An Enemy of the People

The situation being unfolded in “An Enemy of the People” caused me to think about the control of the oil companies on, well, our whole planet. I have often thought about the massive power of major oil companies. The leaders of this gold-mine of an industry possess the power to disallow any new, cheaper, more efficient fuel technology to ever become widespread out of fear of seeing their profits be made worthless by some new-fangled technology. After pondering this connection, I strongly feel that Miller succeeded in his “wish to demonstrate that Ibsen is really pertinent today” (8).

Newfound scientific knowledge based around fresh technology, such as finding microscopic evidence of contaminated water in the 1950’s, or discovering a fuel alternative that could revolutionize civilization in the 21st century, may have the potential to stir up change that is unwanted by the powers that be.

Peter Stockmann, the town’s mayor and Dr. Stockmann’s brother, does not take the threat of infectious bacteria seriously as his brother expects everyone will. Peter talks his way around the original issue because his motives are political, not scientific. He refuses to let the economic foundation of the town be pulled out from under him because of an intangible health threat. Power is much more important to him than that, and he utilizes his power to the extreme throughout the play. Peter cunningly yet easily turns the entire town against his brother, making him out to be the ‘enemy of the people’, who is out to ruin the town (96-97).

Dr. Stockmann’s rebuttal to the frustrating speeches of his brother at Horster’s house is passionate, intelligent, and convincing. His allusions to Jesus and Galileo are used cleverly in trying to convey the idea that the majority is “never right until it does right” (94-95). However, we learn in this story, that the most convincing presentation of controversial truth is not enough to sway a stubborn majority convinced by the authorities and power that the ‘truth’ is harmful to them. We are left devastated by the lack of justice served in this town, but yet we sense triumph in that our beloved messenger of truth has not given in to the intense pressures he has received to sway from his stand.