An Enemy of the People

"An Enemy of the People" by Henrik Ibsen is a play in five acts written during the late 19th century. The narrative revolves around Dr. Thomas Stockmann, the medical officer of a coastal town's Baths, who discovers that the water supply is contaminated and poses a serious health risk. The play explores themes of truth, integrity, and the conflict between personal conviction and public opinion. At the start of the play, we are introduced to Dr. Stockmann in his home, where he shares a meal with his family and friends, showcasing a lively domestic scene. Through conversations with various characters, including his brother Peter, the Mayor, and local journalists Hovstad and Billing, the audience learns about the significance of the Baths to the town’s economy and the looming scandal surrounding them. The doctor has sent a letter to the university to confirm his suspicions about the water quality. The excitement builds as he anticipates the results that could profoundly impact the community, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation over the ethics of public health versus local interests. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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 the most influential playwright of the 19th century, as well of one of the most influential playwrights in Western literature more generally. His major works include Brand, Peer Gynt, Emperor and Galilean, A Doll's House, Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, The Wild Duck, Rosmersholm, Hedda Gabler, The Master Builder, and When We Dead Awaken. Ibsen is the most frequently performed dramatist in the world after Shakespeare, and A Doll's House was the world's most performed play in 2006.