An Enemy of the People
Sep 2022 · Gildan Media LLC aka G&D Media
Ebook
166
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
About this ebook
“The majority is never right...Who are the people that make up the biggest proportion of the population -- the intelligent ones or the fools?” – Henrik Ibsen
Widely regarded as one of the foremost dramatists of the nineteenth century, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906), created realistic plays bringing the social problems of his day to center stage. His dramas portrayed psychological conflict that emphasized character over devious plots, and over critical objection, he deemed the individual more important than the group.
In this powerful work, Ibsen does just that, as his main character, Dr. Thomas Stockman, is an enlightened and persecuted minority of one confronting an ignorant, powerful majority.
When Dr. Stockman learns that the financially successful baths in his hometown are contaminated, he insists that this popular complex be shut down for expensive repairs. At first, he is thanked, but the next morning, even his brother, who is the town’s mayor, and his closest friends, tell him to retract his statement because the baths are crucial to the town’s economy. When he refuses, Stockman’s home is vandalized, he and his daughter are fired, and he is ridiculed, persecuted, and declared an “enemy of the people” by the townspeople. The doctor stands up to it all, believing that the strongest man is the man who stands alone.
In response to the public outcry against him and his play, Ghosts, which openly discussed adultery and syphilis, Ibsen faced accusations of being "scandalous," "degenerate," and "immoral."
Widely regarded as one of the foremost dramatists of the nineteenth century, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906), created realistic plays bringing the social problems of his day to center stage. His dramas portrayed psychological conflict that emphasized character over devious plots, and over critical objection, he deemed the individual more important than the group.
In this powerful work, Ibsen does just that, as his main character, Dr. Thomas Stockman, is an enlightened and persecuted minority of one confronting an ignorant, powerful majority.
When Dr. Stockman learns that the financially successful baths in his hometown are contaminated, he insists that this popular complex be shut down for expensive repairs. At first, he is thanked, but the next morning, even his brother, who is the town’s mayor, and his closest friends, tell him to retract his statement because the baths are crucial to the town’s economy. When he refuses, Stockman’s home is vandalized, he and his daughter are fired, and he is ridiculed, persecuted, and declared an “enemy of the people” by the townspeople. The doctor stands up to it all, believing that the strongest man is the man who stands alone.
In response to the public outcry against him and his play, Ghosts, which openly discussed adultery and syphilis, Ibsen faced accusations of being "scandalous," "degenerate," and "immoral."
About the author
Henrik Johan Ibsen was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playwrights of his time
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
