Ibsen: The Enemy of the People

Ibsen, Henrik: The Enemy of The People,

I'm pretty sure that I've read some Ibsen before but I don't have a strong memory of his style.  I enjoyed this play.  I thought the characters were interesting and he set up the dilemma very well, giving us some information and having his characters seem to have certain principles and then having most of them turn face and demonstrate that self-interest trumps all.  He doesn't make anyone the hero in the purest sense. Dr. Stockmann seems to be a person of "sacred convictions" but he very quickly becomes almost messianic in his reactions.  He certainly has issues about his importance and his wife suggests he has got himself (and his family) into trouble before.  His brother suggests he is cantankerous and has trouble with authority figures.  His daughter Petra seems quite decent as does their friend Captain Horster.  It was interesting and frightening to see how the townspeople so quickly closed ranks and turned on the doctor, someone one would assume that they had respected and trusted and needed.  As soon as their interests were threatened they all closed ranks and turned on the "truth teller".  Stockmann seemed to have some threads of zealotry in him.  He very quickly moved from trying to make sure the baths didn't physically harm anyone to wanting to overthrow the old guard and eliminate anyone who got in the way of change and progression.  Fortunately Petra was more balanced and gives us hope for the future.

I won't be able to be at the class discussion this week as I'll be down in Guatemala.  I'm curious to see what the discussion is about this play and about what was going on in Norway at the time.