An Enemy Of The People

Q1.Mayor Peter Stockmann is a contrast to Dr. Thomas Stockmann. Justify.

Answer:
There are lots of good things you can say about Dr. Stockmann, the protagonist of ‘An Enemy of the People’. He is an idealist and a man having great love and care for his family. He is generous with his neighbors and truly cares for his fellow men. Despite his troubles, he wishes to make the world a better place. Most importantly, the doctor is a man of principles willing to fight for justice no matter what it costs.

On the contrary, Mayor Peter Stockmann, his brother is a practical man. He is the antagonist in the play who is less worried about the common men in the city. Throughout the play, the Mayor, Stockmann mercilessly tries to ruin his brother’s life in order to keep the truth from being revealed. He hardly shows any affinity towards his brother. He never shows any feeling of guilt for the fact that he’s totally messing up the life of a family member.

Q2.Write the character sketch of Dr. Stockmann.

Answer:
Dr. Stockmann is the brother of the Mayor, Peter Stockmann and the protagonist/hero of the play. He is a practising medical doctor and the medical officer of the town baths. He is an ideal person who has great love for family, fellow citizens and social values. Dr. Stockmann believes strongly in individual freedom and the right of every man to express himself freely.

He is a man of morality and truth and is ready to fight against injustice. He tries to raise his voice against the hypocritical ways of his brother and the members of conservative government. The play revolves around his struggle to give justice to common men of the city. Finally, his fruitless efforts lead him to such misfortune to ruin everything in his profession and life. However, he is not ready to give up his efforts for truth. We see him as a man of patience and strength when he remarks – “The strongest man in the world is he who stands alone!”

Q3.Describe the climax scene in your own words. Write your comments on it.

Answer:
In the final scene, Dr. Stockmann realizes that no one is going to support him to publish the article as no one is ready to take any step against the Mayor. So, Stockmann asks Hovstad to give him back his papers (article). He announces in front of the Mayor that he will read out the article in a mass meeting for everybody to hear the voice of truth. But, the Mayor assures him that no one will lend him a hall in the city to do this.

Billing and Hovstad have also the same opinion. Mrs. Stockmann feels shameful to know the fact that no one is willing to give her husband a hall. She is rather shocked to know that everyone has turned against her husband. Dr. Stockmann is ready to hire a drum to walk on the city streets reading the article. It shows his determination to reveal the truth at any cost. All the family members are ready to stand with Dr. Stockmann in his sincere efforts to purify the society.

Q4.Describe in your own words the incident when Hovstad’s real intention to help Dr.Stockmann is exposed.

Ans. When Dr.Stockmann reached Hovstad’s office, he notices the Mayor’s stick and hat and soon realises about his presence in the office. Dr.Stockmann asked Hovstadweather he was going to publish the article in ‘People’s Messenger’ or not to which Hovstad replied that he will do it but he has to wait for some time.

Hovstad didn’t refuse directly but had no intensions either to publish the article. The Mayor successfully influenced Hovstad and Aslaksen against his own brother which was now clearly visible. Finally, we see Hovstad refused to print the article and the reason he stated was it will ravage the Doctor’s reputation and ruin his family as well. But the Doctor understood that this was not the actual reason for Hovstad’s not publishing the article and his real intentions were no more hidden.

 

Q5.Write down the consequences of the following occurrence, with the help of the play.
Dr. Thomas Stockmann wants an article exposing social evils to be printed in the newspaper.

Answer:
Dr. Stockmann was an idealist and a lover of truth. When he came across the unhygienic condition of the baths which was a direct threat to the health of the people, he decided to publish the article in the newspaper exposing the Mayor and his cronies. This would directly affect the ruling government to lose their seats. In addition, it would raise public outcry against the social injustice of the Mayor and his stakeholders had to pay a large amount to rectify the issue.