Literature Analysis - " An Enemy of the People" Andrii Roman College

“ I think we must agree that fools are in a terrible, overwhelming majority, all the wide world over. But how in the devil’s name can it ever be right for fools to rule over wise men?” (113). This quote describes Henrik Ibsen’s philosophy towards the majority, which is also being portrayed as foolish and dangerous to the society. A theme of the story tells us that the individual who stands alone will be always stronger than the masses, for he has reached a point, unreachable for “. . .lower classes. . .”(116). In fact, Ibsen reveals it by showing us the importance of individualism, proving that majority is the enemy of the truth and freedom, thus emphasizing that individuals should never trust the masses.

Ibsen’s characterization of Doctor Stockmann, as one who represents the truth, shows us a power that individuals contain. Doctor Stockmann is portrayed as an idealistic person, aiming to improve the society’s well-being, even though no one asked him to do so. The first evocative example occurred when Doctor Stockman finds out about a bad Baths’ sanitary conditions and reports them to the Mayor. ” It would be dishonesty - a fraud, a lie, an absolute crime against the public, against society as a whole” (93). Doctor Stockman...