handed it to her on her way out that morning. Dr. Stockmann is overjoyed to see its arrival, and excites his guests with the potential for big news.

He takes the letter into his study to read privately. Meanwhile Petra, who is a teacher, gives her opinion regarding the problem with the school system, and that if she had the money she would start her own school where children would learn what was really important. Captain Horster shows his support in the new school, and offers Petra his father's house to accommodate. Petra's response shows a bit of foreshadowing as she politely thanks the Captain, but explains that nothing will ever come of it. Dr. Stockmann comes out of his room waving the letter, and proclaiming that the news will definitely have tongues wagging around town.

All of the guests anxiously sit up to hear this long awaited news. Dr. Stockmann explains that his recent observation of patients getting sick with typhoid and gastric fevers made him curious, so he took samples of the water and sent them out to be tested. He held the results in his hand; results that proved the water to be contaminated and poisoned. The doctor had also discovered that the source of contamination came from Molle dal, an industry owned and operated by his father-in-law.

The contaminated water was seeping into The Baths water pipes and spreading to the beaches. After breaking the news he assures his friends that the whole problem can be fixed by simply replacing the water system, and that if the town had listened to him in the first place this dilemma could have been avoided. Dr. Stockmann had already put together a statement for his brother and the board explaining his recent discovery and the steps needed to resolve the problem. Hovstad and Billing are excited to hear about the news and cannot wait to alarm the public in the People's Herald. The next morning Katherine finds her husband in his study and delivers a letter from the Mayor.

The notice letter Thomas had written had been returned, and he assured his wife that the Mayor will take a look at it midday. Morten Kiil, Thomas' father-in-law, comes early to find out more information on his experiment. After hearing the news first hand, Kiil begins to chuckle. He tells Dr. Stockmann that he will never get the mayor or the council to believe it or take any action, but if he should Kiil jokes that he will donate 100 crowns to charity. He then sees his way out as Hovstad enters with an expression that means business. After sleeping on the news Hovstad is a bit concerned with the repercussions of spreading the information.

Dr. Stockmann helps Hovstad to see that the truth must come first, and Hovstad agrees that the best way is to use the paper and discuss the discovery with the public. Mr. Aslaksen is a printer for the People's Herald and also the chairman of the Ratepayers Association. He heard the news from Mr. Billings, and has stopped in to encourage Dr. Stockmann's effort to fix the water supply. He assures the doctor that the middle class forms a compact majority in the town, and that as chairman he promises their support. Mr. Aslaksen feels that the success of The Baths is vital to the town's prosperity, so he suggests that the doctor put together a demonstration since authorities aren't keen on proposals from common people.

Dr. Stockmann thanks Aslaksen for his advice and support and sees him out. Hovstad stays behind to clear up some details with the doctor. Hovstad is skeptical about the authorities and particularly the Mayor. He seems to think that the mayor will not approve of public opinion and proposes to draft a leading article in case of disapproval. Thomas can't believe his brother would not approve, so he agrees that if that should happen Hovstad can print his secret article.

Dr. Stockmann's enthusiastic plan is almost put to an end when his brother arrives to have a word. The mayor explains that what he is proposing is virtually impossible. The project itself would cost several hundred thousand crowns and could take up to two years to complete. Meanwhile, The Baths would have to be shut down and the future prosperity of the town would be ruined.

Peter accuses Thomas of overreacting about the situation, and suggests that he continue on with his work as if the discovery had never taken place. Dr. Stockmann is outraged by his brother's proposal, and their disagreement leads to a war of many proportions. Dr. Stockmann is a man of great integrity and pride. He is faced with a difficult decision; to stand by his word and do what is right, or back down from the fight and pretend like the discovery never happened. At this point Katherine is worried because she knows if her husband does not back down they will lose everything. She tries to talk him out of fighting, but with the compact majority on his side the doctor feels he can do no wrong.

He heads right over to Hovstad to give him permission to print his article. A war has begun, little does Thomas know that he is about to be terribly outnumbered. The Mayor stops in to visit Hovstad after Dr. Stockmann has left for work. He attempts to introduce the information to Hovstad, and Hovstad goes along allowing the mayor to assume he knows nothing. Seeming clueless, Hovstad ensures the Mayor that an article of Dr. Stockmann's is being printed, but that he hasn't a chance to read over it yet. In desperation to stop the press, the Mayor explains to Hovstad and Aslaksen the consequences of his brother's proposal.

He explains that the process of changing pipes could cost a couple hundred thousand crowns, and that the money to fund it would come directly out of the people's pockets. Hovstad and Aslaksen begin to re-think their opinion on the issue. After much more persuasion, the Mayor gets them to think that Dr. Stockmann made the whole thing up. As the Mayor begins to wrap up, Dr. Stockmann is seen re-entering the press.

Hovstad panics and instructs the mayor to hide behind the door. The doctor just stopped in to make a few clarifications regarding his article when he notices the Mayor's hat and stick. He realizes that his brother must have come to talk Hovstad out of printing. Jokingly, he puts on the Mayor's hat and finds him behind the door.

Completely confident he proclaims, "I am the Mayor- I'm the head of the whole town, can't you see" (Act, 62). In anger, The Mayor takes back his hat and explains to the doctor that he is not as powerful as he once thought. Hovstad and Aslaksen have turned against him after they found out the costly result, and the price the people will have to pay. Hovstad explains that since Dr. Stockmann has presented his case in a false light, he cannot and dare not print his article. Dr. Stockmann refuses to stand down.

With the support of his wife and family, he prepares for a battle against the people and for the people. A meeting is arranged at Captain Horster's house so that the doctor can address his issue to the public. Skepticism has spread around town about the significance of Dr. Stockmann's discovery. This made it very difficult for him to find a hall. As the meeting commences, the Mayor announces that he thinks a chairman should be elected. Thomas assures his brother that that will not be necessary since he just planned on giving a lecture.

The crowd disagrees and Aslaksen is elected as chairman. Before the doctor can begin speaking, Peter motions that his brother should not be permitted to present his account of the information. Aslaksen and Hovstad agree with the Mayor's proposal seeing that they discovered the doctor's information to be incorrect. A vote on the proposal is suggested, but Dr. Stockmann assures the public that it will not be necessary because he did not intend on speaking about The Baths. The speech he gives is ground breaking. He proclaims to the crowd that the great discovery he has made involves the pollution of the town's spiritual sources, and his realization that the whole civic community is built over a cesspool of lies.

At the beginning it seems as though his speech will downgrade the Mayor and his group of political leaders, but he assures the people that he is not out for their blood. Instead Dr. Stockmann violently blames the compact majority for being the worst enemy of freedom and truth. He says the majority is never right. It is made up of the middle class; a group of fools that should have no right to dominate over the intelligent. Despite many interruptions and slander from the crowd the doctor continues on, determined to speak his mind. He takes strong shots against the masses, saying that these people should not be given an opinion, but that the power should lie in the hands of the minority.

As he closes, the doctor attempts to convince Hovstad to admit to his free-thinking ways, a trait that at one time was common between them. Hovstad denies these convictions, and assures the crowd that he comes from peasants and will not insult his people. Dr. Stockmann insists that free-thinking is almost exactly the same as morality, and if the crowd won't listen he will shout it from street corners and spread the news throughout the country. The crowd ignites with anger and demands that the doctor is out of line. Dr. Stockmann's temper rises as he says, "When a place has become riddled with lies, who cares if it's destroyed: let it all be destroyed, let all its people be wiped out" (Act IV, 82). That was the final straw for the crowd.

They shouted that Dr. Stockmann be considered an enemy, because he hates his country and he hates his people. A vote is cast, and the majority concludes Dr. Thomas Stockmann to be an enemy of the people. The next morning Thomas is picking up the pieces, and the rocks that have been thrown through his window. Katherine tries to briefly discuss their future, and at this point Dr. Stockmann is sure the best thing to do is leave town. His decision is aided by a notice from the landlord demanding he move out, a notice releasing Petra from her job at the school, and a notice dismissing Captain Horster from his ship.

The day gets worse when the Mayor stops in to have a word. He explains to the doctor that there is a list going around town urging people to have nothing to do with him. The Mayor suggests that Thomas leave town for a while to think about his mistake. Then, if he writes a letter of apology, his position at The Baths may be reconsidered. Dr. Stockmann has come to the end of the road, and there seems to be nothing else to do except flee town. The last sign of hope comes from the Mayor when he reminds Thomas that his father-in-law is a very wealthy man, and in his will he has designated a majority of the money to the Stockmann.

Thomas is delighted by Morten Kiil's generosity, and realizes that with that money his family can stay. Shortly after the Mayor leaves, Kiil stops in to make Katherine's inheritance a lot harder to come by. Kiil shows the doctor that with the money from the inheritance he has purchased as many shares in the Baths as he could. Dr. Stockmann can't believe he would do such a thing since the Baths are in no condition to be profitable. Kiil explains that the doctor should eat his words and get the Baths on its feet again, and if he refuses to do so, the shares will go to charity. Hovstad and Aslaksen pay one last visit to the doctor's home.

After finding out that Morten Kiil has bought all of the stocks in the Baths, they think the doctor's discovery was part of a conspiracy to get rich. With this idea in mind, they propose that the doctor let them write about the comeback of the Baths. They explain that recently it has been hard to make ends meet at the People's Herald, and that his story would greatly help publicity. Dr. Stockmann is outraged by their selfishness, and with his umbrella he forces them out of his house. The doctor quickly grads a sheet of paper, writes "NO" on it three times, and has it sent out to his father-in-law. At that moment, Dr. Stockmann realizes that it would be weak to flee town, and decides to stay and fight.

Captain Horster offers the doctor his house as a place to stay. He greatly accepts, and explains to his wife that he will go on treating his poorest patient. The boys arrive home from school early because they have received a notice. Dr. Stockmann reassures his family that everything will be ok. He will host a school in the same room where he was branded an enemy of the people, and raise the poorest boys to drive out the wolves.

Katherine worries that the wolves may drive him out of town, but Thomas reassures her that they don't stand a chance. The doctor has made another great discovery... that the strongest man stands alone. It is intrigue in way of heroism that draws many of us to good novels such as this. By using Dr. Stockmann as a strong hearted individual who stands up for what he believes in, Ibsen has captivated many readers such as myself. I believe that many of the ideals that we as a society deem to be virtuous in a man are possessed by Dr. Stockmann in this novel. His strong will in the face of everyone trying to bring him down is a depiction of someone who stands up for what they believe in.

As you look back on what you " ve read, you get a strong grasp of Dr. Stockmann's ideology and it is something to admire, which combined with an interesting plot and well written scenes, makes for an exceptional novel..