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MonkeyNotes-An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen
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PLOT (Structure)
The plot of An Enemy of the People is unified by time, place, and
character. The entire play takes place in a small Norwegian town,
largely in the home of the protagonist, Dr. Stockmann. All of the
action takes place over the period of a few days, from the time the
doctor confirms his suspicions about the contamination of the
baths, through the time he is declared an enemy of the people, to
the time he finally decides to stay in the town and fight the battle
of the baths to its conclusion. The play centers around Dr.
Stockmann, the central character and protagonist of the plot;
except for the citizens, who are viewed as a whole (almost like a
single character), there are few other characters introduced: the
Burgomaster, Aslaksen, Hovstad, Billing, the Captain, Mrs.
Stockmann, and Petra.
The plot of the play also develops along traditional lines. Act I
serves largely as an introduction, where Ibsen presents the
protagonist, Dr. Stockmann, and his problem, the battle with his
brother over the baths. The rising action begins when the doctor
insists that the Burgomaster re-lay the pipes to the baths in order to
prevent the contamination; the Burgomaster flatly refuses, saying it
is too costly to make the repairs and close the baths for two years.
He also insists that the doctor remain silent about the problem, for
the Burgomaster wants to protect his own reputation and interests.
The rising action continues as the battle between the brothers heats
up. At every step, Dr. Stockmann meets with frustration, for his
brother prevents his article from being published, blocks him from
holding a town meeting in any hall, and turns the citizens against
him. The climax of the plot occurs when the Burgomaster succeeds
in having the doctor officially declared an enemy of the people.
The falling action shows the doctor contemplating fleeing the
town, going to the new world to seek a more liberal and honest
atmosphere. In the end, however, he decides to stay and fight the
battle of the baths to its conclusion. The conclusion comes when
Dr. Stockmann decides to open a school so that he can teach future
generations to think freely for themselves and fight corruption in
politics. It is the only element of hope in a tragic play, where Dr.
Stockmann, the protagonist, is defeated by the Burgomaster, his
antagonist.
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