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Act II
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in An Enemy of the People, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Power and Public Opinion
Truth and the Media
Women, Family, and Duty
Individualism vs. Authority
Class Systems
Summary
Analysis
Hovstad is working at his desk in the shabby and disheveled People’s Messenger office when Billing enters, having just read Dr. Stockmann’s manuscript. Both men laugh and praise Dr. Stockmann for his scathing attack on the authorities, saying that he will put a “revolution” in motion. Even if Peter retaliates, he’s sure to lose supporters, either among the common people or the wealthy shareholders of the baths; then the people will see that the Liberals ought to control all municipal affairs.
When asking Dr. Stockmann for permission to publish his report, Hovstad stressed the importance of progress and selfless service to the community. But here, he and Billing discuss how the situation can be turned to the advantage of their political party. There’s more self-interest in their coverage, and in their representation of themselves, than initially appeared.
Themes
Dr. Stockmann enters the office excitedly, instructing Hovstad and Billing to print his article at once and eagerly predicting “a fight in the town.” He’s even planned out a series of articles, based on his original report, attacking different forms of corruption in the town. Suddenly entering the room, Mr. Aslaksen is disturbed by their fiery rhetoric, saying that he hopes the doctor won’t destroy the baths entirely. Hovstad turns the subject to the report, which he praises for being intelligible to ordinary people and likely to gain sympathy; reassured by this, Mr. Aslaksen gives his support to its publication.
It’s notable how quickly Dr. Stockmann has shifted from protecting his brother to wanting to openly attack him; the fact that this transition occurred because of Peter’s personal snub shows how much his new activism is influenced by the need to uphold his pride. Again, Mr. Aslaksen is so timid in acting on his beliefs that they are essentially meaningless.
Themes
Dr. Stockmann says he’s eager to see the article descend upon the townspeople “like a flash of lightning,” and begins to complain about Peter’s attack on his rights and dignity. Now he plans to use the People’s Messenger to attack the authorities until they collapse. Weakly, Mr. Aslaksen warns the doctor to “proceed with moderation,” but he continues to pontificate that not only the baths but every aspect of public life must be “disinfected.” He thanks Hovstad and Aslaksen for their support, comparing them favorably to his brother, and departs.
Here, Dr. Stockmann has adopted Hovstad’s link between scientific and social contamination. It’s interesting that both men use the image for their own ends: Hovstad to criticize the wealthy elites his party opposes, and the doctor to implicate the authorities who dismiss his ideas. By suggesting that the newspapermen are more loyal and selfless than Peter, Dr. Stockmann makes a serious error in judgment.
Themes
Mr. Aslaksen voices his hope that Dr. Stockmann will stick to the baths, rather than making any broader attacks. Billing complains that Mr. Aslaksen is too timid, but Mr. Aslaksen says that his experience has taught him that it’s one thing to attack the national government, which can’t be harmed by a local newspaper, but taking on fragile local authorities “may do irreparable harm to the householders” who want to protect their material interests. Hovstad and Billing fervently announce that they hope never to have any interests to protect.
Mr. Aslaksen’s remark is bleakly comic, suggesting that Hovstad and Billing’s activism is acceptable only because it’s basically harmless to national government. For him, the voicing of progressive ideas is merely a ploy to gain the support of the majority, not a tool to effect any meaningful social change.
Themes
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Aslaksen cannily points out the newspaper’s last editor now works for the government, and Billing himself has applied for a public position. Embarrassed, Billing says he’s only done so “to annoy the bigwigs.” On the contrary, his “political past is an open book” and he always supports the will of the people.
Hovstad and Billing present themselves as radicals, but they’re actively trying to reap the benefits of the government they supposedly distrust. It’s ironic that Mr. Aslaksen, the much-mocked “moderate,” is the one to make this astute analysis.
Themes
Aslaksen leaves and Billing says that they should get rid of him. Hovstad points out that the newspaper needs his financial support. Billing suggests that they apply to Dr. Stockmann, who may inherit money from his father-in-law, but Hovstad shoots this idea down and bitterly points out that Billing will never obtain a government job. Billing leaves to write a letter to the Householders’ Association on behalf of Dr. Stockmann.
Hovstad’s practical remark about Mr. Aslaksen points out that because they have financial needs, media like newspapers cannot be impartial purveyors of truth. Rather, they are dependent on those who have the means to support them—which, in this case, is a different class than the one the newspaper claims to represent.
Themes
A knock is heard and Petra enters. She brings an English novel that Hovstad has asked her to translate but hands it back to him, saying that she can’t carry out the job. The story “conflicts” with all the principles expressed in the People’s Messenger, arguing that “there is a supernatural power that looks after” good people and punishes the bad ones. Unsurprised, Hovstad says that such stories are exactly what readers want; an editor “cannot always act as he would prefer,” but must publish some sentimental things in order to draw readers in and convince them to read the more radical content.
Petra is opposed to the novel because it peddles a soft authoritarianism, telling people that if they behave “well” (in other words, submit established norms and class systems), they will somehow be rewarded. In contrast, the newspaper urges people to take action to change their social conditions. Hovstad’s response shows that the newspaper is more concerned with increasing readership than publishing the strict truth.
Themes
Petra criticizes Hovstad for setting “snares for your readers,” but he blames Billing for choosing the story and adds that Billing is applying for a public job. Petra is disturbed by this revelation, saying that by supporting her father’s crusade for truth the journalists have chosen “a splendid vocation” and ought to live up to their ideals more than ever before. Hovstad suggests that Petra’s idealism stems from loyalty to her father, rather than true conviction in his ideas. Petra responds that Hovstad has permanently injured himself in her opinion, and she will never trust him again. Although Hovstad tries to placate her, she exits in anger, just as Aslaksen enters with the news that Peter Stockmann has arrived.
Like her father, Petra has idealized the newspaper as an impartial and selfless social crusader. In the moment when her father is hitching his social fortunes to it, she realizes that the paper is not as good as they believed. It’s important that she makes this realization long before her father does, even though she’s had much less interaction with the newspapermen. As in many other cases, Dr. Stockmann’s womenfolk are better at detecting danger than he is.
Themes
Hovstad is disconcerted but receives the mayor politely. Peter slyly relates that Dr. Stockmann has embarked on an “extremely annoying” course of action and asks if they know anything about it; Hovstad tries to downplay the newspaper’s involvement, but Peter soon spots the report on his desk and picks it up. Hovstad quickly says that he’s only publishing Dr. Stockmann’s views, not agreeing with them, while Aslaksen adds that he has nothing to do with the newspaper’s content.
It’s disturbing that Hovstad and Mr. Aslaksen immediately (and unconvincingly) try to distance themselves from their own newspaper. It shows both that they’re not actually as powerful against Peter as they presented themselves, and that they’re not willing to stand up for their beliefs when challenged.
Themes
Hovstad and Mr. Aslaksen try to intimidate Peter by hinting that they are intimately acquainted with the townspeople’s beliefs, which will enable them to wield power over the mayor. Peter responds cannily that he’s glad to see such a “spirit of self-sacrifice” among the lower classes; he clarifies to the utterly confused newspapermen that the common people will have to pay for any potential repairs to the baths through a municipal loan, or tax. Astonished, Hovstad and Aslaksen point out that the men who own the baths should take responsibility, but Peter instantly dismisses this idea.
Hovstad and Mr. Aslaksen believed that they could destabilize local government by attributing this catastrophe to them, but Peter quickly shows that he will make sure the lower classes bear the material costs. It’s important that Hovstad never suggests that the townspeople might fight this tax or make the wealthy pay it; although the majority feels powerful, it’s not able to exercise any real control over the wealthy elite.
Themes
Peter then emphasizes that such extensive repairs will require the baths to close down for two years. Mr. Aslaksen is deeply affronted at this news, asking how “we householders” will handle the economic loss. Shaken, he accedes to Peter’s assertion that the whole thing is “merely imagination” and turns on Dr. Stockmann, denouncing him for his “unjustifiable” attack on the town’s well-being. Hovstad, stammering, withdraws his own support from the doctor and asks Peter if he has an alternative article to print, which the mayor instantly produces.
By imposing punishments and framing the issue as a matter of economic cost to the majority, Peter instantly shows that public opinion will be against the report and shifts the newspaper’s allegiances. Public opinion is powerful enough to govern the supposedly impartial media, but not enough to threaten the dominance of the upper class.
Themes
Suddenly, Mr. Aslaksen sees Dr. Stockmann outside the window. Wanting to avoid an awkward encounter, Hovstad ushers Peter into another office to hide. He and Aslaksen pretend to be occupied when Dr. Stockmann enters, full of enthusiasm, to check on the printing of his piece. The two men are stilted and awkward, but Dr. Stockmann doesn’t notice their strange behavior. Instead, he tells them that he’s been thinking about the public acclaim he’s going to receive when everyone realizes how much work he’s done for “the welfare of the town.” He warns Hovstad that no matter now much the people want to give him a gift or tribute, the editor must put a stop to it, as his actions have been purely selfless.
In a matter of minutes, Hovstad and Mr. Aslaksen have changed from Dr. Stockmann’s staunch allies to his betrayers; this sudden shift casts doubt on the integrity of news media as a whole. Meanwhile, Dr. Stockmann is too busy anticipating future acclaim to notice their fairly obvious discomfort. This is a contrast to Petra, who is able to spot hypocrisy even when Hovstad is flattering her abilities as a translator.
Themes
Hovstad opens his mouth to tell Dr. Stockmann “the plain truth,” but suddenly Katherine enters the office, full of anger. She sharply reprimands Hovstad for “enticing my husband away from his home and making him a dupe,” and reminds everyone present that he is “the father of three children.” Dr. Stockmann becomes annoyed, asking why his status as a father should prevent him from “proclaiming the truth” and telling her that no one could trick him.
Katherine is mobilizing the supposed distinction between activism and the home to argue that fathers shouldn’t be dragged into risky politics. At the same time, by astutely realizing that the newspaper has made her husband “a dupe,” she’s showing her aptitude for public life and proving the distinction between home and public life false.
Themes
Dr. Stockmann triumphantly tells Katherine that he has the “compact majority” behind him, and that she should “go home and look after your house” while he handles the public affairs. Katherine is unimpressed, saying that the majority is “a horrid thing” and predicting that he will almost certainly lose his job if the article is published.
Dr. Stockmann attempts to uphold the distinction between men’s public life and women’s domestic sphere, but his dismissive language only shows how blind he is to his own peril.
Themes
Just as Dr. Stockmann is expounding on the revolution he believes he’s about to begin, he and Katherine notice Peter’s hat sitting on Hovstad’s desk. Dr. Stockmann assumes that the mayor has been trying to entice Hovstad over to his own side, but hid when he saw his brother coming. Gleefully, he puts on the hat and struts around the office, eventually opening the door on a very angry Peter. As Peter pompously demands the return of his hat, Katherine is almost reduced to tears by her husband’s performance.
Dr. Stockmann makes a mockery of Peter’s authority as mayor through this performance—but in fact, Peter will assert authority over him in the moments that follow. Katherine’s understanding that grandstanding doesn’t really help individuals advance their goals shows how much more politically aware she is than her husband.
Themes
Dr. Stockmann triumphantly announces that his brother’s time in power is at an end, since he, the People’s Messenger, and the Householders’ Association are now allied against him. Calmly, Peter turns to Hovstad and Aslaksen and ask if this is the case. The two men astound Dr. Stockmann by admitting that they have retracted their support and affirming their belief in Peter’s version of the situation.
Dr. Stockmann has seen the power of the “compact majority” as dependable concept, always standing by what is right. Now, he begins to understand that public opinion is very fickle and can’t be counted upon to support individualism or controversial ideas.
Themes
Hovstad says that he “dares not” print the article. Dr. Stockmann angrily responds that as the editor of the paper, he can print whatever he wants. On the contrary, Mr. Aslaksen responds, the “subscribers” and “public opinion” control the paper, not the editors. Since Dr. Stockmann’s findings would mean the “ruin of the community,” none of the public will support them.
Dr. Stockmann saw the newspaper as an impartial defender of the truth, but now he sees that it’s the servant of fluctuating public opinion, and thus cannot hold firm ideals.
Themes
Hovstad adds that he’s also refraining from printing the article out of “regard” for Dr. Stockmann’s family, earning him a sharp retort from Katherine that the family is none of his business. Dr. Stockmann turns to Mr. Aslaksen and demands that he print the report as a pamphlet, but Mr. Aslaksen refuses, saying that no matter how much he was paid he could not publish something so contrary to public opinion.
Katherine understands that men like Hovstad who draw moralizing distinctions between public and home life do so not out of any true desire to protect women and children, but rather to suppress dissenting views by pointing out material repercussions.
Themes
Snatching the report back, Dr. Stockmann announces that he will call a public meeting to present it publicly. Peter points out that no one in the town will rent him a hall. Katherine bursts out that such behavior is “shameful” and asks why no one will support her husband. Dr. Stockmann says angrily that the townspeople are all “old women, like you” who are only concerned with their families. Taking her husband’s arm, Katherine announces her intention to support him, saying that “an old woman can be a man for once.”
Here, Katherine commits herself firmly to her husband’s political stance, abandoning the conventional caution she advocated before. Dr. Stockmann likens Hovstad and the other men to Katherine, even though it’s she who has displayed loyalty and intelligence all along. Although Dr. Stockmann will accept and rely on his wife’s contributions to his activism, he will also minimize them or attribute them to himself.
Themes
Dr. Stockmann takes new courage, saying that he will proclaim his report in the streets if he must. Katherine adds staunchly that the boys will go with him. Dr. Stockmann kisses her and they exit proudly, leaving Peter and the newspapermen shaking their heads.
Katherine’s support and her invocation of the boys suggests that, rather than being a hindrance to his activism, Dr. Stockmann’s family will be his best supports.
Themes
