An Enemy of the People

Full Text and Introduction (NHB Drama Classics)

Henrik Ibsen

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781780015378
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Drama
• Index: Literature

The NHB Drama Classics series presents the world's greatest plays in affordable, highly readable editions for students, actors and theatregoers. The hallmarks of the series are accessible introductions (focussing on the play's theatrical and historical background, together with an author biography, key dates and suggestions for further reading) and the complete text, uncluttered with footnotes. The translations, by leading experts in the field, are accurate and above all actable. The editions of English-language plays include a glossary of unusual words and phrases to aid understanding.

An Enemy of the People tells the story of an idealistic doctor, Stockmann, who discovers that the waters from which his native spa town draws its wealth are dangerously contaminated. As the citizens realise the financial implications, Stockmann comes under increasing pressure to keep silent.

Translated and introduced by Stephen Mulrine.

ACT ONE

It is evening. DR STOCKMANN’s living room, simply but comfortably furnished. Two doors at right, the farther leading to the entrance hall, the nearer to the doctor’s study. At left, directly opposite the hall door, is a door leading to the family’s living quarters. In the middle of the same wall stands the stove, downstage of which is a settee with a mirror hanging above it, and an oval table, covered with a cloth, in front of it. There is a lamp on the table, shaded and lit. Upstage, in the back wall, is an open door leading to the dining room, where a table set for dinner, with a lit lamp on it, can be seen. BILLING, his napkin tucked under his chin, is sitting at the dinner table, while MRS STOCKMANN, standing nearby, is passing him a large plate of roast beef. The other places at the table are empty, and the settings in some disorder, showing that a meal has recently been eaten.

MRS STOCKMANN. Well, if you will come an hour late, Mr Billing, you must expect cold food.

BILLING (eating). This is excellent – absolutely perfect.

MRS STOCKMANN. You know how particular my husband is about regular mealtimes.

BILLING. I don’t mind in the least. Actually, I think food tastes better like this, when I can eat alone, in peace and quiet.

MRS STOCKMANN. Yes, well – as long as you’re enjoying it. (Turns towards the hall door, listening.) That must be Hovstad…

BILLING. Very likely.

The MAYOR, Peter Stockmann, enters, wearing an overcoat and his official cap, and carrying a walking stick.

MAYOR. A very good evening to you, Katrine.

MRS STOCKMANN (coming into the living room). Why, it’s you – good evening! How nice of you to stop by and see us.

MAYOR. Well, I happened to be passing, so… (Glances towards the dining room.) Ah, I see you have company.

MRS STOCKMANN (a little embarrassed). No, no – he’s just dropped in, we weren’t expecting anybody. (Hurriedly.) Why don’t you join him, and have a bite to eat?

MAYOR. Who, me? No, thank you. Good heavens, a cooked meal at night? Not with my digestion.

MRS STOCKMANN. Oh, just this once, surely…

MAYOR. No, honestly, it’s very kind of you, but I’ll stick to my tea and toast – it’s healthier in the long run, and a bit more economical too.

MRS STOCKMANN (smiles). Now, you mustn’t run away with the idea that Tomas and I are terrible spendthrifts.

MAYOR. Not you, dear Katrine – nothing could be further from my mind. (Points to the DOCTOR’s study.) So he isn’t at home?

MRS STOCKMANN. No, he’s just gone out for an after-dinner stroll – and the boys are with him.

MAYOR. Hm, does that really do any good, I wonder? (Listens.) That’ll be him now.

MRS STOCKMANN. No, I don’t think so.

A knock at the door.

Come in!

HOVSTAD enters from the hallway.

Oh, it’s you, Mr Hovstad…

HOVSTAD. Yes, I’m sorry, you’ll have to excuse me, but I got held up at the printing shop. Good evening, Mr Mayor.

MAYOR (bowing a little stiffly). Mr Hovstad. A business call, no doubt?

HOVSTAD. In part, yes. It’s about something that’s to go into the paper.

MAYOR. I thought as much. I hear my brother’s become an extremely prolific contributor to The People’s Courier.

HOVSTAD. Yes, whenever he has a few home truths to tell, he does a piece for the Courier.

MRS STOCKMANN (to HOVSTAD). Are you sure you wouldn’t like to… (Gesturing towards the dining room.)

MAYOR. Well, good heavens, I’m not blaming him. After all, he’s simply addressing himself to the sort of reader most likely to be sympathetic to his views. Anyway, speaking personally, I’ve no reason to harbour any ill feeling towards your paper, Mr Hovstad.

HOVSTAD. No, I should hope not.

MAYOR. Taken by and large, there’s an admirable spirit of tolerance in this town of ours – genuine public-spiritedness. And that derives from the fact that we have a great civic enterprise to unite us – an enterprise which concerns every right-minded citizen in equal measure…

HOVSTAD. The Baths, yes.

MAYOR. Precisely. We have our splendid new municipal Baths. Mark my words, Mr Hovstad, those Baths are set to become the town’s very lifeblood. Without a doubt, sir.

MRS STOCKMANN. Yes, Tomas says that too…

MAYOR. You know, it’s quite extraordinary how things have improved this past year or two. People have money to spend, there’s more life, more of a buzz about the town. Land and property values are going up day by day.

HOVSTAD. And unemployment’s going down.

MAYOR. Yes, that’s true. The burden of public assistance has been lessened too, much to the relief of property-owners, and that’s likely to be reduced still further, if we have a decent summer this year – plenty of visitors, lots of invalids, to spread the word about our famous Baths.

HOVSTAD. And things are looking very promising in that regard, so I’m told.

MAYOR. All the signs are favourable. We’re getting more and more enquiries about accommodation and suchlike every day.

HOVSTAD. Well, then, the doctor’s article will be very much to the point.

MAYOR. He’s written another piece?

HOVSTAD. Well, it’s something he wrote in winter, recommending the Baths, and giving an account of the superb health-giving qualities of the life here. But I held the article over at the time.

MAYOR. Ah, there’d be one or two flaws in it, I suppose?

HOVSTAD. No, not at all. I just thought it was better to wait until the spring. This is when people start thinking about their summer holidays.

MAYOR. That’s right. That makes good sense, Mr Hovstad.

MRS STOCKMANN. Yes, Tomas will stick at nothing when it has to do with the Baths.

MAYOR. Well, he is one of the office-bearers.

HOVSTAD. Yes, indeed – in fact, it was the doctor who first came up with the idea.

MAYOR. Really? You think so? Yes, I’ve heard quite a few folk express that opinion. But I rather fancied I played a modest part in that undertaking myself.

MRS STOCKMANN. Yes, that’s what Tomas always says.

HOVSTAD. Well, of course, Mr Mayor – no one would deny it. You set the whole business going as a practical concern, everybody knows that. All I meant was that the initial idea for the Baths came from the doctor.

MAYOR. Yes, my brother’s never been short of ideas in his time – more’s the pity. But when there’s real work to be done, you need a different sort of man, Mr Hovstad. And to be quite frank, I would’ve thought that in this house, at the very least…

MRS STOCKMANN. Peter, dear – please…

HOVSTAD. Mr Mayor, how could you imagine…

MRS STOCKMANN. Go and get yourself something to eat, Mr Hovstad, while you’re waiting – I’m sure my husband won’t be long.

HOVSTAD. Well, thanks – perhaps just a bite. (Goes into the dining room.)

MAYOR (in an undertone). It’s funny, but these people from peasant stock never seem to have any tact.

MRS STOCKMANN. You’re not letting that bother you, surely? Can’t you and Tomas simply share the credit, like brothers?

MAYOR. Well, I daresay we should. But not everybody, it seems, is content to share.

MRS STOCKMANN. Oh, that’s nonsense. You and Tomas are in complete agreement on these things. (Listens.) I think that’s him coming now. (Goes to open the door leading into the hall.)

DR STOCKMANN (laughing and talking outside). Here you are, Katrine, another visitor for you! Isn’t this a treat? Come in, Captain Horster, please do – just hang your coat up there, on that peg. Oh, you’re not wearing an overcoat, I see. Would you believe it, Katrine, I ran into him in the street, and had the devil of a job persuading him to come.

CAPTAIN HORSTER enters, and greets MRS STOCKMANN.

(In the doorway.) In you go, my lads. They’re absolutely starving. Now, come along, Captain Horster – you must have a nice bit of roast beef…

He propels HORSTER towards the dining room, and the boys, EILIF and MORTEN, follow him in.

MRS STOCKMANN. But, Tomas – don’t you see…?

DR STOCKMANN (turning in the doorway). Oh, it’s you, Peter! (Goes over to shake his hand.) Well, now, this is a real treat.

MAYOR. Unfortunately, I have to be going in a minute…

DR STOCKMANN. Oh, nonsense! There’s some hot toddy coming up soon. Katrine, you haven’t forgotten the toddy, have you?

MRS STOCKMANN. Indeed, no. The water’s already boiling. (Goes into the kitchen.)

MAYOR. Toddy as well?

DR STOCKMANN. Yes, sit down, do, and we’ll enjoy it in comfort.

MAYOR. Thanks, but I don’t ...