Dr. Thomas Stockmann is called to the position of medical adviser to the
management of the "Baths," the main resource of his native town.
A sincere man of high ideals, _Dr. Stockmann_ returns home after an
absence of many years, full of the spirit of enterprise and progressive
innovation. For as he says to his brother _Peter_, the town
_Burgomaster_, "I am so glad and content. I feel so unspeakably happy in
the midst of all this growing, germinating life. After all, what a
glorious time we do live in. It is as if a new world were springing up
around us."
_Burgomaster._ Do you really think so?
_Dr. Stockmann._ Well, of course, you can't see this as clearly as I
do. You've spent all your life in this place, and so your
perceptions have been dulled. But I, who had to live up there in
that small hole in the north all those years, hardly ever seeing a
soul to speak a stimulating word to me--all this affects me as if I
were carried to the midst of a crowded city--I know well enough that
the conditions of life are small compared with many other towns. But
here is life, growth, an infinity of things to work for and to
strive for; and that is the main point.
In this spirit _Dr. Stockmann_ sets to his task. After two years of
careful investigation, he finds that the Baths are built on a swamp,
full of poisonous germs, and that people who come there for their health
will be infected with fever.
_Thomas Stockmann_ is a conscientious physician. He loves his native
town, but he loves his fellow-men more. He considers it his duty to
communicate his discovery to the highest authority of the town, the
_Burgomaster_, his brother _Peter Stockmann_.
_Dr. Stockmann_ is indeed an idealist; else he would know that the man
is often lost in the official. Besides, _Peter Stockmann_ is also the
president of the board of directors and one of the heaviest stockholders
of the Baths. Sufficient reason to upbraid his reckless medical brother
as a dangerous man:
_Burgomaster._ Anyhow, you've an ingrained propensity for going your
own way. And that in a well-ordered community is almost as
dangerous. The individual must submit himself to the whole
community, or, to speak more correctly, bow to the authority that
watches over the welfare of all.
But the _Doctor_ is not disconcerted: _Peter_ is an official; he is not
concerned with ideals. But there is the press,--that is the medium for
his purpose! The staff of the _People's Messenger_--_Hovstad_,
_Billings_, and _Aslaksen_, are deeply impressed by the _Doctor's_
discovery. With one eye to good copy and the other to the political
chances, they immediately put the _People's Messenger_ at the disposal
of _Thomas Stockmann_. _Hovstad_ sees great possibilities for a thorough
radical reform of the whole life of the community.
_Hovstad._ To you, as a doctor and a man of science, this business
of the water-works is an isolated affair. I fancy it hasn't occurred
to you that a good many other things are connected with it.... The
swamp our whole municipal life stands and rots in.... I think a
journalist assumes an immense responsibility when he neglects an
opportunity of aiding the masses, the poor, the oppressed. I know
well enough that the upper classes will call this stirring up the
people, and so forth, but they can do as they please, if only my
conscience is clear.
_Aslaksen_, printer of the _People's Messenger_, chairman of the
Householders' Association, and agent for the Moderation Society, has,
like _Hovstad_, a keen eye to business. He assures the _Doctor_ of his
whole-hearted coöperation, especially emphasizing that, "It might do you
no harm to have us middle-class men at your back. We now form a compact
majority in the town--when we really make up our minds to. And it's
always as well, Doctor, to have the majority with you.... And so I think
it wouldn't be amiss if we made some sort of a demonstration.... Of
course with great moderation, Doctor. I am always in favor of
moderation; for moderation is a citizen's first virtue--at least those
are my sentiments."
Truly, _Dr. Stockmann_ is an idealist; else he would not place so much
faith in the staff of the _People's Messenger_, who love the people so
well that they constantly feed them with high-sounding phrases of
democratic principles and of the noble function of the press, while they
pilfer their pockets.
That is expressed in _Hovstad's_ own words, when _Petra_, the daughter
of _Dr. Stockmann_, returns a sentimental novel she was to translate for
the _People's Messenger_: "This can't possibly go into the _Messenger_,"
she tells _Hovstad_; "it is in direct contradiction to your own
opinion."
_Hovstad._ Well, but for the sake of the cause--
_Petra._ You don't understand me yet. It is all about a supernatural
power that looks after the so-called good people here on earth, and
turns all things to their advantage at last, and all the bad people
are punished.
_Hovstad._ Yes, but that's very fine. It's the very thing the public
like.
_Petra._ And would you supply the public with such stuff? Why, you
don't believe one word of it yourself. You know well enough that
things don't really happen like that.
_Hovstad._ You're right there; but an editor can't always do as he
likes. He often has to yield to public opinion in small matters.
After all, politics is the chief thing in life--at any rate for a
newspaper; and if I want the people to follow me along the path of
emancipation and progress, I mustn't scare them away. If they find
such a moral story down in the cellar, they're much more willing to
stand what is printed above it--they feel themselves safer.
Editors of the stamp of _Hovstad_ seldom dare to express their real
opinions. They cannot afford to "scare away" their readers. They
generally yield to the most ignorant and vulgar public opinion; they do
not set themselves up against constituted authority. Therefore the
_People's Messenger_ drops the "greatest man" in town when it learns
that the _Burgomaster_ and the influential citizens are determined that
the truth shall be silenced. The _Burgomaster_ soundly denounces his
brother's "rebellion."
_Burgomaster._ The public doesn't need new ideas. The public is best
served by the good old recognized ideas that they have already....
As an official, you've no right to have any individual conviction.
_Dr. Stockmann._ The source is poisoned, man! Are you mad? We live
by trafficking in filth and garbage. The whole of our developing
social life is rooted in a lie!
_Burgomaster._ Idle fancies--or something worse. The man who makes
such offensive insinuations against his own native place must be an
enemy of society.
_Dr. Stockmann._ And I must bear such treatment! In my own house.
Katrine! What do you think of it?
_Mrs. Stockmann._ Indeed, it is a shame and an insult,
Thomas----.... But, after all, your brother has the power----
_Dr. Stockmann._ Yes, but I have the right!
_Mrs. Stockmann._ Ah, yes, right, right! What is the good of being
right when you haven't any might?
_Dr. Stockmann._ What! No good in a free society to have right on
your side? You are absurd, Katrine. And besides, haven't I the free
and independent press with me? The compact majority behind me?
That's might enough, I should think!
_Katrine Stockmann_ is wiser than her husband. For he who has no might
need hope for no right. The good _Doctor_ has to drink the bitter cup to
the last drop before he realizes the wisdom of his wife.
Threatened by the authorities and repudiated by the _People's
Messenger_, _Dr. Stockmann_ attempts to secure a hall wherein to hold a
public meeting. A free-born citizen, he believes in the Constitution and
its guarantees; he is determined to maintain his right of free
expression. But like so many others, even most advanced liberals blinded
by the spook of constitutional rights and free speech, _Dr. Stockmann_
inevitably has to pay the penalty of his credulity. He finds every hall
in town closed against him. Only one solitary citizen has the courage to
open his doors to the persecuted Doctor,--his old friend _Horster_. But
the mob follows him even there and howls him down as an enemy of
society. _Thomas Stockmann_ makes the discovery in his battle with
ignorance, stupidity, and vested interests that "the most dangerous
enemies of truth and freedom in our midst are the compact majority, the
damned compact liberal majority." His experiences lead him to the
conclusion that "the majority is never right.... That is one of those
conventional lies against which a free, thoughtful man must rebel....
The majority has might unhappily--but right it has not."
_Hovstad._ The man who would ruin a whole community must be an enemy
of society!
_Dr. Stockmann._ It doesn't matter if a lying community is
ruined!... You'll poison the whole country in time; you will bring
it to such a pass that the whole country will deserve to perish. And
should it come to this, I say, from the bottom of my heart: Perish
the country! Perish all its people!
Driven out of the place, hooted and jeered by the mob, _Dr. Stockmann_
barely escapes with his life, and seeks safety in his home, only to
find everything demolished there. In due time he is repudiated by the
grocer, the baker, and the candlestick maker. The landlord, of course,
is very sorry for him. The Stockmanns have always paid their rent
regularly, but it would injure his reputation to have such an avowed
rebel for a tenant. The grocer is sorry, and the butcher, too; but they
can not jeopardize their business. Finally the board of education sends
expressions of regret: _Petra_ is an excellent teacher and the boys of
Stockmann splendid pupils, but it would contaminate the other children
were the Stockmanns allowed to remain at school. And again _Dr.
Stockmann_ learns a vital lesson. But he will not submit; he will be
strong.
_Dr. Stockmann._ Should I let myself be beaten off the field by
public opinion, and the compact majority, and such deviltry? No,
thanks. Besides, what I want is so simple, so clear and
straightforward. I only want to drive into the heads of these curs
that the Liberals are the worst foes of free men; that
party-programmes wring the necks of all young living truths; that
considerations of expediency turn morality and righteousness upside
down, until life is simply hideous.... I don't see any man free and
brave enough to dare the Truth.... The strongest man is he who
stands most alone.
A confession of faith, indeed, because Henrik Ibsen, although recognized
as a great dramatic artist, remained alone in his stand as a
revolutionist.
His dramatic art, without his glorious rebellion against every
authoritative institution, against every social and moral lie, against
every vestige of bondage, were inconceivable. Just as his art would lose
human significance, were his love of truth and freedom lacking. Already
in "Brand," Henrik Ibsen demanded all or nothing, no weak-kneed
moderation,--no compromise of any sort in the struggle for the ideal.
His proud defiance, his enthusiastic daring, his utter indifference to
consequences, are Henrik Ibsen's bugle call, heralding a new dawn and
the birth of a new race.