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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2446-0.txt b/2446-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d183491 --- /dev/null +++ b/2446-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5162 @@ + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of An Enemy of the People, by Henrik Ibsen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: An Enemy of the People + +Author: Henrik Ibsen + +Translator: R. Farquharson Sharp + +Release Date: December, 2000 [EBook #2446] +Last updated: May 1, 2019 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE *** + + + +Produced by Martin Adamson. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + +AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE + + + +A play in five acts + + + +by + + + +Henrik Ibsen + + + +Translated by R. Farquharson Sharp + + +Contents + + + ACT I + ACT II + ACT III + ACT IV + ACT V + + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE + + Dr. Thomas Stockmann, Medical Officer of the Municipal Baths. + Mrs. Stockmann, his wife. + Petra (their daughter) a teacher. + Ejlif & Morten (their sons, aged 13 and 10 respectively). + Peter Stockmann (the Doctor's elder brother), Mayor of the + Town and Chief Constable, Chairman of the Baths' Committee, etc. + Morten Kiil, a tanner (Mrs. Stockmann's adoptive father). + Hovstad, editor of the "People's Messenger." + Billing, sub-editor. + Captain Horster. + Aslaksen, a printer. + +Men of various conditions and occupations, a few women, and a troop of +schoolboys—the audience at a public meeting. + +The action takes place in a coastal town in southern Norway, + +AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE + +ACT I + +(SCENE.—DR. STOCKMANN'S sitting-room. It is evening. The room is +plainly but neatly appointed and furnished. In the right-hand wall are +two doors; the farther leads out to the hall, the nearer to the +doctor's study. In the left-hand wall, opposite the door leading to the +hall, is a door leading to the other rooms occupied by the family. In +the middle of the same wall stands the stove, and, further forward, a +couch with a looking-glass hanging over it and an oval table in front +of it. On the table, a lighted lamp, with a lampshade. At the back of +the room, an open door leads to the dining-room. BILLING is seen +sitting at the dining table, on which a lamp is burning. He has a +napkin tucked under his chin, and MRS. STOCKMANN is standing by the +table handing him a large plate-full of roast beef. The other places at +the table are empty, and the table somewhat in disorder, evidently a +meal having recently been finished.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. You see, if you come an hour late, Mr. Billing, you +have to put up with cold meat. + +Billing (as he eats). It is uncommonly good, thank you—remarkably good. + +Mrs. Stockmann. My husband makes such a point of having his meals +punctually, you know. + +Billing. That doesn't affect me a bit. Indeed, I almost think I enjoy a +meal all the better when I can sit down and eat all by myself, and +undisturbed. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh well, as long as you are enjoying it—. (Turns to +the hall door, listening.) I expect that is Mr. Hovstad coming too. + +Billing. Very likely. + +(PETER STOCKMANN comes in. He wears an overcoat and his official hat, +and carries a stick.) + +Peter Stockmann. Good evening, Katherine. + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming forward into the sitting-room). Ah, good +evening—is it you? How good of you to come up and see us! + +Peter Stockmann. I happened to be passing, and so—(looks into the +dining-room). But you have company with you, I see. + +Mrs. Stockmann (a little embarrassed). Oh, no—it was quite by chance +he came in. (Hurriedly.) Won't you come in and have something, too? + +Peter Stockmann. I! No, thank you. Good gracious—hot meat at night! +Not with my digestion. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, but just once in a way— + +Peter Stockmann. No, no, my dear lady; I stick to my tea and bread and +butter. It is much more wholesome in the long run—and a little more +economical, too. + +Mrs. Stockmann (smiling). Now you mustn't think that Thomas and I are +spendthrifts. + +Peter Stockmann. Not you, my dear; I would never think that of you. +(Points to the Doctor's study.) Is he not at home? + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, he went out for a little turn after supper—he and +the boys. + +Peter Stockmann. I doubt if that is a wise thing to do. (Listens.) I +fancy I hear him coming now. + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, I don't think it is he. (A knock is heard at the +door.) Come in! (HOVSTAD comes in from the hall.) Oh, it is you, Mr. +Hovstad! + +Hovstad. Yes, I hope you will forgive me, but I was delayed at the +printers. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. + +Peter Stockmann (bowing a little distantly). Good evening. You have +come on business, no doubt. + +Hovstad. Partly. It's about an article for the paper. + +Peter Stockmann. So I imagined. I hear my brother has become a prolific +contributor to the "People's Messenger." + +Hovstad. Yes, he is good enough to write in the "People's Messenger" +when he has any home truths to tell. + +Mrs. Stockmann (to HOVSTAD). But won't you—? (Points to the +dining-room.) + +Peter Stockmann. Quite so, quite so. I don't blame him in the least, as +a writer, for addressing himself to the quarters where he will find the +readiest sympathy. And, besides that, I personally have no reason to +bear any ill will to your paper, Mr. Hovstad. + +Hovstad. I quite agree with you. + +Peter Stockmann. Taking one thing with another, there is an excellent +spirit of toleration in the town—an admirable municipal spirit. And it +all springs from the fact of our having a great common interest to +unite us—an interest that is in an equally high degree the concern of +every right-minded citizen. + +Hovstad. The Baths, yes. + +Peter Stockmann. Exactly—-our fine, new, handsome Baths. Mark my +words, Mr. Hovstad—the Baths will become the focus of our municipal +life! Not a doubt of it! + +Mrs. Stockmann. That is just what Thomas says. + +Peter Stockmann. Think how extraordinarily the place has developed +within the last year or two! Money has been flowing in, and there is +some life and some business doing in the town. Houses and landed +property are rising in value every day. + +Hovstad. And unemployment is diminishing, + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, that is another thing. The burden on the poor +rates has been lightened, to the great relief of the propertied +classes; and that relief will be even greater if only we get a really +good summer this year, and lots of visitors—plenty of invalids, who +will make the Baths talked about. + +Hovstad. And there is a good prospect of that, I hear. + +Peter Stockmann. It looks very promising. Inquiries about apartments +and that sort of thing are reaching us, every day. + +Hovstad. Well, the doctor's article will come in very suitably. + +Peter Stockmann. Has he been writing something just lately? + +Hovstad. This is something he wrote in the winter; a recommendation of +the Baths—an account of the excellent sanitary conditions here. But I +held the article over, temporarily. + +Peter Stockmann. Ah,—some little difficulty about it, I suppose? + +Hovstad. No, not at all; I thought it would be better to wait until the +spring, because it is just at this time that people begin to think +seriously about their summer quarters. + +Peter Stockmann. Quite right; you were perfectly right, Mr. Hovstad. + +Hovstad. Yes, Thomas is really indefatigable when it is a question of +the Baths. + +Peter Stockmann. Well remember, he is the Medical Officer to the Baths. + +Hovstad. Yes, and what is more, they owe their existence to him. + +Peter Stockmann. To him? Indeed! It is true I have heard from time to +time that some people are of that opinion. At the same time I must say +I imagined that I took a modest part in the enterprise. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is what Thomas is always saying. + +Hovstad. But who denies it, Mr. Stockmann? You set the thing going and +made a practical concern of it; we all know that. I only meant that the +idea of it came first from the doctor. + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, ideas yes! My brother has had plenty of them in +his time—unfortunately. But when it is a question of putting an idea +into practical shape, you have to apply to a man of different mettle, +Mr. Hovstad. And I certainly should have thought that in this house at +least... + +Mrs. Stockmann. My dear Peter— + +Hovstad. How can you think that—? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Won't you go in and have something, Mr. Hovstad? My +husband is sure to be back directly. + +Hovstad. Thank you, perhaps just a morsel. (Goes into the dining-room.) + +Peter Stockmann (lowering his voice a little). It is a curious thing +that these farmers' sons never seem to lose their want of tact. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Surely it is not worth bothering about! Cannot you and +Thomas share the credit as brothers? + +Peter Stockmann. I should have thought so; but apparently some people +are not satisfied with a share. + +Mrs. Stockmann. What nonsense! You and Thomas get on so capitally +together. (Listens.) There he is at last, I think. (Goes out and opens +the door leading to the hall.) + +Dr. Stockmann (laughing and talking outside). Look here—here is +another guest for you, Katherine. Isn't that jolly! Come in, Captain +Horster; hang your coat up on this peg. Ah, you don't wear an overcoat. +Just think, Katherine; I met him in the street and could hardly +persuade him to come up! (CAPTAIN HORSTER comes into the room and +greets MRS. STOCKMANN. He is followed by DR. STOCKMANN.) Come along in, +boys. They are ravenously hungry again, you know. Come along, Captain +Horster; you must have a slice of beef. (Pushes HORSTER into the +dining-room. EJLIF and MORTEN go in after them.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas, don't you see—? + +Dr. Stockmann (turning in the doorway). Oh, is it you, Peter? (Shakes +hands with him.) Now that is very delightful. + +Peter Stockmann. Unfortunately I must go in a moment— + +Dr. Stockmann. Rubbish! There is some toddy just coming in. You haven't +forgotten the toddy, Katherine? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Of course not; the water is boiling now. (Goes into the +dining-room.) + +Peter Stockmann. Toddy too! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, sit down and we will have it comfortably. + +Peter Stockmann. Thanks, I never care about an evening's drinking. + +Dr. Stockmann. But this isn't an evening's drinking. + +Peter Stockmann. It seems to me—. (Looks towards the dining-room.) It +is extraordinary how they can put away all that food. + +Dr. Stockmann (rubbing his hands). Yes, isn't it splendid to see young +people eat? They have always got an appetite, you know! That's as it +should be. Lots of food—to build up their strength! They are the +people who are going to stir up the fermenting forces of the future, +Peter. + +Peter Stockmann. May I ask what they will find here to "stir up," as +you put it? + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, you must ask the young people that—when the times +comes. We shan't be able to see it, of course. That stands to +reason—two old fogies, like us. + +Peter Stockmann. Really, really! I must say that is an extremely odd +expression to— + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, you mustn't take me too literally, Peter. I am so +heartily happy and contented, you know. I think it is such an +extraordinary piece of good fortune to be in the middle of all this +growing, germinating life. It is a splendid time to live in! It is as +if a whole new world were being created around one. + +Peter Stockmann. Do you really think so? + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, naturally you can't appreciate it as keenly as I. +You have lived all your life in these surroundings, and your +impressions have been blunted. But I, who have been buried all these +years in my little corner up north, almost without ever seeing a +stranger who might bring new ideas with him—well, in my case it has +just the same effect as if I had been transported into the middle of a +crowded city. + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, a city—! + +Dr. Stockmann. I know, I know; it is all cramped enough here, compared +with many other places. But there is life here—there is promise—there +are innumerable things to work for and fight for; and that is the main +thing. (Calls.) Katherine, hasn't the postman been here? + +Mrs. Stockmann (from the dining-room). No. + +Dr. Stockmann. And then to be comfortably off, Peter! That is something +one learns to value, when one has been on the brink of starvation, as +we have. + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, surely— + +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed I can assure you we have often been very hard put +to it, up there. And now to be able to live like a lord! Today, for +instance, we had roast beef for dinner—and, what is more, for supper +too. Won't you come and have a little bit? Or let me show it you, at +any rate? Come here— + +Peter Stockmann. No, no—not for worlds! + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, but just come here then. Do you see, we have got a +table-cover? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, I noticed it. + +Dr. Stockmann. And we have got a lamp-shade too. Do you see? All out of +Katherine's savings! It makes the room so cosy. Don't you think so? +Just stand here for a moment—no, no, not there—just here, that's it! +Look now, when you get the light on it altogether. I really think it +looks very nice, doesn't it? + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, if you can afford luxuries of this kind— + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, I can afford it now. Katherine tells me I earn +almost as much as we spend. + +Peter Stockmann. Almost—yes! + +Dr. Stockmann. But a scientific man must live in a little bit of style. +I am quite sure an ordinary civil servant spends more in a year than I +do. + +Peter Stockmann. I daresay. A civil servant—a man in a well-paid +position... + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, any ordinary merchant, then! A man in that +position spends two or three times as much as— + +Peter Stockmann. It just depends on circumstances. + +Dr. Stockmann. At all events I assure you I don't waste money +unprofitably. But I can't find it in my heart to deny myself the +pleasure of entertaining my friends. I need that sort of thing, you +know. I have lived for so long shut out of it all, that it is a +necessity of life to me to mix with young, eager, ambitious men, men of +liberal and active minds; and that describes every one of those fellows +who are enjoying their supper in there. I wish you knew more of Hovstad. + +Peter Stockmann. By the way, Hovstad was telling me he was going to +print another article of yours. + +Dr. Stockmann. An article of mine? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, about the Baths. An article you wrote in the +winter. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, that one! No, I don't intend that to appear just for +the present. + +Peter Stockmann. Why not? It seems to me that this would be the most +opportune moment. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, very likely—under normal conditions. (Crosses the +room.) + +Peter Stockmann (following him with his eyes). Is there anything +abnormal about the present conditions? + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still). To tell you the truth, Peter, I can't +say just at this moment—at all events not tonight. There may be much +that is very abnormal about the present conditions—and it is possible +there may be nothing abnormal about them at all. It is quite possible +it may be merely my imagination. + +Peter Stockmann. I must say it all sounds most mysterious. Is there +something going on that I am to be kept in ignorance of? I should have +imagined that I, as Chairman of the governing body of the Baths— + +Dr. Stockmann. And I should have imagined that I—. Oh, come, don't let +us fly out at one another, Peter. + +Peter Stockmann. Heaven forbid! I am not in the habit of flying out at +people, as you call it. But I am entitled to request most emphatically +that all arrangements shall be made in a businesslike manner, through +the proper channels, and shall be dealt with by the legally constituted +authorities. I can allow no going behind our backs by any roundabout +means. + +Dr. Stockmann. Have I ever at any time tried to go behind your backs? + +Peter Stockmann. You have an ingrained tendency to take your own way, +at all events; and, that is almost equally inadmissible in a well +ordered community. The individual ought undoubtedly to acquiesce in +subordinating himself to the community—or, to speak more accurately, +to the authorities who have the care of the community's welfare. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very likely. But what the deuce has all this got to do +with me? + +Peter Stockmann. That is exactly what you never appear to be willing to +learn, my dear Thomas. But, mark my words, some day you will have to +suffer for it—sooner or later. Now I have told you. Good-bye. + +Dr. Stockmann. Have you taken leave of your senses? You are on the +wrong scent altogether. + +Peter Stockmann. I am not usually that. You must excuse me now if I— +(calls into the dining-room). Good night, Katherine. Good night, +gentlemen. (Goes out.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming from the dining-room). Has he gone? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and in such a bad temper. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, what have you been doing to him again? + +Dr. Stockmann. Nothing at all. And, anyhow, he can't oblige me to make +my report before the proper time. + +Mrs. Stockmann. What have you got to make a report to him about? + +Dr. Stockmann. Hm! Leave that to me, Katherine. It is an extraordinary +thing that the postman doesn't come. + +(HOVSTAD, BILLING and HORSTER have got up from the table and come into +the sitting-room. EJLIF and MORTEN come in after them.) + +Billing (stretching himself). Ah!—one feels a new man after a meal +like that. + +Hovstad. The mayor wasn't in a very sweet temper tonight, then. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is his stomach; he has wretched digestion. + +Hovstad. I rather think it was us two of the "People's Messenger" that +he couldn't digest. + +Mrs. Stockmann. I thought you came out of it pretty well with him. + +Hovstad. Oh yes; but it isn't anything more than a sort of truce. + +Billing. That is just what it is! That word sums up the situation. + +Dr. Stockmann. We must remember that Peter is a lonely man, poor chap. +He has no home comforts of any kind; nothing but everlasting business. +And all that infernal weak tea wash that he pours into himself! Now +then, my boys, bring chairs up to the table. Aren't we going to have +that toddy, Katherine? + +Mrs. Stockmann (going into the dining-room). I am just getting it. + +Dr. Stockmann. Sit down here on the couch beside me, Captain Horster. +We so seldom see you. Please sit down, my friends. (They sit down at +the table. MRS. STOCKMANN brings a tray, with a spirit-lamp, glasses, +bottles, etc., upon it.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. There you are! This is arrack, and this is rum, and +this one is the brandy. Now every one must help themselves. + +Dr. Stockmann (taking a glass). We will. (They all mix themselves some +toddy.) And let us have the cigars. Ejlif, you know where the box is. +And you, Morten, can fetch my pipe. (The two boys go into the room on +the right.) I have a suspicion that Ejlif pockets a cigar now and +then!—but I take no notice of it. (Calls out.) And my smoking-cap too, +Morten. Katherine, you can tell him where I left it. Ah, he has got it. +(The boys bring the various things.) Now, my friends. I stick to my +pipe, you know. This one has seen plenty of bad weather with me up +north. (Touches glasses with them.) Your good health! Ah, it is good to +be sitting snug and warm here. + +Mrs. Stockmann (who sits knitting). Do you sail soon, Captain Horster? + +Horster. I expect to be ready to sail next week. + +Mrs. Stockmann. I suppose you are going to America? + +Horster. Yes, that is the plan. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Then you won't be able to take part in the coming +election? + +Horster. Is there going to be an election? + +Billing. Didn't you know? + +Horster. No, I don't mix myself up with those things. + +Billing. But do you not take an interest in public affairs? + +Horster. No, I don't know anything about politics. + +Billing. All the same, one ought to vote, at any rate. + +Horster. Even if one doesn't know anything about what is going on? + +Billing. Doesn't know! What do you mean by that? A community is like a +ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm. + +Horster. Maybe that is all very well on shore; but on board ship it +wouldn't work. + +Hovstad. It is astonishing how little most sailors care about what goes +on on shore. + +Billing. Very extraordinary. + +Dr. Stockmann. Sailors are like birds of passage; they feel equally at +home in any latitude. And that is only an additional reason for our +being all the more keen, Hovstad. Is there to be anything of public +interest in tomorrow's "Messenger"? + +Hovstad. Nothing about municipal affairs. But the day after tomorrow I +was thinking of printing your article— + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, devil take it—my article! Look here, that must wait +a bit. + +Hovstad. Really? We had just got convenient space for it, and I thought +it was just the opportune moment— + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes, very likely you are right; but it must wait +all the same. I will explain to you later. (PETRA comes in from the +hall, in hat and cloak and with a bundle of exercise books under her +arm.) + +Petra. Good evening. + +Dr. Stockmann. Good evening, Petra; come along. + +(Mutual greetings; PETRA takes off her things and puts them down on a +chair by the door.) + +Petra. And you have all been sitting here enjoying yourselves, while I +have been out slaving! + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, come and enjoy yourself too! + +Billing. May I mix a glass for you? + +Petra (coming to the table). Thanks, I would rather do it; you always +mix it too strong. But I forgot, father—I have a letter for you. (Goes +to the chair where she has laid her things.) + +Dr. Stockmann. A letter? From whom? + +Petra (looking in her coat pocket). The postman gave it to me just as I +was going out. + +Dr. Stockmann (getting up and going to her). And you only give to me +now! + +Petra. I really had not time to run up again. There it is! + +Dr. Stockmann (seizing the letter). Let's see, let's see, child! (Looks +at the address.) Yes, that's all right! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Is it the one you have been expecting go anxiously, +Thomas? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, it is. I must go to my room now and— Where shall I +get a light, Katherine? Is there no lamp in my room again? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, your lamp is already lit on your desk. + +Dr. Stockmann. Good, good. Excuse me for a moment—, (Goes into his +study.) + +Petra. What do you suppose it is, mother? + +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know; for the last day or two he has always +been asking if the postman has not been. + +Billing. Probably some country patient. + +Petra. Poor old dad!—he will overwork himself soon. (Mixes a glass for +herself.) There, that will taste good! + +Hovstad. Have you been teaching in the evening school again today? + +Petra (sipping from her glass). Two hours. + +Billing. And four hours of school in the morning? + +Petra. Five hours. + +Mrs. Stockmann. And you have still got exercises to correct, I see. + +Petra. A whole heap, yes. + +Horster. You are pretty full up with work too, it seems to me. + +Petra. Yes—but that is good. One is so delightfully tired after it. + +Billing. Do you like that? + +Petra. Yes, because one sleeps so well then. + +Morten. You must be dreadfully wicked, Petra. + +Petra. Wicked? + +Morten. Yes, because you work so much. Mr. Rorlund says work is a +punishment for our sins. + +Ejlif. Pooh, what a duffer, you are, to believe a thing like that! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Come, come, Ejlif! + +Billing (laughing). That's capital! + +Hovstad. Don't you want to work as hard as that, Morten? + +Morten. No, indeed I don't. + +Hovstad. What do you want to be, then? + +Morten. I should like best to be a Viking, + +Ejlif. You would have to be a pagan then. + +Morten. Well, I could become a pagan, couldn't I? + +Billing. I agree with you, Morten! My sentiments, exactly. + +Mrs. Stockmann (signalling to him). I am sure that is not true, Mr. +Billing. + +Billing. Yes, I swear it is! I am a pagan, and I am proud of it. +Believe me, before long we shall all be pagans. + +Morten. And then shall be allowed to do anything we like? + +Billing. Well, you'll see, Morten. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You must go to your room now, boys; I am sure you have +some lessons to learn for tomorrow. + +Ejlif. I should like so much to stay a little longer— + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, no; away you go, both of you, (The boys say good +night and go into the room on the left.) + +Hovstad. Do you really think it can do the boys any harm to hear such +things? + +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know; but I don't like it. + +Petra. But you know, mother, I think you really are wrong about it. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Maybe, but I don't like it—not in our own home. + +Petra. There is so much falsehood both at home and at school. At home +one must not speak, and at school we have to stand and tell lies to the +children. + +Horster. Tell lies? + +Petra. Yes, don't you suppose we have to teach them all sorts of things +that we don't believe? + +Billing. That is perfectly true. + +Petra. If only I had the means, I would start a school of my own; and +it would be conducted on very different lines. + +Billing. Oh, bother the means—! + +Horster. Well if you are thinking of that, Miss Stockmann, I shall be +delighted to provide you with a schoolroom. The great big old house my +father left me is standing almost empty; there is an immense +dining-room downstairs— + +Petra (laughing). Thank you very much; but I am afraid nothing will +come of it. + +Hovstad. No, Miss Petra is much more likely to take to journalism, I +expect. By the way, have you had time to do anything with that English +story you promised to translate for us? + +Petra. No, not yet, but you shall have it in good time. + +(DR. STOCKMANN comes in from his room with an open letter in his hand.) + +Dr. Stockmann (waving the letter). Well, now the town will have +something new to talk about, I can tell you! + +Billing. Something new? + +Mrs. Stockmann. What is this? + +Dr. Stockmann. A great discovery, Katherine. + +Hovstad. Really? + +Mrs. Stockmann. A discovery of yours? + +Dr. Stockmann. A discovery of mine. (Walks up and down.) Just let them +come saying, as usual, that it is all fancy and a crazy man's +imagination! But they will be careful what they say this time, I can +tell you! + +Petra. But, father, tell us what it is. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes—only give me time, and you shall know all +about it. If only I had Peter here now! It just shows how we men can go +about forming our judgments, when in reality we are as blind as any +moles— + +Hovstad. What are you driving at, Doctor? + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still by the table). Isn't it the universal +opinion that our town is a healthy spot? + +Hovstad. Certainly. + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite an unusually healthy spot, in fact—a place that +deserves to be recommended in the warmest possible manner either for +invalids or for people who are well— + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, but my dear Thomas— + +Dr. Stockmann. And we have been recommending it and praising it—I have +written and written, both in the "Messenger" and in pamphlets... + +Hovstad. Well, what then? + +Dr. Stockmann. And the Baths—we have called them the "main artery of +the town's life-blood," the "nerve-centre of our town," and the devil +knows what else— + +Billing. "The town's pulsating heart" was the expression I once used on +an important occasion. + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so. Well, do you know what they really are, these +great, splendid, much praised Baths, that have cost so much money—do +you know what they are? + +Hovstad. No, what are they? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, what are they? + +Dr. Stockmann. The whole place is a pest-house! + +Petra. The Baths, father? + +Mrs. Stockmann (at the same time), Our Baths? + +Hovstad. But, Doctor— + +Billing. Absolutely incredible! + +Dr. Stockmann. The whole Bath establishment is a whited, poisoned +sepulchre, I tell you—the gravest possible danger to the public +health! All the nastiness up at Molledal, all that stinking filth, is +infecting the water in the conduit-pipes leading to the reservoir; and +the same cursed, filthy poison oozes out on the shore too— + +Horster. Where the bathing-place is? + +Dr. Stockmann. Just there. + +Hovstad. How do you come to be so certain of all this, Doctor? + +Dr. Stockmann. I have investigated the matter most conscientiously. For +a long time past I have suspected something of the kind. Last year we +had some very strange cases of illness among the visitors—typhoid +cases, and cases of gastric fever— + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is quite true. + +Dr. Stockmann. At the time, we supposed the visitors had been infected +before they came; but later on, in the winter, I began to have a +different opinion; and so I set myself to examine the water, as well as +I could. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Then that is what you have been so busy with? + +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed I have been busy, Katherine. But here I had none +of the necessary scientific apparatus; so I sent samples, both of the +drinking-water and of the sea-water, up to the University, to have an +accurate analysis made by a chemist. + +Hovstad. And have you got that? + +Dr. Stockmann (showing him the letter). Here it is! It proves the +presence of decomposing organic matter in the water—it is full of +infusoria. The water is absolutely dangerous to use, either internally +or externally. + +Mrs. Stockmann. What a mercy you discovered it in time. + +Dr. Stockmann. You may well say so. + +Hovstad. And what do you propose to do now, Doctor? + +Dr. Stockmann. To see the matter put right, naturally. + +Hovstad. Can that be done? + +Dr. Stockmann. It must be done. Otherwise the Baths will be absolutely +useless and wasted. But we need not anticipate that; I have a very +clear idea what we shall have to do. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But why have you kept this all so secret, dear? + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you suppose I was going to run about the town +gossiping about it, before I had absolute proof? No, thank you. I am +not such a fool. + +Petra. Still, you might have told us— + +Dr. Stockmann. Not a living soul. But tomorrow you may run around to +the old Badger— + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, Thomas! Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, to your grandfather, then. The old boy will have +something to be astonished at! I know he thinks I am cracked—and there +are lots of other people who think so too, I have noticed. But now +these good folks shall see—they shall just see! (Walks about, rubbing +his hands.) There will be a nice upset in the town, Katherine; you +can't imagine what it will be. All the conduit-pipes will have to be +relaid. + +Hovstad (getting up). All the conduit-pipes—? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, of course. The intake is too low down; it will have +to be lifted to a position much higher up. + +Petra. Then you were right after all. + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, you remember, Petra—I wrote opposing the plans +before the work was begun. But at that time no one would listen to me. +Well, I am going to let them have it now. Of course I have prepared a +report for the Baths Committee; I have had it ready for a week, and was +only waiting for this to come. (Shows the letter.) Now it shall go off +at once. (Goes into his room and comes back with some papers.) Look at +that! Four closely written sheets!—and the letter shall go with them. +Give me a bit of paper, Katherine—something to wrap them up in. That +will do! Now give it to-to-(stamps his foot)—what the deuce is her +name?—give it to the maid, and tell her to take it at once to the +Mayor. + +(Mrs. Stockmann takes the packet and goes out through the dining-room.) + +Petra. What do you think Uncle Peter will say, father? + +Dr. Stockmann. What is there for him to say? I should think he would be +very glad that such an important truth has been brought to light. + +Hovstad. Will you let me print a short note about your discovery in the +"Messenger?" + +Dr. Stockmann. I shall be very much obliged if you will. + +Hovstad. It is very desirable that the public should be informed of it +without delay. + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly. + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming back). She has just gone with it. + +Billing. Upon my soul, Doctor, you are going to be the foremost man in +the town! + + Dr. Stockmann (walking about happily). Nonsense! As a matter of +fact I have done nothing more than my duty. I have only made a lucky +find—that's all. Still, all the same... + +Billing. Hovstad, don't you think the town ought to give Dr. Stockmann +some sort of testimonial? + +Hovstad. I will suggest it, anyway. + +Billing. And I will speak to Aslaksen about it. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, my good friends, don't let us have any of that +nonsense. I won't hear anything of the kind. And if the Baths Committee +should think of voting me an increase of salary, I will not accept it. +Do you hear, Katherine?—I won't accept it. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You are quite right, Thomas. + +Petra (lifting her glass). Your health, father! + +Hovstad and Billing. Your health, Doctor! Good health! + +Horster (touches glasses with DR. STOCKMANN). I hope it will bring you +nothing but good luck. + +Dr. Stockmann. Thank you, thank you, my dear fellows! I feel +tremendously happy! It is a splendid thing for a man to be able to feel +that he has done a service to his native town and to his +fellow-citizens. Hurrah, Katherine! (He puts his arms round her and +whirls her round and round, while she protests with laughing cries. +They all laugh, clap their hands, and cheer the DOCTOR. The boys put +their heads in at the door to see what is going on.) + + +ACT II + +(SCENE.—The same. The door into the dining room is shut. It is +morning. MRS. STOCKMANN, with a sealed letter in her hand, comes in +from the dining room, goes to the door of the DOCTOR'S study, and peeps +in.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. Are you in, Thomas? + +Dr. Stockmann (from within his room). Yes, I have just come in. (Comes +into the room.) What is it? + +Mrs. Stockmann. A letter from your brother. + +Dr. Stockmann. Aha, let us see! (Opens the letter and reads:) "I return +herewith the manuscript you sent me" (reads on in a low murmur) H'm!— + +Mrs. Stockmann. What does he say? + +Dr. Stockmann (putting the papers in his pocket). Oh, he only writes +that he will come up here himself about midday. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, try and remember to be at home this time. + +Dr. Stockmann. That will be all right; I have got through all my +morning visits. + +Mrs. Stockmann. I am extremely curious to know how he takes it. + +Dr. Stockmann. You will see he won't like it's having been I, and not +he, that made the discovery. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Aren't you a little nervous about that? + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, he really will be pleased enough, you know. But, at +the same time, Peter is so confoundedly afraid of anyone's doing any +service to the town except himself. + +Mrs. Stockmann. I will tell you what, Thomas—you should be good +natured, and share the credit of this with him. Couldn't you make out +that it was he who set you on the scent of this discovery? + +Dr. Stockmann. I am quite willing. If only I can get the thing set +right. I— + +(MORTEN KIIL puts his head in through the door leading from the hall, +looks around in an enquiring manner, and chuckles.) + +Morten Kiil (slyly). Is it—is it true? + +Mrs. Stockmann (going to the door). Father!—is it you? + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, Mr. Kiil—good morning, good morning! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But come along in. + +Morten Kiil. If it is true, I will; if not, I am off. + +Dr. Stockmann. If what is true? + +Morten Kiil. This tale about the water supply, is it true? + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly it is true, but how did you come to hear it? + +Morten Kiil (coming in). Petra ran in on her way to the school— + +Dr. Stockmann. Did she? + +Morten Kiil. Yes; and she declares that—I thought she was only making +a fool of me—but it isn't like Petra to do that. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course not. How could you imagine such a thing! + +Morten Kiil. Oh well, it is better never to trust anybody; you may find +you have been made a fool of before you know where you are. But it is +really true, all the same? + +Dr. Stockmann. You can depend upon it that it is true. Won't you sit +down? (Settles him on the couch.) Isn't it a real bit of luck for the +town— + +Morten Kiil (suppressing his laughter). A bit of luck for the town? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that I made the discovery in good time. + +Morten Kiil (as before). Yes, yes. Yes!—But I should never have +thought you the sort of man to pull your own brother's leg like this! + +Dr. Stockmann. Pull his leg! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Really, father dear— + +Morten Kiil (resting his hands and his chin on the handle of his stick +and winking slyly at the DOCTOR). Let me see, what was the story? Some +kind of beast that had got into the water-pipes, wasn't it? + +Dr. Stockmann. Infusoria—yes. + +Morten Kiil. And a lot of these beasts had got in, according to +Petra—a tremendous lot. + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly; hundreds of thousands of them, probably. + +Morten Kiil. But no one can see them—isn't that so? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes; you can't see them, + +Morten Kiil (with a quiet chuckle). Damn—it's the finest story I have +ever heard! + +Dr. Stockmann. What do you mean? + +Morten Kiil. But you will never get the Mayor to believe a thing like +that. + +Dr. Stockmann. We shall see. + +Morten Kiil. Do you think he will be fool enough to—? + +Dr. Stockmann. I hope the whole town will be fools enough. + +Morten Kiil. The whole town! Well, it wouldn't be a bad thing. It would +just serve them right, and teach them a lesson. They think themselves +so much cleverer than we old fellows. They hounded me out of the +council; they did, I tell you—they hounded me out. Now they shall pay +for it. You pull their legs too, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. Really, I— + +Morten Kiil. You pull their legs! (Gets up.) If you can work it so that +the Mayor and his friends all swallow the same bait, I will give ten +pounds to a charity—like a shot! + +Dr. Stockmann. That is very kind of you. + +Morten Kiil. Yes, I haven't got much money to throw away, I can tell +you; but, if you can work this, I will give five pounds to a charity at +Christmas. + +(HOVSTAD comes in by the hall door.) + +Hovstad. Good morning! (Stops.) Oh, I beg your pardon + +Dr. Stockmann. Not at all; come in. + +Morten Kiil (with another chuckle). Oho!—is he in this too? + +Hovstad. What do you mean? + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly he is. + +Morten Kiil. I might have known it! It must get into the papers. You +know how to do it, Thomas! Set your wits to work. Now I must go. + +Dr. Stockmann. Won't you stay a little while? + +Morten Kiil. No, I must be off now. You keep up this game for all it is +worth; you won't repent it, I'm damned if you will! + +(He goes out; MRS. STOCKMANN follows him into the hall.) + +Dr. Stockmann (laughing). Just imagine—the old chap doesn't believe a +word of all this about the water supply. + +Hovstad. Oh that was it, then? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that was what we were talking about. Perhaps it is +the same thing that brings you here? + +Hovstad. Yes, it is, Can you spare me a few minutes, Doctor? + +Dr. Stockmann. As long as you like, my dear fellow. + +Hovstad. Have you heard from the Mayor yet? + +Dr. Stockmann. Not yet. He is coming here later. + +Hovstad. I have given the matter a great deal of thought since last +night. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well? + +Hovstad. From your point of view, as a doctor and a man of science, +this affair of the water supply is an isolated matter. I mean, you do +not realise that it involves a great many other things. + +Dr. Stockmann. How do you mean?—Let us sit down, my dear fellow. No, +sit here on the couch. (HOVSTAD Sits down on the couch, DR. STOCKMANN +On a chair on the other side of the table.) Now then. You mean that—? + +Hovstad. You said yesterday that the pollution of the water was due to +impurities in the soil. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, unquestionably it is due to that poisonous morass +up at Molledal. + +Hovstad. Begging your pardon, Doctor, I fancy it is due to quite +another morass altogether. + +Dr. Stockmann. What morass? + +Hovstad. The morass that the whole life of our town is built on and is +rotting in. + +Dr. Stockmann. What the deuce are you driving at, Hovstad? + +Hovstad. The whole of the town's interests have, little by little, got +into the hands of a pack of officials. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, come!—they are not all officials. + +Hovstad. No, but those that are not officials are at any rate the +officials' friends and adherents; it is the wealthy folk, the old +families in the town, that have got us entirely in their hands. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, but after all they are men of ability and knowledge. + +Hovstad. Did they show any ability or knowledge when they laid the +conduit pipes where they are now? + +Dr. Stockmann. No, of course that was a great piece of stupidity on +their part. But that is going to be set right now. + +Hovstad. Do you think that will be all such plain sailing? + +Dr. Stockmann. Plain sailing or no, it has got to be done, anyway. + +Hovstad. Yes, provided the press takes up the question. + +Dr. Stockmann. I don't think that will be necessary, my dear fellow, I +am certain my brother— + +Hovstad. Excuse me, doctor; I feel bound to tell you I am inclined to +take the matter up. + +Dr. Stockmann. In the paper? + +Hovstad. Yes. When I took over the "People's Messenger" my idea was to +break up this ring of self-opinionated old fossils who had got hold of +all the influence. + +Dr. Stockmann. But you know you told me yourself what the result had +been; you nearly ruined your paper. + +Hovstad. Yes, at the time we were obliged to climb down a peg or two, +it is quite true—because there was a danger of the whole project of +the Baths coming to nothing if they failed us. But now the scheme has +been carried through, and we can dispense with these grand gentlemen. + +Dr. Stockmann. Dispense with them, yes; but, we owe them a great debt +of gratitude. + +Hovstad. That shall be recognised ungrudgingly, But a journalist of my +democratic tendencies cannot let such an opportunity as this slip. The +bubble of official infallibility must be pricked. This superstition +must be destroyed, like any other. + +Dr. Stockmann. I am whole-heartedly with you in that, Mr. Hovstad; if +it is a superstition, away with it! + +Hovstad. I should be very reluctant to bring the Mayor into it, because +he is your brother. But I am sure you will agree with me that truth +should be the first consideration. + +Dr. Stockmann. That goes without saying. (With sudden emphasis.) Yes, +but—but— + +Hovstad. You must not misjudge me. I am neither more self-interested +nor more ambitious than most men. + +Dr. Stockmann. My dear fellow—who suggests anything of the kind? + +Hovstad. I am of humble origin, as you know; and that has given me +opportunities of knowing what is the most crying need in the humbler +ranks of life. It is that they should be allowed some part in the +direction of public affairs, Doctor. That is what will develop their +faculties and intelligence and self respect— + +Dr. Stockmann. I quite appreciate that. + +Hovstad. Yes—and in my opinion a journalist incurs a heavy +responsibility if he neglects a favourable opportunity of emancipating +the masses—the humble and oppressed. I know well enough that in +exalted circles I shall be called an agitator, and all that sort of +thing; but they may call what they like. If only my conscience doesn't +reproach me, then— + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite right! Quite right, Mr. Hovstad. But all the +same—devil take it! (A knock is heard at the door.) Come in! + +(ASLAKSEN appears at the door. He is poorly but decently dressed, in +black, with a slightly crumpled white neckcloth; he wears gloves and +has a felt hat in his hand.) + +Aslaksen (bowing). Excuse my taking the liberty, Doctor— + +Dr. Stockmann (getting up). Ah, it is you, Aslaksen! + +Aslaksen. Yes, Doctor. + +Hovstad (standing up). Is it me you want, Aslaksen? + +Aslaksen. No; I didn't know I should find you here. No, it was the +Doctor I— + +Dr. Stockmann. I am quite at your service. What is it? + +Aslaksen. Is what I heard from Mr. Billing true, sir—that you mean to +improve our water supply? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, for the Baths. + +Aslaksen. Quite so, I understand. Well, I have come to say that I will +back that up by every means in my power. + +Hovstad (to the DOCTOR). You see! + +Dr. Stockmann. I shall be very grateful to you, but— + +Aslaksen. Because it may be no bad thing to have us small tradesmen at +your back. We form, as it were, a compact majority in the town—if we +choose. And it is always a good thing to have the majority with you, +Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. That is undeniably true; but I confess I don't see why +such unusual precautions should be necessary in this case. It seems to +me that such a plain, straightforward thing— + +Aslaksen. Oh, it may be very desirable, all the same. I know our local +authorities so well; officials are not generally very ready to act on +proposals that come from other people. That is why I think it would not +be at all amiss if we made a little demonstration. + +Hovstad. That's right. + +Dr. Stockmann. Demonstration, did you say? What on earth are you going +to make a demonstration about? + +Aslaksen. We shall proceed with the greatest moderation, Doctor. +Moderation is always my aim; it is the greatest virtue in a citizen—at +least, I think so. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is well known to be a characteristic of yours, Mr. +Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. Yes, I think I may pride myself on that. And this matter of +the water supply is of the greatest importance to us small tradesmen. +The Baths promise to be a regular gold-mine for the town. We shall all +make our living out of them, especially those of us who are +householders. That is why we will back up the project as strongly as +possible. And as I am at present Chairman of the Householders' +Association. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes—? + +Aslaksen. And, what is more, local secretary of the Temperance +Society—you know, sir, I suppose, that I am a worker in the temperance +cause? + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course, of course. + +Aslaksen. Well, you can understand that I come into contact with a +great many people. And as I have the reputation of a temperate and +law-abiding citizen—like yourself, Doctor—I have a certain influence +in the town, a little bit of power, if I may be allowed to say so. + +Dr. Stockmann. I know that quite well, Mr. Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. So you see it would be an easy matter for me to set on foot +some testimonial, if necessary. + +Dr. Stockmann. A testimonial? + +Aslaksen. Yes, some kind of an address of thanks from the townsmen for +your share in a matter of such importance to the community. I need +scarcely say that it would have to be drawn up with the greatest regard +to moderation, so as not to offend the authorities—who, after all, +have the reins in their hands. If we pay strict attention to that, no +one can take it amiss, I should think! + +Hovstad. Well, and even supposing they didn't like it— + +Aslaksen. No, no, no; there must be no discourtesy to the authorities, +Mr. Hovstad. It is no use falling foul of those upon whom our welfare +so closely depends. I have done that in my time, and no good ever comes +of it. But no one can take exception to a reasonable and frank +expression of a citizen's views. + +Dr. Stockmann (shaking him by the hand). I can't tell you, dear Mr. +Aslaksen, how extremely pleased I am to find such hearty support among +my fellow-citizens. I am delighted—delighted! Now, you will take a +small glass of sherry, eh? + +Aslaksen. No, thank you; I never drink alcohol of that kind. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, what do you say to a glass of beer, then? + +Aslaksen. Nor that either, thank you, Doctor. I never drink anything as +early as this. I am going into town now to talk this over with one or +two householders, and prepare the ground. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is tremendously kind of you, Mr. Aslaksen; but I +really cannot understand the necessity for all these precautions. It +seems to me that the thing should go of itself. + +Aslaksen. The authorities are somewhat slow to move, Doctor. Far be it +from me to seem to blame them— + +Hovstad. We are going to stir them up in the paper tomorrow, Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. But not violently, I trust, Mr. Hovstad. Proceed with +moderation, or you will do nothing with them. You may take my advice; I +have gathered my experience in the school of life. Well, I must say +goodbye, Doctor. You know now that we small tradesmen are at your back +at all events, like a solid wall. You have the compact majority on your +side Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. I am very much obliged, dear Mr. Aslaksen, (Shakes hands +with him.) Goodbye, goodbye. + +Aslaksen. Are you going my way, towards the printing-office. Mr. +Hovstad? + +Hovstad, I will come later; I have something to settle up first. + +Aslaksen. Very well. (Bows and goes out; STOCKMANN follows him into the +hall.) + +Hovstad (as STOCKMANN comes in again). Well, what do you think of that, +Doctor? Don't you think it is high time we stirred a little life into +all this slackness and vacillation and cowardice? + +Dr. Stockmann. Are you referring to Aslaksen? + +Hovstad, Yes, I am. He is one of those who are floundering in a +bog—decent enough fellow though he may be, otherwise. And most of the +people here are in just the same case—see-sawing and edging first to +one side and then to the other, so overcome with caution and scruple +that they never dare to take any decided step. + +Dr. Stockmann, Yes, but Aslaksen seemed to me so thoroughly +well-intentioned. + +Hovstad. There is one thing I esteem higher than that; and that is for +a man to be self-reliant and sure of himself. + +Dr. Stockmann. I think you are perfectly right there. + +Hovstad. That is why I want to seize this opportunity, and try if I +cannot manage to put a little virility into these well-intentioned +people for once. The idol of Authority must be shattered in this town. +This gross and inexcusable blunder about the water supply must be +brought home to the mind of every municipal voter. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very well; if you are of opinion that it is for the good +of the community, so be it. But not until I have had a talk with my +brother. + +Hovstad. Anyway, I will get a leading article ready; and if the Mayor +refuses to take the matter up— + +Dr. Stockmann. How can you suppose such a thing possible! + +Hovstad. It is conceivable. And in that case— + +Dr. Stockmann. In that case I promise you—. Look here, in that case +you may print my report—every word of it. + +Hovstad. May I? Have I your word for it? + +Dr. Stockmann (giving him the MS.). Here it is; take it with you. It +can do no harm for you to read it through, and you can give it me back +later on. + +Hovstad. Good, good! That is what I will do. And now goodbye, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Goodbye, goodbye. You will see everything will run quite +smoothly, Mr. Hovstad—quite smoothly. + +Hovstad. Hm!—we shall see. (Bows and goes out.) + +Dr. Stockmann (opens the dining-room door and looks in). Katherine! Oh, +you are back, Petra? + +Petra (coming in). Yes, I have just come from the school. + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in). Has he not been here yet? + +Dr. Stockmann. Peter? No, but I have had a long talk with Hovstad. He +is quite excited about my discovery, I find it has a much wider bearing +than I at first imagined. And he has put his paper at my disposal if +necessity should arise. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Do you think it will? + +Dr. Stockmann. Not for a moment. But at all events it makes me feel +proud to know that I have the liberal-minded independent press on my +side. Yes, and just imagine—I have had a visit from the Chairman of +the Householders' Association! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh! What did he want? + +Dr. Stockmann. To offer me his support too. They will support me in a +body if it should be necessary. Katherine—do you know what I have got +behind me? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Behind you? No, what have you got behind you? + +Dr. Stockmann. The compact majority. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Really? Is that a good thing for you Thomas? + +Dr. Stockmann. I should think it was a good thing. (Walks up and down +rubbing his hands.) By Jove, it's a fine thing to feel this bond of +brotherhood between oneself and one's fellow citizens! + +Petra. And to be able to do so much that is good and useful, father! + +Dr. Stockmann. And for one's own native town into the bargain, my child! + +Mrs. Stockmann. That was a ring at the bell. + +Dr. Stockmann. It must be he, then. (A knock is heard at the door.) +Come in! + +Peter Stockmann (comes in from the hall). Good morning. + +Dr. Stockmann. Glad to see you, Peter! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Good morning, Peter, How are you? + +Peter Stockmann. So so, thank you. (To DR. STOCKMANN.) I received from +you yesterday, after office hours, a report dealing with the condition +of the water at the Baths. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. Have you read it? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, I have, + +Dr. Stockmann. And what have you to say to it? + +Peter Stockmann (with a sidelong glance). Hm!— + +Mrs. Stockmann. Come along, Petra. (She and PETRA go into the room on +the left.) + +Peter Stockmann (after a pause). Was it necessary to make all these +investigations behind my back? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, because until I was absolutely certain about it— + +Peter Stockmann. Then you mean that you are absolutely certain now? + +Dr. Stockmann. Surely you are convinced of that. + +Peter Stockmann. Is it your intention to bring this document before the +Baths Committee as a sort of official communication? + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly. Something must be done in the matter—and +that quickly. + +Peter Stockmann. As usual, you employ violent expressions in your +report. You say, amongst other things, that what we offer visitors in +our Baths is a permanent supply of poison. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, can you describe it any other way, Peter? Just +think—water that is poisonous, whether you drink it or bathe in it! +And this we offer to the poor sick folk who come to us trustfully and +pay us at an exorbitant rate to be made well again! + +Peter Stockmann. And your reasoning leads you to this conclusion, that +we must build a sewer to draw off the alleged impurities from Molledal +and must relay the water conduits. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. Do you see any other way out of it? I don't. + +Peter Stockmann. I made a pretext this morning to go and see the town +engineer, and, as if only half seriously, broached the subject of these +proposals as a thing we might perhaps have to take under consideration +some time later on. + +Dr. Stockmann. Some time later on! + +Peter Stockmann. He smiled at what he considered to be my extravagance, +naturally. Have you taken the trouble to consider what your proposed +alterations would cost? According to the information I obtained, the +expenses would probably mount up to fifteen or twenty thousand pounds. + +Dr. Stockmann. Would it cost so much? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes; and the worst part of it would be that the work +would take at least two years. + +Dr. Stockmann. Two years? Two whole years? + +Peter Stockmann. At least. And what are we to do with the Baths in the +meantime? Close them? Indeed we should be obliged to. And do you +suppose anyone would come near the place after it had got out that the +water was dangerous? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes but, Peter, that is what it is. + +Peter Stockmann. And all this at this juncture—just as the Baths are +beginning to be known. There are other towns in the neighbourhood with +qualifications to attract visitors for bathing purposes. Don't you +suppose they would immediately strain every nerve to divert the entire +stream of strangers to themselves? Unquestionably they would; and then +where should we be? We should probably have to abandon the whole thing, +which has cost us so much money-and then you would have ruined your +native town. + +Dr. Stockmann. I—should have ruined—! + +Peter Stockmann. It is simply and solely through the Baths that the +town has before it any future worth mentioning. You know that just as +well as I. + +Dr. Stockmann. But what do you think ought to be done, then? + +Peter Stockmann. Your report has not convinced me that the condition of +the water at the Baths is as bad as you represent it to be. + +Dr. Stockmann. I tell you it is even worse!—or at all events it will +be in summer, when the warm weather comes. + +Peter Stockmann. As I said, I believe you exaggerate the matter +considerably. A capable physician ought to know what measures to +take—he ought to be capable of preventing injurious influences or of +remedying them if they become obviously persistent. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well? What more? + +Peter Stockmann. The water supply for the Baths is now an established +fact, and in consequence must be treated as such. But probably the +Committee, at its discretion, will not be disinclined to consider the +question of how far it might be possible to introduce certain +improvements consistently with a reasonable expenditure. + +Dr. Stockmann. And do you suppose that I will have anything to do with +such a piece of trickery as that? + +Peter Stockmann. Trickery!! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, it would be a trick—a fraud, a lie, a downright +crime towards the public, towards the whole community! + +Peter Stockmann. I have not, as I remarked before, been able to +convince myself that there is actually any imminent danger. + +Dr. Stockmann. You have! It is impossible that you should not be +convinced. I know I have represented the facts absolutely truthfully +and fairly. And you know it very well, Peter, only you won't +acknowledge it. It was owing to your action that both the Baths and the +water conduits were built where they are; and that is what you won't +acknowledge—that damnable blunder of yours. Pooh!—do you suppose I +don't see through you? + +Peter Stockmann. And even if that were true? If I perhaps guard my +reputation somewhat anxiously, it is in the interests of the town. +Without moral authority I am powerless to direct public affairs as +seems, to my judgment, to be best for the common good. And on that +account—and for various other reasons too—it appears to me to be a +matter of importance that your report should not be delivered to the +Committee. In the interests of the public, you must withhold it. Then, +later on, I will raise the question and we will do our best, privately; +but nothing of this unfortunate affair not a single word of it—must +come to the ears of the public. + +Dr. Stockmann. I am afraid you will not be able to prevent that now, my +dear Peter. + +Peter Stockmann. It must and shall be prevented. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is no use, I tell you. There are too many people that +know about it. + +Peter Stockmann. That know about it? Who? Surely you don't mean those +fellows on the "People's Messenger"? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, they know. The liberal-minded independent press is +going to see that you do your duty. + +Peter Stockmann (after a short pause). You are an extraordinarily +independent man, Thomas. Have you given no thought to the consequences +this may have for yourself? + +Dr. Stockmann. Consequences?—for me? + +Peter Stockmann. For you and yours, yes. + +Dr. Stockmann. What the deuce do you mean? + +Peter Stockmann. I believe I have always behaved in a brotherly way to +you—haven't I always been ready to oblige or to help you? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, you have, and I am grateful to you for it. + +Peter Stockmann. There is no need. Indeed, to some extent I was forced +to do so—for my own sake. I always hoped that, if I helped to improve +your financial position, I should be able to keep some check on you. + +Dr. Stockmann. What! Then it was only for your own sake—! + +Peter Stockmann. Up to a certain point, yes. It is painful for a man in +an official position to have his nearest relative compromising himself +time after time. + +Dr. Stockmann. And do you consider that I do that? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, unfortunately, you do, without even being aware +of it. You have a restless, pugnacious, rebellious disposition. And +then there is that disastrous propensity of yours to want to write +about every sort of possible and impossible thing. The moment an idea +comes into your head, you must needs go and write a newspaper article +or a whole pamphlet about it. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, but is it not the duty of a citizen to let the +public share in any new ideas he may have? + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, the public doesn't require any new ideas. The +public is best served by the good, old established ideas it already has. + +Dr. Stockmann. And that is your honest opinion? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, and for once I must talk frankly to you. Hitherto +I have tried to avoid doing so, because I know how irritable you are; +but now I must tell you the truth, Thomas. You have no conception what +an amount of harm you do yourself by your impetuosity. You complain of +the authorities, you even complain of the government—you are always +pulling them to pieces; you insist that you have been neglected and +persecuted. But what else can such a cantankerous man as you expect? + +Dr. Stockmann. What next! Cantankerous, am I? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, Thomas, you are an extremely cantankerous man to +work with—I know that to my cost. You disregard everything that you +ought to have consideration for. You seem completely to forget that it +is me you have to thank for your appointment here as medical officer to +the Baths. + +Dr. Stockmann. I was entitled to it as a matter of course!—I and +nobody else! I was the first person to see that the town could be made +into a flourishing watering-place, and I was the only one who saw it at +that time. I had to fight single-handed in support of the idea for many +years; and I wrote and wrote— + +Peter Stockmann. Undoubtedly. But things were not ripe for the scheme +then—though, of course, you could not judge of that in your +out-of-the-way corner up north. But as soon as the opportune moment +came I—and the others—took the matter into our hands. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and made this mess of all my beautiful plan. It is +pretty obvious now what clever fellows you were! + +Peter Stockmann. To my mind the whole thing only seems to mean that you +are seeking another outlet for your combativeness. You want to pick a +quarrel with your superiors—an old habit of yours. You cannot put up +with any authority over you. You look askance at anyone who occupies a +superior official position; you regard him as a personal enemy, and +then any stick is good enough to beat him with. But now I have called +your attention to the fact that the town's interests are at stake—and, +incidentally, my own too. And therefore, I must tell you, Thomas, that +you will find me inexorable with regard to what I am about to require +you to do. + +Dr. Stockmann. And what is that? + +Peter Stockmann. As you have been so indiscreet as to speak of this +delicate matter to outsiders, despite the fact that you ought to have +treated it as entirely official and confidential, it is obviously +impossible to hush it up now. All sorts of rumours will get about +directly, and everybody who has a grudge against us will take care to +embellish these rumours. So it will be necessary for you to refute them +publicly. + +Dr. Stockmann. I! How? I don't understand. + +Peter Stockmann. What we shall expect is that, after making further +investigations, you will come to the conclusion that the matter is not +by any means as dangerous or as critical as you imagined in the first +instance. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oho!—so that is what you expect! + +Peter Stockmann. And, what is more, we shall expect you to make public +profession of your confidence in the Committee and in their readiness +to consider fully and conscientiously what steps may be necessary to +remedy any possible defects. + +Dr. Stockmann. But you will never be able to do that by patching and +tinkering at it—never! Take my word for it, Peter; I mean what I say, +as deliberately and emphatically as possible. + +Peter Stockmann. As an officer under the Committee, you have no right +to any individual opinion. + +Dr. Stockmann (amazed). No right? + +Peter Stockmann. In your official capacity, no. As a private person, it +is quite another matter. But as a subordinate member of the staff of +the Baths, you have no right to express any opinion which runs contrary +to that of your superiors. + +Dr. Stockmann. This is too much! I, a doctor, a man of science, have no +right to—! + +Peter Stockmann. The matter in hand is not simply a scientific one. It +is a complicated matter, and has its economic as well as its technical +side. + +Dr. Stockmann. I don't care what it is! I intend to be free to express +my opinion on any subject under the sun. + +Peter Stockmann. As you please—but not on any subject concerning the +Baths. That we forbid. + +Dr. Stockmann (shouting). You forbid—! You! A pack of— + +Peter Stockmann. I forbid it—I, your chief; and if I forbid it, you +have to obey. + +Dr. Stockmann (controlling himself). Peter—if you were not my brother— + +Petra (throwing open the door). Father, you shan't stand this! + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in after her). Petra, Petra! + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, so you have been eavesdropping. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You were talking so loud, we couldn't help it! + +Petra. Yes, I was listening. + +Peter Stockmann. Well, after all, I am very glad— + +Dr. Stockmann (going up to him). You were saying something about +forbidding and obeying? + +Peter Stockmann. You obliged me to take that tone with you. + +Dr. Stockmann. And so I am to give myself the lie, publicly? + +Peter Stockmann. We consider it absolutely necessary that you should +make some such public statement as I have asked for. + +Dr. Stockmann. And if I do not—obey? + +Peter Stockmann. Then we shall publish a statement ourselves to +reassure the public. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very well; but in that case I shall use my pen against +you. I stick to what I have said; I will show that I am right and that +you are wrong. And what will you do then? + +Peter Stockmann. Then I shall not be able to prevent your being +dismissed. + +Dr. Stockmann. What—? + +Petra. Father—dismissed! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Dismissed! + +Peter Stockmann. Dismissed from the staff of the Baths. I shall be +obliged to propose that you shall immediately be given notice, and +shall not be allowed any further participation in the Baths' affairs. + +Dr. Stockmann. You would dare to do that! + +Peter Stockmann. It is you that are playing the daring game. + +Petra. Uncle, that is a shameful way to treat a man like father! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Do hold your tongue, Petra! + +Peter Stockmann (looking at PETRA). Oh, so we volunteer our opinions +already, do we? Of course. (To MRS. STOCKMANN.) Katherine, I imagine +you are the most sensible person in this house. Use any influence you +may have over your husband, and make him see what this will entail for +his family as well as— + +Dr. Stockmann. My family is my own concern and nobody else's! + +Peter Stockmann. —for his own family, as I was saying, as well as for +the town he lives in. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is I who have the real good of the town at heart! I +want to lay bare the defects that sooner or later must come to the +light of day. I will show whether I love my native town. + +Peter Stockmann. You, who in your blind obstinacy want to cut off the +most important source of the town's welfare? + +Dr. Stockmann. The source is poisoned, man! Are you mad? We are making +our living by retailing filth and corruption! The whole of our +flourishing municipal life derives its sustenance from a lie! + +Peter Stockmann. All imagination—or something even worse. The man who +can throw out such offensive insinuations about his native town must be +an enemy to our community. + +Dr. Stockmann (going up to him). Do you dare to—! + +Mrs. Stockmann (throwing herself between them). Thomas! + +Petra (catching her father by the arm). Don't lose your temper, father! + +Peter Stockmann. I will not expose myself to violence. Now you have had +a warning; so reflect on what you owe to yourself and your family. +Goodbye. (Goes out.) + +Dr. Stockmann (walking up and down). Am I to put up with such treatment +as this? In my own house, Katherine! What do you think of that! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Indeed it is both shameful and absurd, Thomas— + +Petra. If only I could give uncle a piece of my mind— + +Dr. Stockmann. It is my own fault. I ought to have flown out at him +long ago!—shown my teeth!—bitten! To hear him call me an enemy to our +community! Me! I shall not take that lying down, upon my soul! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, your brother has power on his side. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, but I have right on mine, I tell you. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh yes, right—right. What is the use of having right +on your side if you have not got might? + +Petra. Oh, mother!—how can you say such a thing! + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you imagine that in a free country it is no use +having right on your side? You are absurd, Katherine. Besides, haven't +I got the liberal-minded, independent press to lead the way, and the +compact majority behind me? That is might enough, I should think! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, good heavens, Thomas, you don't mean to? + +Dr. Stockmann. Don't mean to what? + +Mrs. Stockmann. To set yourself up in opposition to your brother. + +Dr. Stockmann. In God's name, what else do you suppose I should do but +take my stand on right and truth? + +Petra. Yes, I was just going to say that. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But it won't do you any earthly good. If they won't do +it, they won't. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oho, Katherine! Just give me time, and you will see how +I will carry the war into their camp. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, you carry the war into their camp, and you get +your dismissal—that is what you will do. + +Dr. Stockmann. In any case I shall have done my duty towards the +public—towards the community, I, who am called its enemy! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But towards your family, Thomas? Towards your own home! +Do you think that is doing your duty towards those you have to provide +for? + +Petra. Ah, don't think always first of us, mother. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, it is easy for you to talk; you are able to shift +for yourself, if need be. But remember the boys, Thomas; and think a +little of yourself too, and of me— + +Dr. Stockmann. I think you are out of your senses, Katherine! If I were +to be such a miserable coward as to go on my knees to Peter and his +damned crew, do you suppose I should ever know an hour's peace of mind +all my life afterwards? + +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know anything about that; but God preserve us +from the peace of mind we shall have, all the same, if you go on +defying him! You will find yourself again without the means of +subsistence, with no income to count upon. I should think we had had +enough of that in the old days. Remember that, Thomas; think what that +means. + +Dr. Stockmann (collecting himself with a struggle and clenching his +fists). And this is what this slavery can bring upon a free, honourable +man! Isn't it horrible, Katherine? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, it is sinful to treat you so, it is perfectly +true. But, good heavens, one has to put up with so much injustice in +this world. There are the boys, Thomas! Look at them! What is to become +of them? Oh, no, no, you can never have the heart—. (EJLIF and MORTEN +have come in, while she was speaking, with their school books in their +hands.) + +Dr. Stockmann. The boys— I (Recovers himself suddenly.) No, even if +the whole world goes to pieces, I will never bow my neck to this yokel +(Goes towards his room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (following him). Thomas—what are you going to do! + +Dr. Stockmann (at his door). I mean to have the right to look my sons +in the face when they are grown men. (Goes into his room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (bursting into tears). God help us all! + +Petra. Father is splendid! He will not give in. + +(The boys look on in amazement; PETRA signs to them not to speak.) + + +ACT III + +(SCENE.—The editorial office of the "People's Messenger." The entrance +door is on the left-hand side of the back wall; on the right-hand side +is another door with glass panels through which the printing room can +be seen. Another door in the right-hand wall. In the middle of the room +is a large table covered with papers, newspapers and books. In the +foreground on the left a window, before which stands a desk and a high +stool. There are a couple of easy chairs by the table, and other chairs +standing along the wall. The room is dingy and uncomfortable; the +furniture is old, the chairs stained and torn. In the printing room the +compositors are seen at work, and a printer is working a handpress. +HOVSTAD is sitting at the desk, writing. BILLING comes in from the +right with DR. STOCKMANN'S manuscript in his hand.) + +Billing. Well, I must say! + +Hovstad (still writing). Have you read it through? + +Billing (laying the MS. on the desk). Yes, indeed I have. + +Hovstad. Don't you think the Doctor hits them pretty hard? + +Billing. Hard? Bless my soul, he's crushing! Every word falls like—how +shall I put it?—like the blow of a sledgehammer. + +Hovstad. Yes, but they are not the people to throw up the sponge at the +first blow. + +Billing. That is true; and for that reason we must strike blow upon +blow until the whole of this aristocracy tumbles to pieces. As I sat in +there reading this, I almost seemed to see a revolution in being. + +Hovstad (turning round). Hush!—Speak so that Aslaksen cannot hear you. + +Billing (lowering his voice). Aslaksen is a chicken-hearted chap, a +coward; there is nothing of the man in him. But this time you will +insist on your own way, won't you? You will put the Doctor's article in? + +Hovstad. Yes, and if the Mayor doesn't like it— + +Billing. That will be the devil of a nuisance. + +Hovstad. Well, fortunately we can turn the situation to good account, +whatever happens. If the Mayor will not fall in with the Doctor's +project, he will have all the small tradesmen down on him—the whole of +the Householders' Association and the rest of them. And if he does fall +in with it, he will fall out with the whole crowd of large shareholders +in the Baths, who up to now have been his most valuable supporters— + +Billing. Yes, because they will certainly have to fork out a pretty +penny— + +Hovstad. Yes, you may be sure they will. And in this way the ring will +be broken up, you see, and then in every issue of the paper we will +enlighten the public on the Mayor's incapability on one point and +another, and make it clear that all the positions of trust in the town, +the whole control of municipal affairs, ought to be put in the hands of +the Liberals. + +Billing. That is perfectly true! I see it coming—I see it coming; we +are on the threshold of a revolution! + +(A knock is heard at the door.) + +Hovstad. Hush! (Calls out.) Come in! (DR. STOCKMANN comes in by the +street door. HOVSTAD goes to meet him.) Ah, it is you, Doctor! Well? + +Dr. Stockmann. You may set to work and print it, Mr. Hovstad! + +Hovstad. Has it come to that, then? + +Billing. Hurrah! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, print away. Undoubtedly it has come to that. Now +they must take what they get. There is going to be a fight in the town, +Mr. Billing! + +Billing. War to the knife, I hope! We will get our knives to their +throats, Doctor! + +Dr. Stockmann. This article is only a beginning. I have already got +four or five more sketched out in my head. Where is Aslaksen? + +Billing (calls into the printing-room). Aslaksen, just come here for a +minute! + +Hovstad. Four or five more articles, did you say? On the same subject? + +Dr. Stockmann. No—far from it, my dear fellow. No, they are about +quite another matter. But they all spring from the question of the +water supply and the drainage. One thing leads to another, you know. It +is like beginning to pull down an old house, exactly. + +Billing. Upon my soul, it's true; you find you are not done till you +have pulled all the old rubbish down. + +Aslaksen (coming in). Pulled down? You are not thinking of pulling down +the Baths surely, Doctor? + +Hovstad. Far from it, don't be afraid. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, we meant something quite different. Well, what do +you think of my article, Mr. Hovstad? + +Hovstad. I think it is simply a masterpiece. + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you really think so? Well, I am very pleased, very +pleased. + +Hovstad. It is so clear and intelligible. One need have no special +knowledge to understand the bearing of it. You will have every +enlightened man on your side. + +Aslaksen. And every prudent man too, I hope? + +Billing. The prudent and the imprudent—almost the whole town. + +Aslaksen. In that case we may venture to print it. + +Dr. Stockmann. I should think so! + +Hovstad. We will put it in tomorrow morning. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course—you must not lose a single day. What I wanted +to ask you, Mr. Aslaksen, was if you would supervise the printing of it +yourself. + +Aslaksen. With pleasure. + +Dr. Stockmann. Take care of it as if it were a treasure! No +misprints—every word is important. I will look in again a little +later; perhaps you will be able to let me see a proof. I can't tell you +how eager I am to see it in print, and see it burst upon the public— + +Billing. Burst upon them—yes, like a flash of lightning! + +Dr. Stockmann. —and to have it submitted to the judgment of my +intelligent fellow townsmen. You cannot imagine what I have gone +through today. I have been threatened first with one thing and then +with another; they have tried to rob me of my most elementary rights as +a man— + +Billing. What! Your rights as a man! + +Dr. Stockmann. —they have tried to degrade me, to make a coward of me, +to force me to put personal interests before my most sacred convictions. + +Billing. That is too much—I'm damned if it isn't. + +Hovstad. Oh, you mustn't be surprised at anything from that quarter. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, they will get the worst of it with me; they may +assure themselves of that. I shall consider the "People's Messenger" my +sheet-anchor now, and every single day I will bombard them with one +article after another, like bombshells— + +Aslaksen. Yes, but + +Billing. Hurrah!—it is war, it is war! + +Dr. Stockmann. I shall smite them to the ground—I shall crush them—I +shall break down all their defenses, before the eyes of the honest +public! That is what I shall do! + +Aslaksen, Yes, but in moderation, Doctor—proceed with moderation. + +Billing. Not a bit of it, not a bit of it! Don't spare the dynamite! + +Dr. Stockmann. Because it is not merely a question of water-supply and +drains now, you know. No—it is the whole of our social life that we +have got to purify and disinfect— + +Billing. Spoken like a deliverer! + +Dr. Stockmann. All the incapables must be turned out, you +understand—and that in every walk of life! Endless vistas have opened +themselves to my mind's eye today. I cannot see it all quite clearly +yet, but I shall in time. Young and vigorous standard-bearers—those +are what we need and must seek, my friends; we must have new men in +command at all our outposts. + +Billing. Hear hear! + +Dr. Stockmann. We only need to stand by one another, and it will all be +perfectly easy. The revolution will be launched like a ship that runs +smoothly off the stocks. Don't you think so? + +Hovstad. For my part I think we have now a prospect of getting the +municipal authority into the hands where it should lie. + +Aslaksen. And if only we proceed with moderation, I cannot imagine that +there will be any risk. + +Dr. Stockmann. Who the devil cares whether there is any risk or not! +What I am doing, I am doing in the name of truth and for the sake of my +conscience. + +Hovstad. You are a man who deserves to be supported, Doctor. + +Aslaksen. Yes, there is no denying that the Doctor is a true friend to +the town—a real friend to the community, that he is. + +Billing. Take my word for it, Aslaksen, Dr. Stockmann is a friend of +the people. + +Aslaksen. I fancy the Householders' Association will make use of that +expression before long. + +Dr. Stockmann (affected, grasps their hands). Thank you, thank you, my +dear staunch friends. It is very refreshing to me to hear you say that; +my brother called me something quite different. By Jove, he shall have +it back, with interest! But now I must be off to see a poor devil—I +will come back, as I said. Keep a very careful eye on the manuscript, +Aslaksen, and don't for worlds leave out any of my notes of +exclamation! Rather put one or two more in! Capital, capital! Well, +good-bye for the present—goodbye, goodbye! (They show him to the door, +and bow him out.) + +Hovstad. He may prove an invaluably useful man to us. + +Aslaksen. Yes, so long as he confines himself to this matter of the +Baths. But if he goes farther afield, I don't think it would be +advisable to follow him. + +Hovstad. Hm!—that all depends— + +Billing. You are so infernally timid, Aslaksen! + +Aslaksen. Timid? Yes, when it is a question of the local authorities, I +am timid, Mr. Billing; it is a lesson I have learned in the school of +experience, let me tell you. But try me in higher politics, in matters +that concern the government itself, and then see if I am timid. + +Billing. No, you aren't, I admit. But this is simply contradicting +yourself. + +Aslaksen. I am a man with a conscience, and that is the whole matter. +If you attack the government, you don't do the community any harm, +anyway; those fellows pay no attention to attacks, you see—they go on +just as they are, in spite of them. But local authorities are +different; they can be turned out, and then perhaps you may get an +ignorant lot into office who may do irreparable harm to the +householders and everybody else. + +Hovstad. But what of the education of citizens by self +government—don't you attach any importance to that? + +Aslaksen. When a man has interests of his own to protect, he cannot +think of everything, Mr. Hovstad. + +Hovstad. Then I hope I shall never have interests of my own to protect! + +Billing. Hear, hear! + +Aslaksen (with a smile). Hm! (Points to the desk.) Mr. Sheriff +Stensgaard was your predecessor at that editorial desk. + +Billing (spitting). Bah! That turncoat. + +Hovstad. I am not a weathercock—and never will be. + +Aslaksen. A politician should never be too certain of anything, Mr. +Hovstad. And as for you, Mr. Billing, I should think it is time for you +to be taking in a reef or two in your sails, seeing that you are +applying for the post of secretary to the Bench. + +Billing. I—! + +Hovstad. Are you, Billing? + +Billing. Well, yes—but you must clearly understand I am only doing it +to annoy the bigwigs. + +Aslaksen. Anyhow, it is no business of mine. But if I am to be accused +of timidity and of inconsistency in my principles, this is what I want +to point out: my political past is an open book. I have never changed, +except perhaps to become a little more moderate, you see. My heart is +still with the people; but I don't deny that my reason has a certain +bias towards the authorities—the local ones, I mean. (Goes into the +printing room.) + +Billing. Oughtn't we to try and get rid of him, Hovstad? + +Hovstad. Do you know anyone else who will advance the money for our +paper and printing bill? + +Billing. It is an infernal nuisance that we don't possess some capital +to trade on. + +Hovstad (sitting down at his desk). Yes, if we only had that, then— + +Billing. Suppose you were to apply to Dr. Stockmann? + +Hovstad (turning over some papers). What is the use? He has got nothing. + +Billing. No, but he has got a warm man in the background, old Morten +Kiil—"the Badger," as they call him. + +Hovstad (writing). Are you so sure he has got anything? + +Billing. Good Lord, of course he has! And some of it must come to the +Stockmanns. Most probably he will do something for the children, at all +events. + +Hovstad (turning half round). Are you counting on that? + +Billing. Counting on it? Of course I am not counting on anything. + +Hovstad. That is right. And I should not count on the secretaryship to +the Bench either, if I were you; for I can assure you—you won't get it. + +Billing. Do you think I am not quite aware of that? My object is +precisely not to get it. A slight of that kind stimulates a man's +fighting power—it is like getting a supply of fresh bile—and I am +sure one needs that badly enough in a hole-and-corner place like this, +where it is so seldom anything happens to stir one up. + +Hovstad (writing). Quite so, quite so. + +Billing. Ah, I shall be heard of yet!—Now I shall go and write the +appeal to the Householders' Association. (Goes into the room on the +right.) + +Hovstad (sitting al his desk, biting his penholder, says slowly). +Hm!—that's it, is it. (A knock is heard.) Come in! (PETRA comes in by +the outer door. HOVSTAD gets up.) What, you!—here? + +Petra. Yes, you must forgive me— + +Hovstad (pulling a chair forward). Won't you sit down? + +Petra. No, thank you; I must go again in a moment. + +Hovstad. Have you come with a message from your father, by any chance? + +Petra. No, I have come on my own account. (Takes a book out of her coat +pocket.) Here is the English story. + +Hovstad. Why have you brought it back? + +Petra. Because I am not going to translate it. + +Hovstad. But you promised me faithfully. + +Petra. Yes, but then I had not read it, I don't suppose you have read +it either? + +Hovstad. No, you know quite well I don't understand English; but— + +Petra. Quite so. That is why I wanted to tell you that you must find +something else. (Lays the book on the table.) You can't use this for +the "People's Messenger." + +Hovstad. Why not? + +Petra. Because it conflicts with all your opinions. + +Hovstad. Oh, for that matter— + +Petra. You don't understand me. The burden of this story is that there +is a supernatural power that looks after the so-called good people in +this world and makes everything happen for the best in their +case—while all the so-called bad people are punished. + +Hovstad. Well, but that is all right. That is just what our readers +want. + +Petra. And are you going to be the one to give it to them? For myself, +I do not believe a word of it. You know quite well that things do not +happen so in reality. + +Hovstad. You are perfectly right; but an editor cannot always act as he +would prefer. He is often obliged to bow to the wishes of the public in +unimportant matters. Politics are the most important thing in life—for +a newspaper, anyway; and if I want to carry my public with me on the +path that leads to liberty and progress, I must not frighten them away. +If they find a moral tale of this sort in the serial at the bottom of +the page, they will be all the more ready to read what is printed above +it; they feel more secure, as it were. + +Petra. For shame! You would never go and set a snare like that for your +readers; you are not a spider! + +Hovstad (smiling). Thank you for having such a good opinion of me. No; +as a matter of fact that is Billing's idea and not mine. + +Petra. Billing's! + +Hovstad. Yes; anyway, he propounded that theory here one day. And it is +Billing who is so anxious to have that story in the paper; I don't know +anything about the book. + +Petra. But how can Billing, with his emancipated views— + +Hovstad. Oh, Billing is a many-sided man. He is applying for the post +of secretary to the Bench, too, I hear. + +Petra. I don't believe it, Mr. Hovstad. How could he possibly bring +himself to do such a thing? + +Hovstad. Ah, you must ask him that. + +Petra. I should never have thought it of him. + +Hovstad (looking more closely at her). No? Does it really surprise you +so much? + +Petra. Yes. Or perhaps not altogether. Really, I don't quite know + +Hovstad. We journalists are not much worth, Miss Stockmann. + +Petra. Do you really mean that? + +Hovstad. I think so sometimes. + +Petra. Yes, in the ordinary affairs of everyday life, perhaps; I can +understand that. But now, when you have taken a weighty matter in hand— + +Hovstad. This matter of your father's, you mean? + +Petra. Exactly. It seems to me that now you must feel you are a man +worth more than most. + +Hovstad. Yes, today I do feel something of that sort. + +Petra. Of course you do, don't you? It is a splendid vocation you have +chosen—to smooth the way for the march of unappreciated truths, and +new and courageous lines of thought. If it were nothing more than +because you stand fearlessly in the open and take up the cause of an +injured man— + +Hovstad. Especially when that injured man is—ahem!—I don't rightly +know how to— + +Petra. When that man is so upright and so honest, you mean? + +Hovstad (more gently). Especially when he is your father I meant. + +Petra (suddenly checked). That? + +Hovstad. Yes, Petra—Miss Petra. + +Petra. Is it that, that is first and foremost with you? Not the matter +itself? Not the truth?—not my father's big generous heart? + +Hovstad. Certainly—of course—that too. + +Petra. No, thank you; you have betrayed yourself, Mr. Hovstad, and now +I shall never trust you again in anything. + +Hovstad. Can you really take it so amiss in me that it is mostly for +your sake—? + +Petra. What I am angry with you for, is for not having been honest with +my father. You talked to him as if the truth and the good of the +community were what lay nearest to your heart. You have made fools of +both my father and me. You are not the man you made yourself out to be. +And that I shall never forgive you-never! + +Hovstad. You ought not to speak so bitterly, Miss Petra—least of all +now. + +Petra. Why not now, especially? + +Hovstad. Because your father cannot do without my help. + +Petra (looking him up and down). Are you that sort of man too? For +shame! + +Hovstad. No, no, I am not. This came upon me so unexpectedly—you must +believe that. + +Petra. I know what to believe. Goodbye. + +Aslaksen (coming from the printing room, hurriedly and with an air of +mystery). Damnation, Hovstad!—(Sees PETRA.) Oh, this is awkward— + +Petra. There is the book; you must give it to some one else. (Goes +towards the door.) + +Hovstad (following her). But, Miss Stockmann— + +Petra. Goodbye. (Goes out.) + +Aslaksen. I say—Mr. Hovstad— + +Hovstad. Well well!—what is it? + +Aslaksen. The Mayor is outside in the printing room. + +Hovstad. The Mayor, did you say? + +Aslaksen. Yes he wants to speak to you. He came in by the back +door—didn't want to be seen, you understand. + +Hovstad. What can he want? Wait a bit—I will go myself. (Goes to the +door of the printing room, opens it, bows and invites PETER STOCKMANN +in.) Just see, Aslaksen, that no one— + +Aslaksen. Quite so. (Goes into the printing-room.) + +Peter Stockmann. You did not expect to see me here, Mr. Hovstad? + +Hovstad. No, I confess I did not. + +Peter Stockmann (looking round). You are very snug in here—very nice +indeed. + +Hovstad. Oh— + +Peter Stockmann. And here I come, without any notice, to take up your +time! + +Hovstad. By all means, Mr. Mayor. I am at your service. But let me +relieve you of your—(takes STOCKMANN's hat and stick and puts them on +a chair). Won't you sit down? + +Peter Stockmann (sitting down by the table). Thank you. (HOVSTAD sits +down.) I have had an extremely annoying experience to-day, Mr. Hovstad. + +Hovstad. Really? Ah well, I expect with all the various business you +have to attend to— + +Peter Stockmann. The Medical Officer of the Baths is responsible for +what happened today. + +Hovstad. Indeed? The Doctor? + +Peter Stockmann. He has addressed a kind of report to the Baths +Committee on the subject of certain supposed defects in the Baths. + +Hovstad. Has he indeed? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes—has he not told you? I thought he said— + +Hovstad. Ah, yes—it is true he did mention something about— + +Aslaksen (coming from the printing-room). I ought to have that copy. + +Hovstad (angrily). Ahem!—there it is on the desk. + +Aslaksen (taking it). Right. + +Peter Stockmann. But look there—that is the thing I was speaking of! + +Aslaksen. Yes, that is the Doctor's article, Mr. Mayor. + +Hovstad. Oh, is THAT what you were speaking about? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, that is it. What do you think of it? + +Hovstad. Oh, I am only a layman—and I have only taken a very cursory +glance at it. + +Peter Stockmann. But you are going to print it? + +Hovstad. I cannot very well refuse a distinguished man. + +Aslaksen. I have nothing to do with editing the paper, Mr. Mayor— + +Peter Stockmann. I understand. + +Aslaksen. I merely print what is put into my hands. + +Peter Stockmann. Quite so. + +Aslaksen. And so I must— (moves off towards the printing-room). + +Peter Stockmann. No, but wait a moment, Mr. Aslaksen. You will allow +me, Mr. Hovstad? + +Hovstad. If you please, Mr. Mayor. + +Peter Stockmann. You are a discreet and thoughtful man, Mr. Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. I am delighted to hear you think so, sir. + +Peter Stockmann. And a man of very considerable influence. + +Aslaksen. Chiefly among the small tradesmen, sir. + +Peter Stockmann. The small tax-payers are the majority—here as +everywhere else. + +Aslaksen. That is true. + +Peter Stockmann. And I have no doubt you know the general trend of +opinion among them, don't you? + +Aslaksen. Yes I think I may say I do, Mr. Mayor. + +Peter Stockmann. Yes. Well, since there is such a praiseworthy spirit +of self-sacrifice among the less wealthy citizens of our town— + +Aslaksen. What? + +Hovstad. Self-sacrifice? + +Peter Stockmann. It is pleasing evidence of a public-spirited feeling, +extremely pleasing evidence. I might almost say I hardly expected it. +But you have a closer knowledge of public opinion than I. + +Aslaksen. But, Mr. Mayor— + +Peter Stockmann. And indeed it is no small sacrifice that the town is +going to make. + +Hovstad. The town? + +Aslaksen. But I don't understand. Is it the Baths—? + +Peter Stockmann. At a provisional estimate, the alterations that the +Medical Officer asserts to be desirable will cost somewhere about +twenty thousand pounds. + +Aslaksen. That is a lot of money, but— + +Peter Stockmann. Of course it will be necessary to raise a municipal +loan. + +Hovstad (getting up). Surely you never mean that the town must pay—? + +Aslaksen. Do you mean that it must come out of the municipal +funds?—out of the ill-filled pockets of the small tradesmen? + +Peter Stockmann. Well, my dear Mr. Aslaksen, where else is the money to +come from? + +Aslaksen. The gentlemen who own the Baths ought to provide that. + +Peter Stockmann. The proprietors of the Baths are not in a position to +incur any further expense. + +Aslaksen. Is that absolutely certain, Mr. Mayor? + +Peter Stockmann. I have satisfied myself that it is so. If the town +wants these very extensive alterations, it will have to pay for them. + +Aslaksen. But, damn it all—I beg your pardon—this is quite another +matter, Mr. Hovstad! + +Hovstad. It is, indeed. + +Peter Stockmann. The most fatal part of it is that we shall be obliged +to shut the Baths for a couple of years. + +Hovstad. Shut them? Shut them altogether? + +Aslaksen. For two years? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, the work will take as long as that—at least. + +Aslaksen. I'm damned if we will stand that, Mr. Mayor! What are we +householders to live upon in the meantime? + +Peter Stockmann. Unfortunately, that is an extremely difficult question +to answer, Mr. Aslaksen. But what would you have us do? Do you suppose +we shall have a single visitor in the town, if we go about proclaiming +that our water is polluted, that we are living over a plague spot, that +the entire town— + +Aslaksen. And the whole thing is merely imagination? + +Peter Stockmann. With the best will in the world, I have not been able +to come to any other conclusion. + +Aslaksen. Well then I must say it is absolutely unjustifiable of Dr. +Stockmann—I beg your pardon, Mr. Mayor. + +Peter Stockmann. What you say is lamentably true, Mr. Aslaksen. My +brother has unfortunately always been a headstrong man. + +Aslaksen. After this, do you mean to give him your support, Mr. Hovstad? + +Hovstad. Can you suppose for a moment that I—? + +Peter Stockmann. I have drawn up a short resume of the situation as it +appears from a reasonable man's point of view. In it I have indicated +how certain possible defects might suitably be remedied without +outrunning the resources of the Baths Committee. + +Hovstad. Have you got it with you, Mr. Mayor? + +Peter Stockmann (fumbling in his pocket). Yes, I brought it with me in +case you should— + +Aslaksen. Good Lord, there he is! + +Peter Stockmann. Who? My brother? + +Hovstad. Where? Where? + +Aslaksen. He has just gone through the printing room. + +Peter Stockmann. How unlucky! I don't want to meet him here, and I had +still several things to speak to you about. + +Hovstad (pointing to the door on the right). Go in there for the +present. + +Peter Stockmann. But—? + +Hovstad. You will only find Billing in there. + +Aslaksen. Quick, quick, Mr. Mayor—he is just coming. + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, very well; but see that you get rid of him +quickly. (Goes out through the door on the right, which ASLAKSEN opens +for him and shuts after him.) + +Hovstad. Pretend to be doing something, Aslaksen. (Sits down and +writes. ASLAKSEN begins foraging among a heap of newspapers that are +lying on a chair.) + +Dr. Stockmann (coming in from the printing room). Here I am again. +(Puts down his hat and stick.) + +Hovstad (writing). Already, Doctor? Hurry up with what we were speaking +about, Aslaksen. We are very pressed for time today. + +Dr. Stockmann (to ASLAKSEN). No proof for me to see yet, I hear. + +Aslaksen (without turning round). You couldn't expect it yet, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, no; but I am impatient, as you can understand. I +shall not know a moment's peace of mind until I see it in print. + +Hovstad. Hm!—It will take a good while yet, won't it, Aslaksen? + +Aslaksen. Yes, I am almost afraid it will. + +Dr. Stockmann. All right, my dear friends; I will come back. I do not +mind coming back twice if necessary. A matter of such great +importance—the welfare of the town at stake—it is no time to shirk +trouble, (is just going, but stops and comes back.) Look here—there is +one thing more I want to speak to you about. + +Hovstad. Excuse me, but could it not wait till some other time? + +Dr. Stockmann. I can tell you in half a dozen words. It is only this. +When my article is read tomorrow and it is realised that I have been +quietly working the whole winter for the welfare of the town— + +Hovstad. Yes but, Doctor— + +Dr. Stockmann. I know what you are going to say. You don't see how on +earth it was any more than my duty—my obvious duty as a citizen. Of +course it wasn't; I know that as well as you. But my fellow citizens, +you know—! Good Lord, think of all the good souls who think so highly +of me—! + +Aslaksen. Yes, our townsfolk have had a very high opinion of you so +far, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and that is just why I am afraid they—. Well, this +is the point; when this reaches them, especially the poorer classes, +and sounds in their ears like a summons to take the town's affairs into +their own hands for the future... + +Hovstad (getting up). Ahem! Doctor, I won't conceal from you the fact— + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah I—I knew there was something in the wind! But I +won't hear a word of it. If anything of that sort is being set on foot— + +Hovstad. Of what sort? + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, whatever it is—whether it is a demonstration in +my honour, or a banquet, or a subscription list for some presentation +to me—whatever it is, you most promise me solemnly and faithfully to +put a stop to it. You too, Mr. Aslaksen; do you understand? + +Hovstad. You must forgive me, Doctor, but sooner or later we must tell +you the plain truth— + +(He is interrupted by the entrance Of MRS. STOCKMANN, who comes in from +the street door.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (seeing her husband). Just as I thought! + +Hovstad (going towards her). You too, Mrs. Stockmann? + +Dr. Stockmann. What on earth do you want here, Katherine? + +Mrs. Stockmann. I should think you know very well what I want. + +Hovstad, Won't you sit down? Or perhaps— + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, thank you; don't trouble. And you must not be +offended at my coming to fetch my husband; I am the mother of three +children, you know. + +Dr. Stockmann. Nonsense!—we know all about that. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, one would not give you credit for much thought +for your wife and children today; if you had had that, you would not +have gone and dragged us all into misfortune. + +Dr. Stockmann. Are you out of your senses, Katherine! Because a man has +a wife and children, is he not to be allowed to proclaim the truth-is +he not to be allowed to be an actively useful citizen—is he not to be +allowed to do a service to his native town! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, Thomas—in reason. + +Aslaksen. Just what I say. Moderation in everything. + +Mrs. Stockmann. And that is why you wrong us, Mr. Hovstad, in enticing +my husband away from his home and making a dupe of him in all this. + +Hovstad. I certainly am making a dupe of no one— + +Dr. Stockmann. Making a dupe of me! Do you suppose I should allow +myself to be duped! + +Mrs. Stockmann. It is just what you do. I know quite well you have more +brains than anyone in the town, but you are extremely easily duped, +Thomas. (To Hovstad.) Please do realise that he loses his post at the +Baths if you print what he has written. + +Aslaksen. What! + +Hovstad. Look here, Doctor! + +Dr. Stockmann (laughing). Ha-ha!—just let them try! No, no—they will +take good care not to. I have got the compact majority behind me, let +me tell you! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is just the worst of it—your having any such +horrid thing behind you. + +Dr. Stockmann. Rubbish, Katherine!—Go home and look after your house +and leave me to look after the community. How can you be so afraid, +when I am so confident and happy? (Walks up and down, rubbing his +hands.) Truth and the People will win the fight, you may be certain! I +see the whole of the broad-minded middle class marching like a +victorious army—! (Stops beside a chair.) What the deuce is that lying +there? + +Aslaksen Good Lord! + +Hovstad. Ahem! + +Dr. Stockmann. Here we have the topmost pinnacle of authority! (Takes +the Mayor's official hat carefully between his finger-tips and holds it +up in the air.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. The Mayor's hat! + +Dr. Stockmann. And here is the staff of office too. How in the name of +all that's wonderful—? + +Hovstad. Well, you see— + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, I understand. He has been here trying to talk you +over. Ha-ha!—he made rather a mistake there! And as soon as he caught +sight of me in the printing room. (Bursts out laughing.) Did he run +away, Mr. Aslaksen? + +Aslaksen (hurriedly). Yes, he ran away, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Ran away without his stick or his—. Fiddlesticks! Peter +doesn't run away and leave his belongings behind him. But what the +deuce have you done with him? Ah!—in there, of course. Now you shall +see, Katherine! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Thomas—please don't—! + +Aslaksen. Don't be rash, Doctor. + +(DR. STOCKMANN has put on the Mayor's hat and taken his stick in his +hand. He goes up to the door, opens it, and stands with his hand to his +hat at the salute. PETER STOCKMANN comes in, red with anger. BILLING +follows him.) + +Peter Stockmann. What does this tomfoolery mean? + +Dr. Stockmann. Be respectful, my good Peter. I am the chief authority +in the town now. (Walks up and down.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (almost in tears). Really, Thomas! + +Peter Stockmann (following him about). Give me my hat and stick. + +Dr. Stockmann (in the same tone as before). If you are chief constable, +let me tell you that I am the Mayor—I am the master of the whole town, +please understand! + +Peter Stockmann. Take off my hat, I tell you. Remember it is part of an +official uniform. + +Dr. Stockmann. Pooh! Do you think the newly awakened lionhearted people +are going to be frightened by an official hat? There is going to be a +revolution in the town tomorrow, let me tell you. You thought you could +turn me out; but now I shall turn you out—turn you out of all your +various offices. Do you think I cannot? Listen to me. I have triumphant +social forces behind me. Hovstad and Billing will thunder in the +"People's Messenger," and Aslaksen will take the field at the head of +the whole Householders' Association— + +Aslaksen. That I won't, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course you will— + +Peter Stockmann. Ah!—may I ask then if Mr. Hovstad intends to join +this agitation? + +Hovstad. No, Mr. Mayor. + +Aslaksen. No, Mr. Hovstad is not such a fool as to go and ruin his +paper and himself for the sake of an imaginary grievance. + +Dr. Stockmann (looking round him). What does this mean? + +Hovstad. You have represented your case in a false light, Doctor, and +therefore I am unable to give you my support. + +Billing. And after what the Mayor was so kind as to tell me just now, +I— + +Dr. Stockmann. A false light! Leave that part of it to me. Only print +my article; I am quite capable of defending it. + +Hovstad. I am not going to print it. I cannot and will not and dare not +print it. + +Dr. Stockmann. You dare not? What nonsense!—you are the editor; and an +editor controls his paper, I suppose! + +Aslaksen. No, it is the subscribers, Doctor. + +Peter Stockmann. Fortunately, yes. + +Aslaksen. It is public opinion—the enlightened public—householders +and people of that kind; they control the newspapers. + +Dr. Stockmann (composedly). And I have all these influences against me? + +Aslaksen. Yes, you have. It would mean the absolute ruin of the +community if your article were to appear. + +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed. + +Peter Stockmann. My hat and stick, if you please. (DR. STOCKMANN takes +off the hat and lays it on the table with the stick. PETER STOCKMANN +takes them up.) Your authority as mayor has come to an untimely end. + +Dr. Stockmann. We have not got to the end yet. (To HOVSTAD.) Then it is +quite impossible for you to print my article in the "People's +Messenger"? + +Hovstad. Quite impossible—out of regard for your family as well. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You need not concern yourself about his family, thank +you, Mr. Hovstad. + +Peter Stockmann (taking a paper from his pocket). It will be +sufficient, for the guidance of the public, if this appears. It is an +official statement. May I trouble you? + +Hovstad (taking the paper). Certainly; I will see that it is printed. + +Dr. Stockmann. But not mine. Do you imagine that you can silence me and +stifle the truth! You will not find it so easy as you suppose. Mr. +Aslaksen, kindly take my manuscript at once and print it as a +pamphlet—at my expense. I will have four hundred copies—no, five or +six hundred. + +Aslaksen. If you offered me its weight in gold, I could not lend my +press for any such purpose, Doctor. It would be flying in the face of +public opinion. You will not get it printed anywhere in the town. + +Dr. Stockmann. Then give it me back. + +Hovstad (giving him the MS.). Here it is. + +Dr. Stockmann (taking his hat and stick). It shall be made public all +the same. I will read it out at a mass meeting of the townspeople. All +my fellow-citizens shall hear the voice of truth! + +Peter Stockmann. You will not find any public body in the town that +will give you the use of their hall for such a purpose. + +Aslaksen. Not a single one, I am certain. + +Billing. No, I'm damned if you will find one. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But this is too shameful! Why should every one turn +against you like that? + +Dr. Stockmann (angrily). I will tell you why. It is because all the men +in this town are old women—like you; they all think of nothing but +their families, and never of the community. + +Mrs. Stockmann (putting her arm into his). Then I will show them that +an old woman can be a man for once. I am going to stand by you, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. Bravely said, Katherine! It shall be made public—as I +am a living soul! If I can't hire a hall, I shall hire a drum, and +parade the town with it and read it at every street-corner. + +Peter Stockmann. You are surely not such an errant fool as that! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, I am. + +Aslaksen. You won't find a single man in the whole town to go with you. + +Billing. No, I'm damned if you will. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Don't give in, Thomas. I will tell the boys to go with +you. + +Dr. Stockmann. That is a splendid idea! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Morten will be delighted; and Ejlif will do whatever he +does. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and Petra!—and you too, Katherine! + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, I won't do that; but I will stand at the window and +watch you, that's what I will do. + +Dr. Stockmann (puts his arms round her and kisses her). Thank you, my +dear! Now you and I are going to try a fall, my fine gentlemen! I am +going to see whether a pack of cowards can succeed in gagging a patriot +who wants to purify society! (He and his wife go out by the street +door.) + +Peter Stockmann (shaking his head seriously). Now he has sent her out +of her senses, too. + + +ACT IV + +(SCENE.—A big old-fashioned room in CAPTAIN HORSTER'S house. At the +back folding-doors, which are standing open, lead to an ante-room. +Three windows in the left-hand wall. In the middle of the opposite wall +a platform has been erected. On this is a small table with two candles, +a water-bottle and glass, and a bell. The room is lit by lamps placed +between the windows. In the foreground on the left there is a table +with candles and a chair. To the right is a door and some chairs +standing near it. The room is nearly filled with a crowd of townspeople +of all sorts, a few women and schoolboys being amongst them. People are +still streaming in from the back, and the room is soon filled.) + +1st Citizen (meeting another). Hullo, Lamstad! You here too? + +2nd Citizen. I go to every public meeting, I do. + +3rd Citizen. Brought your whistle too, I expect! + +2nd Citizen. I should think so. Haven't you? + +3rd Citizen. Rather! And old Evensen said he was going to bring a +cow-horn, he did. + +2nd Citizen. Good old Evensen! (Laughter among the crowd.) + +4th Citizen (coming up to them). I say, tell me what is going on here +tonight? + +2nd Citizen. Dr. Stockmann is going to deliver an address attacking the +Mayor. + +4th Citizen. But the Mayor is his brother. + +1st Citizen. That doesn't matter; Dr. Stockmann's not the chap to be +afraid. + +3rd Citizen. But he is in the wrong; it said so in the “People’s +Messenger.” + +2nd Citizen. Yes, I expect he must be in the wrong this time, because neither +the Householders’ Association nor the Citizens’ Club would lend him +their hall for his meeting. + +1st Citizen. He couldn’t even get the loan of the hall at the Baths. + +2nd Citizen. No, I should think not. + +A Man in another part of the crowd. I say—who are we to back up in this? + +Another Man, beside him. Watch Aslaksen, and do as he does. + +Billing (pushing his way through the crowd, with a writing-case under his arm). +Excuse me, gentlemen—do you mind letting me through? I am reporting for the +“People’s Messenger.” Thank you very much! (He sits down at +the table on the left.) + +A Workman. Who was that? + +Second Workman. Don’t you know him? It’s Billing, who writes for +Aslaksen’s paper. + +(CAPTAIN HORSTER brings in MRS. STOCKMANN and PETRA through the door on the +right. EJLIF and MORTEN follow them in.) + +Horster. I thought you might all sit here; you can slip out easily from here, +if things get too lively. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Do you think there will be a disturbance? + +Horster. One can never tell—with such a crowd. But sit down, and don’t +be uneasy. + +Mrs. Stockmann (sitting down). It was extremely kind of you to offer my husband +the room. + +Horster. Well, if nobody else would— + +Petra (who has sat down beside her mother). And it was a plucky thing to do, +Captain Horster. + +Horster. Oh, it is not such a great matter as all that. + +(HOVSTAD and ASLAKSEN make their way through the crowd.) + +Aslaksen (going up to HORSTER). Has the Doctor not come yet? + +Horster. He is waiting in the next room. (Movement in the crowd by the door +at the back.) + +Hovstad. Look—here comes the Mayor! + +Billing. Yes, I’m damned if he hasn’t come after all! + +(PETER STOCKMANN makes his way gradually through the crowd, bows courteously, +and takes up a position by the wall on the left. Shortly afterwards Dr. +STOCKMANN comes in by the right-hand door. He is dressed in a black +frock-coat, with a white tie. There is a little feeble applause, which is +hushed down. Silence is obtained.) + +Dr. Stockmann (in an undertone). How do you feel, Katherine? + +Mrs. Stockmann. All right, thank you. (Lowering her voice.) Be sure not to lose +your temper, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, I know how to control myself. + +(Looks at his watch, steps on to the platform, and bows. It is a quarter +past—so I will begin. (Takes his MS. out of his pocket). + +Aslaksen. I think we ought to elect a chairman first. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, it is quite unnecessary. + +Some of the Crowd. Yes—yes! + +Peter Stockmann. I certainly think too that we ought to have a chairman. + +Dr. Stockmann. But I have called this meeting to deliver a lecture, Peter. + +Peter Stockmann. Dr. Stockmann’s lecture may possibly lead to a +considerable conflict of opinion. + +Voices in the Crowd. A chairman! A chairman ! + +Hovstad. The general wish of the meeting seems to be that a chairman should be +elected. + +Dr. Stockmann (restraining himself). Very well—let the meeting have its way. + +Aslaksen. Will the Mayor be good enough to undertake the task ? + +Three Men (clapping their hands). Bravo! Bravo! + +Peter Stockmann. For various reasons, which you will easily understand, +I must beg to be excused. But fortunately we have amongst us a man who +I think will be acceptable to you all. I refer to the President of the +Householders' Association, Mr. Aslaksen. + +Several voices. Yes—Aslaksen! Bravo Aslaksen! + +(DR. STOCKMANN takes up his MS. and walks up and down the platform.) + +Aslaksen. Since my fellow-citizens choose to entrust me with this duty, +I cannot refuse. + +(Loud applause. ASLAKSEN mounts the platform.) + +Billing (writing), "Mr. Aslaksen was elected with enthusiasm." + +Aslaksen. And now, as I am in this position, I should like to say a few +brief words. I am a quiet and peaceable man, who believes in discreet +moderation, and—and—in moderate discretion. All my friends can bear +witness to that. + +Several Voices. That's right! That's right, Aslaksen! + +Aslaksen. I have learned in the school of life and experience that +moderation is the most valuable virtue a citizen can possess— + +Peter Stockmann. Hear, hear! + +Aslaksen. —And moreover, that discretion and moderation are what +enable a man to be of most service to the community. I would therefore +suggest to our esteemed fellow-citizen, who has called this meeting, +that he should strive to keep strictly within the bounds of moderation. + +A Man by the door. Three cheers for the Moderation Society! + +A Voice. Shame! + +Several Voices. Sh!-Sh! + +Aslaksen. No interruptions, gentlemen, please! Does anyone wish to make +any remarks? + +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman. + +Aslaksen. The Mayor will address the meeting. + +Peter Stockmann. In consideration of the close relationship in which, +as you all know, I stand to the present Medical Officer of the Baths, I +should have preferred not to speak this evening. But my official +position with regard to the Baths and my solicitude for the vital +interests of the town compel me to bring forward a motion. I venture to +presume that there is not a single one of our citizens present who +considers it desirable that unreliable and exaggerated accounts of the +sanitary condition of the Baths and the town should be spread abroad. + +Several Voices. No, no! Certainly not! We protest against it! + +Peter Stockmann. Therefore, I should like to propose that the meeting +should not permit the Medical Officer either to read or to comment on +his proposed lecture. + +Dr. Stockmann (impatiently). Not permit—! What the devil—! + +Mrs. Stockmann (coughing). Ahem!-ahem! + +Dr. Stockmann (collecting himself). Very well, Go ahead! + +Peter Stockmann. In my communication to the "People's Messenger," I +have put the essential facts before the public in such a way that every +fair-minded citizen can easily form his own opinion. From it you will +see that the main result of the Medical Officer's proposals—apart from +their constituting a vote of censure on the leading men of the +town—would be to saddle the ratepayers with an unnecessary expenditure +of at least some thousands of pounds. + +(Sounds of disapproval among the audience, and some cat-calls.) + +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). Silence, please, gentlemen! I beg to +support the Mayor's motion. I quite agree with him that there is +something behind this agitation started by the Doctor. He talks about +the Baths; but it is a revolution he is aiming at—he wants to get the +administration of the town put into new hands. No one doubts the +honesty of the Doctor's intentions—no one will suggest that there can +be any two opinions as to that, I myself am a believer in +self-government for the people, provided it does not fall too heavily +on the ratepayers. But that would be the case here; and that is why I +will see Dr. Stockmann damned—I beg your pardon—before I go with him +in the matter. You can pay too dearly for a thing sometimes; that is my +opinion. + +(Loud applause on all sides.) + +Hovstad. I, too, feel called upon to explain my position. Dr. +Stockmann's agitation appeared to be gaining a certain amount of +sympathy at first, so I supported it as impartially as I could. But +presently we had reason to suspect that we had allowed ourselves to be +misled by misrepresentation of the state of affairs— + +Dr. Stockmann. Misrepresentation—! + +Hovstad. Well, let us say a not entirely trustworthy representation. +The Mayor's statement has proved that. I hope no one here has any doubt +as to my liberal principles; the attitude of the "People's Messenger" +towards important political questions is well known to everyone. But +the advice of experienced and thoughtful men has convinced me that in +purely local matters a newspaper ought to proceed with a certain +caution. + +Aslaksen. I entirely agree with the speaker. + +Hovstad. And, in the matter before us, it is now an undoubted fact that +Dr. Stockmann has public opinion against him. Now, what is an editor's +first and most obvious duty, gentlemen? Is it not to work in harmony +with his readers? Has he not received a sort of tacit mandate to work +persistently and assiduously for the welfare of those whose opinions he +represents? Or is it possible I am mistaken in that? + +Voices from the crowd. No, no! You are quite right! + +Hovstad. It has cost me a severe struggle to break with a man in whose +house I have been lately a frequent guest—a man who till today has +been able to pride himself on the undivided goodwill of his +fellow-citizens—a man whose only, or at all events whose essential, +failing is that he is swayed by his heart rather than his head. + +A few scattered voices. That is true! Bravo, Stockmann! + +Hovstad. But my duty to the community obliged me to break with him. And +there is another consideration that impels me to oppose him, and, as +far as possible, to arrest him on the perilous course he has adopted; +that is, consideration for his family— + +Dr. Stockmann. Please stick to the water-supply and drainage! + +Hovstad. —consideration, I repeat, for his wife and his children for +whom he has made no provision. + +Morten. Is that us, mother? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Hush! + +Aslaksen. I will now put the Mayor's proposition to the vote. + +Dr. Stockmann. There is no necessity! Tonight I have no intention of +dealing with all that filth down at the Baths. No; I have something +quite different to say to you. + +Peter Stockmann (aside). What is coming now? + +A Drunken Man (by the entrance door). I am a ratepayer! And therefore, +I have a right to speak too! And my entire—firm—inconceivable opinion +is— + +A number of voices. Be quiet, at the back there! + +Others. He is drunk! Turn him out! (They turn him out.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Am I allowed to speak? + +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). Dr. Stockmann will address the meeting. + +Dr. Stockmann. I should like to have seen anyone, a few days ago, dare +to attempt to silence me as has been done tonight! I would have +defended my sacred rights as a man, like a lion! But now it is all one +to me; I have something of even weightier importance to say to you. +(The crowd presses nearer to him, MORTEN Kiil conspicuous among them.) + +Dr. Stockmann (continuing). I have thought and pondered a great deal, +these last few days—pondered over such a variety of things that in the +end my head seemed too full to hold them— + +Peter Stockmann (with a cough). Ahem! + +Dr. Stockmann. —but I got them clear in my mind at last, and then I +saw the whole situation lucidly. And that is why I am standing here +to-night. I have a great revelation to make to you, my fellow-citizens! +I will impart to you a discovery of a far wider scope than the trifling +matter that our water supply is poisoned and our medicinal Baths are +standing on pestiferous soil. + +A number of voices (shouting). Don't talk about the Baths! We won't +hear you! None of that! + +Dr. Stockmann. I have already told you that what I want to speak about +is the great discovery I have made lately—the discovery that all the +sources of our moral life are poisoned and that the whole fabric of our +civic community is founded on the pestiferous soil of falsehood. + +Voices of disconcerted Citizens. What is that he says? + +Peter Stockmann. Such an insinuation—! + +Aslaksen (with his hand on his bell). I call upon the speaker to +moderate his language. + +Dr. Stockmann. I have always loved my native town as a man only can +love the home of his youthful days. I was not old when I went away from +here; and exile, longing and memories cast as it were an additional +halo over both the town and its inhabitants. (Some clapping and +applause.) And there I stayed, for many years, in a horrible hole far +away up north. When I came into contact with some of the people that +lived scattered about among the rocks, I often thought it would of been +more service to the poor half-starved creatures if a veterinary doctor +had been sent up there, instead of a man like me. (Murmurs among the +crowd.) + +Billing (laying down his pen). I'm damned if I have ever heard—! + +Hovstad. It is an insult to a respectable population! + +Dr. Stockmann. Wait a bit! I do not think anyone will charge me with +having forgotten my native town up there. I was like one of the +eider-ducks brooding on its nest, and what I hatched was the plans for +these Baths. (Applause and protests.) And then when fate at last +decreed for me the great happiness of coming home again—I assure you, +gentlemen, I thought I had nothing more in the world to wish for. Or +rather, there was one thing I wished for—eagerly, untiringly, +ardently—and that was to be able to be of service to my native town +and the good of the community. + +Peter Stockmann (looking at the ceiling). You chose a strange way of +doing it—ahem! + +Dr. Stockmann. And so, with my eyes blinded to the real facts, I +revelled in happiness. But yesterday morning—no, to be precise, it was +yesterday afternoon—the eyes of my mind were opened wide, and the +first thing I realised was the colossal stupidity of the authorities—. +(Uproar, shouts and laughter, MRS. STOCKMANN coughs persistently.) + +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman! + +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). By virtue of my authority—! + +Dr. Stockmann. It is a petty thing to catch me up on a word, Mr. +Aslaksen. What I mean is only that I got scent of the unbelievable +piggishness our leading men had been responsible for down at the Baths. +I can't stand leading men at any price!—I have had enough of such +people in my time. They are like billy-goats on a young plantation; +they do mischief everywhere. They stand in a free man's way, whichever +way he turns, and what I should like best would be to see them +exterminated like any other vermin—. (Uproar.) + +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman, can we allow such expressions to pass? + +Aslaksen (with his hand on his bell). Doctor—! + +Dr. Stockmann. I cannot understand how it is that I have only now +acquired a clear conception of what these gentry are, when I had almost +daily before my eyes in this town such an excellent specimen of +them—my brother Peter—slow-witted and hide-bound in prejudice—. +(Laughter, uproar and hisses. MRS. STOCKMANN Sits coughing assiduously. +ASLAKSEN rings his bell violently.) + +The Drunken Man (who has got in again). Is it me he is talking about? +My name's Petersen, all right—but devil take me if I— + +Angry Voices. Turn out that drunken man! Turn him out. (He is turned +out again.) + +Peter Stockmann. Who was that person? + +1st Citizen. I don't know who he is, Mr. Mayor. + +2nd Citizen. He doesn't belong here. + +3rd Citizen. I expect he is a navvy from over at—(the rest is +inaudible). + +Aslaksen. He had obviously had too much beer. Proceed, Doctor; but +please strive to be moderate in your language. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very well, gentlemen, I will say no more about our +leading men. And if anyone imagines, from what I have just said, that +my object is to attack these people this evening, he is +wrong—absolutely wide of the mark. For I cherish the comforting +conviction that these parasites—all these venerable relics of a dying +school of thought—are most admirably paving the way for their own +extinction; they need no doctor's help to hasten their end. Nor is it +folk of that kind who constitute the most pressing danger to the +community. It is not they who are most instrumental in poisoning the +sources of our moral life and infecting the ground on which we stand. +It is not they who are the most dangerous enemies of truth and freedom +amongst us. + +Shouts from all sides. Who then? Who is it? Name! Name! + +Dr. Stockmann. You may depend upon it—I shall name them! That is +precisely the great discovery I made yesterday. (Raises his voice.) The +most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom amongst us is the compact +majority—yes, the damned compact Liberal majority—that is it! Now you +know! (Tremendous uproar. Most of the crowd are shouting, stamping and +hissing. Some of the older men among them exchange stolen glances and +seem to be enjoying themselves. MRS. STOCKMANN gets up, looking +anxious. EJLIF and MORTEN advance threateningly upon some schoolboys +who are playing pranks. ASLAKSEN rings his bell and begs for silence. +HOVSTAD and BILLING both talk at once, but are inaudible. At last quiet +is restored.) + +Aslaksen. As Chairman, I call upon the speaker to withdraw the +ill-considered expressions he has just used. + +Dr. Stockmann. Never, Mr. Aslaksen! It is the majority in our community +that denies me my freedom and seeks to prevent my speaking the truth. + +Hovstad. The majority always has right on its side. + +Billing. And truth too, by God! + +Dr. Stockmann. The majority never has right on its side. Never, I say! +That is one of these social lies against which an independent, +intelligent man must wage war. Who is it that constitute the majority +of the population in a country? Is it the clever folk, or the stupid? I +don't imagine you will dispute the fact that at present the stupid +people are in an absolutely overwhelming majority all the world over. +But, good Lord!—you can never pretend that it is right that the stupid +folk should govern the clever ones! (Uproar and cries.) Oh, yes—you +can shout me down, I know! But you cannot answer me. The majority has +might on its side—unfortunately; but right it has not. I am in the +right—I and a few other scattered individuals. The minority is always +in the right. (Renewed uproar.) + +Hovstad. Aha!—so Dr. Stockmann has become an aristocrat since the day +before yesterday! + +Dr. Stockmann. I have already said that I don't intend to waste a word +on the puny, narrow-chested, short-winded crew whom we are leaving +astern. Pulsating life no longer concerns itself with them. I am +thinking of the few, the scattered few amongst us, who have absorbed +new and vigorous truths. Such men stand, as it were, at the outposts, +so far ahead that the compact majority has not yet been able to come up +with them; and there they are fighting for truths that are too +newly-born into the world of consciousness to have any considerable +number of people on their side as yet. + +Hovstad. So the Doctor is a revolutionary now! + +Dr. Stockmann. Good heavens—of course I am, Mr. Hovstad! I propose to +raise a revolution against the lie that the majority has the monopoly +of the truth. What sort of truths are they that the majority usually +supports? They are truths that are of such advanced age that they are +beginning to break up. And if a truth is as old as that, it is also in +a fair way to become a lie, gentlemen. (Laughter and mocking cries.) +Yes, believe me or not, as you like; but truths are by no means as +long-lived at Methuselah—as some folk imagine. A normally constituted +truth lives, let us say, as a rule seventeen or eighteen, or at most +twenty years—seldom longer. But truths as aged as that are always worn +frightfully thin, and nevertheless it is only then that the majority +recognises them and recommends them to the community as wholesome moral +nourishment. There is no great nutritive value in that sort of fare, I +can assure you; and, as a doctor, I ought to know. These "majority +truths" are like last year's cured meat—like rancid, tainted ham; and +they are the origin of the moral scurvy that is rampant in our +communities. + +Aslaksen. It appears to me that the speaker is wandering a long way +from his subject. + +Peter Stockmann. I quite agree with the Chairman. + +Dr. Stockmann. Have you gone clean out of your senses, Peter? I am +sticking as closely to my subject as I can; for my subject is precisely +this, that it is the masses, the majority—this infernal compact +majority—that poisons the sources of our moral life and infects the +ground we stand on. + +Hovstad. And all this because the great, broadminded majority of the +people is prudent enough to show deference only to well-ascertained and +well-approved truths? + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, my good Mr. Hovstad, don't talk nonsense about +well-ascertained truths! The truths of which the masses now approve are +the very truths that the fighters at the outposts held to in the days +of our grandfathers. We fighters at the outposts nowadays no longer +approve of them; and I do not believe there is any other +well-ascertained truth except this, that no community can live a +healthy life if it is nourished only on such old marrowless truths. + +Hovstad. But, instead of standing there using vague generalities, it +would be interesting if you would tell us what these old marrowless +truths are, that we are nourished on. + +(Applause from many quarters.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, I could give you a whole string of such +abominations; but to begin with I will confine myself to one +well-approved truth, which at bottom is a foul lie, but upon which +nevertheless Mr. Hovstad and the "People's Messenger" and all the +"Messenger's" supporters are nourished. + +Hovstad. And that is—? + +Dr. Stockmann. That is, the doctrine you have inherited from your +forefathers and proclaim thoughtlessly far and wide—the doctrine that +the public, the crowd, the masses, are the essential part of the +population—that they constitute the People—that the common folk, the +ignorant and incomplete element in the community, have the same right +to pronounce judgment and to approve, to direct and to govern, as the +isolated, intellectually superior personalities in it. + +Billing. Well, damn me if ever I— + +Hovstad (at the same time, shouting out). Fellow-citizens, take good +note of that! + +A number of voices (angrily). Oho!—we are not the People! Only the +superior folk are to govern, are they! + +A Workman. Turn the fellow out for talking such rubbish! + +Another. Out with him! + +Another (calling out). Blow your horn, Evensen! + +(A horn is blown loudly, amidst hisses and an angry uproar.) + +Dr. Stockmann (when the noise has somewhat abated). Be reasonable! +Can't you stand hearing the voice of truth for once? I don't in the +least expect you to agree with me all at once; but I must say I did +expect Mr. Hovstad to admit I was right, when he had recovered his +composure a little. He claims to be a freethinker— + +Voices (in murmurs of astonishment). Freethinker, did he say? Is +Hovstad a freethinker? + +Hovstad (shouting). Prove it, Dr. Stockmann! When have I said so in +print? + +Dr. Stockmann (reflecting). No, confound it, you are right!—you have +never had the courage to. Well, I won't put you in a hole, Mr. Hovstad. +Let us say it is I that am the freethinker, then. I am going to prove +to you, scientifically, that the "People's Messenger" leads you by the +nose in a shameful manner when it tells you that you—that the common +people, the crowd, the masses, are the real essence of the People. That +is only a newspaper lie, I tell you! The common people are nothing more +than the raw material of which a People is made. (Groans, laughter and +uproar.) Well, isn't that the case? Isn't there an enormous difference +between a well-bred and an ill-bred strain of animals? Take, for +instance, a common barn-door hen. What sort of eating do you get from a +shrivelled up old scrag of a fowl like that? Not much, do you! And what +sort of eggs does it lay? A fairly good crow or a raven can lay pretty +nearly as good an egg. But take a well-bred Spanish or Japanese hen, or +a good pheasant or a turkey—then you will see the difference. Or take +the case of dogs, with whom we humans are on such intimate terms. Think +first of an ordinary common cur—I mean one of the horrible, +coarse-haired, low-bred curs that do nothing but run about the streets +and befoul the walls of the houses. Compare one of these curs with a +poodle whose sires for many generations have been bred in a gentleman's +house, where they have had the best of food and had the opportunity of +hearing soft voices and music. Do you not think that the poodle's brain +is developed to quite a different degree from that of the cur? Of +course it is. It is puppies of well-bred poodles like that, that +showmen train to do incredibly clever tricks—things that a common cur +could never learn to do even if it stood on its head. (Uproar and +mocking cries.) + +A Citizen (calls out). Are you going to make out we are dogs, now? + +Another Citizen. We are not animals, Doctor! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes but, bless my soul, we are, my friend! It is true we +are the finest animals anyone could wish for; but, even among us, +exceptionally fine animals are rare. There is a tremendous difference +between poodle-men and cur-men. And the amusing part of it is, that Mr. +Hovstad quite agrees with me as long as it is a question of four-footed +animals— + +Hovstad. Yes, it is true enough as far as they are concerned. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very well. But as soon as I extend the principle and +apply it to two-legged animals, Mr. Hovstad stops short. He no longer +dares to think independently, or to pursue his ideas to their logical +conclusion; so, he turns the whole theory upside down and proclaims in +the "People's Messenger" that it is the barn-door hens and street curs +that are the finest specimens in the menagerie. But that is always the +way, as long as a man retains the traces of common origin and has not +worked his way up to intellectual distinction. + +Hovstad. I lay no claim to any sort of distinction, I am the son of +humble country-folk, and I am proud that the stock I come from is +rooted deep among the common people he insults. + +Voices. Bravo, Hovstad! Bravo! Bravo! + +Dr. Stockmann. The kind of common people I mean are not only to be +found low down in the social scale; they crawl and swarm all around +us—even in the highest social positions. You have only to look at your +own fine, distinguished Mayor! My brother Peter is every bit as +plebeian as anyone that walks in two shoes— (laughter and hisses) + +Peter Stockmann. I protest against personal allusions of this kind. + +Dr. Stockmann (imperturbably).—and that, not because he is like +myself, descended from some old rascal of a pirate from Pomerania or +thereabouts—because that is who we are descended from— + +Peter Stockmann. An absurd legend. I deny it! + +Dr. Stockmann. —but because he thinks what his superiors think, and +holds the same opinions as they, People who do that are, intellectually +speaking, common people; and, that is why my magnificent brother Peter +is in reality so very far from any distinction—and consequently also +so far from being liberal-minded. + +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman—! + +Hovstad. So it is only the distinguished men that are liberal-minded in +this country? We are learning something quite new! (Laughter.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that is part of my new discovery too. And another +part of it is that broad-mindedness is almost precisely the same thing +as morality. That is why I maintain that it is absolutely inexcusable +in the "People's Messenger" to proclaim, day in and day out, the false +doctrine that it is the masses, the crowd, the compact majority, that +have the monopoly of broad-mindedness and morality—and that vice and +corruption and every kind of intellectual depravity are the result of +culture, just as all the filth that is draining into our Baths is the +result of the tanneries up at Molledal! (Uproar and interruptions. DR. +STOCKMANN is undisturbed, and goes on, carried away by his ardour, with +a smile.) And yet this same "People's Messenger" can go on preaching +that the masses ought to be elevated to higher conditions of life! But, +bless my soul, if the "Messenger's" teaching is to be depended upon, +this very raising up the masses would mean nothing more or less than +setting them straightway upon the paths of depravity! Happily the +theory that culture demoralises is only an old falsehood that our +forefathers believed in and we have inherited. No, it is ignorance, +poverty, ugly conditions of life, that do the devil's work! In a house +which does not get aired and swept every day—my wife Katherine +maintains that the floor ought to be scrubbed as well, but that is a +debatable question—in such a house, let me tell you, people will lose +within two or three years the power of thinking or acting in a moral +manner. Lack of oxygen weakens the conscience. And there must be a +plentiful lack of oxygen in very many houses in this town, I should +think, judging from the fact that the whole compact majority can be +unconscientious enough to wish to build the town's prosperity on a +quagmire of falsehood and deceit. + +Aslaksen. We cannot allow such a grave accusation to be flung at a +citizen community. + +A Citizen. I move that the Chairman direct the speaker to sit down. + +Voices (angrily). Hear, hear! Quite right! Make him sit down! + +Dr. Stockmann (losing his self-control). Then I will go and shout the +truth at every street corner! I will write it in other towns' +newspapers! The whole country shall know what is going on here! + +Hovstad. It almost seems as if Dr. Stockmann's intention were to ruin +the town. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, my native town is so dear to me that I would rather +ruin it than see it flourishing upon a lie. + +Aslaksen. This is really serious. (Uproar and cat-calls MRS. STOCKMANN +coughs, but to no purpose; her husband does not listen to her any +longer.) + +Hovstad (shouting above the din). A man must be a public enemy to wish +to ruin a whole community! + +Dr. Stockmann (with growing fervor). What does the destruction of a +community matter, if it lives on lies? It ought to be razed to the +ground. I tell you— All who live by lies ought to be exterminated like +vermin! You will end by infecting the whole country; you will bring +about such a state of things that the whole country will deserve to be +ruined. And if things come to that pass, I shall say from the bottom of +my heart: Let the whole country perish, let all these people be +exterminated! + +Voices from the crowd. That is talking like an out-and-out enemy of the +people! + +Billing. There sounded the voice of the people, by all that's holy! + +The whole crowd (shouting). Yes, yes! He is an enemy of the people! He +hates his country! He hates his own people! + +Aslaksen. Both as a citizen and as an individual, I am profoundly +disturbed by what we have had to listen to. Dr. Stockmann has shown +himself in a light I should never have dreamed of. I am unhappily +obliged to subscribe to the opinion which I have just heard my +estimable fellow-citizens utter; and I propose that we should give +expression to that opinion in a resolution. I propose a resolution as +follows: "This meeting declares that it considers Dr. Thomas Stockmann, +Medical Officer of the Baths, to be an enemy of the people." (A storm +of cheers and applause. A number of men surround the DOCTOR and hiss +him. MRS. STOCKMANN and PETRA have got up from their seats. MORTEN and +EJLIF are fighting the other schoolboys for hissing; some of their +elders separate them.) + +Dr. Stockmann (to the men who are hissing him). Oh, you fools! I tell +you that— + +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). We cannot hear you now, Doctor. A formal +vote is about to be taken; but, out of regard for personal feelings, it +shall be by ballot and not verbal. Have you any clean paper, Mr. +Billing? + +Billing. I have both blue and white here. + +Aslaksen (going to him). That will do nicely; we shall get on more +quickly that way. Cut it up into small strips—yes, that's it. (To the +meeting.) Blue means no; white means yes. I will come round myself and +collect votes. (PETER STOCKMANN leaves the hall. ASLAKSEN and one or +two others go round the room with the slips of paper in their hats.) + +1st Citizen (to HOVSTAD). I say, what has come to the Doctor? What are +we to think of it? + +Hovstad. Oh, you know how headstrong he is. + +2nd Citizen (to BILLING). Billing, you go to their house—have you ever +noticed if the fellow drinks? + +Billing. Well I'm hanged if I know what to say. There are always +spirits on the table when you go. + +3rd Citizen. I rather think he goes quite off his head sometimes. + +1st Citizen. I wonder if there is any madness in his family? + +Billing. I shouldn't wonder if there were. + +4th Citizen. No, it is nothing more than sheer malice; he wants to get +even with somebody for something or other. + +Billing. Well certainly he suggested a rise in his salary on one +occasion lately, and did not get it. + +The Citizens (together). Ah!—then it is easy to understand how it is! + +The Drunken Man (who has got among the audience again). I want a blue +one, I do! And I want a white one too! + +Voices. It's that drunken chap again! Turn him out! + +Morten Kiil. (going up to DR. STOCKMANN). Well, Stockmann, do you see +what these monkey tricks of yours lead to? + +Dr. Stockmann. I have done my duty. + +Morten Kiil. What was that you said about the tanneries at Molledal? + +Dr. Stockmann. You heard well enough. I said they were the source of +all the filth. + +Morten Kiil. My tannery too? + +Dr. Stockmann. Unfortunately your tannery is by far the worst. + +Morten Kiil. Are you going to put that in the papers? + +Dr. Stockmann. I shall conceal nothing. + +Morten Kiil. That may cost you dearly, Stockmann. (Goes out.) + +A Stout Man (going UP to CAPTAIN HORSTER, Without taking any notice of +the ladies). Well, Captain, so you lend your house to enemies of the +people? + +Horster. I imagine I can do what I like with my own possessions, Mr. +Vik. + +The Stout Man. Then you can have no objection to my doing the same with +mine. + +Horster. What do you mean, sir? + +The Stout Man. You shall hear from me in the morning. (Turns his back +on him and moves off.) + +Petra. Was that not your owner, Captain Horster? + +Horster. Yes, that was Mr. Vik the shipowner. + +Aslaksen (with the voting-papers in his hands, gets up on to the +platform and rings his bell). Gentlemen, allow me to announce the +result. By the votes of every one here except one person— + +A Young Man. That is the drunk chap! + +Aslaksen. By the votes of everyone here except a tipsy man, this +meeting of citizens declares Dr. Thomas Stockmann to be an enemy of the +people. (Shouts and applause.) Three cheers for our ancient and +honourable citizen community! (Renewed applause.) Three cheers for our +able and energetic Mayor, who has so loyally suppressed the promptings +of family feeling! (Cheers.) The meeting is dissolved. (Gets down.) + +Billing. Three cheers for the Chairman! + +The whole crowd. Three cheers for Aslaksen! Hurrah! + +Dr. Stockmann. My hat and coat, Petra! Captain, have you room on your +ship for passengers to the New World? + +Horster. For you and yours we will make room, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann (as PETRA helps him into his coat), Good. Come, +Katherine! Come, boys! + +Mrs. Stockmann (in an undertone). Thomas, dear, let us go out by the +back way. + +Dr. Stockmann. No back ways for me, Katherine, (Raising his voice.) You +will hear more of this enemy of the people, before he shakes the dust +off his shoes upon you! I am not so forgiving as a certain Person; I do +not say: "I forgive you, for ye know not what ye do." + +Aslaksen (shouting). That is a blasphemous comparison, Dr. Stockmann! + +Billing. It is, by God! It's dreadful for an earnest man to listen to. + +A Coarse Voice. Threatens us now, does he! + +Other Voices (excitedly). Let's go and break his windows! Duck him in +the fjord! + +Another Voice. Blow your horn, Evensen! Pip, pip! + +(Horn-blowing, hisses, and wild cries. DR. STOCKMANN goes out through +the hall with his family, HORSTER elbowing a way for them.) + +The Whole Crowd (howling after them as they go). Enemy of the People! +Enemy of the People! + +Billing (as he puts his papers together). Well, I'm damned if I go and +drink toddy with the Stockmanns tonight! + +(The crowd press towards the exit. The uproar continues outside; shouts +of "Enemy of the People!" are heard from without.) + + +ACT V + +(SCENE.—DR. STOCKMANN'S study. Bookcases and cabinets containing +specimens, line the walls. At the back is a door leading to the hall; +in the foreground on the left, a door leading to the sitting-room. In +the righthand wall are two windows, of which all the panes are broken. +The DOCTOR'S desk, littered with books and papers, stands in the middle +of the room, which is in disorder. It is morning. DR. STOCKMANN in +dressing-gown, slippers and a smoking-cap, is bending down and raking +with an umbrella under one of the cabinets. After a little while he +rakes out a stone.) + +Dr. Stockmann (calling through the open sitting-room door). Katherine, +I have found another one. + +Mrs. Stockmann (from the sitting-room). Oh, you will find a lot more +yet, I expect. + +Dr. Stockmann (adding the stone to a heap of others on the table). I +shall treasure these stones as relics. Ejlif and Morten shall look at +them every day, and when they are grown up they shall inherit them as +heirlooms. (Rakes about under a bookcase.) Hasn't—what the deuce is +her name?—the girl, you know—hasn't she been to fetch the glazier yet? + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in). Yes, but he said he didn't know if he would +be able to come today. + +Dr. Stockmann. You will see he won't dare to come. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, that is just what Randine thought—that he didn't +dare to, on account of the neighbours. (Calls into the sitting-room.) +What is it you want, Randine? Give it to me. (Goes in, and comes out +again directly.) Here is a letter for you, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Let me see it. (Opens and reads it.) Ah!—of course. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Who is it from? + +Dr. Stockmann. From the landlord. Notice to quit. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Is it possible? Such a nice man + +Dr. Stockmann (looking at the letter). Does not dare do otherwise, he +says. Doesn't like doing it, but dare not do otherwise—on account of +his fellow-citizens—out of regard for public opinion. Is in a +dependent position—dares not offend certain influential men. + +Mrs. Stockmann. There, you see, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes, I see well enough; the whole lot of them in +the town are cowards; not a man among them dares do anything for fear +of the others. (Throws the letter on to the table.) But it doesn't +matter to us, Katherine. We are going to sail away to the New World, +and— + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas, are you sure we are well advised to take +this step? + +Dr. Stockmann. Are you suggesting that I should stay here, where they +have pilloried me as an enemy of the people—branded me—broken my +windows! And just look here, Katherine—they have torn a great rent in +my black trousers too! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, dear!—and they are the best pair you have got! + +Dr. Stockmann. You should never wear your best trousers when you go out +to fight for freedom and truth. It is not that I care so much about the +trousers, you know; you can always sew them up again for me. But that +the common herd should dare to make this attack on me, as if they were +my equals—that is what I cannot, for the life of me, swallow! + +Mrs. Stockmann. There is no doubt they have behaved very ill toward +you, Thomas; but is that sufficient reason for our leaving our native +country for good and all? + +Dr. Stockmann. If we went to another town, do you suppose we should not +find the common people just as insolent as they are here? Depend upon +it, there is not much to choose between them. Oh, well, let the curs +snap—that is not the worst part of it. The worst is that, from one end +of this country to the other, every man is the slave of his Party. +Although, as far as that goes, I daresay it is not much better in the +free West either; the compact majority, and liberal public opinion, and +all that infernal old bag of tricks are probably rampant there too. But +there things are done on a larger scale, you see. They may kill you, +but they won't put you to death by slow torture. They don't squeeze a +free man's soul in a vice, as they do here. And, if need be, one can +live in solitude. (Walks up and down.) If only I knew where there was a +virgin forest or a small South Sea island for sale, cheap— + +Mrs. Stockmann. But think of the boys, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still). What a strange woman you are, +Katherine! Would you prefer to have the boys grow up in a society like +this? You saw for yourself last night that half the population are out +of their minds; and if the other half have not lost their senses, it is +because they are mere brutes, with no sense to lose. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas dear, the imprudent things you said had +something to do with it, you know. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, isn't what I said perfectly true? Don't they turn +every idea topsy-turvy? Don't they make a regular hotchpotch of right +and wrong? Don't they say that the things I know are true, are lies? +The craziest part of it all is the fact of these "liberals," men of +full age, going about in crowds imagining that they are the +broad-minded party! Did you ever hear anything like it, Katherine! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, yes, it's mad enough of them, certainly; +but—(PETRA comes in from the sitting-room). Back from school already? + +Petra. Yes. I have been given notice of dismissal. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Dismissal? + +Dr. Stockmann. You too? + +Petra. Mrs. Busk gave me my notice; so I thought it was best to go at +once. + +Dr. Stockmann. You were perfectly right, too! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Who would have thought Mrs. Busk was a woman like that! + +Petra. Mrs. Busk isn't a bit like that, mother; I saw quite plainly how +it hurt her to do it. But she didn't dare do otherwise, she said; and +so I got my notice. + +Dr. Stockmann (laughing and rubbing his hands). She didn't dare do +otherwise, either! It's delicious! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, after the dreadful scenes last night— + +Petra. It was not only that. Just listen to this, father! + +Dr. Stockmann. Well? + +Petra. Mrs. Busk showed me no less than three letters she received this +morning— + +Dr. Stockmann. Anonymous, I suppose? + +Petra. Yes. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, because they didn't dare to risk signing their +names, Katherine! + +Petra. And two of them were to the effect that a man, who has been our +guest here, was declaring last night at the Club that my views on +various subjects are extremely emancipated— + +Dr. Stockmann. You did not deny that, I hope? + +Petra. No, you know I wouldn't. Mrs. Busk's own views are tolerably +emancipated, when we are alone together; but now that this report about +me is being spread, she dare not keep me on any longer. + +Mrs. Stockmann. And someone who had been a guest of ours! That shows +you the return you get for your hospitality, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. We won't live in such a disgusting hole any longer. Pack +up as quickly as you can, Katherine; the sooner we can get away, the +better. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Be quiet—I think I hear someone in the hall. See who +it is, Petra. + +Petra (opening the door). Oh, it's you, Captain Horster! Do come in. + +Horster (coming in). Good morning. I thought I would just come in and +see how you were. + +Dr. Stockmann (shaking his hand). Thanks—that is really kind of you. + +Mrs. Stockmann. And thank you, too, for helping us through the crowd, +Captain Horster. + +Petra. How did you manage to get home again? + +Horster. Oh, somehow or other. I am fairly strong, and there is more +sound than fury about these folk. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, isn't their swinish cowardice astonishing? Look +here, I will show you something! There are all the stones they have +thrown through my windows. Just look at them! I'm hanged if there are +more than two decently large bits of hard stone in the whole heap; the +rest are nothing but gravel—wretched little things. And yet they stood +out there bawling and swearing that they would do me some violence; but +as for doing anything—you don't see much of that in this town. + +Horster. Just as well for you this time, doctor! + +Dr. Stockmann. True enough. But it makes one angry all the same; +because if some day it should be a question of a national fight in real +earnest, you will see that public opinion will be in favour of taking +to one's heels, and the compact majority will turn tail like a flock of +sheep, Captain Horster. That is what is so mournful to think of; it +gives me so much concern, that—. No, devil take it, it is ridiculous +to care about it! They have called me an enemy of the people, so an +enemy of the people let me be! + +Mrs. Stockmann. You will never be that, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Don't swear to that, Katherine. To be called an ugly +name may have the same effect as a pin-scratch in the lung. And that +hateful name—I can't get quit of it. It is sticking here in the pit of +my stomach, eating into me like a corrosive acid. And no magnesia will +remove it. + +Petra. Bah!—you should only laugh at them, father, + +Horster. They will change their minds some day, Doctor. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, Thomas, as sure as you are standing here. + +Dr. Stockmann. Perhaps, when it is too late. Much good may it do them! +They may wallow in their filth then and rue the day when they drove a +patriot into exile. When do you sail, Captain Horster? + +Horster. Hm!—that was just what I had come to speak about— + +Dr. Stockmann. Why, has anything gone wrong with the ship? + +Horster. No; but what has happened is that I am not to sail in it. + +Petra. Do you mean that you have been dismissed from your command? + +Horster (smiling). Yes, that's just it. + +Petra. You too. + +Mrs. Stockmann. There, you see, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. And that for the truth's sake! Oh, if I had thought such +a thing possible— + +Horster. You mustn't take it to heart; I shall be sure to find a job +with some ship-owner or other, elsewhere. + +Dr. Stockmann. And that is this man Vik—a wealthy man, independent of +everyone and everything—! Shame on him! + +Horster. He is quite an excellent fellow otherwise; he told me himself +he would willingly have kept me on, if only he had dared— + +Dr. Stockmann. But he didn't dare? No, of course not. + +Horster. It is not such an easy matter, he said, for a party man— + +Dr. Stockmann. The worthy man spoke the truth. A party is like a +sausage machine; it mashes up all sorts of heads together into the same +mincemeat—fatheads and blockheads, all in one mash! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Come, come, Thomas dear! + +Petra (to HORSTER). If only you had not come home with us, things might +not have come to this pass. + +Horster. I do not regret it. + +Petra (holding out her hand to him). Thank you for that! + +Horster (to DR. STOCKMANN). And so what I came to say was that if you +are determined to go away, I have thought of another plan— + +Dr. Stockmann. That's splendid!—if only we can get away at once. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Hush!—wasn't that some one knocking? + +Petra. That is uncle, surely. + +Dr. Stockmann. Aha! (Calls out.) Come in! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Dear Thomas, promise me definitely—. (PETER STOCKMANN +comes in from the hall.) + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, you are engaged. In that case, I will— + +Dr. Stockmann. No, no, come in. + +Peter Stockmann. But I wanted to speak to you alone. + +Mrs. Stockmann. We will go into the sitting-room in the meanwhile. + +Horster. And I will look in again later. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, go in there with them, Captain Horster; I want to +hear more about—. + +Horster. Very well, I will wait, then. (He follows MRS. STOCKMANN and +PETRA into the sitting-room.) + +Dr. Stockmann. I daresay you find it rather draughty here today. Put +your hat on. + +Peter Stockmann. Thank you, if I may. (Does so.) I think I caught cold +last night; I stood and shivered— + +Dr. Stockmann. Really? I found it warm enough. + +Peter Stockmann. I regret that it was not in my power to prevent those +excesses last night. + +Dr. Stockmann. Have you anything in particular to say to me besides +that? + +Peter Stockmann (taking a big letter from his pocket). I have this +document for you, from the Baths Committee. + +Dr. Stockmann. My dismissal? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, dating from today. (Lays the letter on the +table.) It gives us pain to do it; but, to speak frankly, we dared not +do otherwise on account of public opinion. + +Dr. Stockmann (smiling). Dared not? I seem to have heard that word +before, today. + +Peter Stockmann. I must beg you to understand your position clearly. +For the future you must not count on any practice whatever in the town. + +Dr. Stockmann. Devil take the practice! But why are you so sure of that? + +Peter Stockmann. The Householders' Association is circulating a list +from house to house. All right-minded citizens are being called upon to +give up employing you; and I can assure you that not a single head of a +family will risk refusing his signature. They simply dare not. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, no; I don't doubt it. But what then? + +Peter Stockmann. If I might advise you, it would be best to leave the +place for a little while— + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, the propriety of leaving the place has occurred to +me. + +Peter Stockmann. Good. And then, when you have had six months to think +things over, if, after mature consideration, you can persuade yourself +to write a few words of regret, acknowledging your error— + +Dr. Stockmann. I might have my appointment restored to me, do you mean? + +Peter Stockmann. Perhaps. It is not at all impossible. + +Dr. Stockmann. But what about public opinion, then? Surely you would +not dare to do it on account of public feeling... + +Peter Stockmann. Public opinion is an extremely mutable thing. And, to +be quite candid with you, it is a matter of great importance to us to +have some admission of that sort from you in writing. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, that's what you are after, is it! I will just +trouble you to remember what I said to you lately about foxy tricks of +that sort! + +Peter Stockmann. Your position was quite different then. At that time +you had reason to suppose you had the whole town at your back— + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and now I feel I have the whole town ON my +back—(flaring up). I would not do it if I had the devil and his dam on +my back—! Never—never, I tell you! + +Peter Stockmann. A man with a family has no right to behave as you do. +You have no right to do it, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. I have no right! There is only one single thing in the +world a free man has no right to do. Do you know what that is? + +Peter Stockmann. No. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course you don't, but I will tell you. A free man has +no right to soil himself with filth; he has no right to behave in a way +that would justify his spitting in his own face. + +Peter Stockmann. This sort of thing sounds extremely plausible, of +course; and if there were no other explanation for your obstinacy—. +But as it happens that there is. + +Dr. Stockmann. What do you mean? + +Peter Stockmann. You understand, very well what I mean. But, as your +brother and as a man of discretion, I advise you not to build too much +upon expectations and prospects that may so very easily fail you. + +Dr. Stockmann. What in the world is all this about? + +Peter Stockmann. Do you really ask me to believe that you are ignorant +of the terms of Mr. Kiil's will? + +Dr. Stockmann. I know that the small amount he possesses is to go to an +institution for indigent old workpeople. How does that concern me? + +Peter Stockmann. In the first place, it is by no means a small amount +that is in question. Mr. Kiil is a fairly wealthy man. + +Dr. Stockmann. I had no notion of that! + +Peter Stockmann. Hm!—hadn't you really? Then I suppose you had no +notion, either, that a considerable portion of his wealth will come to +your children, you and your wife having a life-rent of the capital. Has +he never told you so? + +Dr. Stockmann. Never, on my honour! Quite the reverse; he has +consistently done nothing but fume at being so unconscionably heavily +taxed. But are you perfectly certain of this, Peter? + +Peter Stockmann. I have it from an absolutely reliable source. + +Dr. Stockmann. Then, thank God, Katherine is provided for—and the +children too! I must tell her this at once—(calls out) Katherine, +Katherine! + +Peter Stockmann (restraining him). Hush, don't say a word yet! + +Mrs. Stockmann (opening the door). What is the matter? + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, nothing, nothing; you can go back. (She shuts the +door. DR. STOCKMANN walks up and down in his excitement.) Provided +for!—Just think of it, we are all provided for! And for life! What a +blessed feeling it is to know one is provided for! + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, but that is just exactly what you are not. Mr. +Kiil can alter his will any day he likes. + +Dr. Stockmann. But he won't do that, my dear Peter. The "Badger" is +much too delighted at my attack on you and your wise friends. + +Peter Stockmann (starts and looks intently at him). Ah, that throws a +light on various things. + +Dr. Stockmann. What things? + +Peter Stockmann. I see that the whole thing was a combined manoeuvre on +your part and his. These violent, reckless attacks that you have made +against the leading men of the town, under the pretence that it was in +the name of truth— + +Dr. Stockmann. What about them? + +Peter Stockmann. I see that they were nothing else than the stipulated +price for that vindictive old man's will. + +Dr. Stockmann (almost speechless). Peter—you are the most disgusting +plebeian I have ever met in all my life. + +Peter Stockmann. All is over between us. Your dismissal is +irrevocable—we have a weapon against you now. (Goes out.) + +Dr. Stockmann. For shame! For shame! (Calls out.) Katherine, you must +have the floor scrubbed after him! Let—what's her name—devil take it, +the girl who has always got soot on her nose— + +Mrs. Stockmann. (in the sitting-room). Hush, Thomas, be quiet! + +Petra (coming to the door). Father, grandfather is here, asking if he +may speak to you alone. + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly he may. (Going to the door.) Come in, Mr. +Kiil. (MORTEN KIIL comes in. DR. STOCKMANN shuts the door after him.) +What can I do for you? Won't you sit down? + +Morten Kiil. I won't sit. (Looks around.) You look very comfortable +here today, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, don't we! + +Morten Kiil. Very comfortable—plenty of fresh air. I should think you +have got enough to-day of that oxygen you were talking about yesterday. +Your conscience must be in splendid order to-day, I should think. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is. + +Morten Kiil. So I should think. (Taps his chest.) Do you know what I +have got here? + +Dr. Stockmann. A good conscience, too, I hope. + +Morten Kiil. Bah!—No, it is something better than that. (He takes a +thick pocket-book from his breast-pocket, opens it, and displays a +packet of papers.) + +Dr. Stockmann (looking at him in astonishment). Shares in the Baths? + +Morten Kiil. They were not difficult to get today. + +Dr. Stockmann. And you have been buying—? + +Morten Kiil. As many as I could pay for. + +Dr. Stockmann. But, my dear Mr. Kiil—consider the state of the Baths' +affairs! + +Morten Kiil. If you behave like a reasonable man, you can soon set the +Baths on their feet again. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, you can see for yourself that I have done all I +can, but—. They are all mad in this town! + +Morten Kiil. You said yesterday that the worst of this pollution came +from my tannery. If that is true, then my grandfather and my father +before me, and I myself, for many years past, have been poisoning the +town like three destroying angels. Do you think I am going to sit quiet +under that reproach? + +Dr. Stockmann. Unfortunately I am afraid you will have to. + +Morten Kiil. No, thank you. I am jealous of my name and reputation. +They call me "the Badger," I am told. A badger is a kind of pig, I +believe; but I am not going to give them the right to call me that. I +mean to live and die a clean man. + +Dr. Stockmann. And how are you going to set about it? + +Morten Kiil. You shall cleanse me, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. I! + +Morten Kiil. Do you know what money I have bought these shares with? +No, of course you can't know—but I will tell you. It is the money that +Katherine and Petra and the boys will have when I am gone. Because I +have been able to save a little bit after all, you know. + +Dr. Stockmann (flaring up). And you have gone and taken Katherine's +money for this! + +Morten Kiil. Yes, the whole of the money is invested in the Baths now. +And now I just want to see whether you are quite stark, staring mad, +Thomas! If you still make out that these animals and other nasty things +of that sort come from my tannery, it will be exactly as if you were to +flay broad strips of skin from Katherine's body, and Petra's, and the +boys'; and no decent man would do that—unless he were mad. + +Dr. Stockmann (walking up and down). Yes, but I am mad; I am mad! + +Morten Kiil. You cannot be so absurdly mad as all that, when it is a +question of your wife and children. + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still in front of him). Why couldn't you +consult me about it, before you went and bought all that trash? + +Morten Kiil. What is done cannot be undone. + +Dr. Stockmann (walks about uneasily). If only I were not so certain +about it—! But I am absolutely convinced that I am right. + +Morten Kiil (weighing the pocket-book in his hand). If you stick to +your mad idea, this won't be worth much, you know. (Puts the +pocket-book in his pocket.) + +Dr. Stockmann. But, hang it all! It might be possible for science to +discover some prophylactic, I should think—or some antidote of some +kind— + +Morten Kiil. To kill these animals, do you mean? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, or to make them innocuous. + +Morten Kiil. Couldn't you try some rat's-bane? + +Dr. Stockmann. Don't talk nonsense! They all say it is only +imagination, you know. Well, let it go at that! Let them have their own +way about it! Haven't the ignorant, narrow-minded curs reviled me as an +enemy of the people?—and haven't they been ready to tear the clothes +off my back too? + +Morten Kiil. And broken all your windows to pieces! + +Dr. Stockmann. And then there is my duty to my family. I must talk it +over with Katherine; she is great on those things. + +Morten Kiil. That is right; be guided by a reasonable woman's advice. + +Dr. Stockmann (advancing towards him). To think you could do such a +preposterous thing! Risking Katherine's money in this way, and putting +me in such a horribly painful dilemma! When I look at you, I think I +see the devil himself—. + +Morten Kiil. Then I had better go. But I must have an answer from you +before two o'clock—yes or no. If it is no, the shares go to a charity, +and that this very day. + +Dr. Stockmann. And what does Katherine get? + +Morten Kiil. Not a halfpenny. (The door leading to the hall opens, and +HOVSTAD and ASLAKSEN make their appearance.) Look at those two! + +Dr. Stockmann (staring at them). What the devil!—have YOU actually the +face to come into my house? + +Hovstad. Certainly. + +Aslaksen. We have something to say to you, you see. + +Morten Kiil (in a whisper). Yes or no—before two o'clock. + +Aslaksen (glancing at HOVSTAD). Aha! (MORTEN KIIL goes out.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, what do you want with me? Be brief. + +Hovstad. I can quite understand that you are annoyed with us for our +attitude at the meeting yesterday. + +Dr. Stockmann. Attitude, do you call it? Yes, it was a charming +attitude! I call it weak, womanish—damnably shameful! + +Hovstad. Call it what you like, we could not do otherwise. + +Dr. Stockmann. You DARED not do otherwise—isn't that it? + +Hovstad. Well, if you like to put it that way. + +Aslaksen. But why did you not let us have word of it beforehand?—just +a hint to Mr. Hovstad or to me? + +Dr. Stockmann. A hint? Of what? + +Aslaksen. Of what was behind it all. + +Dr. Stockmann. I don't understand you in the least— + +Aslaksen (with a confidential nod). Oh yes, you do, Dr. Stockmann. + +Hovstad. It is no good making a mystery of it any longer. + +Dr. Stockmann (looking first at one of them and then at the other). +What the devil do you both mean? + +Aslaksen. May I ask if your father-in-law is not going round the town +buying up all the shares in the Baths? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, he has been buying Baths shares today; but— + +Aslaksen. It would have been more prudent to get someone else to do +it—someone less nearly related to you. + +Hovstad. And you should not have let your name appear in the affair. +There was no need for anyone to know that the attack on the Baths came +from you. You ought to have consulted me, Dr. Stockmann. + +Dr. Stockmann (looks in front of him; then a light seems to dawn on him +and he says in amazement.) Are such things conceivable? Are such things +possible? + +Aslaksen (with a smile). Evidently they are. But it is better to use a +little finesse, you know. + +Hovstad. And it is much better to have several persons in a thing of +that sort; because the responsibility of each individual is lessened, +when there are others with him. + +Dr. Stockmann (composedly). Come to the point, gentlemen. What do you +want? + +Aslaksen. Perhaps Mr. Hovstad had better— + +Hovstad. No, you tell him, Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. Well, the fact is that, now we know the bearings of the whole +affair, we think we might venture to put the "People's Messenger" at +your disposal. + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you dare do that now? What about public opinion? Are +you not afraid of a storm breaking upon our heads? + +Hovstad. We will try to weather it. + +Aslaksen. And you must be ready to go off quickly on a new tack, +Doctor. As soon as your invective has done its work— + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you mean, as soon as my father-in-law and I have got +hold of the shares at a low figure? + +Hovstad. Your reasons for wishing to get the control of the Baths are +mainly scientific, I take it. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course; it was for scientific reasons that I +persuaded the old "Badger" to stand in with me in the matter. So we +will tinker at the conduit-pipes a little, and dig up a little bit of +the shore, and it shan't cost the town a sixpence. That will be all +right—eh? + +Hovstad. I think so—if you have the "People's Messenger" behind you. + +Aslaksen. The Press is a power in a free community. Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so. And so is public opinion. And you, Mr. +Aslaksen—I suppose you will be answerable for the Householders' +Association? + +Aslaksen. Yes, and for the Temperance Society. You may rely on that. + +Dr. Stockmann. But, gentlemen—I really am ashamed to ask the +question—but, what return do you—? + +Hovstad. We should prefer to help you without any return whatever, +believe me. But the "People's Messenger" is in rather a shaky +condition; it doesn't go really well; and I should be very unwilling to +suspend the paper now, when there is so much work to do here in the +political way. + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so; that would be a great trial to such a friend +of the people as you are. (Flares up.) But I am an enemy of the people, +remember! (Walks about the room.) Where have I put my stick? Where the +devil is my stick? + +Hovstad. What's that? + +Aslaksen. Surely you never mean— + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still.) And suppose I don't give you a single +penny of all I get out of it? Money is not very easy to get out of us +rich folk, please to remember! + +Hovstad. And you please to remember that this affair of the shares can +be represented in two ways! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and you are just the man to do it. If I don't come +to the rescue of the "People's Messenger," you will certainly take an +evil view of the affair; you will hunt me down, I can well +imagine—pursue me—try to throttle me as a dog does a hare. + +Hovstad. It is a natural law; every animal must fight for its own +livelihood. + +Aslaksen. And get its food where it can, you know. + +Dr. Stockmann (walking about the room). Then you go and look for yours +in the gutter; because I am going to show you which is the strongest +animal of us three! (Finds an umbrella and brandishes it above his +head.) Ah, now—! + +Hovstad. You are surely not going to use violence! + +Aslaksen. Take care what you are doing with that umbrella. + +Dr. Stockmann. Out of the window with you, Mr. Hovstad! + +Hovstad (edging to the door). Are you quite mad! + +Dr. Stockmann. Out of the window, Mr. Aslaksen! Jump, I tell you! You +will have to do it, sooner or later. + +Aslaksen (running round the writing-table). Moderation, Doctor—I am a +delicate man—I can stand so little—(calls out) help, help! + +(MRS. STOCKMANN, PETRA and HORSTER come in from the sitting-room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. Good gracious, Thomas! What is happening? + +Dr. Stockmann (brandishing the umbrella). Jump out, I tell you! Out +into the gutter! + +Hovstad. An assault on an unoffending man! I call you to witness, +Captain Horster. (Hurries out through the hall.) + +Aslaksen (irresolutely). If only I knew the way about here—. (Steals +out through the sitting-room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (holding her husband back). Control yourself, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann (throwing down the umbrella). Upon my soul, they have +escaped after all. + +Mrs. Stockmann. What did they want you to do? + +Dr. Stockmann. I will tell you later on; I have something else to think +about now. (Goes to the table and writes something on a calling-card.) +Look there, Katherine; what is written there? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Three big Noes; what does that mean. + +Dr. Stockmann. I will tell you that too, later on. (Holds out the card +to PETRA.) There, Petra; tell sooty-face to run over to the "Badger's" +with that, as quick as she can. Hurry up! (PETRA takes the card and +goes out to the hall.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, I think I have had a visit from every one of the +devil's messengers to-day! But now I am going to sharpen my pen till +they can feel its point; I shall dip it in venom and gall; I shall hurl +my inkpot at their heads! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, but we are going away, you know, Thomas. + +(PETRA comes back.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Well? + +Petra. She has gone with it. + +Dr. Stockmann. Good.—Going away, did you say? No, I'll be hanged if we +are going away! We are going to stay where we are, Katherine! + +Petra. Stay here? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Here, in the town? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, here. This is the field of battle—this is where +the fight will be. This is where I shall triumph! As soon as I have had +my trousers sewn up I shall go out and look for another house. We must +have a roof over our heads for the winter. + +Horster. That you shall have in my house. + +Dr. Stockmann. Can I? + +Horsier. Yes, quite well. I have plenty of room, and I am almost never +at home. + +Mrs. Stockmann. How good of you, Captain Horster! + +Petra. Thank you! + +Dr. Stockmann (grasping his hand). Thank you, thank you! That is one +trouble over! Now I can set to work in earnest at once. There is an +endless amount of things to look through here, Katherine! Luckily I +shall have all my time at my disposal; because I have been dismissed +from the Baths, you know. + +Mrs. Stockmann (with a sigh). Oh yes, I expected that. + +Dr. Stockmann. And they want to take my practice away from me too. Let +them! I have got the poor people to fall back upon, anyway—those that +don't pay anything; and, after all, they need me most, too. But, by +Jove, they will have to listen to me; I shall preach to them in season +and out of season, as it says somewhere. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, I should have thought events had +showed you what use it is to preach. + +Dr. Stockmann. You are really ridiculous, Katherine. Do you want me to +let myself be beaten off the field by public opinion and the compact +majority and all that devilry? No, thank you! And what I want to do is +so simple and clear and straightforward. I only want to drum into the +heads of these curs the fact that the liberals are the most insidious +enemies of freedom—that party programmes strangle every young and +vigorous truth—that considerations of expediency turn morality and +justice upside down—and that they will end by making life here +unbearable. Don't you think, Captain Horster, that I ought to be able +to make people understand that? + +Horster. Very likely; I don't know much about such things myself. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, look here—I will explain! It is the party leaders +that must be exterminated. A party leader is like a wolf, you see—like +a voracious wolf. He requires a certain number of smaller victims to +prey upon every year, if he is to live. Just look at Hovstad and +Aslaksen! How many smaller victims have they not put an end to—or at +any rate maimed and mangled until they are fit for nothing except to be +householders or subscribers to the "People's Messenger"! (Sits down on +the edge of the table.) Come here, Katherine—look how beautifully the +sun shines to-day! And this lovely spring air I am drinking in! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, if only we could live on sunshine and spring air, +Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, you will have to pinch and save a bit—then we shall +get along. That gives me very little concern. What is much worse is, +that I know of no one who is liberal-minded and high-minded enough to +venture to take up my work after me. + +Petra. Don't think about that, father; you have plenty of time before +you.—Hello, here are the boys already! + +(EJLIF and MORTEN come in from the sitting-room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. Have you got a holiday? + +Morten. No; but we were fighting with the other boys between lessons— + +Ejlif. That isn't true; it was the other boys were fighting with us. + +Morten. Well, and then Mr. Rorlund said we had better stay at home for +a day or two. + +Dr. Stockmann (snapping his fingers and getting up from the table). I +have it! I have it, by Jove! You shall never set foot in the school +again! + +The Boys. No more school! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas— + +Dr. Stockmann. Never, I say. I will educate you myself; that is to say, +you shan't learn a blessed thing— + +Morten. Hooray! + +Dr. Stockmann. —but I will make liberal-minded and high-minded men of +you. You must help me with that, Petra. + +Petra, Yes, father, you may be sure I will. + +Dr. Stockmann. And my school shall be in the room where they insulted +me and called me an enemy of the people. But we are too few as we are; +I must have at least twelve boys to begin with. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You will certainly never get them in this town. + +Dr. Stockmann. We shall. (To the boys.) Don't you know any street +urchins—regular ragamuffins—? + +Morten. Yes, father, I know lots! + +Dr. Stockmann. That's capital! Bring me some specimens of them. I am +going to experiment with curs, just for once; there may be some +exceptional heads among them. + +Morten. And what are we going to do, when you have made liberal-minded +and high-minded men of us? + +Dr. Stockmann. Then you shall drive all the wolves out of the country, +my boys! + +(EJLIF looks rather doubtful about it; MORTEN jumps about crying +"Hurrah!") + +Mrs. Stockmann. Let us hope it won't be the wolves that will drive you +out of the country, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Are you out of your mind, Katherine? Drive me out! +Now—when I am the strongest man in the town! + +Mrs. Stockmann. The strongest—now? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and I will go so far as to say that now I am the +strongest man in the whole world. + +Morten. I say! + +Dr. Stockmann (lowering his voice). Hush! You mustn't say anything +about it yet; but I have made a great discovery. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Another one? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. (Gathers them round him, and says confidentially:) +It is this, let me tell you—that the strongest man in the world is he +who stands most alone. + +Mrs. Stockmann (smiling and shaking her head). Oh, Thomas, Thomas! + +Petra (encouragingly, as she grasps her father's hands). Father! + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of An Enemy of the People, by Henrik Ibsen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE *** + +***** This file should be named 2446-0.txt or 2446-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/4/2446/ + +Produced by Martin Adamson. HTML version by Al Haines. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: An Enemy of the People + +Author: Henrik Ibsen + +Translator: R. Farquharson Sharp + +Release Date: December, 2000 [EBook #2446] +Last updated: May 1, 2019 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Adamson. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1> +AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE +</h1> + +<h3> +A play in five acts +</h3> + +<h3> +by +</h3> + +<h2> +Henrik Ibsen +</h2> + +<h3> +Translated by R. Farquharson Sharp +</h3> + +<hr /> + +<h3>Contents</h3> + +<table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">ACT I</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap02">ACT II</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">ACT III</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">ACT IV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">ACT V</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<p class="noindent"> +DRAMATIS PERSONAE +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> + Dr. Thomas Stockmann, Medical Officer of the Municipal Baths.<br/> + Mrs. Stockmann, his wife.<br/> + Petra (their daughter) a teacher.<br/> + Ejlif & Morten (their sons, aged 13 and 10 respectively).<br/> + Peter Stockmann (the Doctor's elder brother), Mayor of the<br/> + Town and Chief Constable, Chairman of the Baths' Committee, etc.<br/> + Morten Kiil, a tanner (Mrs. Stockmann's adoptive father).<br/> + Hovstad, editor of the "People's Messenger."<br/> + Billing, sub-editor.<br/> + Captain Horster.<br/> + Aslaksen, a printer.<br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Men of various conditions and occupations, a few women, and a troop of +schoolboys—the audience at a public meeting. +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +The action takes place in a coastal town in southern Norway, +</p> + +<h2> +AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE +</h2> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap01"></a>ACT I</h3> + +<p class="noindent"> +(SCENE.—DR. STOCKMANN'S sitting-room. It is evening. The room is +plainly but neatly appointed and furnished. In the right-hand wall are +two doors; the farther leads out to the hall, the nearer to the +doctor's study. In the left-hand wall, opposite the door leading to the +hall, is a door leading to the other rooms occupied by the family. In +the middle of the same wall stands the stove, and, further forward, a +couch with a looking-glass hanging over it and an oval table in front +of it. On the table, a lighted lamp, with a lampshade. At the back of +the room, an open door leads to the dining-room. BILLING is seen +sitting at the dining table, on which a lamp is burning. He has a +napkin tucked under his chin, and MRS. STOCKMANN is standing by the +table handing him a large plate-full of roast beef. The other places at +the table are empty, and the table somewhat in disorder, evidently a +meal having recently been finished.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You see, if you come an hour late, Mr. Billing, you +have to put up with cold meat. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing (as he eats). It is uncommonly good, thank you—remarkably good. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. My husband makes such a point of having his meals +punctually, you know. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. That doesn't affect me a bit. Indeed, I almost think I enjoy a +meal all the better when I can sit down and eat all by myself, and +undisturbed. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh well, as long as you are enjoying it—. (Turns to +the hall door, listening.) I expect that is Mr. Hovstad coming too. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Very likely. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(PETER STOCKMANN comes in. He wears an overcoat and his official hat, +and carries a stick.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Good evening, Katherine. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coming forward into the sitting-room). Ah, good +evening—is it you? How good of you to come up and see us! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I happened to be passing, and so—(looks into the +dining-room). But you have company with you, I see. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (a little embarrassed). Oh, no—it was quite by chance +he came in. (Hurriedly.) Won't you come in and have something, too? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I! No, thank you. Good gracious—hot meat at night! +Not with my digestion. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, but just once in a way— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. No, no, my dear lady; I stick to my tea and bread and +butter. It is much more wholesome in the long run—and a little more +economical, too. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (smiling). Now you mustn't think that Thomas and I are +spendthrifts. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Not you, my dear; I would never think that of you. +(Points to the Doctor's study.) Is he not at home? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. No, he went out for a little turn after supper—he and +the boys. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I doubt if that is a wise thing to do. (Listens.) I +fancy I hear him coming now. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. No, I don't think it is he. (A knock is heard at the +door.) Come in! (HOVSTAD comes in from the hall.) Oh, it is you, Mr. +Hovstad! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, I hope you will forgive me, but I was delayed at the +printers. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (bowing a little distantly). Good evening. You have +come on business, no doubt. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Partly. It's about an article for the paper. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. So I imagined. I hear my brother has become a prolific +contributor to the "People's Messenger." +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, he is good enough to write in the "People's Messenger" +when he has any home truths to tell. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (to HOVSTAD). But won't you—? (Points to the +dining-room.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Quite so, quite so. I don't blame him in the least, as +a writer, for addressing himself to the quarters where he will find the +readiest sympathy. And, besides that, I personally have no reason to +bear any ill will to your paper, Mr. Hovstad. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I quite agree with you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Taking one thing with another, there is an excellent +spirit of toleration in the town—an admirable municipal spirit. And it +all springs from the fact of our having a great common interest to +unite us—an interest that is in an equally high degree the concern of +every right-minded citizen. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. The Baths, yes. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Exactly—-our fine, new, handsome Baths. Mark my +words, Mr. Hovstad—the Baths will become the focus of our municipal +life! Not a doubt of it! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. That is just what Thomas says. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Think how extraordinarily the place has developed +within the last year or two! Money has been flowing in, and there is +some life and some business doing in the town. Houses and landed +property are rising in value every day. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. And unemployment is diminishing, +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, that is another thing. The burden on the poor +rates has been lightened, to the great relief of the propertied +classes; and that relief will be even greater if only we get a really +good summer this year, and lots of visitors—plenty of invalids, who +will make the Baths talked about. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. And there is a good prospect of that, I hear. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It looks very promising. Inquiries about apartments +and that sort of thing are reaching us, every day. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, the doctor's article will come in very suitably. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Has he been writing something just lately? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. This is something he wrote in the winter; a recommendation of +the Baths—an account of the excellent sanitary conditions here. But I +held the article over, temporarily. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Ah,—some little difficulty about it, I suppose? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, not at all; I thought it would be better to wait until the +spring, because it is just at this time that people begin to think +seriously about their summer quarters. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Quite right; you were perfectly right, Mr. Hovstad. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, Thomas is really indefatigable when it is a question of +the Baths. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Well remember, he is the Medical Officer to the Baths. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, and what is more, they owe their existence to him. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. To him? Indeed! It is true I have heard from time to +time that some people are of that opinion. At the same time I must say +I imagined that I took a modest part in the enterprise. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is what Thomas is always saying. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. But who denies it, Mr. Stockmann? You set the thing going and +made a practical concern of it; we all know that. I only meant that the +idea of it came first from the doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, ideas yes! My brother has had plenty of them in +his time—unfortunately. But when it is a question of putting an idea +into practical shape, you have to apply to a man of different mettle, +Mr. Hovstad. And I certainly should have thought that in this house at +least... +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. My dear Peter— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. How can you think that—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Won't you go in and have something, Mr. Hovstad? My +husband is sure to be back directly. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Thank you, perhaps just a morsel. (Goes into the dining-room.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (lowering his voice a little). It is a curious thing +that these farmers' sons never seem to lose their want of tact. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Surely it is not worth bothering about! Cannot you and +Thomas share the credit as brothers? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I should have thought so; but apparently some people +are not satisfied with a share. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. What nonsense! You and Thomas get on so capitally +together. (Listens.) There he is at last, I think. (Goes out and opens +the door leading to the hall.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (laughing and talking outside). Look here—here is +another guest for you, Katherine. Isn't that jolly! Come in, Captain +Horster; hang your coat up on this peg. Ah, you don't wear an overcoat. +Just think, Katherine; I met him in the street and could hardly +persuade him to come up! (CAPTAIN HORSTER comes into the room and +greets MRS. STOCKMANN. He is followed by DR. STOCKMANN.) Come along in, +boys. They are ravenously hungry again, you know. Come along, Captain +Horster; you must have a slice of beef. (Pushes HORSTER into the +dining-room. EJLIF and MORTEN go in after them.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas, don't you see—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (turning in the doorway). Oh, is it you, Peter? (Shakes +hands with him.) Now that is very delightful. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Unfortunately I must go in a moment— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Rubbish! There is some toddy just coming in. You haven't +forgotten the toddy, Katherine? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Of course not; the water is boiling now. (Goes into the +dining-room.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Toddy too! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, sit down and we will have it comfortably. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Thanks, I never care about an evening's drinking. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But this isn't an evening's drinking. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It seems to me—. (Looks towards the dining-room.) It +is extraordinary how they can put away all that food. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (rubbing his hands). Yes, isn't it splendid to see young +people eat? They have always got an appetite, you know! That's as it +should be. Lots of food—to build up their strength! They are the +people who are going to stir up the fermenting forces of the future, +Peter. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. May I ask what they will find here to "stir up," as +you put it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, you must ask the young people that—when the times +comes. We shan't be able to see it, of course. That stands to +reason—two old fogies, like us. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Really, really! I must say that is an extremely odd +expression to— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, you mustn't take me too literally, Peter. I am so +heartily happy and contented, you know. I think it is such an +extraordinary piece of good fortune to be in the middle of all this +growing, germinating life. It is a splendid time to live in! It is as +if a whole new world were being created around one. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Do you really think so? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, naturally you can't appreciate it as keenly as I. +You have lived all your life in these surroundings, and your +impressions have been blunted. But I, who have been buried all these +years in my little corner up north, almost without ever seeing a +stranger who might bring new ideas with him—well, in my case it has +just the same effect as if I had been transported into the middle of a +crowded city. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, a city—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I know, I know; it is all cramped enough here, compared +with many other places. But there is life here—there is promise—there +are innumerable things to work for and fight for; and that is the main +thing. (Calls.) Katherine, hasn't the postman been here? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (from the dining-room). No. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And then to be comfortably off, Peter! That is something +one learns to value, when one has been on the brink of starvation, as +we have. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, surely— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed I can assure you we have often been very hard put +to it, up there. And now to be able to live like a lord! Today, for +instance, we had roast beef for dinner—and, what is more, for supper +too. Won't you come and have a little bit? Or let me show it you, at +any rate? Come here— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. No, no—not for worlds! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, but just come here then. Do you see, we have got a +table-cover? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, I noticed it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And we have got a lamp-shade too. Do you see? All out of +Katherine's savings! It makes the room so cosy. Don't you think so? +Just stand here for a moment—no, no, not there—just here, that's it! +Look now, when you get the light on it altogether. I really think it +looks very nice, doesn't it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, if you can afford luxuries of this kind— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, I can afford it now. Katherine tells me I earn +almost as much as we spend. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Almost—yes! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But a scientific man must live in a little bit of style. +I am quite sure an ordinary civil servant spends more in a year than I +do. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I daresay. A civil servant—a man in a well-paid +position... +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, any ordinary merchant, then! A man in that +position spends two or three times as much as— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It just depends on circumstances. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. At all events I assure you I don't waste money +unprofitably. But I can't find it in my heart to deny myself the +pleasure of entertaining my friends. I need that sort of thing, you +know. I have lived for so long shut out of it all, that it is a +necessity of life to me to mix with young, eager, ambitious men, men of +liberal and active minds; and that describes every one of those fellows +who are enjoying their supper in there. I wish you knew more of Hovstad. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. By the way, Hovstad was telling me he was going to +print another article of yours. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. An article of mine? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, about the Baths. An article you wrote in the +winter. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, that one! No, I don't intend that to appear just for +the present. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Why not? It seems to me that this would be the most +opportune moment. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, very likely—under normal conditions. (Crosses the +room.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (following him with his eyes). Is there anything +abnormal about the present conditions? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (standing still). To tell you the truth, Peter, I can't +say just at this moment—at all events not tonight. There may be much +that is very abnormal about the present conditions—and it is possible +there may be nothing abnormal about them at all. It is quite possible +it may be merely my imagination. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I must say it all sounds most mysterious. Is there +something going on that I am to be kept in ignorance of? I should have +imagined that I, as Chairman of the governing body of the Baths— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And I should have imagined that I—. Oh, come, don't let +us fly out at one another, Peter. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Heaven forbid! I am not in the habit of flying out at +people, as you call it. But I am entitled to request most emphatically +that all arrangements shall be made in a businesslike manner, through +the proper channels, and shall be dealt with by the legally constituted +authorities. I can allow no going behind our backs by any roundabout +means. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Have I ever at any time tried to go behind your backs? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You have an ingrained tendency to take your own way, +at all events; and, that is almost equally inadmissible in a well +ordered community. The individual ought undoubtedly to acquiesce in +subordinating himself to the community—or, to speak more accurately, +to the authorities who have the care of the community's welfare. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Very likely. But what the deuce has all this got to do +with me? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. That is exactly what you never appear to be willing to +learn, my dear Thomas. But, mark my words, some day you will have to +suffer for it—sooner or later. Now I have told you. Good-bye. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Have you taken leave of your senses? You are on the +wrong scent altogether. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I am not usually that. You must excuse me now if I— +(calls into the dining-room). Good night, Katherine. Good night, +gentlemen. (Goes out.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coming from the dining-room). Has he gone? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and in such a bad temper. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, what have you been doing to him again? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Nothing at all. And, anyhow, he can't oblige me to make +my report before the proper time. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. What have you got to make a report to him about? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Hm! Leave that to me, Katherine. It is an extraordinary +thing that the postman doesn't come. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(HOVSTAD, BILLING and HORSTER have got up from the table and come into +the sitting-room. EJLIF and MORTEN come in after them.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing (stretching himself). Ah!—one feels a new man after a meal +like that. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. The mayor wasn't in a very sweet temper tonight, then. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is his stomach; he has wretched digestion. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I rather think it was us two of the "People's Messenger" that +he couldn't digest. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I thought you came out of it pretty well with him. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh yes; but it isn't anything more than a sort of truce. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. That is just what it is! That word sums up the situation. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. We must remember that Peter is a lonely man, poor chap. +He has no home comforts of any kind; nothing but everlasting business. +And all that infernal weak tea wash that he pours into himself! Now +then, my boys, bring chairs up to the table. Aren't we going to have +that toddy, Katherine? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (going into the dining-room). I am just getting it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Sit down here on the couch beside me, Captain Horster. +We so seldom see you. Please sit down, my friends. (They sit down at +the table. MRS. STOCKMANN brings a tray, with a spirit-lamp, glasses, +bottles, etc., upon it.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. There you are! This is arrack, and this is rum, and +this one is the brandy. Now every one must help themselves. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (taking a glass). We will. (They all mix themselves some +toddy.) And let us have the cigars. Ejlif, you know where the box is. +And you, Morten, can fetch my pipe. (The two boys go into the room on +the right.) I have a suspicion that Ejlif pockets a cigar now and +then!—but I take no notice of it. (Calls out.) And my smoking-cap too, +Morten. Katherine, you can tell him where I left it. Ah, he has got it. +(The boys bring the various things.) Now, my friends. I stick to my +pipe, you know. This one has seen plenty of bad weather with me up +north. (Touches glasses with them.) Your good health! Ah, it is good to +be sitting snug and warm here. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (who sits knitting). Do you sail soon, Captain Horster? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. I expect to be ready to sail next week. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I suppose you are going to America? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Yes, that is the plan. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Then you won't be able to take part in the coming +election? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Is there going to be an election? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Didn't you know? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. No, I don't mix myself up with those things. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. But do you not take an interest in public affairs? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. No, I don't know anything about politics. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. All the same, one ought to vote, at any rate. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Even if one doesn't know anything about what is going on? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Doesn't know! What do you mean by that? A community is like a +ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Maybe that is all very well on shore; but on board ship it +wouldn't work. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is astonishing how little most sailors care about what goes +on on shore. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Very extraordinary. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Sailors are like birds of passage; they feel equally at +home in any latitude. And that is only an additional reason for our +being all the more keen, Hovstad. Is there to be anything of public +interest in tomorrow's "Messenger"? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Nothing about municipal affairs. But the day after tomorrow I +was thinking of printing your article— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, devil take it—my article! Look here, that must wait +a bit. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Really? We had just got convenient space for it, and I thought +it was just the opportune moment— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes, very likely you are right; but it must wait +all the same. I will explain to you later. (PETRA comes in from the +hall, in hat and cloak and with a bundle of exercise books under her +arm.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Good evening. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Good evening, Petra; come along. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(Mutual greetings; PETRA takes off her things and puts them down on a +chair by the door.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. And you have all been sitting here enjoying yourselves, while I +have been out slaving! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, come and enjoy yourself too! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. May I mix a glass for you? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (coming to the table). Thanks, I would rather do it; you always +mix it too strong. But I forgot, father—I have a letter for you. (Goes +to the chair where she has laid her things.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A letter? From whom? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (looking in her coat pocket). The postman gave it to me just as I +was going out. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (getting up and going to her). And you only give to me +now! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. I really had not time to run up again. There it is! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (seizing the letter). Let's see, let's see, child! (Looks +at the address.) Yes, that's all right! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Is it the one you have been expecting go anxiously, +Thomas? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, it is. I must go to my room now and— Where shall I +get a light, Katherine? Is there no lamp in my room again? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, your lamp is already lit on your desk. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Good, good. Excuse me for a moment—, (Goes into his +study.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. What do you suppose it is, mother? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know; for the last day or two he has always +been asking if the postman has not been. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Probably some country patient. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Poor old dad!—he will overwork himself soon. (Mixes a glass for +herself.) There, that will taste good! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Have you been teaching in the evening school again today? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (sipping from her glass). Two hours. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. And four hours of school in the morning? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Five hours. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. And you have still got exercises to correct, I see. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. A whole heap, yes. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. You are pretty full up with work too, it seems to me. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Yes—but that is good. One is so delightfully tired after it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Do you like that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, because one sleeps so well then. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten. You must be dreadfully wicked, Petra. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Wicked? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten. Yes, because you work so much. Mr. Rorlund says work is a +punishment for our sins. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Ejlif. Pooh, what a duffer, you are, to believe a thing like that! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Come, come, Ejlif! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing (laughing). That's capital! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Don't you want to work as hard as that, Morten? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten. No, indeed I don't. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. What do you want to be, then? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten. I should like best to be a Viking, +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Ejlif. You would have to be a pagan then. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten. Well, I could become a pagan, couldn't I? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. I agree with you, Morten! My sentiments, exactly. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (signalling to him). I am sure that is not true, Mr. +Billing. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Yes, I swear it is! I am a pagan, and I am proud of it. +Believe me, before long we shall all be pagans. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten. And then shall be allowed to do anything we like? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Well, you'll see, Morten. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You must go to your room now, boys; I am sure you have +some lessons to learn for tomorrow. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Ejlif. I should like so much to stay a little longer— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. No, no; away you go, both of you, (The boys say good +night and go into the room on the left.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Do you really think it can do the boys any harm to hear such +things? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know; but I don't like it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. But you know, mother, I think you really are wrong about it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Maybe, but I don't like it—not in our own home. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. There is so much falsehood both at home and at school. At home +one must not speak, and at school we have to stand and tell lies to the +children. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Tell lies? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, don't you suppose we have to teach them all sorts of things +that we don't believe? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. That is perfectly true. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. If only I had the means, I would start a school of my own; and +it would be conducted on very different lines. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Oh, bother the means—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Well if you are thinking of that, Miss Stockmann, I shall be +delighted to provide you with a schoolroom. The great big old house my +father left me is standing almost empty; there is an immense +dining-room downstairs— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (laughing). Thank you very much; but I am afraid nothing will +come of it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, Miss Petra is much more likely to take to journalism, I +expect. By the way, have you had time to do anything with that English +story you promised to translate for us? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. No, not yet, but you shall have it in good time. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(DR. STOCKMANN comes in from his room with an open letter in his hand.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (waving the letter). Well, now the town will have +something new to talk about, I can tell you! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Something new? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. What is this? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A great discovery, Katherine. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Really? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. A discovery of yours? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A discovery of mine. (Walks up and down.) Just let them +come saying, as usual, that it is all fancy and a crazy man's +imagination! But they will be careful what they say this time, I can +tell you! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. But, father, tell us what it is. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes—only give me time, and you shall know all +about it. If only I had Peter here now! It just shows how we men can go +about forming our judgments, when in reality we are as blind as any +moles— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. What are you driving at, Doctor? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (standing still by the table). Isn't it the universal +opinion that our town is a healthy spot? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Certainly. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Quite an unusually healthy spot, in fact—a place that +deserves to be recommended in the warmest possible manner either for +invalids or for people who are well— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, but my dear Thomas— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And we have been recommending it and praising it—I have +written and written, both in the "Messenger" and in pamphlets... +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, what then? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And the Baths—we have called them the "main artery of +the town's life-blood," the "nerve-centre of our town," and the devil +knows what else— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. "The town's pulsating heart" was the expression I once used on +an important occasion. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so. Well, do you know what they really are, these +great, splendid, much praised Baths, that have cost so much money—do +you know what they are? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, what are they? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, what are they? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The whole place is a pest-house! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. The Baths, father? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (at the same time), Our Baths? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. But, Doctor— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Absolutely incredible! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The whole Bath establishment is a whited, poisoned +sepulchre, I tell you—the gravest possible danger to the public +health! All the nastiness up at Molledal, all that stinking filth, is +infecting the water in the conduit-pipes leading to the reservoir; and +the same cursed, filthy poison oozes out on the shore too— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Where the bathing-place is? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Just there. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. How do you come to be so certain of all this, Doctor? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I have investigated the matter most conscientiously. For +a long time past I have suspected something of the kind. Last year we +had some very strange cases of illness among the visitors—typhoid +cases, and cases of gastric fever— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is quite true. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. At the time, we supposed the visitors had been infected +before they came; but later on, in the winter, I began to have a +different opinion; and so I set myself to examine the water, as well as +I could. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Then that is what you have been so busy with? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed I have been busy, Katherine. But here I had none +of the necessary scientific apparatus; so I sent samples, both of the +drinking-water and of the sea-water, up to the University, to have an +accurate analysis made by a chemist. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. And have you got that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (showing him the letter). Here it is! It proves the +presence of decomposing organic matter in the water—it is full of +infusoria. The water is absolutely dangerous to use, either internally +or externally. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. What a mercy you discovered it in time. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You may well say so. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. And what do you propose to do now, Doctor? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. To see the matter put right, naturally. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Can that be done? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It must be done. Otherwise the Baths will be absolutely +useless and wasted. But we need not anticipate that; I have a very +clear idea what we shall have to do. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But why have you kept this all so secret, dear? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Do you suppose I was going to run about the town +gossiping about it, before I had absolute proof? No, thank you. I am +not such a fool. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Still, you might have told us— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Not a living soul. But tomorrow you may run around to +the old Badger— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, Thomas! Thomas! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, to your grandfather, then. The old boy will have +something to be astonished at! I know he thinks I am cracked—and there +are lots of other people who think so too, I have noticed. But now +these good folks shall see—they shall just see! (Walks about, rubbing +his hands.) There will be a nice upset in the town, Katherine; you +can't imagine what it will be. All the conduit-pipes will have to be +relaid. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (getting up). All the conduit-pipes—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, of course. The intake is too low down; it will have +to be lifted to a position much higher up. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Then you were right after all. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, you remember, Petra—I wrote opposing the plans +before the work was begun. But at that time no one would listen to me. +Well, I am going to let them have it now. Of course I have prepared a +report for the Baths Committee; I have had it ready for a week, and was +only waiting for this to come. (Shows the letter.) Now it shall go off +at once. (Goes into his room and comes back with some papers.) Look at +that! Four closely written sheets!—and the letter shall go with them. +Give me a bit of paper, Katherine—something to wrap them up in. That +will do! Now give it to-to-(stamps his foot)—what the deuce is her +name?—give it to the maid, and tell her to take it at once to the +Mayor. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(Mrs. Stockmann takes the packet and goes out through the dining-room.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. What do you think Uncle Peter will say, father? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What is there for him to say? I should think he would be +very glad that such an important truth has been brought to light. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Will you let me print a short note about your discovery in the +"Messenger?" +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I shall be very much obliged if you will. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is very desirable that the public should be informed of it +without delay. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coming back). She has just gone with it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Upon my soul, Doctor, you are going to be the foremost man in +the town! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> + Dr. Stockmann (walking about happily). Nonsense! As a matter of<br/> +fact I have done nothing more than my duty. I have only made a lucky +find—that's all. Still, all the same... +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Hovstad, don't you think the town ought to give Dr. Stockmann +some sort of testimonial? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I will suggest it, anyway. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. And I will speak to Aslaksen about it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, my good friends, don't let us have any of that +nonsense. I won't hear anything of the kind. And if the Baths Committee +should think of voting me an increase of salary, I will not accept it. +Do you hear, Katherine?—I won't accept it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You are quite right, Thomas. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (lifting her glass). Your health, father! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad and Billing. Your health, Doctor! Good health! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster (touches glasses with DR. STOCKMANN). I hope it will bring you +nothing but good luck. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Thank you, thank you, my dear fellows! I feel +tremendously happy! It is a splendid thing for a man to be able to feel +that he has done a service to his native town and to his +fellow-citizens. Hurrah, Katherine! (He puts his arms round her and +whirls her round and round, while she protests with laughing cries. +They all laugh, clap their hands, and cheer the DOCTOR. The boys put +their heads in at the door to see what is going on.) +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap02"></a>ACT II</h3> + +<p class="noindent"> +(SCENE.—The same. The door into the dining room is shut. It is +morning. MRS. STOCKMANN, with a sealed letter in her hand, comes in +from the dining room, goes to the door of the DOCTOR'S study, and peeps +in.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Are you in, Thomas? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (from within his room). Yes, I have just come in. (Comes +into the room.) What is it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. A letter from your brother. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Aha, let us see! (Opens the letter and reads:) "I return +herewith the manuscript you sent me" (reads on in a low murmur) H'm!— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. What does he say? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (putting the papers in his pocket). Oh, he only writes +that he will come up here himself about midday. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, try and remember to be at home this time. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That will be all right; I have got through all my +morning visits. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I am extremely curious to know how he takes it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You will see he won't like it's having been I, and not +he, that made the discovery. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Aren't you a little nervous about that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, he really will be pleased enough, you know. But, at +the same time, Peter is so confoundedly afraid of anyone's doing any +service to the town except himself. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I will tell you what, Thomas—you should be good +natured, and share the credit of this with him. Couldn't you make out +that it was he who set you on the scent of this discovery? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I am quite willing. If only I can get the thing set +right. I— +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(MORTEN KIIL puts his head in through the door leading from the hall, +looks around in an enquiring manner, and chuckles.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (slyly). Is it—is it true? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (going to the door). Father!—is it you? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, Mr. Kiil—good morning, good morning! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But come along in. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. If it is true, I will; if not, I am off. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. If what is true? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. This tale about the water supply, is it true? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly it is true, but how did you come to hear it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (coming in). Petra ran in on her way to the school— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Did she? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Yes; and she declares that—I thought she was only making +a fool of me—but it isn't like Petra to do that. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Of course not. How could you imagine such a thing! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Oh well, it is better never to trust anybody; you may find +you have been made a fool of before you know where you are. But it is +really true, all the same? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You can depend upon it that it is true. Won't you sit +down? (Settles him on the couch.) Isn't it a real bit of luck for the +town— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (suppressing his laughter). A bit of luck for the town? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that I made the discovery in good time. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (as before). Yes, yes. Yes!—But I should never have +thought you the sort of man to pull your own brother's leg like this! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Pull his leg! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Really, father dear— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (resting his hands and his chin on the handle of his stick +and winking slyly at the DOCTOR). Let me see, what was the story? Some +kind of beast that had got into the water-pipes, wasn't it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Infusoria—yes. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. And a lot of these beasts had got in, according to +Petra—a tremendous lot. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly; hundreds of thousands of them, probably. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. But no one can see them—isn't that so? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes; you can't see them, +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (with a quiet chuckle). Damn—it's the finest story I have +ever heard! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What do you mean? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. But you will never get the Mayor to believe a thing like +that. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. We shall see. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Do you think he will be fool enough to—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I hope the whole town will be fools enough. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. The whole town! Well, it wouldn't be a bad thing. It would +just serve them right, and teach them a lesson. They think themselves +so much cleverer than we old fellows. They hounded me out of the +council; they did, I tell you—they hounded me out. Now they shall pay +for it. You pull their legs too, Thomas! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Really, I— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. You pull their legs! (Gets up.) If you can work it so that +the Mayor and his friends all swallow the same bait, I will give ten +pounds to a charity—like a shot! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That is very kind of you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Yes, I haven't got much money to throw away, I can tell +you; but, if you can work this, I will give five pounds to a charity at +Christmas. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(HOVSTAD comes in by the hall door.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Good morning! (Stops.) Oh, I beg your pardon +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Not at all; come in. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (with another chuckle). Oho!—is he in this too? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. What do you mean? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly he is. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. I might have known it! It must get into the papers. You +know how to do it, Thomas! Set your wits to work. Now I must go. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Won't you stay a little while? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. No, I must be off now. You keep up this game for all it is +worth; you won't repent it, I'm damned if you will! +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(He goes out; MRS. STOCKMANN follows him into the hall.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (laughing). Just imagine—the old chap doesn't believe a +word of all this about the water supply. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh that was it, then? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that was what we were talking about. Perhaps it is +the same thing that brings you here? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, it is, Can you spare me a few minutes, Doctor? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. As long as you like, my dear fellow. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Have you heard from the Mayor yet? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Not yet. He is coming here later. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I have given the matter a great deal of thought since last +night. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. From your point of view, as a doctor and a man of science, +this affair of the water supply is an isolated matter. I mean, you do +not realise that it involves a great many other things. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. How do you mean?—Let us sit down, my dear fellow. No, +sit here on the couch. (HOVSTAD Sits down on the couch, DR. STOCKMANN +On a chair on the other side of the table.) Now then. You mean that—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. You said yesterday that the pollution of the water was due to +impurities in the soil. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, unquestionably it is due to that poisonous morass +up at Molledal. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Begging your pardon, Doctor, I fancy it is due to quite +another morass altogether. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What morass? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. The morass that the whole life of our town is built on and is +rotting in. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What the deuce are you driving at, Hovstad? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. The whole of the town's interests have, little by little, got +into the hands of a pack of officials. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, come!—they are not all officials. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, but those that are not officials are at any rate the +officials' friends and adherents; it is the wealthy folk, the old +families in the town, that have got us entirely in their hands. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, but after all they are men of ability and knowledge. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Did they show any ability or knowledge when they laid the +conduit pipes where they are now? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, of course that was a great piece of stupidity on +their part. But that is going to be set right now. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Do you think that will be all such plain sailing? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Plain sailing or no, it has got to be done, anyway. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, provided the press takes up the question. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I don't think that will be necessary, my dear fellow, I +am certain my brother— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Excuse me, doctor; I feel bound to tell you I am inclined to +take the matter up. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. In the paper? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes. When I took over the "People's Messenger" my idea was to +break up this ring of self-opinionated old fossils who had got hold of +all the influence. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But you know you told me yourself what the result had +been; you nearly ruined your paper. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, at the time we were obliged to climb down a peg or two, +it is quite true—because there was a danger of the whole project of +the Baths coming to nothing if they failed us. But now the scheme has +been carried through, and we can dispense with these grand gentlemen. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Dispense with them, yes; but, we owe them a great debt +of gratitude. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. That shall be recognised ungrudgingly, But a journalist of my +democratic tendencies cannot let such an opportunity as this slip. The +bubble of official infallibility must be pricked. This superstition +must be destroyed, like any other. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I am whole-heartedly with you in that, Mr. Hovstad; if +it is a superstition, away with it! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I should be very reluctant to bring the Mayor into it, because +he is your brother. But I am sure you will agree with me that truth +should be the first consideration. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That goes without saying. (With sudden emphasis.) Yes, +but—but— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. You must not misjudge me. I am neither more self-interested +nor more ambitious than most men. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. My dear fellow—who suggests anything of the kind? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I am of humble origin, as you know; and that has given me +opportunities of knowing what is the most crying need in the humbler +ranks of life. It is that they should be allowed some part in the +direction of public affairs, Doctor. That is what will develop their +faculties and intelligence and self respect— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I quite appreciate that. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes—and in my opinion a journalist incurs a heavy +responsibility if he neglects a favourable opportunity of emancipating +the masses—the humble and oppressed. I know well enough that in +exalted circles I shall be called an agitator, and all that sort of +thing; but they may call what they like. If only my conscience doesn't +reproach me, then— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Quite right! Quite right, Mr. Hovstad. But all the +same—devil take it! (A knock is heard at the door.) Come in! +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(ASLAKSEN appears at the door. He is poorly but decently dressed, in +black, with a slightly crumpled white neckcloth; he wears gloves and +has a felt hat in his hand.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (bowing). Excuse my taking the liberty, Doctor— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (getting up). Ah, it is you, Aslaksen! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (standing up). Is it me you want, Aslaksen? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. No; I didn't know I should find you here. No, it was the +Doctor I— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I am quite at your service. What is it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Is what I heard from Mr. Billing true, sir—that you mean to +improve our water supply? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, for the Baths. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Quite so, I understand. Well, I have come to say that I will +back that up by every means in my power. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (to the DOCTOR). You see! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I shall be very grateful to you, but— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Because it may be no bad thing to have us small tradesmen at +your back. We form, as it were, a compact majority in the town—if we +choose. And it is always a good thing to have the majority with you, +Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That is undeniably true; but I confess I don't see why +such unusual precautions should be necessary in this case. It seems to +me that such a plain, straightforward thing— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Oh, it may be very desirable, all the same. I know our local +authorities so well; officials are not generally very ready to act on +proposals that come from other people. That is why I think it would not +be at all amiss if we made a little demonstration. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. That's right. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Demonstration, did you say? What on earth are you going +to make a demonstration about? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. We shall proceed with the greatest moderation, Doctor. +Moderation is always my aim; it is the greatest virtue in a citizen—at +least, I think so. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is well known to be a characteristic of yours, Mr. +Aslaksen. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, I think I may pride myself on that. And this matter of +the water supply is of the greatest importance to us small tradesmen. +The Baths promise to be a regular gold-mine for the town. We shall all +make our living out of them, especially those of us who are +householders. That is why we will back up the project as strongly as +possible. And as I am at present Chairman of the Householders' +Association. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And, what is more, local secretary of the Temperance +Society—you know, sir, I suppose, that I am a worker in the temperance +cause? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Of course, of course. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Well, you can understand that I come into contact with a +great many people. And as I have the reputation of a temperate and +law-abiding citizen—like yourself, Doctor—I have a certain influence +in the town, a little bit of power, if I may be allowed to say so. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I know that quite well, Mr. Aslaksen. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. So you see it would be an easy matter for me to set on foot +some testimonial, if necessary. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A testimonial? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, some kind of an address of thanks from the townsmen for +your share in a matter of such importance to the community. I need +scarcely say that it would have to be drawn up with the greatest regard +to moderation, so as not to offend the authorities—who, after all, +have the reins in their hands. If we pay strict attention to that, no +one can take it amiss, I should think! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, and even supposing they didn't like it— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. No, no, no; there must be no discourtesy to the authorities, +Mr. Hovstad. It is no use falling foul of those upon whom our welfare +so closely depends. I have done that in my time, and no good ever comes +of it. But no one can take exception to a reasonable and frank +expression of a citizen's views. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (shaking him by the hand). I can't tell you, dear Mr. +Aslaksen, how extremely pleased I am to find such hearty support among +my fellow-citizens. I am delighted—delighted! Now, you will take a +small glass of sherry, eh? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. No, thank you; I never drink alcohol of that kind. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, what do you say to a glass of beer, then? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Nor that either, thank you, Doctor. I never drink anything as +early as this. I am going into town now to talk this over with one or +two householders, and prepare the ground. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is tremendously kind of you, Mr. Aslaksen; but I +really cannot understand the necessity for all these precautions. It +seems to me that the thing should go of itself. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. The authorities are somewhat slow to move, Doctor. Far be it +from me to seem to blame them— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. We are going to stir them up in the paper tomorrow, Aslaksen. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. But not violently, I trust, Mr. Hovstad. Proceed with +moderation, or you will do nothing with them. You may take my advice; I +have gathered my experience in the school of life. Well, I must say +goodbye, Doctor. You know now that we small tradesmen are at your back +at all events, like a solid wall. You have the compact majority on your +side Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I am very much obliged, dear Mr. Aslaksen, (Shakes hands +with him.) Goodbye, goodbye. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Are you going my way, towards the printing-office. Mr. +Hovstad? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad, I will come later; I have something to settle up first. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Very well. (Bows and goes out; STOCKMANN follows him into the +hall.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (as STOCKMANN comes in again). Well, what do you think of that, +Doctor? Don't you think it is high time we stirred a little life into +all this slackness and vacillation and cowardice? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Are you referring to Aslaksen? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad, Yes, I am. He is one of those who are floundering in a +bog—decent enough fellow though he may be, otherwise. And most of the +people here are in just the same case—see-sawing and edging first to +one side and then to the other, so overcome with caution and scruple +that they never dare to take any decided step. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann, Yes, but Aslaksen seemed to me so thoroughly +well-intentioned. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. There is one thing I esteem higher than that; and that is for +a man to be self-reliant and sure of himself. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I think you are perfectly right there. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. That is why I want to seize this opportunity, and try if I +cannot manage to put a little virility into these well-intentioned +people for once. The idol of Authority must be shattered in this town. +This gross and inexcusable blunder about the water supply must be +brought home to the mind of every municipal voter. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Very well; if you are of opinion that it is for the good +of the community, so be it. But not until I have had a talk with my +brother. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Anyway, I will get a leading article ready; and if the Mayor +refuses to take the matter up— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. How can you suppose such a thing possible! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is conceivable. And in that case— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. In that case I promise you—. Look here, in that case +you may print my report—every word of it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. May I? Have I your word for it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (giving him the MS.). Here it is; take it with you. It +can do no harm for you to read it through, and you can give it me back +later on. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Good, good! That is what I will do. And now goodbye, Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Goodbye, goodbye. You will see everything will run quite +smoothly, Mr. Hovstad—quite smoothly. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Hm!—we shall see. (Bows and goes out.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (opens the dining-room door and looks in). Katherine! Oh, +you are back, Petra? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (coming in). Yes, I have just come from the school. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in). Has he not been here yet? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Peter? No, but I have had a long talk with Hovstad. He +is quite excited about my discovery, I find it has a much wider bearing +than I at first imagined. And he has put his paper at my disposal if +necessity should arise. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Do you think it will? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Not for a moment. But at all events it makes me feel +proud to know that I have the liberal-minded independent press on my +side. Yes, and just imagine—I have had a visit from the Chairman of +the Householders' Association! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh! What did he want? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. To offer me his support too. They will support me in a +body if it should be necessary. Katherine—do you know what I have got +behind me? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Behind you? No, what have you got behind you? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The compact majority. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Really? Is that a good thing for you Thomas? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I should think it was a good thing. (Walks up and down +rubbing his hands.) By Jove, it's a fine thing to feel this bond of +brotherhood between oneself and one's fellow citizens! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. And to be able to do so much that is good and useful, father! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And for one's own native town into the bargain, my child! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. That was a ring at the bell. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It must be he, then. (A knock is heard at the door.) +Come in! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (comes in from the hall). Good morning. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Glad to see you, Peter! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Good morning, Peter, How are you? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. So so, thank you. (To DR. STOCKMANN.) I received from +you yesterday, after office hours, a report dealing with the condition +of the water at the Baths. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. Have you read it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, I have, +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And what have you to say to it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (with a sidelong glance). Hm!— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Come along, Petra. (She and PETRA go into the room on +the left.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (after a pause). Was it necessary to make all these +investigations behind my back? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, because until I was absolutely certain about it— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Then you mean that you are absolutely certain now? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Surely you are convinced of that. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Is it your intention to bring this document before the +Baths Committee as a sort of official communication? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly. Something must be done in the matter—and +that quickly. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. As usual, you employ violent expressions in your +report. You say, amongst other things, that what we offer visitors in +our Baths is a permanent supply of poison. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, can you describe it any other way, Peter? Just +think—water that is poisonous, whether you drink it or bathe in it! +And this we offer to the poor sick folk who come to us trustfully and +pay us at an exorbitant rate to be made well again! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And your reasoning leads you to this conclusion, that +we must build a sewer to draw off the alleged impurities from Molledal +and must relay the water conduits. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. Do you see any other way out of it? I don't. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I made a pretext this morning to go and see the town +engineer, and, as if only half seriously, broached the subject of these +proposals as a thing we might perhaps have to take under consideration +some time later on. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Some time later on! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. He smiled at what he considered to be my extravagance, +naturally. Have you taken the trouble to consider what your proposed +alterations would cost? According to the information I obtained, the +expenses would probably mount up to fifteen or twenty thousand pounds. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Would it cost so much? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes; and the worst part of it would be that the work +would take at least two years. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Two years? Two whole years? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. At least. And what are we to do with the Baths in the +meantime? Close them? Indeed we should be obliged to. And do you +suppose anyone would come near the place after it had got out that the +water was dangerous? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes but, Peter, that is what it is. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And all this at this juncture—just as the Baths are +beginning to be known. There are other towns in the neighbourhood with +qualifications to attract visitors for bathing purposes. Don't you +suppose they would immediately strain every nerve to divert the entire +stream of strangers to themselves? Unquestionably they would; and then +where should we be? We should probably have to abandon the whole thing, +which has cost us so much money-and then you would have ruined your +native town. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I—should have ruined—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It is simply and solely through the Baths that the +town has before it any future worth mentioning. You know that just as +well as I. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But what do you think ought to be done, then? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Your report has not convinced me that the condition of +the water at the Baths is as bad as you represent it to be. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I tell you it is even worse!—or at all events it will +be in summer, when the warm weather comes. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. As I said, I believe you exaggerate the matter +considerably. A capable physician ought to know what measures to +take—he ought to be capable of preventing injurious influences or of +remedying them if they become obviously persistent. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well? What more? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The water supply for the Baths is now an established +fact, and in consequence must be treated as such. But probably the +Committee, at its discretion, will not be disinclined to consider the +question of how far it might be possible to introduce certain +improvements consistently with a reasonable expenditure. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And do you suppose that I will have anything to do with +such a piece of trickery as that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Trickery!! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, it would be a trick—a fraud, a lie, a downright +crime towards the public, towards the whole community! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I have not, as I remarked before, been able to +convince myself that there is actually any imminent danger. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You have! It is impossible that you should not be +convinced. I know I have represented the facts absolutely truthfully +and fairly. And you know it very well, Peter, only you won't +acknowledge it. It was owing to your action that both the Baths and the +water conduits were built where they are; and that is what you won't +acknowledge—that damnable blunder of yours. Pooh!—do you suppose I +don't see through you? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And even if that were true? If I perhaps guard my +reputation somewhat anxiously, it is in the interests of the town. +Without moral authority I am powerless to direct public affairs as +seems, to my judgment, to be best for the common good. And on that +account—and for various other reasons too—it appears to me to be a +matter of importance that your report should not be delivered to the +Committee. In the interests of the public, you must withhold it. Then, +later on, I will raise the question and we will do our best, privately; +but nothing of this unfortunate affair not a single word of it—must +come to the ears of the public. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I am afraid you will not be able to prevent that now, my +dear Peter. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It must and shall be prevented. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is no use, I tell you. There are too many people that +know about it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. That know about it? Who? Surely you don't mean those +fellows on the "People's Messenger"? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, they know. The liberal-minded independent press is +going to see that you do your duty. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (after a short pause). You are an extraordinarily +independent man, Thomas. Have you given no thought to the consequences +this may have for yourself? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Consequences?—for me? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. For you and yours, yes. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What the deuce do you mean? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I believe I have always behaved in a brotherly way to +you—haven't I always been ready to oblige or to help you? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, you have, and I am grateful to you for it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. There is no need. Indeed, to some extent I was forced +to do so—for my own sake. I always hoped that, if I helped to improve +your financial position, I should be able to keep some check on you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What! Then it was only for your own sake—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Up to a certain point, yes. It is painful for a man in +an official position to have his nearest relative compromising himself +time after time. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And do you consider that I do that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, unfortunately, you do, without even being aware +of it. You have a restless, pugnacious, rebellious disposition. And +then there is that disastrous propensity of yours to want to write +about every sort of possible and impossible thing. The moment an idea +comes into your head, you must needs go and write a newspaper article +or a whole pamphlet about it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, but is it not the duty of a citizen to let the +public share in any new ideas he may have? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, the public doesn't require any new ideas. The +public is best served by the good, old established ideas it already has. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And that is your honest opinion? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, and for once I must talk frankly to you. Hitherto +I have tried to avoid doing so, because I know how irritable you are; +but now I must tell you the truth, Thomas. You have no conception what +an amount of harm you do yourself by your impetuosity. You complain of +the authorities, you even complain of the government—you are always +pulling them to pieces; you insist that you have been neglected and +persecuted. But what else can such a cantankerous man as you expect? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What next! Cantankerous, am I? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, Thomas, you are an extremely cantankerous man to +work with—I know that to my cost. You disregard everything that you +ought to have consideration for. You seem completely to forget that it +is me you have to thank for your appointment here as medical officer to +the Baths. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I was entitled to it as a matter of course!—I and +nobody else! I was the first person to see that the town could be made +into a flourishing watering-place, and I was the only one who saw it at +that time. I had to fight single-handed in support of the idea for many +years; and I wrote and wrote— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Undoubtedly. But things were not ripe for the scheme +then—though, of course, you could not judge of that in your +out-of-the-way corner up north. But as soon as the opportune moment +came I—and the others—took the matter into our hands. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and made this mess of all my beautiful plan. It is +pretty obvious now what clever fellows you were! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. To my mind the whole thing only seems to mean that you +are seeking another outlet for your combativeness. You want to pick a +quarrel with your superiors—an old habit of yours. You cannot put up +with any authority over you. You look askance at anyone who occupies a +superior official position; you regard him as a personal enemy, and +then any stick is good enough to beat him with. But now I have called +your attention to the fact that the town's interests are at stake—and, +incidentally, my own too. And therefore, I must tell you, Thomas, that +you will find me inexorable with regard to what I am about to require +you to do. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And what is that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. As you have been so indiscreet as to speak of this +delicate matter to outsiders, despite the fact that you ought to have +treated it as entirely official and confidential, it is obviously +impossible to hush it up now. All sorts of rumours will get about +directly, and everybody who has a grudge against us will take care to +embellish these rumours. So it will be necessary for you to refute them +publicly. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I! How? I don't understand. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. What we shall expect is that, after making further +investigations, you will come to the conclusion that the matter is not +by any means as dangerous or as critical as you imagined in the first +instance. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oho!—so that is what you expect! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And, what is more, we shall expect you to make public +profession of your confidence in the Committee and in their readiness +to consider fully and conscientiously what steps may be necessary to +remedy any possible defects. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But you will never be able to do that by patching and +tinkering at it—never! Take my word for it, Peter; I mean what I say, +as deliberately and emphatically as possible. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. As an officer under the Committee, you have no right +to any individual opinion. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (amazed). No right? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. In your official capacity, no. As a private person, it +is quite another matter. But as a subordinate member of the staff of +the Baths, you have no right to express any opinion which runs contrary +to that of your superiors. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. This is too much! I, a doctor, a man of science, have no +right to—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The matter in hand is not simply a scientific one. It +is a complicated matter, and has its economic as well as its technical +side. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I don't care what it is! I intend to be free to express +my opinion on any subject under the sun. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. As you please—but not on any subject concerning the +Baths. That we forbid. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (shouting). You forbid—! You! A pack of— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I forbid it—I, your chief; and if I forbid it, you +have to obey. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (controlling himself). Peter—if you were not my brother— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (throwing open the door). Father, you shan't stand this! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in after her). Petra, Petra! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, so you have been eavesdropping. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You were talking so loud, we couldn't help it! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, I was listening. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Well, after all, I am very glad— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (going up to him). You were saying something about +forbidding and obeying? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You obliged me to take that tone with you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And so I am to give myself the lie, publicly? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. We consider it absolutely necessary that you should +make some such public statement as I have asked for. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And if I do not—obey? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Then we shall publish a statement ourselves to +reassure the public. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Very well; but in that case I shall use my pen against +you. I stick to what I have said; I will show that I am right and that +you are wrong. And what will you do then? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Then I shall not be able to prevent your being +dismissed. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Father—dismissed! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Dismissed! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Dismissed from the staff of the Baths. I shall be +obliged to propose that you shall immediately be given notice, and +shall not be allowed any further participation in the Baths' affairs. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You would dare to do that! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It is you that are playing the daring game. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Uncle, that is a shameful way to treat a man like father! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Do hold your tongue, Petra! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (looking at PETRA). Oh, so we volunteer our opinions +already, do we? Of course. (To MRS. STOCKMANN.) Katherine, I imagine +you are the most sensible person in this house. Use any influence you +may have over your husband, and make him see what this will entail for +his family as well as— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. My family is my own concern and nobody else's! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. —for his own family, as I was saying, as well as for +the town he lives in. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is I who have the real good of the town at heart! I +want to lay bare the defects that sooner or later must come to the +light of day. I will show whether I love my native town. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You, who in your blind obstinacy want to cut off the +most important source of the town's welfare? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The source is poisoned, man! Are you mad? We are making +our living by retailing filth and corruption! The whole of our +flourishing municipal life derives its sustenance from a lie! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. All imagination—or something even worse. The man who +can throw out such offensive insinuations about his native town must be +an enemy to our community. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (going up to him). Do you dare to—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (throwing herself between them). Thomas! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (catching her father by the arm). Don't lose your temper, father! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I will not expose myself to violence. Now you have had +a warning; so reflect on what you owe to yourself and your family. +Goodbye. (Goes out.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (walking up and down). Am I to put up with such treatment +as this? In my own house, Katherine! What do you think of that! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Indeed it is both shameful and absurd, Thomas— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. If only I could give uncle a piece of my mind— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is my own fault. I ought to have flown out at him +long ago!—shown my teeth!—bitten! To hear him call me an enemy to our +community! Me! I shall not take that lying down, upon my soul! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, your brother has power on his side. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, but I have right on mine, I tell you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh yes, right—right. What is the use of having right +on your side if you have not got might? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Oh, mother!—how can you say such a thing! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Do you imagine that in a free country it is no use +having right on your side? You are absurd, Katherine. Besides, haven't +I got the liberal-minded, independent press to lead the way, and the +compact majority behind me? That is might enough, I should think! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, good heavens, Thomas, you don't mean to? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Don't mean to what? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. To set yourself up in opposition to your brother. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. In God's name, what else do you suppose I should do but +take my stand on right and truth? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, I was just going to say that. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But it won't do you any earthly good. If they won't do +it, they won't. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oho, Katherine! Just give me time, and you will see how +I will carry the war into their camp. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, you carry the war into their camp, and you get +your dismissal—that is what you will do. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. In any case I shall have done my duty towards the +public—towards the community, I, who am called its enemy! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But towards your family, Thomas? Towards your own home! +Do you think that is doing your duty towards those you have to provide +for? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Ah, don't think always first of us, mother. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, it is easy for you to talk; you are able to shift +for yourself, if need be. But remember the boys, Thomas; and think a +little of yourself too, and of me— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I think you are out of your senses, Katherine! If I were +to be such a miserable coward as to go on my knees to Peter and his +damned crew, do you suppose I should ever know an hour's peace of mind +all my life afterwards? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know anything about that; but God preserve us +from the peace of mind we shall have, all the same, if you go on +defying him! You will find yourself again without the means of +subsistence, with no income to count upon. I should think we had had +enough of that in the old days. Remember that, Thomas; think what that +means. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (collecting himself with a struggle and clenching his +fists). And this is what this slavery can bring upon a free, honourable +man! Isn't it horrible, Katherine? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, it is sinful to treat you so, it is perfectly +true. But, good heavens, one has to put up with so much injustice in +this world. There are the boys, Thomas! Look at them! What is to become +of them? Oh, no, no, you can never have the heart—. (EJLIF and MORTEN +have come in, while she was speaking, with their school books in their +hands.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The boys— I (Recovers himself suddenly.) No, even if +the whole world goes to pieces, I will never bow my neck to this yokel +(Goes towards his room.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (following him). Thomas—what are you going to do! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (at his door). I mean to have the right to look my sons +in the face when they are grown men. (Goes into his room.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (bursting into tears). God help us all! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Father is splendid! He will not give in. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(The boys look on in amazement; PETRA signs to them not to speak.) +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap03"></a>ACT III</h3> + +<p class="noindent"> +(SCENE.—The editorial office of the "People's Messenger." The entrance +door is on the left-hand side of the back wall; on the right-hand side +is another door with glass panels through which the printing room can +be seen. Another door in the right-hand wall. In the middle of the room +is a large table covered with papers, newspapers and books. In the +foreground on the left a window, before which stands a desk and a high +stool. There are a couple of easy chairs by the table, and other chairs +standing along the wall. The room is dingy and uncomfortable; the +furniture is old, the chairs stained and torn. In the printing room the +compositors are seen at work, and a printer is working a handpress. +HOVSTAD is sitting at the desk, writing. BILLING comes in from the +right with DR. STOCKMANN'S manuscript in his hand.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Well, I must say! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (still writing). Have you read it through? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing (laying the MS. on the desk). Yes, indeed I have. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Don't you think the Doctor hits them pretty hard? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Hard? Bless my soul, he's crushing! Every word falls like—how +shall I put it?—like the blow of a sledgehammer. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, but they are not the people to throw up the sponge at the +first blow. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. That is true; and for that reason we must strike blow upon +blow until the whole of this aristocracy tumbles to pieces. As I sat in +there reading this, I almost seemed to see a revolution in being. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (turning round). Hush!—Speak so that Aslaksen cannot hear you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing (lowering his voice). Aslaksen is a chicken-hearted chap, a +coward; there is nothing of the man in him. But this time you will +insist on your own way, won't you? You will put the Doctor's article in? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, and if the Mayor doesn't like it— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. That will be the devil of a nuisance. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, fortunately we can turn the situation to good account, +whatever happens. If the Mayor will not fall in with the Doctor's +project, he will have all the small tradesmen down on him—the whole of +the Householders' Association and the rest of them. And if he does fall +in with it, he will fall out with the whole crowd of large shareholders +in the Baths, who up to now have been his most valuable supporters— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Yes, because they will certainly have to fork out a pretty +penny— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, you may be sure they will. And in this way the ring will +be broken up, you see, and then in every issue of the paper we will +enlighten the public on the Mayor's incapability on one point and +another, and make it clear that all the positions of trust in the town, +the whole control of municipal affairs, ought to be put in the hands of +the Liberals. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. That is perfectly true! I see it coming—I see it coming; we +are on the threshold of a revolution! +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(A knock is heard at the door.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Hush! (Calls out.) Come in! (DR. STOCKMANN comes in by the +street door. HOVSTAD goes to meet him.) Ah, it is you, Doctor! Well? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You may set to work and print it, Mr. Hovstad! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Has it come to that, then? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Hurrah! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, print away. Undoubtedly it has come to that. Now +they must take what they get. There is going to be a fight in the town, +Mr. Billing! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. War to the knife, I hope! We will get our knives to their +throats, Doctor! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. This article is only a beginning. I have already got +four or five more sketched out in my head. Where is Aslaksen? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing (calls into the printing-room). Aslaksen, just come here for a +minute! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Four or five more articles, did you say? On the same subject? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No—far from it, my dear fellow. No, they are about +quite another matter. But they all spring from the question of the +water supply and the drainage. One thing leads to another, you know. It +is like beginning to pull down an old house, exactly. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Upon my soul, it's true; you find you are not done till you +have pulled all the old rubbish down. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (coming in). Pulled down? You are not thinking of pulling down +the Baths surely, Doctor? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Far from it, don't be afraid. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, we meant something quite different. Well, what do +you think of my article, Mr. Hovstad? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I think it is simply a masterpiece. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Do you really think so? Well, I am very pleased, very +pleased. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is so clear and intelligible. One need have no special +knowledge to understand the bearing of it. You will have every +enlightened man on your side. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And every prudent man too, I hope? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. The prudent and the imprudent—almost the whole town. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. In that case we may venture to print it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I should think so! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. We will put it in tomorrow morning. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Of course—you must not lose a single day. What I wanted +to ask you, Mr. Aslaksen, was if you would supervise the printing of it +yourself. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. With pleasure. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Take care of it as if it were a treasure! No +misprints—every word is important. I will look in again a little +later; perhaps you will be able to let me see a proof. I can't tell you +how eager I am to see it in print, and see it burst upon the public— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Burst upon them—yes, like a flash of lightning! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. —and to have it submitted to the judgment of my +intelligent fellow townsmen. You cannot imagine what I have gone +through today. I have been threatened first with one thing and then +with another; they have tried to rob me of my most elementary rights as +a man— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. What! Your rights as a man! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. —they have tried to degrade me, to make a coward of me, +to force me to put personal interests before my most sacred convictions. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. That is too much—I'm damned if it isn't. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh, you mustn't be surprised at anything from that quarter. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, they will get the worst of it with me; they may +assure themselves of that. I shall consider the "People's Messenger" my +sheet-anchor now, and every single day I will bombard them with one +article after another, like bombshells— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, but +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Hurrah!—it is war, it is war! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I shall smite them to the ground—I shall crush them—I +shall break down all their defenses, before the eyes of the honest +public! That is what I shall do! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen, Yes, but in moderation, Doctor—proceed with moderation. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Not a bit of it, not a bit of it! Don't spare the dynamite! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Because it is not merely a question of water-supply and +drains now, you know. No—it is the whole of our social life that we +have got to purify and disinfect— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Spoken like a deliverer! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. All the incapables must be turned out, you +understand—and that in every walk of life! Endless vistas have opened +themselves to my mind's eye today. I cannot see it all quite clearly +yet, but I shall in time. Young and vigorous standard-bearers—those +are what we need and must seek, my friends; we must have new men in +command at all our outposts. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Hear hear! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. We only need to stand by one another, and it will all be +perfectly easy. The revolution will be launched like a ship that runs +smoothly off the stocks. Don't you think so? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. For my part I think we have now a prospect of getting the +municipal authority into the hands where it should lie. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And if only we proceed with moderation, I cannot imagine that +there will be any risk. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Who the devil cares whether there is any risk or not! +What I am doing, I am doing in the name of truth and for the sake of my +conscience. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. You are a man who deserves to be supported, Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, there is no denying that the Doctor is a true friend to +the town—a real friend to the community, that he is. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Take my word for it, Aslaksen, Dr. Stockmann is a friend of +the people. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I fancy the Householders' Association will make use of that +expression before long. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (affected, grasps their hands). Thank you, thank you, my +dear staunch friends. It is very refreshing to me to hear you say that; +my brother called me something quite different. By Jove, he shall have +it back, with interest! But now I must be off to see a poor devil—I +will come back, as I said. Keep a very careful eye on the manuscript, +Aslaksen, and don't for worlds leave out any of my notes of +exclamation! Rather put one or two more in! Capital, capital! Well, +good-bye for the present—goodbye, goodbye! (They show him to the door, +and bow him out.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. He may prove an invaluably useful man to us. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, so long as he confines himself to this matter of the +Baths. But if he goes farther afield, I don't think it would be +advisable to follow him. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Hm!—that all depends— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. You are so infernally timid, Aslaksen! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Timid? Yes, when it is a question of the local authorities, I +am timid, Mr. Billing; it is a lesson I have learned in the school of +experience, let me tell you. But try me in higher politics, in matters +that concern the government itself, and then see if I am timid. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. No, you aren't, I admit. But this is simply contradicting +yourself. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I am a man with a conscience, and that is the whole matter. +If you attack the government, you don't do the community any harm, +anyway; those fellows pay no attention to attacks, you see—they go on +just as they are, in spite of them. But local authorities are +different; they can be turned out, and then perhaps you may get an +ignorant lot into office who may do irreparable harm to the +householders and everybody else. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. But what of the education of citizens by self +government—don't you attach any importance to that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. When a man has interests of his own to protect, he cannot +think of everything, Mr. Hovstad. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Then I hope I shall never have interests of my own to protect! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Hear, hear! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (with a smile). Hm! (Points to the desk.) Mr. Sheriff +Stensgaard was your predecessor at that editorial desk. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing (spitting). Bah! That turncoat. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I am not a weathercock—and never will be. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. A politician should never be too certain of anything, Mr. +Hovstad. And as for you, Mr. Billing, I should think it is time for you +to be taking in a reef or two in your sails, seeing that you are +applying for the post of secretary to the Bench. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. I—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Are you, Billing? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Well, yes—but you must clearly understand I am only doing it +to annoy the bigwigs. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Anyhow, it is no business of mine. But if I am to be accused +of timidity and of inconsistency in my principles, this is what I want +to point out: my political past is an open book. I have never changed, +except perhaps to become a little more moderate, you see. My heart is +still with the people; but I don't deny that my reason has a certain +bias towards the authorities—the local ones, I mean. (Goes into the +printing room.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Oughtn't we to try and get rid of him, Hovstad? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Do you know anyone else who will advance the money for our +paper and printing bill? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. It is an infernal nuisance that we don't possess some capital +to trade on. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (sitting down at his desk). Yes, if we only had that, then— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Suppose you were to apply to Dr. Stockmann? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (turning over some papers). What is the use? He has got nothing. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. No, but he has got a warm man in the background, old Morten +Kiil—"the Badger," as they call him. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (writing). Are you so sure he has got anything? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Good Lord, of course he has! And some of it must come to the +Stockmanns. Most probably he will do something for the children, at all +events. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (turning half round). Are you counting on that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Counting on it? Of course I am not counting on anything. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. That is right. And I should not count on the secretaryship to +the Bench either, if I were you; for I can assure you—you won't get it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Do you think I am not quite aware of that? My object is +precisely not to get it. A slight of that kind stimulates a man's +fighting power—it is like getting a supply of fresh bile—and I am +sure one needs that badly enough in a hole-and-corner place like this, +where it is so seldom anything happens to stir one up. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (writing). Quite so, quite so. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Ah, I shall be heard of yet!—Now I shall go and write the +appeal to the Householders' Association. (Goes into the room on the +right.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (sitting al his desk, biting his penholder, says slowly). +Hm!—that's it, is it. (A knock is heard.) Come in! (PETRA comes in by +the outer door. HOVSTAD gets up.) What, you!—here? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, you must forgive me— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (pulling a chair forward). Won't you sit down? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. No, thank you; I must go again in a moment. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Have you come with a message from your father, by any chance? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. No, I have come on my own account. (Takes a book out of her coat +pocket.) Here is the English story. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Why have you brought it back? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Because I am not going to translate it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. But you promised me faithfully. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, but then I had not read it, I don't suppose you have read +it either? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, you know quite well I don't understand English; but— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Quite so. That is why I wanted to tell you that you must find +something else. (Lays the book on the table.) You can't use this for +the "People's Messenger." +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Why not? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Because it conflicts with all your opinions. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh, for that matter— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. You don't understand me. The burden of this story is that there +is a supernatural power that looks after the so-called good people in +this world and makes everything happen for the best in their +case—while all the so-called bad people are punished. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, but that is all right. That is just what our readers +want. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. And are you going to be the one to give it to them? For myself, +I do not believe a word of it. You know quite well that things do not +happen so in reality. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. You are perfectly right; but an editor cannot always act as he +would prefer. He is often obliged to bow to the wishes of the public in +unimportant matters. Politics are the most important thing in life—for +a newspaper, anyway; and if I want to carry my public with me on the +path that leads to liberty and progress, I must not frighten them away. +If they find a moral tale of this sort in the serial at the bottom of +the page, they will be all the more ready to read what is printed above +it; they feel more secure, as it were. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. For shame! You would never go and set a snare like that for your +readers; you are not a spider! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (smiling). Thank you for having such a good opinion of me. No; +as a matter of fact that is Billing's idea and not mine. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Billing's! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes; anyway, he propounded that theory here one day. And it is +Billing who is so anxious to have that story in the paper; I don't know +anything about the book. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. But how can Billing, with his emancipated views— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh, Billing is a many-sided man. He is applying for the post +of secretary to the Bench, too, I hear. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. I don't believe it, Mr. Hovstad. How could he possibly bring +himself to do such a thing? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Ah, you must ask him that. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. I should never have thought it of him. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (looking more closely at her). No? Does it really surprise you +so much? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Yes. Or perhaps not altogether. Really, I don't quite know +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. We journalists are not much worth, Miss Stockmann. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Do you really mean that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I think so sometimes. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, in the ordinary affairs of everyday life, perhaps; I can +understand that. But now, when you have taken a weighty matter in hand— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. This matter of your father's, you mean? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Exactly. It seems to me that now you must feel you are a man +worth more than most. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, today I do feel something of that sort. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Of course you do, don't you? It is a splendid vocation you have +chosen—to smooth the way for the march of unappreciated truths, and +new and courageous lines of thought. If it were nothing more than +because you stand fearlessly in the open and take up the cause of an +injured man— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Especially when that injured man is—ahem!—I don't rightly +know how to— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. When that man is so upright and so honest, you mean? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (more gently). Especially when he is your father I meant. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (suddenly checked). That? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, Petra—Miss Petra. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Is it that, that is first and foremost with you? Not the matter +itself? Not the truth?—not my father's big generous heart? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Certainly—of course—that too. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. No, thank you; you have betrayed yourself, Mr. Hovstad, and now +I shall never trust you again in anything. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Can you really take it so amiss in me that it is mostly for +your sake—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. What I am angry with you for, is for not having been honest with +my father. You talked to him as if the truth and the good of the +community were what lay nearest to your heart. You have made fools of +both my father and me. You are not the man you made yourself out to be. +And that I shall never forgive you-never! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. You ought not to speak so bitterly, Miss Petra—least of all +now. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Why not now, especially? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Because your father cannot do without my help. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (looking him up and down). Are you that sort of man too? For +shame! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, no, I am not. This came upon me so unexpectedly—you must +believe that. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. I know what to believe. Goodbye. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (coming from the printing room, hurriedly and with an air of +mystery). Damnation, Hovstad!—(Sees PETRA.) Oh, this is awkward— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. There is the book; you must give it to some one else. (Goes +towards the door.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (following her). But, Miss Stockmann— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Goodbye. (Goes out.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I say—Mr. Hovstad— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well well!—what is it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. The Mayor is outside in the printing room. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. The Mayor, did you say? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes he wants to speak to you. He came in by the back +door—didn't want to be seen, you understand. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. What can he want? Wait a bit—I will go myself. (Goes to the +door of the printing room, opens it, bows and invites PETER STOCKMANN +in.) Just see, Aslaksen, that no one— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Quite so. (Goes into the printing-room.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You did not expect to see me here, Mr. Hovstad? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, I confess I did not. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (looking round). You are very snug in here—very nice +indeed. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And here I come, without any notice, to take up your +time! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. By all means, Mr. Mayor. I am at your service. But let me +relieve you of your—(takes STOCKMANN's hat and stick and puts them on +a chair). Won't you sit down? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (sitting down by the table). Thank you. (HOVSTAD sits +down.) I have had an extremely annoying experience to-day, Mr. Hovstad. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Really? Ah well, I expect with all the various business you +have to attend to— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The Medical Officer of the Baths is responsible for +what happened today. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Indeed? The Doctor? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. He has addressed a kind of report to the Baths +Committee on the subject of certain supposed defects in the Baths. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Has he indeed? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes—has he not told you? I thought he said— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Ah, yes—it is true he did mention something about— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (coming from the printing-room). I ought to have that copy. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (angrily). Ahem!—there it is on the desk. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (taking it). Right. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. But look there—that is the thing I was speaking of! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, that is the Doctor's article, Mr. Mayor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh, is THAT what you were speaking about? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, that is it. What do you think of it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh, I am only a layman—and I have only taken a very cursory +glance at it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. But you are going to print it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I cannot very well refuse a distinguished man. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I have nothing to do with editing the paper, Mr. Mayor— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I understand. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I merely print what is put into my hands. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Quite so. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And so I must— (moves off towards the printing-room). +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. No, but wait a moment, Mr. Aslaksen. You will allow +me, Mr. Hovstad? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. If you please, Mr. Mayor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You are a discreet and thoughtful man, Mr. Aslaksen. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I am delighted to hear you think so, sir. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And a man of very considerable influence. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Chiefly among the small tradesmen, sir. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The small tax-payers are the majority—here as +everywhere else. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. That is true. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And I have no doubt you know the general trend of +opinion among them, don't you? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes I think I may say I do, Mr. Mayor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes. Well, since there is such a praiseworthy spirit +of self-sacrifice among the less wealthy citizens of our town— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. What? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Self-sacrifice? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It is pleasing evidence of a public-spirited feeling, +extremely pleasing evidence. I might almost say I hardly expected it. +But you have a closer knowledge of public opinion than I. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. But, Mr. Mayor— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And indeed it is no small sacrifice that the town is +going to make. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. The town? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. But I don't understand. Is it the Baths—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. At a provisional estimate, the alterations that the +Medical Officer asserts to be desirable will cost somewhere about +twenty thousand pounds. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. That is a lot of money, but— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Of course it will be necessary to raise a municipal +loan. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (getting up). Surely you never mean that the town must pay—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Do you mean that it must come out of the municipal +funds?—out of the ill-filled pockets of the small tradesmen? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Well, my dear Mr. Aslaksen, where else is the money to +come from? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. The gentlemen who own the Baths ought to provide that. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The proprietors of the Baths are not in a position to +incur any further expense. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Is that absolutely certain, Mr. Mayor? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I have satisfied myself that it is so. If the town +wants these very extensive alterations, it will have to pay for them. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. But, damn it all—I beg your pardon—this is quite another +matter, Mr. Hovstad! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is, indeed. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The most fatal part of it is that we shall be obliged +to shut the Baths for a couple of years. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Shut them? Shut them altogether? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. For two years? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, the work will take as long as that—at least. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I'm damned if we will stand that, Mr. Mayor! What are we +householders to live upon in the meantime? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Unfortunately, that is an extremely difficult question +to answer, Mr. Aslaksen. But what would you have us do? Do you suppose +we shall have a single visitor in the town, if we go about proclaiming +that our water is polluted, that we are living over a plague spot, that +the entire town— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And the whole thing is merely imagination? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. With the best will in the world, I have not been able +to come to any other conclusion. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Well then I must say it is absolutely unjustifiable of Dr. +Stockmann—I beg your pardon, Mr. Mayor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. What you say is lamentably true, Mr. Aslaksen. My +brother has unfortunately always been a headstrong man. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. After this, do you mean to give him your support, Mr. Hovstad? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Can you suppose for a moment that I—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I have drawn up a short resume of the situation as it +appears from a reasonable man's point of view. In it I have indicated +how certain possible defects might suitably be remedied without +outrunning the resources of the Baths Committee. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Have you got it with you, Mr. Mayor? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (fumbling in his pocket). Yes, I brought it with me in +case you should— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Good Lord, there he is! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Who? My brother? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Where? Where? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. He has just gone through the printing room. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. How unlucky! I don't want to meet him here, and I had +still several things to speak to you about. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (pointing to the door on the right). Go in there for the +present. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. But—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. You will only find Billing in there. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Quick, quick, Mr. Mayor—he is just coming. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, very well; but see that you get rid of him +quickly. (Goes out through the door on the right, which ASLAKSEN opens +for him and shuts after him.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Pretend to be doing something, Aslaksen. (Sits down and +writes. ASLAKSEN begins foraging among a heap of newspapers that are +lying on a chair.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (coming in from the printing room). Here I am again. +(Puts down his hat and stick.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (writing). Already, Doctor? Hurry up with what we were speaking +about, Aslaksen. We are very pressed for time today. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (to ASLAKSEN). No proof for me to see yet, I hear. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (without turning round). You couldn't expect it yet, Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, no; but I am impatient, as you can understand. I +shall not know a moment's peace of mind until I see it in print. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Hm!—It will take a good while yet, won't it, Aslaksen? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, I am almost afraid it will. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. All right, my dear friends; I will come back. I do not +mind coming back twice if necessary. A matter of such great +importance—the welfare of the town at stake—it is no time to shirk +trouble, (is just going, but stops and comes back.) Look here—there is +one thing more I want to speak to you about. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Excuse me, but could it not wait till some other time? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I can tell you in half a dozen words. It is only this. +When my article is read tomorrow and it is realised that I have been +quietly working the whole winter for the welfare of the town— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes but, Doctor— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I know what you are going to say. You don't see how on +earth it was any more than my duty—my obvious duty as a citizen. Of +course it wasn't; I know that as well as you. But my fellow citizens, +you know—! Good Lord, think of all the good souls who think so highly +of me—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, our townsfolk have had a very high opinion of you so +far, Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and that is just why I am afraid they—. Well, this +is the point; when this reaches them, especially the poorer classes, +and sounds in their ears like a summons to take the town's affairs into +their own hands for the future... +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (getting up). Ahem! Doctor, I won't conceal from you the fact— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah I—I knew there was something in the wind! But I +won't hear a word of it. If anything of that sort is being set on foot— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Of what sort? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, whatever it is—whether it is a demonstration in +my honour, or a banquet, or a subscription list for some presentation +to me—whatever it is, you most promise me solemnly and faithfully to +put a stop to it. You too, Mr. Aslaksen; do you understand? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. You must forgive me, Doctor, but sooner or later we must tell +you the plain truth— +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(He is interrupted by the entrance Of MRS. STOCKMANN, who comes in from +the street door.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (seeing her husband). Just as I thought! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (going towards her). You too, Mrs. Stockmann? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What on earth do you want here, Katherine? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I should think you know very well what I want. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad, Won't you sit down? Or perhaps— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. No, thank you; don't trouble. And you must not be +offended at my coming to fetch my husband; I am the mother of three +children, you know. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Nonsense!—we know all about that. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, one would not give you credit for much thought +for your wife and children today; if you had had that, you would not +have gone and dragged us all into misfortune. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Are you out of your senses, Katherine! Because a man has +a wife and children, is he not to be allowed to proclaim the truth-is +he not to be allowed to be an actively useful citizen—is he not to be +allowed to do a service to his native town! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, Thomas—in reason. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Just what I say. Moderation in everything. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. And that is why you wrong us, Mr. Hovstad, in enticing +my husband away from his home and making a dupe of him in all this. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I certainly am making a dupe of no one— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Making a dupe of me! Do you suppose I should allow +myself to be duped! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. It is just what you do. I know quite well you have more +brains than anyone in the town, but you are extremely easily duped, +Thomas. (To Hovstad.) Please do realise that he loses his post at the +Baths if you print what he has written. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. What! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Look here, Doctor! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (laughing). Ha-ha!—just let them try! No, no—they will +take good care not to. I have got the compact majority behind me, let +me tell you! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is just the worst of it—your having any such +horrid thing behind you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Rubbish, Katherine!—Go home and look after your house +and leave me to look after the community. How can you be so afraid, +when I am so confident and happy? (Walks up and down, rubbing his +hands.) Truth and the People will win the fight, you may be certain! I +see the whole of the broad-minded middle class marching like a +victorious army—! (Stops beside a chair.) What the deuce is that lying +there? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen Good Lord! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Ahem! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Here we have the topmost pinnacle of authority! (Takes +the Mayor's official hat carefully between his finger-tips and holds it +up in the air.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. The Mayor's hat! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And here is the staff of office too. How in the name of +all that's wonderful—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, you see— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, I understand. He has been here trying to talk you +over. Ha-ha!—he made rather a mistake there! And as soon as he caught +sight of me in the printing room. (Bursts out laughing.) Did he run +away, Mr. Aslaksen? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (hurriedly). Yes, he ran away, Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ran away without his stick or his—. Fiddlesticks! Peter +doesn't run away and leave his belongings behind him. But what the +deuce have you done with him? Ah!—in there, of course. Now you shall +see, Katherine! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Thomas—please don't—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Don't be rash, Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(DR. STOCKMANN has put on the Mayor's hat and taken his stick in his +hand. He goes up to the door, opens it, and stands with his hand to his +hat at the salute. PETER STOCKMANN comes in, red with anger. BILLING +follows him.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. What does this tomfoolery mean? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Be respectful, my good Peter. I am the chief authority +in the town now. (Walks up and down.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (almost in tears). Really, Thomas! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (following him about). Give me my hat and stick. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (in the same tone as before). If you are chief constable, +let me tell you that I am the Mayor—I am the master of the whole town, +please understand! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Take off my hat, I tell you. Remember it is part of an +official uniform. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Pooh! Do you think the newly awakened lionhearted people +are going to be frightened by an official hat? There is going to be a +revolution in the town tomorrow, let me tell you. You thought you could +turn me out; but now I shall turn you out—turn you out of all your +various offices. Do you think I cannot? Listen to me. I have triumphant +social forces behind me. Hovstad and Billing will thunder in the +"People's Messenger," and Aslaksen will take the field at the head of +the whole Householders' Association— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. That I won't, Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Of course you will— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Ah!—may I ask then if Mr. Hovstad intends to join +this agitation? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, Mr. Mayor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. No, Mr. Hovstad is not such a fool as to go and ruin his +paper and himself for the sake of an imaginary grievance. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (looking round him). What does this mean? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. You have represented your case in a false light, Doctor, and +therefore I am unable to give you my support. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. And after what the Mayor was so kind as to tell me just now, +I— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A false light! Leave that part of it to me. Only print +my article; I am quite capable of defending it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I am not going to print it. I cannot and will not and dare not +print it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You dare not? What nonsense!—you are the editor; and an +editor controls his paper, I suppose! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. No, it is the subscribers, Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Fortunately, yes. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. It is public opinion—the enlightened public—householders +and people of that kind; they control the newspapers. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (composedly). And I have all these influences against me? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, you have. It would mean the absolute ruin of the +community if your article were to appear. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. My hat and stick, if you please. (DR. STOCKMANN takes +off the hat and lays it on the table with the stick. PETER STOCKMANN +takes them up.) Your authority as mayor has come to an untimely end. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. We have not got to the end yet. (To HOVSTAD.) Then it is +quite impossible for you to print my article in the "People's +Messenger"? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Quite impossible—out of regard for your family as well. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You need not concern yourself about his family, thank +you, Mr. Hovstad. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (taking a paper from his pocket). It will be +sufficient, for the guidance of the public, if this appears. It is an +official statement. May I trouble you? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (taking the paper). Certainly; I will see that it is printed. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But not mine. Do you imagine that you can silence me and +stifle the truth! You will not find it so easy as you suppose. Mr. +Aslaksen, kindly take my manuscript at once and print it as a +pamphlet—at my expense. I will have four hundred copies—no, five or +six hundred. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. If you offered me its weight in gold, I could not lend my +press for any such purpose, Doctor. It would be flying in the face of +public opinion. You will not get it printed anywhere in the town. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Then give it me back. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (giving him the MS.). Here it is. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (taking his hat and stick). It shall be made public all +the same. I will read it out at a mass meeting of the townspeople. All +my fellow-citizens shall hear the voice of truth! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You will not find any public body in the town that +will give you the use of their hall for such a purpose. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Not a single one, I am certain. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. No, I'm damned if you will find one. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But this is too shameful! Why should every one turn +against you like that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (angrily). I will tell you why. It is because all the men +in this town are old women—like you; they all think of nothing but +their families, and never of the community. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (putting her arm into his). Then I will show them that +an old woman can be a man for once. I am going to stand by you, Thomas! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Bravely said, Katherine! It shall be made public—as I +am a living soul! If I can't hire a hall, I shall hire a drum, and +parade the town with it and read it at every street-corner. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You are surely not such an errant fool as that! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, I am. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. You won't find a single man in the whole town to go with you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. No, I'm damned if you will. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Don't give in, Thomas. I will tell the boys to go with +you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That is a splendid idea! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Morten will be delighted; and Ejlif will do whatever he +does. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and Petra!—and you too, Katherine! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. No, I won't do that; but I will stand at the window and +watch you, that's what I will do. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (puts his arms round her and kisses her). Thank you, my +dear! Now you and I are going to try a fall, my fine gentlemen! I am +going to see whether a pack of cowards can succeed in gagging a patriot +who wants to purify society! (He and his wife go out by the street +door.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (shaking his head seriously). Now he has sent her out +of her senses, too. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap04"></a>ACT IV</h3> + +<p class="noindent"> +(SCENE.—A big old-fashioned room in CAPTAIN HORSTER'S house. At the +back folding-doors, which are standing open, lead to an ante-room. +Three windows in the left-hand wall. In the middle of the opposite wall +a platform has been erected. On this is a small table with two candles, +a water-bottle and glass, and a bell. The room is lit by lamps placed +between the windows. In the foreground on the left there is a table +with candles and a chair. To the right is a door and some chairs +standing near it. The room is nearly filled with a crowd of townspeople +of all sorts, a few women and schoolboys being amongst them. People are +still streaming in from the back, and the room is soon filled.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +1st Citizen (meeting another). Hullo, Lamstad! You here too? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +2nd Citizen. I go to every public meeting, I do. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +3rd Citizen. Brought your whistle too, I expect! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +2nd Citizen. I should think so. Haven't you? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +3rd Citizen. Rather! And old Evensen said he was going to bring a +cow-horn, he did. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +2nd Citizen. Good old Evensen! (Laughter among the crowd.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +4th Citizen (coming up to them). I say, tell me what is going on here +tonight? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +2nd Citizen. Dr. Stockmann is going to deliver an address attacking the +Mayor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +4th Citizen. But the Mayor is his brother. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +1st Citizen. That doesn't matter; Dr. Stockmann's not the chap to be +afraid. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +3rd Citizen. But he is in the wrong; it said so in the “People’s +Messenger.” +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +2nd Citizen. Yes, I expect he must be in the wrong this time, because neither +the Householders’ Association nor the Citizens’ Club would lend him +their hall for his meeting. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +1st Citizen. He couldn’t even get the loan of the hall at the Baths. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +2nd Citizen. No, I should think not. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A Man in another part of the crowd. I say—who are we to back up in this? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Another Man, beside him. Watch Aslaksen, and do as he does. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing (pushing his way through the crowd, with a writing-case under his arm). +Excuse me, gentlemen—do you mind letting me through? I am reporting for the +“People’s Messenger.” Thank you very much! (He sits down at +the table on the left.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A Workman. Who was that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Second Workman. Don’t you know him? It’s Billing, who writes for +Aslaksen’s paper. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(CAPTAIN HORSTER brings in MRS. STOCKMANN and PETRA through the door on the +right. EJLIF and MORTEN follow them in.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. I thought you might all sit here; you can slip out easily from here, +if things get too lively. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Do you think there will be a disturbance? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. One can never tell—with such a crowd. But sit down, and don’t +be uneasy. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (sitting down). It was extremely kind of you to offer my husband +the room. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Well, if nobody else would— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (who has sat down beside her mother). And it was a plucky thing to do, +Captain Horster. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Oh, it is not such a great matter as all that. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(HOVSTAD and ASLAKSEN make their way through the crowd.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (going up to HORSTER). Has the Doctor not come yet? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. He is waiting in the next room. (Movement in the crowd by the door +at the back.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Look—here comes the Mayor! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Yes, I’m damned if he hasn’t come after all! +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(PETER STOCKMANN makes his way gradually through the crowd, bows courteously, +and takes up a position by the wall on the left. Shortly afterwards Dr. +STOCKMANN comes in by the right-hand door. He is dressed in a black +frock-coat, with a white tie. There is a little feeble applause, which is +hushed down. Silence is obtained.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (in an undertone). How do you feel, Katherine? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. All right, thank you. (Lowering her voice.) Be sure not to lose +your temper, Thomas. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, I know how to control myself. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(Looks at his watch, steps on to the platform, and bows. It is a quarter +past—so I will begin. (Takes his MS. out of his pocket). +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I think we ought to elect a chairman first. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, it is quite unnecessary. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Some of the Crowd. Yes—yes! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I certainly think too that we ought to have a chairman. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But I have called this meeting to deliver a lecture, Peter. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Dr. Stockmann’s lecture may possibly lead to a +considerable conflict of opinion. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Voices in the Crowd. A chairman! A chairman ! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. The general wish of the meeting seems to be that a chairman should be +elected. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (restraining himself). Very well—let the meeting have its way. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Will the Mayor be good enough to undertake the task ? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Three Men (clapping their hands). Bravo! Bravo! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. For various reasons, which you will easily understand, +I must beg to be excused. But fortunately we have amongst us a man who +I think will be acceptable to you all. I refer to the President of the +Householders' Association, Mr. Aslaksen. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Several voices. Yes—Aslaksen! Bravo Aslaksen! +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(DR. STOCKMANN takes up his MS. and walks up and down the platform.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Since my fellow-citizens choose to entrust me with this duty, +I cannot refuse. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(Loud applause. ASLAKSEN mounts the platform.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing (writing), "Mr. Aslaksen was elected with enthusiasm." +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And now, as I am in this position, I should like to say a few +brief words. I am a quiet and peaceable man, who believes in discreet +moderation, and—and—in moderate discretion. All my friends can bear +witness to that. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Several Voices. That's right! That's right, Aslaksen! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I have learned in the school of life and experience that +moderation is the most valuable virtue a citizen can possess— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Hear, hear! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. —And moreover, that discretion and moderation are what +enable a man to be of most service to the community. I would therefore +suggest to our esteemed fellow-citizen, who has called this meeting, +that he should strive to keep strictly within the bounds of moderation. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A Man by the door. Three cheers for the Moderation Society! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A Voice. Shame! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Several Voices. Sh!-Sh! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. No interruptions, gentlemen, please! Does anyone wish to make +any remarks? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. The Mayor will address the meeting. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. In consideration of the close relationship in which, +as you all know, I stand to the present Medical Officer of the Baths, I +should have preferred not to speak this evening. But my official +position with regard to the Baths and my solicitude for the vital +interests of the town compel me to bring forward a motion. I venture to +presume that there is not a single one of our citizens present who +considers it desirable that unreliable and exaggerated accounts of the +sanitary condition of the Baths and the town should be spread abroad. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Several Voices. No, no! Certainly not! We protest against it! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Therefore, I should like to propose that the meeting +should not permit the Medical Officer either to read or to comment on +his proposed lecture. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (impatiently). Not permit—! What the devil—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coughing). Ahem!-ahem! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (collecting himself). Very well, Go ahead! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. In my communication to the "People's Messenger," I +have put the essential facts before the public in such a way that every +fair-minded citizen can easily form his own opinion. From it you will +see that the main result of the Medical Officer's proposals—apart from +their constituting a vote of censure on the leading men of the +town—would be to saddle the ratepayers with an unnecessary expenditure +of at least some thousands of pounds. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(Sounds of disapproval among the audience, and some cat-calls.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). Silence, please, gentlemen! I beg to +support the Mayor's motion. I quite agree with him that there is +something behind this agitation started by the Doctor. He talks about +the Baths; but it is a revolution he is aiming at—he wants to get the +administration of the town put into new hands. No one doubts the +honesty of the Doctor's intentions—no one will suggest that there can +be any two opinions as to that, I myself am a believer in +self-government for the people, provided it does not fall too heavily +on the ratepayers. But that would be the case here; and that is why I +will see Dr. Stockmann damned—I beg your pardon—before I go with him +in the matter. You can pay too dearly for a thing sometimes; that is my +opinion. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(Loud applause on all sides.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I, too, feel called upon to explain my position. Dr. +Stockmann's agitation appeared to be gaining a certain amount of +sympathy at first, so I supported it as impartially as I could. But +presently we had reason to suspect that we had allowed ourselves to be +misled by misrepresentation of the state of affairs— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Misrepresentation—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, let us say a not entirely trustworthy representation. +The Mayor's statement has proved that. I hope no one here has any doubt +as to my liberal principles; the attitude of the "People's Messenger" +towards important political questions is well known to everyone. But +the advice of experienced and thoughtful men has convinced me that in +purely local matters a newspaper ought to proceed with a certain +caution. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I entirely agree with the speaker. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. And, in the matter before us, it is now an undoubted fact that +Dr. Stockmann has public opinion against him. Now, what is an editor's +first and most obvious duty, gentlemen? Is it not to work in harmony +with his readers? Has he not received a sort of tacit mandate to work +persistently and assiduously for the welfare of those whose opinions he +represents? Or is it possible I am mistaken in that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Voices from the crowd. No, no! You are quite right! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. It has cost me a severe struggle to break with a man in whose +house I have been lately a frequent guest—a man who till today has +been able to pride himself on the undivided goodwill of his +fellow-citizens—a man whose only, or at all events whose essential, +failing is that he is swayed by his heart rather than his head. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A few scattered voices. That is true! Bravo, Stockmann! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. But my duty to the community obliged me to break with him. And +there is another consideration that impels me to oppose him, and, as +far as possible, to arrest him on the perilous course he has adopted; +that is, consideration for his family— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Please stick to the water-supply and drainage! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. —consideration, I repeat, for his wife and his children for +whom he has made no provision. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten. Is that us, mother? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Hush! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I will now put the Mayor's proposition to the vote. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. There is no necessity! Tonight I have no intention of +dealing with all that filth down at the Baths. No; I have something +quite different to say to you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (aside). What is coming now? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A Drunken Man (by the entrance door). I am a ratepayer! And therefore, +I have a right to speak too! And my entire—firm—inconceivable opinion +is— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A number of voices. Be quiet, at the back there! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Others. He is drunk! Turn him out! (They turn him out.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Am I allowed to speak? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). Dr. Stockmann will address the meeting. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I should like to have seen anyone, a few days ago, dare +to attempt to silence me as has been done tonight! I would have +defended my sacred rights as a man, like a lion! But now it is all one +to me; I have something of even weightier importance to say to you. +(The crowd presses nearer to him, MORTEN Kiil conspicuous among them.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (continuing). I have thought and pondered a great deal, +these last few days—pondered over such a variety of things that in the +end my head seemed too full to hold them— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (with a cough). Ahem! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. —but I got them clear in my mind at last, and then I +saw the whole situation lucidly. And that is why I am standing here +to-night. I have a great revelation to make to you, my fellow-citizens! +I will impart to you a discovery of a far wider scope than the trifling +matter that our water supply is poisoned and our medicinal Baths are +standing on pestiferous soil. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A number of voices (shouting). Don't talk about the Baths! We won't +hear you! None of that! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I have already told you that what I want to speak about +is the great discovery I have made lately—the discovery that all the +sources of our moral life are poisoned and that the whole fabric of our +civic community is founded on the pestiferous soil of falsehood. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Voices of disconcerted Citizens. What is that he says? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Such an insinuation—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (with his hand on his bell). I call upon the speaker to +moderate his language. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I have always loved my native town as a man only can +love the home of his youthful days. I was not old when I went away from +here; and exile, longing and memories cast as it were an additional +halo over both the town and its inhabitants. (Some clapping and +applause.) And there I stayed, for many years, in a horrible hole far +away up north. When I came into contact with some of the people that +lived scattered about among the rocks, I often thought it would of been +more service to the poor half-starved creatures if a veterinary doctor +had been sent up there, instead of a man like me. (Murmurs among the +crowd.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing (laying down his pen). I'm damned if I have ever heard—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is an insult to a respectable population! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Wait a bit! I do not think anyone will charge me with +having forgotten my native town up there. I was like one of the +eider-ducks brooding on its nest, and what I hatched was the plans for +these Baths. (Applause and protests.) And then when fate at last +decreed for me the great happiness of coming home again—I assure you, +gentlemen, I thought I had nothing more in the world to wish for. Or +rather, there was one thing I wished for—eagerly, untiringly, +ardently—and that was to be able to be of service to my native town +and the good of the community. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (looking at the ceiling). You chose a strange way of +doing it—ahem! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And so, with my eyes blinded to the real facts, I +revelled in happiness. But yesterday morning—no, to be precise, it was +yesterday afternoon—the eyes of my mind were opened wide, and the +first thing I realised was the colossal stupidity of the authorities—. +(Uproar, shouts and laughter, MRS. STOCKMANN coughs persistently.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). By virtue of my authority—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is a petty thing to catch me up on a word, Mr. +Aslaksen. What I mean is only that I got scent of the unbelievable +piggishness our leading men had been responsible for down at the Baths. +I can't stand leading men at any price!—I have had enough of such +people in my time. They are like billy-goats on a young plantation; +they do mischief everywhere. They stand in a free man's way, whichever +way he turns, and what I should like best would be to see them +exterminated like any other vermin—. (Uproar.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman, can we allow such expressions to pass? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (with his hand on his bell). Doctor—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I cannot understand how it is that I have only now +acquired a clear conception of what these gentry are, when I had almost +daily before my eyes in this town such an excellent specimen of +them—my brother Peter—slow-witted and hide-bound in prejudice—. +(Laughter, uproar and hisses. MRS. STOCKMANN Sits coughing assiduously. +ASLAKSEN rings his bell violently.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +The Drunken Man (who has got in again). Is it me he is talking about? +My name's Petersen, all right—but devil take me if I— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Angry Voices. Turn out that drunken man! Turn him out. (He is turned +out again.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Who was that person? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +1st Citizen. I don't know who he is, Mr. Mayor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +2nd Citizen. He doesn't belong here. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +3rd Citizen. I expect he is a navvy from over at—(the rest is +inaudible). +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. He had obviously had too much beer. Proceed, Doctor; but +please strive to be moderate in your language. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Very well, gentlemen, I will say no more about our +leading men. And if anyone imagines, from what I have just said, that +my object is to attack these people this evening, he is +wrong—absolutely wide of the mark. For I cherish the comforting +conviction that these parasites—all these venerable relics of a dying +school of thought—are most admirably paving the way for their own +extinction; they need no doctor's help to hasten their end. Nor is it +folk of that kind who constitute the most pressing danger to the +community. It is not they who are most instrumental in poisoning the +sources of our moral life and infecting the ground on which we stand. +It is not they who are the most dangerous enemies of truth and freedom +amongst us. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Shouts from all sides. Who then? Who is it? Name! Name! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You may depend upon it—I shall name them! That is +precisely the great discovery I made yesterday. (Raises his voice.) The +most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom amongst us is the compact +majority—yes, the damned compact Liberal majority—that is it! Now you +know! (Tremendous uproar. Most of the crowd are shouting, stamping and +hissing. Some of the older men among them exchange stolen glances and +seem to be enjoying themselves. MRS. STOCKMANN gets up, looking +anxious. EJLIF and MORTEN advance threateningly upon some schoolboys +who are playing pranks. ASLAKSEN rings his bell and begs for silence. +HOVSTAD and BILLING both talk at once, but are inaudible. At last quiet +is restored.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. As Chairman, I call upon the speaker to withdraw the +ill-considered expressions he has just used. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Never, Mr. Aslaksen! It is the majority in our community +that denies me my freedom and seeks to prevent my speaking the truth. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. The majority always has right on its side. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. And truth too, by God! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The majority never has right on its side. Never, I say! +That is one of these social lies against which an independent, +intelligent man must wage war. Who is it that constitute the majority +of the population in a country? Is it the clever folk, or the stupid? I +don't imagine you will dispute the fact that at present the stupid +people are in an absolutely overwhelming majority all the world over. +But, good Lord!—you can never pretend that it is right that the stupid +folk should govern the clever ones! (Uproar and cries.) Oh, yes—you +can shout me down, I know! But you cannot answer me. The majority has +might on its side—unfortunately; but right it has not. I am in the +right—I and a few other scattered individuals. The minority is always +in the right. (Renewed uproar.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Aha!—so Dr. Stockmann has become an aristocrat since the day +before yesterday! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I have already said that I don't intend to waste a word +on the puny, narrow-chested, short-winded crew whom we are leaving +astern. Pulsating life no longer concerns itself with them. I am +thinking of the few, the scattered few amongst us, who have absorbed +new and vigorous truths. Such men stand, as it were, at the outposts, +so far ahead that the compact majority has not yet been able to come up +with them; and there they are fighting for truths that are too +newly-born into the world of consciousness to have any considerable +number of people on their side as yet. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. So the Doctor is a revolutionary now! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Good heavens—of course I am, Mr. Hovstad! I propose to +raise a revolution against the lie that the majority has the monopoly +of the truth. What sort of truths are they that the majority usually +supports? They are truths that are of such advanced age that they are +beginning to break up. And if a truth is as old as that, it is also in +a fair way to become a lie, gentlemen. (Laughter and mocking cries.) +Yes, believe me or not, as you like; but truths are by no means as +long-lived at Methuselah—as some folk imagine. A normally constituted +truth lives, let us say, as a rule seventeen or eighteen, or at most +twenty years—seldom longer. But truths as aged as that are always worn +frightfully thin, and nevertheless it is only then that the majority +recognises them and recommends them to the community as wholesome moral +nourishment. There is no great nutritive value in that sort of fare, I +can assure you; and, as a doctor, I ought to know. These "majority +truths" are like last year's cured meat—like rancid, tainted ham; and +they are the origin of the moral scurvy that is rampant in our +communities. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. It appears to me that the speaker is wandering a long way +from his subject. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I quite agree with the Chairman. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Have you gone clean out of your senses, Peter? I am +sticking as closely to my subject as I can; for my subject is precisely +this, that it is the masses, the majority—this infernal compact +majority—that poisons the sources of our moral life and infects the +ground we stand on. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. And all this because the great, broadminded majority of the +people is prudent enough to show deference only to well-ascertained and +well-approved truths? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, my good Mr. Hovstad, don't talk nonsense about +well-ascertained truths! The truths of which the masses now approve are +the very truths that the fighters at the outposts held to in the days +of our grandfathers. We fighters at the outposts nowadays no longer +approve of them; and I do not believe there is any other +well-ascertained truth except this, that no community can live a +healthy life if it is nourished only on such old marrowless truths. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. But, instead of standing there using vague generalities, it +would be interesting if you would tell us what these old marrowless +truths are, that we are nourished on. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(Applause from many quarters.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, I could give you a whole string of such +abominations; but to begin with I will confine myself to one +well-approved truth, which at bottom is a foul lie, but upon which +nevertheless Mr. Hovstad and the "People's Messenger" and all the +"Messenger's" supporters are nourished. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. And that is—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That is, the doctrine you have inherited from your +forefathers and proclaim thoughtlessly far and wide—the doctrine that +the public, the crowd, the masses, are the essential part of the +population—that they constitute the People—that the common folk, the +ignorant and incomplete element in the community, have the same right +to pronounce judgment and to approve, to direct and to govern, as the +isolated, intellectually superior personalities in it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Well, damn me if ever I— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (at the same time, shouting out). Fellow-citizens, take good +note of that! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A number of voices (angrily). Oho!—we are not the People! Only the +superior folk are to govern, are they! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A Workman. Turn the fellow out for talking such rubbish! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Another. Out with him! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Another (calling out). Blow your horn, Evensen! +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(A horn is blown loudly, amidst hisses and an angry uproar.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (when the noise has somewhat abated). Be reasonable! +Can't you stand hearing the voice of truth for once? I don't in the +least expect you to agree with me all at once; but I must say I did +expect Mr. Hovstad to admit I was right, when he had recovered his +composure a little. He claims to be a freethinker— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Voices (in murmurs of astonishment). Freethinker, did he say? Is +Hovstad a freethinker? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (shouting). Prove it, Dr. Stockmann! When have I said so in +print? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (reflecting). No, confound it, you are right!—you have +never had the courage to. Well, I won't put you in a hole, Mr. Hovstad. +Let us say it is I that am the freethinker, then. I am going to prove +to you, scientifically, that the "People's Messenger" leads you by the +nose in a shameful manner when it tells you that you—that the common +people, the crowd, the masses, are the real essence of the People. That +is only a newspaper lie, I tell you! The common people are nothing more +than the raw material of which a People is made. (Groans, laughter and +uproar.) Well, isn't that the case? Isn't there an enormous difference +between a well-bred and an ill-bred strain of animals? Take, for +instance, a common barn-door hen. What sort of eating do you get from a +shrivelled up old scrag of a fowl like that? Not much, do you! And what +sort of eggs does it lay? A fairly good crow or a raven can lay pretty +nearly as good an egg. But take a well-bred Spanish or Japanese hen, or +a good pheasant or a turkey—then you will see the difference. Or take +the case of dogs, with whom we humans are on such intimate terms. Think +first of an ordinary common cur—I mean one of the horrible, +coarse-haired, low-bred curs that do nothing but run about the streets +and befoul the walls of the houses. Compare one of these curs with a +poodle whose sires for many generations have been bred in a gentleman's +house, where they have had the best of food and had the opportunity of +hearing soft voices and music. Do you not think that the poodle's brain +is developed to quite a different degree from that of the cur? Of +course it is. It is puppies of well-bred poodles like that, that +showmen train to do incredibly clever tricks—things that a common cur +could never learn to do even if it stood on its head. (Uproar and +mocking cries.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A Citizen (calls out). Are you going to make out we are dogs, now? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Another Citizen. We are not animals, Doctor! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes but, bless my soul, we are, my friend! It is true we +are the finest animals anyone could wish for; but, even among us, +exceptionally fine animals are rare. There is a tremendous difference +between poodle-men and cur-men. And the amusing part of it is, that Mr. +Hovstad quite agrees with me as long as it is a question of four-footed +animals— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, it is true enough as far as they are concerned. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Very well. But as soon as I extend the principle and +apply it to two-legged animals, Mr. Hovstad stops short. He no longer +dares to think independently, or to pursue his ideas to their logical +conclusion; so, he turns the whole theory upside down and proclaims in +the "People's Messenger" that it is the barn-door hens and street curs +that are the finest specimens in the menagerie. But that is always the +way, as long as a man retains the traces of common origin and has not +worked his way up to intellectual distinction. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I lay no claim to any sort of distinction, I am the son of +humble country-folk, and I am proud that the stock I come from is +rooted deep among the common people he insults. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Voices. Bravo, Hovstad! Bravo! Bravo! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The kind of common people I mean are not only to be +found low down in the social scale; they crawl and swarm all around +us—even in the highest social positions. You have only to look at your +own fine, distinguished Mayor! My brother Peter is every bit as +plebeian as anyone that walks in two shoes— (laughter and hisses) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I protest against personal allusions of this kind. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (imperturbably).—and that, not because he is like +myself, descended from some old rascal of a pirate from Pomerania or +thereabouts—because that is who we are descended from— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. An absurd legend. I deny it! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. —but because he thinks what his superiors think, and +holds the same opinions as they, People who do that are, intellectually +speaking, common people; and, that is why my magnificent brother Peter +is in reality so very far from any distinction—and consequently also +so far from being liberal-minded. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. So it is only the distinguished men that are liberal-minded in +this country? We are learning something quite new! (Laughter.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that is part of my new discovery too. And another +part of it is that broad-mindedness is almost precisely the same thing +as morality. That is why I maintain that it is absolutely inexcusable +in the "People's Messenger" to proclaim, day in and day out, the false +doctrine that it is the masses, the crowd, the compact majority, that +have the monopoly of broad-mindedness and morality—and that vice and +corruption and every kind of intellectual depravity are the result of +culture, just as all the filth that is draining into our Baths is the +result of the tanneries up at Molledal! (Uproar and interruptions. DR. +STOCKMANN is undisturbed, and goes on, carried away by his ardour, with +a smile.) And yet this same "People's Messenger" can go on preaching +that the masses ought to be elevated to higher conditions of life! But, +bless my soul, if the "Messenger's" teaching is to be depended upon, +this very raising up the masses would mean nothing more or less than +setting them straightway upon the paths of depravity! Happily the +theory that culture demoralises is only an old falsehood that our +forefathers believed in and we have inherited. No, it is ignorance, +poverty, ugly conditions of life, that do the devil's work! In a house +which does not get aired and swept every day—my wife Katherine +maintains that the floor ought to be scrubbed as well, but that is a +debatable question—in such a house, let me tell you, people will lose +within two or three years the power of thinking or acting in a moral +manner. Lack of oxygen weakens the conscience. And there must be a +plentiful lack of oxygen in very many houses in this town, I should +think, judging from the fact that the whole compact majority can be +unconscientious enough to wish to build the town's prosperity on a +quagmire of falsehood and deceit. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. We cannot allow such a grave accusation to be flung at a +citizen community. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A Citizen. I move that the Chairman direct the speaker to sit down. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Voices (angrily). Hear, hear! Quite right! Make him sit down! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (losing his self-control). Then I will go and shout the +truth at every street corner! I will write it in other towns' +newspapers! The whole country shall know what is going on here! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. It almost seems as if Dr. Stockmann's intention were to ruin +the town. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, my native town is so dear to me that I would rather +ruin it than see it flourishing upon a lie. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. This is really serious. (Uproar and cat-calls MRS. STOCKMANN +coughs, but to no purpose; her husband does not listen to her any +longer.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (shouting above the din). A man must be a public enemy to wish +to ruin a whole community! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (with growing fervor). What does the destruction of a +community matter, if it lives on lies? It ought to be razed to the +ground. I tell you— All who live by lies ought to be exterminated like +vermin! You will end by infecting the whole country; you will bring +about such a state of things that the whole country will deserve to be +ruined. And if things come to that pass, I shall say from the bottom of +my heart: Let the whole country perish, let all these people be +exterminated! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Voices from the crowd. That is talking like an out-and-out enemy of the +people! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. There sounded the voice of the people, by all that's holy! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +The whole crowd (shouting). Yes, yes! He is an enemy of the people! He +hates his country! He hates his own people! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Both as a citizen and as an individual, I am profoundly +disturbed by what we have had to listen to. Dr. Stockmann has shown +himself in a light I should never have dreamed of. I am unhappily +obliged to subscribe to the opinion which I have just heard my +estimable fellow-citizens utter; and I propose that we should give +expression to that opinion in a resolution. I propose a resolution as +follows: "This meeting declares that it considers Dr. Thomas Stockmann, +Medical Officer of the Baths, to be an enemy of the people." (A storm +of cheers and applause. A number of men surround the DOCTOR and hiss +him. MRS. STOCKMANN and PETRA have got up from their seats. MORTEN and +EJLIF are fighting the other schoolboys for hissing; some of their +elders separate them.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (to the men who are hissing him). Oh, you fools! I tell +you that— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). We cannot hear you now, Doctor. A formal +vote is about to be taken; but, out of regard for personal feelings, it +shall be by ballot and not verbal. Have you any clean paper, Mr. +Billing? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. I have both blue and white here. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (going to him). That will do nicely; we shall get on more +quickly that way. Cut it up into small strips—yes, that's it. (To the +meeting.) Blue means no; white means yes. I will come round myself and +collect votes. (PETER STOCKMANN leaves the hall. ASLAKSEN and one or +two others go round the room with the slips of paper in their hats.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +1st Citizen (to HOVSTAD). I say, what has come to the Doctor? What are +we to think of it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh, you know how headstrong he is. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +2nd Citizen (to BILLING). Billing, you go to their house—have you ever +noticed if the fellow drinks? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Well I'm hanged if I know what to say. There are always +spirits on the table when you go. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +3rd Citizen. I rather think he goes quite off his head sometimes. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +1st Citizen. I wonder if there is any madness in his family? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. I shouldn't wonder if there were. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +4th Citizen. No, it is nothing more than sheer malice; he wants to get +even with somebody for something or other. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Well certainly he suggested a rise in his salary on one +occasion lately, and did not get it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +The Citizens (together). Ah!—then it is easy to understand how it is! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +The Drunken Man (who has got among the audience again). I want a blue +one, I do! And I want a white one too! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Voices. It's that drunken chap again! Turn him out! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. (going up to DR. STOCKMANN). Well, Stockmann, do you see +what these monkey tricks of yours lead to? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I have done my duty. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. What was that you said about the tanneries at Molledal? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You heard well enough. I said they were the source of +all the filth. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. My tannery too? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Unfortunately your tannery is by far the worst. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Are you going to put that in the papers? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I shall conceal nothing. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. That may cost you dearly, Stockmann. (Goes out.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A Stout Man (going UP to CAPTAIN HORSTER, Without taking any notice of +the ladies). Well, Captain, so you lend your house to enemies of the +people? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. I imagine I can do what I like with my own possessions, Mr. +Vik. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +The Stout Man. Then you can have no objection to my doing the same with +mine. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. What do you mean, sir? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +The Stout Man. You shall hear from me in the morning. (Turns his back +on him and moves off.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Was that not your owner, Captain Horster? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Yes, that was Mr. Vik the shipowner. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (with the voting-papers in his hands, gets up on to the +platform and rings his bell). Gentlemen, allow me to announce the +result. By the votes of every one here except one person— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A Young Man. That is the drunk chap! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. By the votes of everyone here except a tipsy man, this +meeting of citizens declares Dr. Thomas Stockmann to be an enemy of the +people. (Shouts and applause.) Three cheers for our ancient and +honourable citizen community! (Renewed applause.) Three cheers for our +able and energetic Mayor, who has so loyally suppressed the promptings +of family feeling! (Cheers.) The meeting is dissolved. (Gets down.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. Three cheers for the Chairman! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +The whole crowd. Three cheers for Aslaksen! Hurrah! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. My hat and coat, Petra! Captain, have you room on your +ship for passengers to the New World? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. For you and yours we will make room, Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (as PETRA helps him into his coat), Good. Come, +Katherine! Come, boys! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (in an undertone). Thomas, dear, let us go out by the +back way. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No back ways for me, Katherine, (Raising his voice.) You +will hear more of this enemy of the people, before he shakes the dust +off his shoes upon you! I am not so forgiving as a certain Person; I do +not say: "I forgive you, for ye know not what ye do." +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (shouting). That is a blasphemous comparison, Dr. Stockmann! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing. It is, by God! It's dreadful for an earnest man to listen to. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +A Coarse Voice. Threatens us now, does he! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Other Voices (excitedly). Let's go and break his windows! Duck him in +the fjord! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Another Voice. Blow your horn, Evensen! Pip, pip! +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(Horn-blowing, hisses, and wild cries. DR. STOCKMANN goes out through +the hall with his family, HORSTER elbowing a way for them.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +The Whole Crowd (howling after them as they go). Enemy of the People! +Enemy of the People! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Billing (as he puts his papers together). Well, I'm damned if I go and +drink toddy with the Stockmanns tonight! +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(The crowd press towards the exit. The uproar continues outside; shouts +of "Enemy of the People!" are heard from without.) +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h3><a name="chap05"></a>ACT V</h3> + +<p class="noindent"> +(SCENE.—DR. STOCKMANN'S study. Bookcases and cabinets containing +specimens, line the walls. At the back is a door leading to the hall; +in the foreground on the left, a door leading to the sitting-room. In +the righthand wall are two windows, of which all the panes are broken. +The DOCTOR'S desk, littered with books and papers, stands in the middle +of the room, which is in disorder. It is morning. DR. STOCKMANN in +dressing-gown, slippers and a smoking-cap, is bending down and raking +with an umbrella under one of the cabinets. After a little while he +rakes out a stone.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (calling through the open sitting-room door). Katherine, +I have found another one. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (from the sitting-room). Oh, you will find a lot more +yet, I expect. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (adding the stone to a heap of others on the table). I +shall treasure these stones as relics. Ejlif and Morten shall look at +them every day, and when they are grown up they shall inherit them as +heirlooms. (Rakes about under a bookcase.) Hasn't—what the deuce is +her name?—the girl, you know—hasn't she been to fetch the glazier yet? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in). Yes, but he said he didn't know if he would +be able to come today. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You will see he won't dare to come. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, that is just what Randine thought—that he didn't +dare to, on account of the neighbours. (Calls into the sitting-room.) +What is it you want, Randine? Give it to me. (Goes in, and comes out +again directly.) Here is a letter for you, Thomas. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Let me see it. (Opens and reads it.) Ah!—of course. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Who is it from? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. From the landlord. Notice to quit. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Is it possible? Such a nice man +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (looking at the letter). Does not dare do otherwise, he +says. Doesn't like doing it, but dare not do otherwise—on account of +his fellow-citizens—out of regard for public opinion. Is in a +dependent position—dares not offend certain influential men. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. There, you see, Thomas! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes, I see well enough; the whole lot of them in +the town are cowards; not a man among them dares do anything for fear +of the others. (Throws the letter on to the table.) But it doesn't +matter to us, Katherine. We are going to sail away to the New World, +and— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas, are you sure we are well advised to take +this step? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Are you suggesting that I should stay here, where they +have pilloried me as an enemy of the people—branded me—broken my +windows! And just look here, Katherine—they have torn a great rent in +my black trousers too! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, dear!—and they are the best pair you have got! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You should never wear your best trousers when you go out +to fight for freedom and truth. It is not that I care so much about the +trousers, you know; you can always sew them up again for me. But that +the common herd should dare to make this attack on me, as if they were +my equals—that is what I cannot, for the life of me, swallow! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. There is no doubt they have behaved very ill toward +you, Thomas; but is that sufficient reason for our leaving our native +country for good and all? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. If we went to another town, do you suppose we should not +find the common people just as insolent as they are here? Depend upon +it, there is not much to choose between them. Oh, well, let the curs +snap—that is not the worst part of it. The worst is that, from one end +of this country to the other, every man is the slave of his Party. +Although, as far as that goes, I daresay it is not much better in the +free West either; the compact majority, and liberal public opinion, and +all that infernal old bag of tricks are probably rampant there too. But +there things are done on a larger scale, you see. They may kill you, +but they won't put you to death by slow torture. They don't squeeze a +free man's soul in a vice, as they do here. And, if need be, one can +live in solitude. (Walks up and down.) If only I knew where there was a +virgin forest or a small South Sea island for sale, cheap— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But think of the boys, Thomas! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (standing still). What a strange woman you are, +Katherine! Would you prefer to have the boys grow up in a society like +this? You saw for yourself last night that half the population are out +of their minds; and if the other half have not lost their senses, it is +because they are mere brutes, with no sense to lose. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas dear, the imprudent things you said had +something to do with it, you know. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, isn't what I said perfectly true? Don't they turn +every idea topsy-turvy? Don't they make a regular hotchpotch of right +and wrong? Don't they say that the things I know are true, are lies? +The craziest part of it all is the fact of these "liberals," men of +full age, going about in crowds imagining that they are the +broad-minded party! Did you ever hear anything like it, Katherine! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, yes, it's mad enough of them, certainly; +but—(PETRA comes in from the sitting-room). Back from school already? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Yes. I have been given notice of dismissal. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Dismissal? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You too? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Mrs. Busk gave me my notice; so I thought it was best to go at +once. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You were perfectly right, too! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Who would have thought Mrs. Busk was a woman like that! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Mrs. Busk isn't a bit like that, mother; I saw quite plainly how +it hurt her to do it. But she didn't dare do otherwise, she said; and +so I got my notice. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (laughing and rubbing his hands). She didn't dare do +otherwise, either! It's delicious! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, after the dreadful scenes last night— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. It was not only that. Just listen to this, father! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Mrs. Busk showed me no less than three letters she received this +morning— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Anonymous, I suppose? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Yes. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, because they didn't dare to risk signing their +names, Katherine! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. And two of them were to the effect that a man, who has been our +guest here, was declaring last night at the Club that my views on +various subjects are extremely emancipated— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You did not deny that, I hope? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. No, you know I wouldn't. Mrs. Busk's own views are tolerably +emancipated, when we are alone together; but now that this report about +me is being spread, she dare not keep me on any longer. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. And someone who had been a guest of ours! That shows +you the return you get for your hospitality, Thomas! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. We won't live in such a disgusting hole any longer. Pack +up as quickly as you can, Katherine; the sooner we can get away, the +better. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Be quiet—I think I hear someone in the hall. See who +it is, Petra. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (opening the door). Oh, it's you, Captain Horster! Do come in. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster (coming in). Good morning. I thought I would just come in and +see how you were. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (shaking his hand). Thanks—that is really kind of you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. And thank you, too, for helping us through the crowd, +Captain Horster. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. How did you manage to get home again? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Oh, somehow or other. I am fairly strong, and there is more +sound than fury about these folk. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, isn't their swinish cowardice astonishing? Look +here, I will show you something! There are all the stones they have +thrown through my windows. Just look at them! I'm hanged if there are +more than two decently large bits of hard stone in the whole heap; the +rest are nothing but gravel—wretched little things. And yet they stood +out there bawling and swearing that they would do me some violence; but +as for doing anything—you don't see much of that in this town. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Just as well for you this time, doctor! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. True enough. But it makes one angry all the same; +because if some day it should be a question of a national fight in real +earnest, you will see that public opinion will be in favour of taking +to one's heels, and the compact majority will turn tail like a flock of +sheep, Captain Horster. That is what is so mournful to think of; it +gives me so much concern, that—. No, devil take it, it is ridiculous +to care about it! They have called me an enemy of the people, so an +enemy of the people let me be! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You will never be that, Thomas. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Don't swear to that, Katherine. To be called an ugly +name may have the same effect as a pin-scratch in the lung. And that +hateful name—I can't get quit of it. It is sticking here in the pit of +my stomach, eating into me like a corrosive acid. And no magnesia will +remove it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Bah!—you should only laugh at them, father, +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. They will change their minds some day, Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, Thomas, as sure as you are standing here. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Perhaps, when it is too late. Much good may it do them! +They may wallow in their filth then and rue the day when they drove a +patriot into exile. When do you sail, Captain Horster? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Hm!—that was just what I had come to speak about— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Why, has anything gone wrong with the ship? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. No; but what has happened is that I am not to sail in it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Do you mean that you have been dismissed from your command? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster (smiling). Yes, that's just it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. You too. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. There, you see, Thomas! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And that for the truth's sake! Oh, if I had thought such +a thing possible— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. You mustn't take it to heart; I shall be sure to find a job +with some ship-owner or other, elsewhere. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And that is this man Vik—a wealthy man, independent of +everyone and everything—! Shame on him! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. He is quite an excellent fellow otherwise; he told me himself +he would willingly have kept me on, if only he had dared— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But he didn't dare? No, of course not. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. It is not such an easy matter, he said, for a party man— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The worthy man spoke the truth. A party is like a +sausage machine; it mashes up all sorts of heads together into the same +mincemeat—fatheads and blockheads, all in one mash! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Come, come, Thomas dear! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (to HORSTER). If only you had not come home with us, things might +not have come to this pass. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. I do not regret it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (holding out her hand to him). Thank you for that! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster (to DR. STOCKMANN). And so what I came to say was that if you +are determined to go away, I have thought of another plan— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That's splendid!—if only we can get away at once. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Hush!—wasn't that some one knocking? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. That is uncle, surely. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Aha! (Calls out.) Come in! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Dear Thomas, promise me definitely—. (PETER STOCKMANN +comes in from the hall.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, you are engaged. In that case, I will— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, no, come in. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. But I wanted to speak to you alone. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. We will go into the sitting-room in the meanwhile. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. And I will look in again later. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, go in there with them, Captain Horster; I want to +hear more about—. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Very well, I will wait, then. (He follows MRS. STOCKMANN and +PETRA into the sitting-room.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I daresay you find it rather draughty here today. Put +your hat on. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Thank you, if I may. (Does so.) I think I caught cold +last night; I stood and shivered— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Really? I found it warm enough. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I regret that it was not in my power to prevent those +excesses last night. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Have you anything in particular to say to me besides +that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (taking a big letter from his pocket). I have this +document for you, from the Baths Committee. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. My dismissal? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, dating from today. (Lays the letter on the +table.) It gives us pain to do it; but, to speak frankly, we dared not +do otherwise on account of public opinion. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (smiling). Dared not? I seem to have heard that word +before, today. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I must beg you to understand your position clearly. +For the future you must not count on any practice whatever in the town. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Devil take the practice! But why are you so sure of that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The Householders' Association is circulating a list +from house to house. All right-minded citizens are being called upon to +give up employing you; and I can assure you that not a single head of a +family will risk refusing his signature. They simply dare not. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, no; I don't doubt it. But what then? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. If I might advise you, it would be best to leave the +place for a little while— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, the propriety of leaving the place has occurred to +me. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Good. And then, when you have had six months to think +things over, if, after mature consideration, you can persuade yourself +to write a few words of regret, acknowledging your error— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I might have my appointment restored to me, do you mean? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Perhaps. It is not at all impossible. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But what about public opinion, then? Surely you would +not dare to do it on account of public feeling... +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Public opinion is an extremely mutable thing. And, to +be quite candid with you, it is a matter of great importance to us to +have some admission of that sort from you in writing. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, that's what you are after, is it! I will just +trouble you to remember what I said to you lately about foxy tricks of +that sort! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Your position was quite different then. At that time +you had reason to suppose you had the whole town at your back— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and now I feel I have the whole town ON my +back—(flaring up). I would not do it if I had the devil and his dam on +my back—! Never—never, I tell you! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. A man with a family has no right to behave as you do. +You have no right to do it, Thomas. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I have no right! There is only one single thing in the +world a free man has no right to do. Do you know what that is? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. No. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Of course you don't, but I will tell you. A free man has +no right to soil himself with filth; he has no right to behave in a way +that would justify his spitting in his own face. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. This sort of thing sounds extremely plausible, of +course; and if there were no other explanation for your obstinacy—. +But as it happens that there is. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What do you mean? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You understand, very well what I mean. But, as your +brother and as a man of discretion, I advise you not to build too much +upon expectations and prospects that may so very easily fail you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What in the world is all this about? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Do you really ask me to believe that you are ignorant +of the terms of Mr. Kiil's will? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I know that the small amount he possesses is to go to an +institution for indigent old workpeople. How does that concern me? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. In the first place, it is by no means a small amount +that is in question. Mr. Kiil is a fairly wealthy man. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I had no notion of that! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Hm!—hadn't you really? Then I suppose you had no +notion, either, that a considerable portion of his wealth will come to +your children, you and your wife having a life-rent of the capital. Has +he never told you so? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Never, on my honour! Quite the reverse; he has +consistently done nothing but fume at being so unconscionably heavily +taxed. But are you perfectly certain of this, Peter? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I have it from an absolutely reliable source. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Then, thank God, Katherine is provided for—and the +children too! I must tell her this at once—(calls out) Katherine, +Katherine! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (restraining him). Hush, don't say a word yet! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (opening the door). What is the matter? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, nothing, nothing; you can go back. (She shuts the +door. DR. STOCKMANN walks up and down in his excitement.) Provided +for!—Just think of it, we are all provided for! And for life! What a +blessed feeling it is to know one is provided for! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, but that is just exactly what you are not. Mr. +Kiil can alter his will any day he likes. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But he won't do that, my dear Peter. The "Badger" is +much too delighted at my attack on you and your wise friends. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (starts and looks intently at him). Ah, that throws a +light on various things. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What things? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I see that the whole thing was a combined manoeuvre on +your part and his. These violent, reckless attacks that you have made +against the leading men of the town, under the pretence that it was in +the name of truth— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What about them? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I see that they were nothing else than the stipulated +price for that vindictive old man's will. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (almost speechless). Peter—you are the most disgusting +plebeian I have ever met in all my life. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. All is over between us. Your dismissal is +irrevocable—we have a weapon against you now. (Goes out.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. For shame! For shame! (Calls out.) Katherine, you must +have the floor scrubbed after him! Let—what's her name—devil take it, +the girl who has always got soot on her nose— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. (in the sitting-room). Hush, Thomas, be quiet! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (coming to the door). Father, grandfather is here, asking if he +may speak to you alone. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly he may. (Going to the door.) Come in, Mr. +Kiil. (MORTEN KIIL comes in. DR. STOCKMANN shuts the door after him.) +What can I do for you? Won't you sit down? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. I won't sit. (Looks around.) You look very comfortable +here today, Thomas. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, don't we! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Very comfortable—plenty of fresh air. I should think you +have got enough to-day of that oxygen you were talking about yesterday. +Your conscience must be in splendid order to-day, I should think. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. So I should think. (Taps his chest.) Do you know what I +have got here? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A good conscience, too, I hope. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Bah!—No, it is something better than that. (He takes a +thick pocket-book from his breast-pocket, opens it, and displays a +packet of papers.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (looking at him in astonishment). Shares in the Baths? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. They were not difficult to get today. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And you have been buying—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. As many as I could pay for. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But, my dear Mr. Kiil—consider the state of the Baths' +affairs! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. If you behave like a reasonable man, you can soon set the +Baths on their feet again. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, you can see for yourself that I have done all I +can, but—. They are all mad in this town! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. You said yesterday that the worst of this pollution came +from my tannery. If that is true, then my grandfather and my father +before me, and I myself, for many years past, have been poisoning the +town like three destroying angels. Do you think I am going to sit quiet +under that reproach? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Unfortunately I am afraid you will have to. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. No, thank you. I am jealous of my name and reputation. +They call me "the Badger," I am told. A badger is a kind of pig, I +believe; but I am not going to give them the right to call me that. I +mean to live and die a clean man. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And how are you going to set about it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. You shall cleanse me, Thomas. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Do you know what money I have bought these shares with? +No, of course you can't know—but I will tell you. It is the money that +Katherine and Petra and the boys will have when I am gone. Because I +have been able to save a little bit after all, you know. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (flaring up). And you have gone and taken Katherine's +money for this! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Yes, the whole of the money is invested in the Baths now. +And now I just want to see whether you are quite stark, staring mad, +Thomas! If you still make out that these animals and other nasty things +of that sort come from my tannery, it will be exactly as if you were to +flay broad strips of skin from Katherine's body, and Petra's, and the +boys'; and no decent man would do that—unless he were mad. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (walking up and down). Yes, but I am mad; I am mad! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. You cannot be so absurdly mad as all that, when it is a +question of your wife and children. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (standing still in front of him). Why couldn't you +consult me about it, before you went and bought all that trash? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. What is done cannot be undone. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (walks about uneasily). If only I were not so certain +about it—! But I am absolutely convinced that I am right. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (weighing the pocket-book in his hand). If you stick to +your mad idea, this won't be worth much, you know. (Puts the +pocket-book in his pocket.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But, hang it all! It might be possible for science to +discover some prophylactic, I should think—or some antidote of some +kind— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. To kill these animals, do you mean? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, or to make them innocuous. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Couldn't you try some rat's-bane? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Don't talk nonsense! They all say it is only +imagination, you know. Well, let it go at that! Let them have their own +way about it! Haven't the ignorant, narrow-minded curs reviled me as an +enemy of the people?—and haven't they been ready to tear the clothes +off my back too? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. And broken all your windows to pieces! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And then there is my duty to my family. I must talk it +over with Katherine; she is great on those things. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. That is right; be guided by a reasonable woman's advice. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (advancing towards him). To think you could do such a +preposterous thing! Risking Katherine's money in this way, and putting +me in such a horribly painful dilemma! When I look at you, I think I +see the devil himself—. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Then I had better go. But I must have an answer from you +before two o'clock—yes or no. If it is no, the shares go to a charity, +and that this very day. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And what does Katherine get? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Not a halfpenny. (The door leading to the hall opens, and +HOVSTAD and ASLAKSEN make their appearance.) Look at those two! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (staring at them). What the devil!—have YOU actually the +face to come into my house? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Certainly. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. We have something to say to you, you see. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (in a whisper). Yes or no—before two o'clock. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (glancing at HOVSTAD). Aha! (MORTEN KIIL goes out.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, what do you want with me? Be brief. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I can quite understand that you are annoyed with us for our +attitude at the meeting yesterday. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Attitude, do you call it? Yes, it was a charming +attitude! I call it weak, womanish—damnably shameful! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Call it what you like, we could not do otherwise. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You DARED not do otherwise—isn't that it? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, if you like to put it that way. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. But why did you not let us have word of it beforehand?—just +a hint to Mr. Hovstad or to me? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A hint? Of what? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Of what was behind it all. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I don't understand you in the least— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (with a confidential nod). Oh yes, you do, Dr. Stockmann. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is no good making a mystery of it any longer. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (looking first at one of them and then at the other). +What the devil do you both mean? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. May I ask if your father-in-law is not going round the town +buying up all the shares in the Baths? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, he has been buying Baths shares today; but— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. It would have been more prudent to get someone else to do +it—someone less nearly related to you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. And you should not have let your name appear in the affair. +There was no need for anyone to know that the attack on the Baths came +from you. You ought to have consulted me, Dr. Stockmann. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (looks in front of him; then a light seems to dawn on him +and he says in amazement.) Are such things conceivable? Are such things +possible? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (with a smile). Evidently they are. But it is better to use a +little finesse, you know. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. And it is much better to have several persons in a thing of +that sort; because the responsibility of each individual is lessened, +when there are others with him. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (composedly). Come to the point, gentlemen. What do you +want? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Perhaps Mr. Hovstad had better— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, you tell him, Aslaksen. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Well, the fact is that, now we know the bearings of the whole +affair, we think we might venture to put the "People's Messenger" at +your disposal. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Do you dare do that now? What about public opinion? Are +you not afraid of a storm breaking upon our heads? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. We will try to weather it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And you must be ready to go off quickly on a new tack, +Doctor. As soon as your invective has done its work— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Do you mean, as soon as my father-in-law and I have got +hold of the shares at a low figure? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. Your reasons for wishing to get the control of the Baths are +mainly scientific, I take it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Of course; it was for scientific reasons that I +persuaded the old "Badger" to stand in with me in the matter. So we +will tinker at the conduit-pipes a little, and dig up a little bit of +the shore, and it shan't cost the town a sixpence. That will be all +right—eh? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. I think so—if you have the "People's Messenger" behind you. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. The Press is a power in a free community. Doctor. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so. And so is public opinion. And you, Mr. +Aslaksen—I suppose you will be answerable for the Householders' +Association? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, and for the Temperance Society. You may rely on that. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But, gentlemen—I really am ashamed to ask the +question—but, what return do you—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. We should prefer to help you without any return whatever, +believe me. But the "People's Messenger" is in rather a shaky +condition; it doesn't go really well; and I should be very unwilling to +suspend the paper now, when there is so much work to do here in the +political way. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so; that would be a great trial to such a friend +of the people as you are. (Flares up.) But I am an enemy of the people, +remember! (Walks about the room.) Where have I put my stick? Where the +devil is my stick? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. What's that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Surely you never mean— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (standing still.) And suppose I don't give you a single +penny of all I get out of it? Money is not very easy to get out of us +rich folk, please to remember! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. And you please to remember that this affair of the shares can +be represented in two ways! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and you are just the man to do it. If I don't come +to the rescue of the "People's Messenger," you will certainly take an +evil view of the affair; you will hunt me down, I can well +imagine—pursue me—try to throttle me as a dog does a hare. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is a natural law; every animal must fight for its own +livelihood. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And get its food where it can, you know. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (walking about the room). Then you go and look for yours +in the gutter; because I am going to show you which is the strongest +animal of us three! (Finds an umbrella and brandishes it above his +head.) Ah, now—! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. You are surely not going to use violence! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Take care what you are doing with that umbrella. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Out of the window with you, Mr. Hovstad! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad (edging to the door). Are you quite mad! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Out of the window, Mr. Aslaksen! Jump, I tell you! You +will have to do it, sooner or later. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (running round the writing-table). Moderation, Doctor—I am a +delicate man—I can stand so little—(calls out) help, help! +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(MRS. STOCKMANN, PETRA and HORSTER come in from the sitting-room.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Good gracious, Thomas! What is happening? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (brandishing the umbrella). Jump out, I tell you! Out +into the gutter! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Hovstad. An assault on an unoffending man! I call you to witness, +Captain Horster. (Hurries out through the hall.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Aslaksen (irresolutely). If only I knew the way about here—. (Steals +out through the sitting-room.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (holding her husband back). Control yourself, Thomas! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (throwing down the umbrella). Upon my soul, they have +escaped after all. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. What did they want you to do? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I will tell you later on; I have something else to think +about now. (Goes to the table and writes something on a calling-card.) +Look there, Katherine; what is written there? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Three big Noes; what does that mean. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I will tell you that too, later on. (Holds out the card +to PETRA.) There, Petra; tell sooty-face to run over to the "Badger's" +with that, as quick as she can. Hurry up! (PETRA takes the card and +goes out to the hall.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, I think I have had a visit from every one of the +devil's messengers to-day! But now I am going to sharpen my pen till +they can feel its point; I shall dip it in venom and gall; I shall hurl +my inkpot at their heads! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, but we are going away, you know, Thomas. +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(PETRA comes back.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. She has gone with it. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Good.—Going away, did you say? No, I'll be hanged if we +are going away! We are going to stay where we are, Katherine! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Stay here? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Here, in the town? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, here. This is the field of battle—this is where +the fight will be. This is where I shall triumph! As soon as I have had +my trousers sewn up I shall go out and look for another house. We must +have a roof over our heads for the winter. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. That you shall have in my house. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Can I? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horsier. Yes, quite well. I have plenty of room, and I am almost never +at home. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. How good of you, Captain Horster! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Thank you! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (grasping his hand). Thank you, thank you! That is one +trouble over! Now I can set to work in earnest at once. There is an +endless amount of things to look through here, Katherine! Luckily I +shall have all my time at my disposal; because I have been dismissed +from the Baths, you know. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (with a sigh). Oh yes, I expected that. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And they want to take my practice away from me too. Let +them! I have got the poor people to fall back upon, anyway—those that +don't pay anything; and, after all, they need me most, too. But, by +Jove, they will have to listen to me; I shall preach to them in season +and out of season, as it says somewhere. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, I should have thought events had +showed you what use it is to preach. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You are really ridiculous, Katherine. Do you want me to +let myself be beaten off the field by public opinion and the compact +majority and all that devilry? No, thank you! And what I want to do is +so simple and clear and straightforward. I only want to drum into the +heads of these curs the fact that the liberals are the most insidious +enemies of freedom—that party programmes strangle every young and +vigorous truth—that considerations of expediency turn morality and +justice upside down—and that they will end by making life here +unbearable. Don't you think, Captain Horster, that I ought to be able +to make people understand that? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Horster. Very likely; I don't know much about such things myself. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, look here—I will explain! It is the party leaders +that must be exterminated. A party leader is like a wolf, you see—like +a voracious wolf. He requires a certain number of smaller victims to +prey upon every year, if he is to live. Just look at Hovstad and +Aslaksen! How many smaller victims have they not put an end to—or at +any rate maimed and mangled until they are fit for nothing except to be +householders or subscribers to the "People's Messenger"! (Sits down on +the edge of the table.) Come here, Katherine—look how beautifully the +sun shines to-day! And this lovely spring air I am drinking in! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, if only we could live on sunshine and spring air, +Thomas. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, you will have to pinch and save a bit—then we shall +get along. That gives me very little concern. What is much worse is, +that I know of no one who is liberal-minded and high-minded enough to +venture to take up my work after me. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra. Don't think about that, father; you have plenty of time before +you.—Hello, here are the boys already! +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(EJLIF and MORTEN come in from the sitting-room.) +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Have you got a holiday? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten. No; but we were fighting with the other boys between lessons— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Ejlif. That isn't true; it was the other boys were fighting with us. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten. Well, and then Mr. Rorlund said we had better stay at home for +a day or two. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (snapping his fingers and getting up from the table). I +have it! I have it, by Jove! You shall never set foot in the school +again! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +The Boys. No more school! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Never, I say. I will educate you myself; that is to say, +you shan't learn a blessed thing— +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten. Hooray! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. —but I will make liberal-minded and high-minded men of +you. You must help me with that, Petra. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra, Yes, father, you may be sure I will. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And my school shall be in the room where they insulted +me and called me an enemy of the people. But we are too few as we are; +I must have at least twelve boys to begin with. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You will certainly never get them in this town. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. We shall. (To the boys.) Don't you know any street +urchins—regular ragamuffins—? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten. Yes, father, I know lots! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That's capital! Bring me some specimens of them. I am +going to experiment with curs, just for once; there may be some +exceptional heads among them. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten. And what are we going to do, when you have made liberal-minded +and high-minded men of us? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Then you shall drive all the wolves out of the country, +my boys! +</p> + +<p class="stage"> +(EJLIF looks rather doubtful about it; MORTEN jumps about crying +"Hurrah!") +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Let us hope it won't be the wolves that will drive you +out of the country, Thomas. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Are you out of your mind, Katherine? Drive me out! +Now—when I am the strongest man in the town! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. The strongest—now? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and I will go so far as to say that now I am the +strongest man in the whole world. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Morten. I say! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (lowering his voice). Hush! You mustn't say anything +about it yet; but I have made a great discovery. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Another one? +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. (Gathers them round him, and says confidentially:) +It is this, let me tell you—that the strongest man in the world is he +who stands most alone. +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (smiling and shaking her head). Oh, Thomas, Thomas! +</p> + +<p class="dialog"> +Petra (encouragingly, as she grasps her father's hands). Father! +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of An Enemy of the People, by Henrik Ibsen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE *** + +***** This file should be named 2446-h.htm or 2446-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/4/2446/ + +Produced by Martin Adamson. HTML version by Al Haines. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net + + +Title: An Enemy of the People + +Author: Henrik Ibsen + +Translator: R. Farquharson Sharp + +Posting Date: February 27, 2010 [EBook #2446] +Release Date: December, 2000 +[Last updated: February 28, 2014] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Adamson. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +by +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Henrik Ibsen +</H2> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Translated by R. Farquharson Sharp +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE +</H2> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A play in five acts +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +DRAMATIS PERSONAE +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> + Dr. Thomas Stockmann, Medical Officer of the Municipal Baths.<BR> + Mrs. Stockmann, his wife.<BR> + Petra (their daughter) a teacher.<BR> + Ejlif & Morten (their sons, aged 13 and 10 respectively).<BR> + Peter Stockmann (the Doctor's elder brother), Mayor of the<BR> + Town and Chief Constable, Chairman of the Baths' Committee, etc.<BR> + Morten Kiil, a tanner (Mrs. Stockmann's adoptive father).<BR> + Hovstad, editor of the "People's Messenger."<BR> + Billing, sub-editor.<BR> + Captain Horster.<BR> + Aslaksen, a printer.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Men of various conditions and occupations, a few women, and a troop of +schoolboys—the audience at a public meeting. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +The action takes place in a coastal town in southern Norway, +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ACT I +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +(SCENE.—DR. STOCKMANN'S sitting-room. It is evening. The room is +plainly but neatly appointed and furnished. In the right-hand wall are +two doors; the farther leads out to the hall, the nearer to the +doctor's study. In the left-hand wall, opposite the door leading to the +hall, is a door leading to the other rooms occupied by the family. In +the middle of the same wall stands the stove, and, further forward, a +couch with a looking-glass hanging over it and an oval table in front +of it. On the table, a lighted lamp, with a lampshade. At the back of +the room, an open door leads to the dining-room. BILLING is seen +sitting at the dining table, on which a lamp is burning. He has a +napkin tucked under his chin, and MRS. STOCKMANN is standing by the +table handing him a large plate-full of roast beef. The other places at +the table are empty, and the table somewhat in disorder, evidently a +meal having recently been finished.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You see, if you come an hour late, Mr. Billing, you +have to put up with cold meat. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing (as he eats). It is uncommonly good, thank you—remarkably good. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. My husband makes such a point of having his meals +punctually, you know. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. That doesn't affect me a bit. Indeed, I almost think I enjoy a +meal all the better when I can sit down and eat all by myself, and +undisturbed. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh well, as long as you are enjoying it—. (Turns to +the hall door, listening.) I expect that is Mr. Hovstad coming too. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Very likely. +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(PETER STOCKMANN comes in. He wears an overcoat and his official hat, +and carries a stick.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Good evening, Katherine. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coming forward into the sitting-room). Ah, good +evening—is it you? How good of you to come up and see us! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I happened to be passing, and so—(looks into the +dining-room). But you have company with you, I see. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (a little embarrassed). Oh, no—it was quite by chance +he came in. (Hurriedly.) Won't you come in and have something, too? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I! No, thank you. Good gracious—hot meat at night! +Not with my digestion. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, but just once in a way— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. No, no, my dear lady; I stick to my tea and bread and +butter. It is much more wholesome in the long run—and a little more +economical, too. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (smiling). Now you mustn't think that Thomas and I are +spendthrifts. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Not you, my dear; I would never think that of you. +(Points to the Doctor's study.) Is he not at home? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. No, he went out for a little turn after supper—he and +the boys. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I doubt if that is a wise thing to do. (Listens.) I +fancy I hear him coming now. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. No, I don't think it is he. (A knock is heard at the +door.) Come in! (HOVSTAD comes in from the hall.) Oh, it is you, Mr. +Hovstad! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, I hope you will forgive me, but I was delayed at the +printers. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (bowing a little distantly). Good evening. You have +come on business, no doubt. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Partly. It's about an article for the paper. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. So I imagined. I hear my brother has become a prolific +contributor to the "People's Messenger." +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, he is good enough to write in the "People's Messenger" +when he has any home truths to tell. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (to HOVSTAD). But won't you—? (Points to the +dining-room.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Quite so, quite so. I don't blame him in the least, as +a writer, for addressing himself to the quarters where he will find the +readiest sympathy. And, besides that, I personally have no reason to +bear any ill will to your paper, Mr. Hovstad. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I quite agree with you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Taking one thing with another, there is an excellent +spirit of toleration in the town—an admirable municipal spirit. And it +all springs from the fact of our having a great common interest to +unite us—an interest that is in an equally high degree the concern of +every right-minded citizen. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. The Baths, yes. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Exactly—-our fine, new, handsome Baths. Mark my +words, Mr. Hovstad—the Baths will become the focus of our municipal +life! Not a doubt of it! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. That is just what Thomas says. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Think how extraordinarily the place has developed +within the last year or two! Money has been flowing in, and there is +some life and some business doing in the town. Houses and landed +property are rising in value every day. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. And unemployment is diminishing, +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, that is another thing. The burden on the poor +rates has been lightened, to the great relief of the propertied +classes; and that relief will be even greater if only we get a really +good summer this year, and lots of visitors—plenty of invalids, who +will make the Baths talked about. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. And there is a good prospect of that, I hear. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It looks very promising. Inquiries about apartments +and that sort of thing are reaching us, every day. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, the doctor's article will come in very suitably. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Has he been writing something just lately? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. This is something he wrote in the winter; a recommendation of +the Baths—an account of the excellent sanitary conditions here. But I +held the article over, temporarily. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Ah,—some little difficulty about it, I suppose? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, not at all; I thought it would be better to wait until the +spring, because it is just at this time that people begin to think +seriously about their summer quarters. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Quite right; you were perfectly right, Mr. Hovstad. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, Thomas is really indefatigable when it is a question of +the Baths. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Well remember, he is the Medical Officer to the Baths. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, and what is more, they owe their existence to him. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. To him? Indeed! It is true I have heard from time to +time that some people are of that opinion. At the same time I must say +I imagined that I took a modest part in the enterprise. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is what Thomas is always saying. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. But who denies it, Mr. Stockmann? You set the thing going and +made a practical concern of it; we all know that. I only meant that the +idea of it came first from the doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, ideas yes! My brother has had plenty of them in +his time—unfortunately. But when it is a question of putting an idea +into practical shape, you have to apply to a man of different mettle. +Mr. Hovstad. And I certainly should have thought that in this house at +least... +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. My dear Peter— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. How can you think that—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Won't you go in and have something, Mr. Hovstad? My +husband is sure to be back directly. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Thank you, perhaps just a morsel. (Goes into the dining-room.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (lowering his voice a little). It is a curious thing +that these farmers' sons never seem to lose their want of tact. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Surely it is not worth bothering about! Cannot you and +Thomas share the credit as brothers? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I should have thought so; but apparently some people +are not satisfied with a share. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. What nonsense! You and Thomas get on so capitally +together. (Listens.) There he is at last, I think. (Goes out and opens +the door leading to the hall.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (laughing and talking outside). Look here—here is +another guest for you, Katherine. Isn't that jolly! Come in, Captain +Horster; hang your coat up on this peg. Ah, you don't wear an overcoat. +Just think, Katherine; I met him in the street and could hardly +persuade him to come up! (CAPTAIN HORSTER comes into the room and +greets MRS. STOCKMANN. He is followed by DR. STOCKMANN.) Come along in, +boys. They are ravenously hungry again, you know. Come along, Captain +Horster; you must have a slice of beef. (Pushes HORSTER into the +dining-room. EJLIF and MORTEN go in after them.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas, don't you see—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (turning in the doorway). Oh, is it you, Peter? (Shakes +hands with him.) Now that is very delightful. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Unfortunately I must go in a moment— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Rubbish! There is some toddy just coming in. You haven't +forgotten the toddy, Katherine? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Of course not; the water is boiling now. (Goes into the +dining-room.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Toddy too! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, sit down and we will have it comfortably. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Thanks, I never care about an evening's drinking. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But this isn't an evening's drinking. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It seems to me—. (Looks towards the dining-room.) It +is extraordinary how they can put away all that food. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (rubbing his hands). Yes, isn't it splendid to see young +people eat? They have always got an appetite, you know! That's as it +should be. Lots of food—to build up their strength! They are the +people who are going to stir up the fermenting forces of the future, +Peter. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. May I ask what they will find here to "stir up," as +you put it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, you must ask the young people that—when the times +comes. We shan't be able to see it, of course. That stands to +reason—two old fogies, like us. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Really, really! I must say that is an extremely odd +expression to— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, you mustn't take me too literally, Peter. I am so +heartily happy and contented, you know. I think it is such an +extraordinary piece of good fortune to be in the middle of all this +growing, germinating life. It is a splendid time to live in! It is as +if a whole new world were being created around one. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Do you really think so? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, naturally you can't appreciate it as keenly as I. +You have lived all your life in these surroundings, and your +impressions have been blunted. But I, who have been buried all these +years in my little corner up north, almost without ever seeing a +stranger who might bring new ideas with him—well, in my case it has +just the same effect as if I had been transported into the middle of a +crowded city. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, a city—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I know, I know; it is all cramped enough here, compared +with many other places. But there is life here—there is promise—there +are innumerable things to work for and fight for; and that is the main +thing. (Calls.) Katherine, hasn't the postman been here? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (from the dining-room). No. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And then to be comfortably off, Peter! That is something +one learns to value, when one has been on the brink of starvation, as +we have. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, surely— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed I can assure you we have often been very hard put +to it, up there. And now to be able to live like a lord! Today, for +instance, we had roast beef for dinner—and, what is more, for supper +too. Won't you come and have a little bit? Or let me show it you, at +any rate? Come here— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. No, no—not for worlds! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, but just come here then. Do you see, we have got a +table-cover? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, I noticed it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And we have got a lamp-shade too. Do you see? All out of +Katherine's savings! It makes the room so cosy. Don't you think so? +Just stand here for a moment—no, no, not there—just here, that's it! +Look now, when you get the light on it altogether. I really think it +looks very nice, doesn't it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, if you can afford luxuries of this kind— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, I can afford it now. Katherine tells me I earn +almost as much as we spend. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Almost—yes! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But a scientific man must live in a little bit of style. +I am quite sure an ordinary civil servant spends more in a year than I +do. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I daresay. A civil servant—a man in a well-paid +position... +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, any ordinary merchant, then! A man in that +position spends two or three times as much as— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It just depends on circumstances. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. At all events I assure you I don't waste money +unprofitably. But I can't find it in my heart to deny myself the +pleasure of entertaining my friends. I need that sort of thing, you +know. I have lived for so long shut out of it all, that it is a +necessity of life to me to mix with young, eager, ambitious men, men of +liberal and active minds; and that describes every one of those fellows +who are enjoying their supper in there. I wish you knew more of Hovstad. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. By the way, Hovstad was telling me he was going to +print another article of yours. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. An article of mine? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, about the Baths. An article you wrote in the +winter. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, that one! No, I don't intend that to appear just for +the present. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Why not? It seems to me that this would be the most +opportune moment. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, very likely—under normal conditions. (Crosses the +room.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (following him with his eyes). Is there anything +abnormal about the present conditions? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (standing still). To tell you the truth, Peter, I can't +say just at this moment—at all events not tonight. There may be much +that is very abnormal about the present conditions—and it is possible +there may be nothing abnormal about them at all. It is quite possible +it may be merely my imagination. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I must say it all sounds most mysterious. Is there +something going on that I am to be kept in ignorance of? I should have +imagined that I, as Chairman of the governing body of the Baths— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And I should have imagined that I—. Oh, come, don't let +us fly out at one another, Peter. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Heaven forbid! I am not in the habit of flying out at +people, as you call it. But I am entitled to request most emphatically +that all arrangements shall be made in a businesslike manner, through +the proper channels, and shall be dealt with by the legally constituted +authorities. I can allow no going behind our backs by any roundabout +means. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Have I ever at any time tried to go behind your backs? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You have an ingrained tendency to take your own way, +at all events; and, that is almost equally inadmissible in a well +ordered community, The individual ought undoubtedly to acquiesce in +subordinating himself to the community—or, to speak more accurately, +to the authorities who have the care of the community's welfare. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Very likely. But what the deuce has all this got to do +with me? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. That is exactly what you never appear to be willing to +learn, my dear Thomas. But, mark my words, some day you will have to +suffer for it—sooner or later. Now I have told you. Good-bye. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Have you taken leave of your senses? You are on the +wrong scent altogether. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I am not usually that. You must excuse me now if I— +(calls into the dining-room). Good night, Katherine. Good night, +gentlemen. (Goes out.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coming from the dining-room). Has he gone? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and in such a bad temper. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, what have you been doing to him again? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Nothing at all. And, anyhow, he can't oblige me to make +my report before the proper time. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. What have you got to make a report to him about? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Hm! Leave that to me, Katherine. It is an extraordinary +thing that the postman doesn't come. +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(HOVSTAD, BILLING and HORSTER have got up from the table and come into +the sitting-room. EJLIF and MORTEN come in after them.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing (stretching himself). Ah!—one feels a new man after a meal +like that. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. The mayor wasn't in a very sweet temper tonight, then. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is his stomach; he has wretched digestion. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I rather think it was us two of the "People's Messenger" that +he couldn't digest. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I thought you came out of it pretty well with him. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh yes; but it isn't anything more than a sort of truce. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. That is just what it is! That word sums up the situation. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. We must remember that Peter is a lonely man, poor chap. +He has no home comforts of any kind; nothing but everlasting business. +And all that infernal weak tea wash that he pours into himself! Now +then, my boys, bring chairs up to the table. Aren't we going to have +that toddy, Katherine? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (going into the dining-room). I am just getting it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Sit down here on the couch beside me, Captain Horster. +We so seldom see you. Please sit down, my friends. (They sit down at +the table. MRS. STOCKMANN brings a tray, with a spirit-lamp, glasses, +bottles, etc., upon it.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. There you are! This is arrack, and this is rum, and +this one is the brandy. Now every one must help themselves. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (taking a glass). We will. (They all mix themselves some +toddy.) And let us have the cigars. Ejlif, you know where the box is. +And you, Morten, can fetch my pipe. (The two boys go into the room on +the right.) I have a suspicion that Ejlif pockets a cigar now and +then!—but I take no notice of it. (Calls out.) And my smoking-cap too, +Morten. Katherine, you can tell him where I left it. Ah, he has got it. +(The boys bring the various things.) Now, my friends. I stick to my +pipe, you know. This one has seen plenty of bad weather with me up +north. (Touches glasses with them.) Your good health! Ah, it is good to +be sitting snug and warm here. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (who sits knitting). Do you sail soon, Captain Horster? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. I expect to be ready to sail next week. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I suppose you are going to America? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. Yes, that is the plan. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Then you won't be able to take part in the coming +election? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. Is there going to be an election? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Didn't you know? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. No, I don't mix myself up with those things. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. But do you not take an interest in public affairs? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. No, I don't know anything about politics. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. All the same, one ought to vote, at any rate. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. Even if one doesn't know anything about what is going on? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Doesn't know! What do you mean by that? A community is like a +ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. Maybe that is all very well on shore; but on board ship it +wouldn't work. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is astonishing how little most sailors care about what goes +on on shore. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Very extraordinary. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Sailors are like birds of passage; they feel equally at +home in any latitude. And that is only an additional reason for our +being all the more keen, Hovstad. Is there to be anything of public +interest in tomorrow's "Messenger"? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Nothing about municipal affairs. But the day after tomorrow I +was thinking of printing your article— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, devil take it—my article! Look here, that must wait +a bit. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Really? We had just got convenient space for it, and I thought +it was just the opportune moment— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes, very likely you are right; but it must wait +all the same. I will explain to you later. (PETRA comes in from the +hall, in hat and cloak and with a bundle of exercise books under her +arm.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Good evening. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Good evening, Petra; come along. +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(Mutual greetings; PETRA takes off her things and puts them down on a +chair by the door.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. And you have all been sitting here enjoying yourselves, while I +have been out slaving! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, come and enjoy yourself too! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. May I mix a glass for you? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (coming to the table). Thanks, I would rather do it; you always +mix it too strong. But I forgot, father—I have a letter for you. (Goes +to the chair where she has laid her things.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A letter? From whom? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (looking in her coat pocket). The postman gave it to me just as I +was going out. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (getting up and going to her). And you only give to me +now! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. I really had not time to run up again. There it is! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (seizing the letter). Let's see, let's see, child! (Looks +at the address.) Yes, that's all right! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Is it the one you have been expecting go anxiously, +Thomas? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, it is. I must go to my room now and— Where shall I +get a light, Katherine? Is there no lamp in my room again? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, your lamp is already lit on your desk. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Good, good. Excuse me for a moment—, (Goes into his +study.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. What do you suppose it is, mother? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know; for the last day or two he has always +been asking if the postman has not been. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Probably some country patient. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Poor old dad!—he will overwork himself soon. (Mixes a glass for +herself.) There, that will taste good! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Have you been teaching in the evening school again today? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (sipping from her glass). Two hours. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. And four hours of school in the morning? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Five hours. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. And you have still got exercises to correct, I see. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. A whole heap, yes. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. You are pretty full up with work too, it seems to me. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Yes—but that is good. One is so delightfully tired after it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Do you like that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, because one sleeps so well then. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten. You must be dreadfully wicked, Petra. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Wicked? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten. Yes, because you work so much. Mr. Rorlund says work is a +punishment for our sins. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Ejlif. Pooh, what a duffer, you are, to believe a thing like that! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Come, come, Ejlif! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing (laughing). That's capital! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Don't you want to work as hard as that, Morten? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten. No, indeed I don't. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. What do you want to be, then? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten. I should like best to be a Viking, +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Ejlif. You would have to be a pagan then. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten. Well, I could become a pagan, couldn't I? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. I agree with you, Morten! My sentiments, exactly. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (signalling to him). I am sure that is not true, Mr. +Billing. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Yes, I swear it is! I am a pagan, and I am proud of it. +Believe me, before long we shall all be pagans. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten. And then shall be allowed to do anything we like? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Well, you'll see, Morten. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You must go to your room now, boys; I am sure you have +some lessons to learn for tomorrow. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Ejlif. I should like so much to stay a little longer— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. No, no; away you go, both of you, (The boys say good +night and go into the room on the left.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Do you really think it can do the boys any harm to hear such +things? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know; but I don't like it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. But you know, mother, I think you really are wrong about it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Maybe, but I don't like it—not in our own home. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. There is so much falsehood both at home and at school. At home +one must not speak, and at school we have to stand and tell lies to the +children. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. Tell lies? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, don't you suppose we have to teach them all sorts of things +that we don't believe? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. That is perfectly true. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. If only I had the means, I would start a school of my own; and +it would be conducted on very different lines. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Oh, bother the means—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. Well if you are thinking of that, Miss Stockmann, I shall be +delighted to provide you with a schoolroom. The great big old house my +father left me is standing almost empty; there is an immense +dining-room downstairs— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (laughing). Thank you very much; but I am afraid nothing will +come of it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, Miss Petra is much more likely to take to journalism, I +expect. By the way, have you had time to do anything with that English +story you promised to translate for us? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. No, not yet, but you shall have it in good time. +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(DR. STOCKMANN comes in from his room with an open letter in his hand.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (waving the letter). Well, now the town will have +something new to talk about, I can tell you! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Something new? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. What is this? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A great discovery, Katherine. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Really? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. A discovery of yours? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A discovery of mine. (Walks up and down.) Just let them +come saying, as usual, that it is all fancy and a crazy man's +imagination! But they will be careful what they say this time, I can +tell you! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. But, father, tell us what it is. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes—only give me time, and you shall know all +about it. If only I had Peter here now! It just shows how we men can go +about forming our judgments, when in reality we are as blind as any +moles— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. What are you driving at, Doctor? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (standing still by the table). Isn't it the universal +opinion that our town is a healthy spot? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Certainly. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Quite an unusually healthy spot, in fact—a place that +deserves to be recommended in the warmest possible manner either for +invalids or for people who are well— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, but my dear Thomas— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And we have been recommending it and praising it—I have +written and written, both in the "Messenger" and in pamphlets... +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, what then? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And the Baths—we have called them the "main artery of +the town's life-blood," the "nerve-centre of our town," and the devil +knows what else— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. "The town's pulsating heart" was the expression I once used on +an important occasion. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so. Well, do you know what they really are, these +great, splendid, much praised Baths, that have cost so much money—do +you know what they are? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, what are they? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, what are they? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The whole place is a pest-house! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. The Baths, father? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (at the same time), Our Baths? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. But, Doctor— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Absolutely incredible! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The whole Bath establishment is a whited, poisoned +sepulchre, I tell you—the gravest possible danger to the public +health! All the nastiness up at Molledal, all that stinking filth, is +infecting the water in the conduit-pipes leading to the reservoir; and +the same cursed, filthy poison oozes out on the shore too— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. Where the bathing-place is? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Just there. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. How do you come to be so certain of all this, Doctor? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I have investigated the matter most conscientiously. For +a long time past I have suspected something of the kind. Last year we +had some very strange cases of illness among the visitors—typhoid +cases, and cases of gastric fever— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is quite true. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. At the time, we supposed the visitors had been infected +before they came; but later on, in the winter, I began to have a +different opinion; and so I set myself to examine the water, as well as +I could. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Then that is what you have been so busy with? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed I have been busy, Katherine. But here I had none +of the necessary scientific apparatus; so I sent samples, both of the +drinking-water and of the sea-water, up to the University, to have an +accurate analysis made by a chemist. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. And have you got that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (showing him the letter). Here it is! It proves the +presence of decomposing organic matter in the water—it is full of +infusoria. The water is absolutely dangerous to use, either internally +or externally. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. What a mercy you discovered it in time. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You may well say so. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. And what do you propose to do now, Doctor? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. To see the matter put right, naturally. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Can that be done? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It must be done. Otherwise the Baths will be absolutely +useless and wasted. But we need not anticipate that; I have a very +clear idea what we shall have to do. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But why have you kept this all so secret, dear? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Do you suppose I was going to run about the town +gossiping about it, before I had absolute proof? No, thank you. I am +not such a fool. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Still, you might have told us— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Not a living soul. But tomorrow you may run around to +the old Badger— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, Thomas! Thomas! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, to your grandfather, then. The old boy will have +something to be astonished at! I know he thinks I am cracked—and there +are lots of other people who think so too, I have noticed. But now +these good folks shall see—they shall just see! (Walks about, rubbing +his hands.) There will be a nice upset in the town, Katherine; you +can't imagine what it will be. All the conduit-pipes will have to be +relaid. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (getting up). All the conduit-pipes—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, of course. The intake is too low down; it will have +to be lifted to a position much higher up. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Then you were right after all. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, you remember, Petra—I wrote opposing the plans +before the work was begun. But at that time no one would listen to me. +Well, I am going to let them have it now. Of course I have prepared a +report for the Baths Committee; I have had it ready for a week, and was +only waiting for this to come. (Shows the letter.) Now it shall go off +at once. (Goes into his room and comes back with some papers.) Look at +that! Four closely written sheets!—and the letter shall go with them. +Give me a bit of paper, Katherine—something to wrap them up in. That +will do! Now give it to-to-(stamps his foot)—what the deuce is her +name?—give it to the maid, and tell her to take it at once to the +Mayor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(Mrs. Stockmann takes the packet and goes out through the dining-room.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. What do you think Uncle Peter will say, father? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What is there for him to say? I should think he would be +very glad that such an important truth has been brought to light. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Will you let me print a short note about your discovery in the +"Messenger?" +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I shall be very much obliged if you will. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is very desirable that the public should be informed of it +without delay. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coming back). She has just gone with it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Upon my soul, Doctor, you are going to be the foremost man in +the town! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> + Dr. Stockmann (walking about happily). Nonsense! As a matter of<BR> +fact I have done nothing more than my duty. I have only made a lucky +find—that's all. Still, all the same... +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Hovstad, don't you think the town ought to give Dr. Stockmann +some sort of testimonial? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I will suggest it, anyway. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. And I will speak to Aslaksen about it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, my good friends, don't let us have any of that +nonsense. I won't hear anything of the kind. And if the Baths Committee +should think of voting me an increase of salary, I will not accept it. +Do you hear, Katherine?—I won't accept it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You are quite right, Thomas. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (lifting her glass). Your health, father! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad and Billing. Your health, Doctor! Good health! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster (touches glasses with DR. STOCKMANN). I hope it will bring you +nothing but good luck. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Thank you, thank you, my dear fellows! I feel +tremendously happy! It is a splendid thing for a man to be able to feel +that he has done a service to his native town and to his +fellow-citizens. Hurrah, Katherine! (He puts his arms round her and +whirls her round and round, while she protests with laughing cries. +They all laugh, clap their hands, and cheer the DOCTOR. The boys put +their heads in at the door to see what is going on.) +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ACT II +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +(SCENE.—The same. The door into the dining room is shut. It is +morning. MRS. STOCKMANN, with a sealed letter in her hand, comes in +from the dining room, goes to the door of the DOCTOR'S study, and peeps +in.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Are you in, Thomas? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (from within his room). Yes, I have just come in. (Comes +into the room.) What is it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. A letter from your brother. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Aha, let us see! (Opens the letter and reads:) "I return +herewith the manuscript you sent me" (reads on in a low murmur) H'm!— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. What does he say? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (putting the papers in his pocket). Oh, he only writes +that he will come up here himself about midday. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, try and remember to be at home this time. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That will be all right; I have got through all my +morning visits. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I am extremely curious to know how he takes it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You will see he won't like it's having been I, and not +he, that made the discovery. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Aren't you a little nervous about that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, he really will be pleased enough, you know. But, at +the same time, Peter is so confoundedly afraid of anyone's doing any +service to the town except himself. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I will tell you what, Thomas—you should be good +natured, and share the credit of this with him. Couldn't you make out +that it was he who set you on the scent of this discovery? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I am quite willing. If only I can get the thing set +right. I— +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(MORTEN KIIL puts his head in through the door leading from the hall, +looks around in an enquiring manner, and chuckles.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (slyly). Is it—is it true? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (going to the door). Father!—is it you? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, Mr. Kiil—good morning, good morning! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But come along in. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. If it is true, I will; if not, I am off. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. If what is true? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. This tale about the water supply, is it true? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly it is true, but how did you come to hear it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kid (coming in). Petra ran in on her way to the school— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Did she? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Yes; and she declares that—I thought she was only making +a fool of me—but it isn't like Petra to do that. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Of course not. How could you imagine such a thing! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Oh well, it is better never to trust anybody; you may find +you have been made a fool of before you know where you are. But it is +really true, all the same? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You can depend upon it that it is true. Won't you sit +down? (Settles him on the couch.) Isn't it a real bit of luck for the +town— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (suppressing his laughter). A bit of luck for the town? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that I made the discovery in good time. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (as before). Yes, yes, Yes!—But I should never have +thought you the sort of man to pull your own brother's leg like this! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Pull his leg! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Really, father dear— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (resting his hands and his chin on the handle of his stick +and winking slyly at the DOCTOR). Let me see, what was the story? Some +kind of beast that had got into the water-pipes, wasn't it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Infusoria—yes. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. And a lot of these beasts had got in, according to +Petra—a tremendous lot. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly; hundreds of thousands of them, probably. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. But no one can see them—isn't that so? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes; you can't see them, +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (with a quiet chuckle). Damn—it's the finest story I have +ever heard! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What do you mean? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. But you will never get the Mayor to believe a thing like +that. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. We shall see. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Do you think he will be fool enough to—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I hope the whole town will be fools enough. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. The whole town! Well, it wouldn't be a bad thing. It would +just serve them right, and teach them a lesson. They think themselves +so much cleverer than we old fellows. They hounded me out of the +council; they did, I tell you—they hounded me out. Now they shall pay +for it. You pull their legs too, Thomas! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Really, I— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. You pull their legs! (Gets up.) If you can work it so that +the Mayor and his friends all swallow the same bait, I will give ten +pounds to a charity—like a shot! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That is very kind of you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Yes, I haven't got much money to throw away, I can tell +you; but, if you can work this, I will give five pounds to a charity at +Christmas. +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(HOVSTAD comes in by the hall door.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Good morning! (Stops.) Oh, I beg your pardon +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Not at all; come in. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (with another chuckle). Oho!—is he in this too? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. What do you mean? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly he is. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. I might have known it! It must get into the papers. You +know how to do it, Thomas! Set your wits to work. Now I must go. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Won't you stay a little while? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. No, I must be off now. You keep up this game for all it is +worth; you won't repent it, I'm damned if you will! +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(He goes out; MRS. STOCKMANN follows him into the hall.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (laughing). Just imagine—the old chap doesn't believe a +word of all this about the water supply. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh that was it, then? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that was what we were talking about. Perhaps it is +the same thing that brings you here? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, it is, Can you spare me a few minutes, Doctor? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. As long as you like, my dear fellow. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Have you heard from the Mayor yet? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Not yet. He is coming here later. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I have given the matter a great deal of thought since last +night. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. From your point of view, as a doctor and a man of science, +this affair of the water supply is an isolated matter. I mean, you do +not realise that it involves a great many other things. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. How, do you mean?—Let us sit down, my dear fellow. No, +sit here on the couch. (HOVSTAD Sits down on the couch, DR. STOCKMANN +On a chair on the other side of the table.) Now then. You mean that—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. You said yesterday that the pollution of the water was due to +impurities in the soil. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, unquestionably it is due to that poisonous morass +up at Molledal. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Begging your pardon, Doctor, I fancy it is due to quite +another morass altogether. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What morass? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. The morass that the whole life of our town is built on and is +rotting in. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What the deuce are you driving at, Hovstad? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. The whole of the town's interests have, little by little, got +into the hands of a pack of officials. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, come!—they are not all officials. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, but those that are not officials are at any rate the +officials' friends and adherents; it is the wealthy folk, the old +families in the town, that have got us entirely in their hands. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, but after all they are men of ability and knowledge. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Did they show any ability or knowledge when they laid the +conduit pipes where they are now? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, of course that was a great piece of stupidity on +their part. But that is going to be set right now. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Do you think that will be all such plain sailing? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Plain sailing or no, it has got to be done, anyway. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, provided the press takes up the question. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I don't think that will be necessary, my dear fellow, I +am certain my brother— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Excuse me, doctor; I feel bound to tell you I am inclined to +take the matter up. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. In the paper? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes. When I took over the "People's Messenger" my idea was to +break up this ring of self-opinionated old fossils who had got hold of +all the influence. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But you know you told me yourself what the result had +been; you nearly ruined your paper. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, at the time we were obliged to climb down a peg or two, +it is quite true—because there was a danger of the whole project of +the Baths coming to nothing if they failed us. But now the scheme has +been carried through, and we can dispense with these grand gentlemen. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Dispense with them, yes; but, we owe them a great debt +of gratitude. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. That shall be recognised ungrudgingly, But a journalist of my +democratic tendencies cannot let such an opportunity as this slip. The +bubble of official infallibility must be pricked. This superstition +must be destroyed, like any other. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I am whole-heartedly with you in that, Mr. Hovstad; if +it is a superstition, away with it! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I should be very reluctant to bring the Mayor into it, because +he is your brother. But I am sure you will agree with me that truth +should be the first consideration. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That goes without saying. (With sudden emphasis.) Yes, +but—but— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. You must not misjudge me. I am neither more self-interested +nor more ambitious than most men. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. My dear fellow—who suggests anything of the kind? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I am of humble origin, as you know; and that has given me +opportunities of knowing what is the most crying need in the humbler +ranks of life. It is that they should be allowed some part in the +direction of public affairs, Doctor. That is what will develop their +faculties and intelligence and self respect— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I quite appreciate that. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes—and in my opinion a journalist incurs a heavy +responsibility if he neglects a favourable opportunity of emancipating +the masses—the humble and oppressed. I know well enough that in +exalted circles I shall be called an agitator, and all that sort of +thing; but they may call what they like. If only my conscience doesn't +reproach me, then— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Quite right! Quite right, Mr. Hovstad. But all the +same—devil take it! (A knock is heard at the door.) Come in! +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(ASLAKSEN appears at the door. He is poorly but decently dressed, in +black, with a slightly crumpled white neckcloth; he wears gloves and +has a felt hat in his hand.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (bowing). Excuse my taking the liberty, Doctor— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (getting up). Ah, it is you, Aslaksen! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (standing up). Is it me you want, Aslaksen? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. No; I didn't know I should find you here. No, it was the +Doctor I— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I am quite at your service. What is it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Is what I heard from Mr. Billing true, sir—that you mean to +improve our water supply? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, for the Baths. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Quite so, I understand. Well, I have come to say that I will +back that up by every means in my power. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (to the DOCTOR). You see! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I shall be very grateful to you, but— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Because it may be no bad thing to have us small tradesmen at +your back. We form, as it were, a compact majority in the town—if we +choose. And it is always a good thing to have the majority with you, +Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That is undeniably true; but I confess I don't see why +such unusual precautions should be necessary in this case. It seems to +me that such a plain, straightforward thing. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Oh, it may be very desirable, all the same. I know our local +authorities so well; officials are not generally very ready to act on +proposals that come from other people. That is why I think it would not +be at all amiss if we made a little demonstration. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. That's right. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Demonstration, did you say? What on earth are you going +to make a demonstration about? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. We shall proceed with the greatest moderation, Doctor. +Moderation is always my aim; it is the greatest virtue in a citizen—at +least, I think so. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is well known to be a characteristic of yours, Mr. +Aslaksen. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, I think I may pride myself on that. And this matter of +the water supply is of the greatest importance to us small tradesmen. +The Baths promise to be a regular gold-mine for the town. We shall all +make our living out of them, especially those of us who are +householders. That is why we will back up the project as strongly as +possible. And as I am at present Chairman of the Householders' +Association. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And, what is more, local secretary of the Temperance +Society—you know, sir, I suppose, that I am a worker in the temperance +cause? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Of course, of course. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Well, you can understand that I come into contact with a +great many people. And as I have the reputation of a temperate and +law-abiding citizen—like yourself, Doctor—I have a certain influence +in the town, a little bit of power, if I may be allowed to say so. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I know that quite well, Mr. Aslaksen. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. So you see it would be an easy matter for me to set on foot +some testimonial, if necessary. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A testimonial? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, some kind of an address of thanks from the townsmen for +your share in a matter of such importance to the community. I need +scarcely say that it would have to be drawn up with the greatest regard +to moderation, so as not to offend the authorities—who, after all, +have the reins in their hands. If we pay strict attention to that, no +one can take it amiss, I should think! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, and even supposing they didn't like it— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. No, no, no; there must be no discourtesy to the authorities, +Mr. Hovstad. It is no use falling foul of those upon whom our welfare +so closely depends. I have done that in my time, and no good ever comes +of it. But no one can take exception to a reasonable and frank +expression of a citizen's views. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (shaking him by the hand). I can't tell you, dear Mr. +Aslaksen, how extremely pleased I am to find such hearty support among +my fellow-citizens. I am delighted—delighted! Now, you will take a +small glass of sherry, eh? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. No, thank you; I never drink alcohol of that kind. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, what do you say to a glass of beer, then? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Nor that either, thank you, Doctor. I never drink anything as +early as this. I am going into town now to talk this over with one or +two householders, and prepare the ground. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is tremendously kind of you, Mr. Aslaksen; but I +really cannot understand the necessity for all these precautions. It +seems to me that the thing should go of itself. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. The authorities are somewhat slow to move, Doctor. Far be it +from me to seem to blame them— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. We are going to stir them up in the paper tomorrow, Aslaksen. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. But not violently, I trust, Mr. Hovstad. Proceed with +moderation, or you will do nothing with them. You may take my advice; I +have gathered my experience in the school of life. Well, I must say +goodbye, Doctor. You know now that we small tradesmen are at your back +at all events, like a solid wall. You have the compact majority on your +side Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I am very much obliged, dear Mr. Aslaksen, (Shakes hands +with him.) Goodbye, goodbye. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Are you going my way, towards the printing-office. Mr. +Hovstad? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad, I will come later; I have something to settle up first. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Very well. (Bows and goes out; STOCKMANN follows him into the +hall.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (as STOCKMANN comes in again). Well, what do you think of that, +Doctor? Don't you think it is high time we stirred a little life into +all this slackness and vacillation and cowardice? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Are you referring to Aslaksen? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad, Yes, I am. He is one of those who are floundering in a +bog—decent enough fellow though he may be, otherwise. And most of the +people here are in just the same case—see-sawing and edging first to +one side and then to the other, so overcome with caution and scruple +that they never dare to take any decided step. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann, Yes, but Aslaksen seemed to me so thoroughly +well-intentioned. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. There is one thing I esteem higher than that; and that is for +a man to be self-reliant and sure of himself. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I think you are perfectly right there. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. That is why I want to seize this opportunity, and try if I +cannot manage to put a little virility into these well-intentioned +people for once. The idol of Authority must be shattered in this town. +This gross and inexcusable blunder about the water supply must be +brought home to the mind of every municipal voter. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Very well; if you are of opinion that it is for the good +of the community, so be it. But not until I have had a talk with my +brother. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Anyway, I will get a leading article ready; and if the Mayor +refuses to take the matter up— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. How can you suppose such a thing possible! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is conceivable. And in that case— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. In that case I promise you—. Look here, in that case +you may print my report—every word of it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. May I? Have I your word for it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (giving him the MS.). Here it is; take it with you. It +can do no harm for you to read it through, and you can give it me back +later on. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Good, good! That is what I will do. And now goodbye, Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Goodbye, goodbye. You will see everything will run quite +smoothly, Mr. Hovstad—quite smoothly. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Hm!—we shall see. (Bows and goes out.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (opens the dining-room door and looks in). Katherine! Oh, +you are back, Petra? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (coming in). Yes, I have just come from the school. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in). Has he not been here yet? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Peter? No, but I have had a long talk with Hovstad. He +is quite excited about my discovery, I find it has a much wider bearing +than I at first imagined. And he has put his paper at my disposal if +necessity should arise. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Do you think it will? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Not for a moment. But at all events it makes me feel +proud to know that I have the liberal-minded independent press on my +side. Yes, and just imagine—I have had a visit from the Chairman of +the Householders' Association! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh! What did he want? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. To offer me his support too. They will support me in a +body if it should be necessary. Katherine—do you know what I have got +behind me? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Behind you? No, what have you got behind you? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The compact majority. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Really? Is that a good thing for you Thomas? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I should think it was a good thing. (Walks up and down +rubbing his hands.) By Jove, it's a fine thing to feel this bond of +brotherhood between oneself and one's fellow citizens! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. And to be able to do so much that is good and useful, father! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And for one's own native town into the bargain, my child! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. That was a ring at the bell. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It must be he, then. (A knock is heard at the door.) +Come in! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (comes in from the hall). Good morning. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Glad to see you, Peter! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Good morning, Peter, How are you? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. So so, thank you. (To DR. STOCKMANN.) I received from +you yesterday, after office hours, a report dealing with the condition +of the water at the Baths. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. Have you read it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, I have, +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And what have you to say to it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (with a sidelong glance). Hm!— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Come along, Petra. (She and PETRA go into the room on +the left.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (after a pause). Was it necessary to make all these +investigations behind my back? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, because until I was absolutely certain about it— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Then you mean that you are absolutely certain now? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Surely you are convinced of that. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Is it your intention to bring this document before the +Baths Committee as a sort of official communication? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly. Something must be done in the matter—and +that quickly. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. As usual, you employ violent expressions in your +report. You say, amongst other things, that what we offer visitors in +our Baths is a permanent supply of poison. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, can you describe it any other way, Peter? Just +think—water that is poisonous, whether you drink it or bathe in it! +And this we offer to the poor sick folk who come to us trustfully and +pay us at an exorbitant rate to be made well again! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And your reasoning leads you to this conclusion, that +we must build a sewer to draw off the alleged impurities from Molledal +and must relay the water conduits. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. Do you see any other way out of it? I don't. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I made a pretext this morning to go and see the town +engineer, and, as if only half seriously, broached the subject of these +proposals as a thing we might perhaps have to take under consideration +some time later on. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Some time later on! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. He smiled at what he considered to be my extravagance, +naturally. Have you taken the trouble to consider what your proposed +alterations would cost? According to the information I obtained, the +expenses would probably mount up to fifteen or twenty thousand pounds. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Would it cost so much? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes; and the worst part of it would be that the work +would take at least two years. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Two years? Two whole years? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. At least. And what are we to do with the Baths in the +meantime? Close them? Indeed we should be obliged to. And do you +suppose anyone would come near the place after it had got out that the +water was dangerous? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes but, Peter, that is what it is. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And all this at this juncture—just as the Baths are +beginning to be known. There are other towns in the neighbourhood with +qualifications to attract visitors for bathing purposes. Don't you +suppose they would immediately strain every nerve to divert the entire +stream of strangers to themselves? Unquestionably they would; and then +where should we be? We should probably have to abandon the whole thing, +which has cost us so much money-and then you would have ruined your +native town. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I—should have ruined—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It is simply and solely through the Baths that the +town has before it any future worth mentioning. You know that just as +well as I. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But what do you think ought to be done, then? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Your report has not convinced me that the condition of +the water at the Baths is as bad as you represent it to be. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I tell you it is even worse!—or at all events it will +be in summer, when the warm weather comes. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. As I said, I believe you exaggerate the matter +considerably. A capable physician ought to know what measures to +take—he ought to be capable of preventing injurious influences or of +remedying them if they become obviously persistent. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well? What more? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The water supply for the Baths is now an established +fact, and in consequence must be treated as such. But probably the +Committee, at its discretion, will not be disinclined to consider the +question of how far it might be possible to introduce certain +improvements consistently with a reasonable expenditure. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And do you suppose that I will have anything to do with +such a piece of trickery as that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Trickery!! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, it would be a trick—a fraud, a lie, a downright +crime towards the public, towards the whole community! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I have not, as I remarked before, been able to +convince myself that there is actually any imminent danger. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You have! It is impossible that you should not be +convinced. I know I have represented the facts absolutely truthfully +and fairly. And you know it very well, Peter, only you won't +acknowledge it. It was owing to your action that both the Baths and the +water conduits were built where they are; and that is what you won't +acknowledge—that damnable blunder of yours. Pooh!—do you suppose I +don't see through you? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And even if that were true? If I perhaps guard my +reputation somewhat anxiously, it is in the interests of the town. +Without moral authority I am powerless to direct public affairs as +seems, to my judgment, to be best for the common good. And on that +account—and for various other reasons too—it appears to me to be a +matter of importance that your report should not be delivered to the +Committee. In the interests of the public, you must withhold it. Then, +later on, I will raise the question and we will do our best, privately; +but, nothing of this unfortunate affair not a single word of it—must +come to the ears of the public. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I am afraid you will not be able to prevent that now, my +dear Peter. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It must and shall be prevented. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is no use, I tell you. There are too many people that +know about it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. That know about it? Who? Surely you don't mean those +fellows on the "People's Messenger"? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, they know. The liberal-minded independent press is +going to see that you do your duty. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (after a short pause). You are an extraordinarily +independent man, Thomas. Have you given no thought to the consequences +this may have for yourself? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Consequences?—for me? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. For you and yours, yes. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What the deuce do you mean? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I believe I have always behaved in a brotherly way to +you—haven't I always been ready to oblige or to help you? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, you have, and I am grateful to you for it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. There is no need. Indeed, to some extent I was forced +to do so—for my own sake. I always hoped that, if I helped to improve +your financial position, I should be able to keep some check on you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What! Then it was only for your own sake—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Up to a certain point, yes. It is painful for a man in +an official position to have his nearest relative compromising himself +time after time. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And do you consider that I do that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, unfortunately, you do, without even being aware +of it. You have a restless, pugnacious, rebellious disposition. And +then there is that disastrous propensity of yours to want to write +about every sort of possible and impossible thing. The moment an idea +comes into your head, you must needs go and write a newspaper article +or a whole pamphlet about it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, but is it not the duty of a citizen to let the +public share in any new ideas he may have? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, the public doesn't require any new ideas. The +public is best served by the good, old established ideas it already has. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And that is your honest opinion? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, and for once I must talk frankly to you. Hitherto +I have tried to avoid doing so, because I know how irritable you are; +but now I must tell you the truth, Thomas. You have no conception what +an amount of harm you do yourself by your impetuosity. You complain of +the authorities, you even complain of the government—you are always +pulling them to pieces; you insist that you have been neglected and +persecuted. But what else can such a cantankerous man as you expect? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What next! Cantankerous, am I? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, Thomas, you are an extremely cantankerous man to +work with—I know that to my cost. You disregard everything that you +ought to have consideration for. You seem completely to forget that it +is me you have to thank for your appointment here as medical officer to +the Baths. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I was entitled to it as a matter of course!—I and +nobody else! I was the first person to see that the town could be made +into a flourishing watering-place, and I was the only one who saw it at +that time. I had to fight single-handed in support of the idea for many +years; and I wrote and wrote— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Undoubtedly. But things were not ripe for the scheme +then—though, of course, you could not judge of that in your +out-of-the-way corner up north. But as soon as the opportune moment +came I—and the others—took the matter into our hands. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and made this mess of all my beautiful plan. It is +pretty obvious now what clever fellows you were! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. To my mind the whole thing only seems to mean that you +are seeking another outlet for your combativeness. You want to pick a +quarrel with your superiors—an old habit of yours. You cannot put up +with any authority over you. You look askance at anyone who occupies a +superior official position; you regard him as a personal enemy, and +then any stick is good enough to beat him with. But now I have called +your attention to the fact that the town's interests are at stake—and, +incidentally, my own too. And therefore, I must tell you, Thomas, that +you will find me inexorable with regard to what I am about to require +you to do. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And what is that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. As you have been so indiscreet as to speak of this +delicate matter to outsiders, despite the fact that you ought to have +treated it as entirely official and confidential, it is obviously +impossible to hush it up now. All sorts of rumours will get about +directly, and everybody who has a grudge against us will take care to +embellish these rumours. So it will be necessary for you to refute them +publicly. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I! How? I don't understand. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. What we shall expect is that, after making further +investigations, you will come to the conclusion that the matter is not +by any means as dangerous or as critical as you imagined in the first +instance. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oho!—so that is what you expect! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And, what is more, we shall expect you to make public +profession of your confidence in the Committee and in their readiness +to consider fully and conscientiously what steps may be necessary to +remedy any possible defects. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But you will never be able to do that by patching and +tinkering at it—never! Take my word for it, Peter; I mean what I say, +as deliberately and emphatically as possible. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. As an officer under the Committee, you have no right +to any individual opinion. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (amazed). No right? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. In your official capacity, no. As a private person, it +is quite another matter. But as a subordinate member of the staff of +the Baths, you have no right to express any opinion which runs contrary +to that of your superiors. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. This is too much! I, a doctor, a man of science, have no +right to—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The matter in hand is not simply a scientific one. It +is a complicated matter, and has its economic as well as its technical +side. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I don't care what it is! I intend to be free to express +my opinion on any subject under the sun. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. As you please—but not on any subject concerning the +Baths. That we forbid. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (shouting). You forbid—! You! A pack of— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I forbid it—I, your chief; and if I forbid it, you +have to obey. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (controlling himself). Peter—if you were not my brother— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (throwing open the door). Father, you shan't stand this! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in after her). Petra, Petra! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, so you have been eavesdropping. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You were talking so loud, we couldn't help it! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, I was listening. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Well, after all, I am very glad— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (going up to him). You were saying something about +forbidding and obeying? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You obliged me to take that tone with you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And so I am to give myself the lie, publicly? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. We consider it absolutely necessary that you should +make some such public statement as I have asked for. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And if I do not—obey? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Then we shall publish a statement ourselves to +reassure the public. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Very well; but in that case I shall use my pen against +you. I stick to what I have said; I will show that I am right and that +you are wrong. And what will you do then? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Then I shall not be able to prevent your being +dismissed. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Father—dismissed! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Dismissed! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Dismissed from the staff of the Baths. I shall be +obliged to propose that you shall immediately be given notice, and +shall not be allowed any further participation in the Baths' affairs. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You would dare to do that! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It is you that are playing the daring game. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Uncle, that is a shameful way to treat a man like father! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Do hold your tongue, Petra! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (looking at PETRA). Oh, so we volunteer our opinions +already, do we? Of course. (To MRS. STOCKMANN.) Katherine, I imagine +you are the most sensible person in this house. Use any influence you +may have over your husband, and make him see what this will entail for +his family as well as— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. My family is my own concern and nobody else's! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. —for his own family, as I was saying, as well as for +the town he lives in. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is I who have the real good of the town at heart! I +want to lay bare the defects that sooner or later must come to the +light of day. I will show whether I love my native town. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You, who in your blind obstinacy want to cut off the +most important source of the town's welfare? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The source is poisoned, man! Are you mad? We are making +our living by retailing filth and corruption! The whole of our +flourishing municipal life derives its sustenance from a lie! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. All imagination—or something even worse. The man who +can throw out such offensive insinuations about his native town must be +an enemy to our community. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (going up to him). Do you dare to—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (throwing herself between them). Thomas! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (catching her father by the arm). Don't lose your temper, father! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I will not expose myself to violence. Now you have had +a warning; so reflect on what you owe to yourself and your family. +Goodbye. (Goes out.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (walking up and down). Am I to put up with such treatment +as this? In my own house, Katherine! What do you think of that! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Indeed it is both shameful and absurd, Thomas— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. If only I could give uncle a piece of my mind— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is my own fault. I ought to have flown out at him +long ago!—shown my teeth!—bitten! To hear him call me an enemy to our +community! Me! I shall not take that lying down, upon my soul! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, your brother has power on his side. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, but I have right on mine, I tell you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh yes, right—right. What is the use of having right +on your side if you have not got might? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Oh, mother!—how can you say such a thing! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Do you imagine that in a free country it is no use +having right on your side? You are absurd, Katherine. Besides, haven't +I got the liberal-minded, independent press to lead the way, and the +compact majority behind me? That is might enough, I should think! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, good heavens, Thomas, you don't mean to? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Don't mean to what? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. To set yourself up in opposition to your brother. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. In God's name, what else do you suppose I should do but +take my stand on right and truth? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, I was just going to say that. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But it won't do you any earthly good. If they won't do +it, they won't. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oho, Katherine! Just give me time, and you will see how +I will carry the war into their camp. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, you carry the war into their camp, and you get +your dismissal—that is what you will do. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. In any case I shall have done my duty towards the +public—towards the community, I, who am called its enemy! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But towards your family, Thomas? Towards your own home! +Do you think that is doing your duty towards those you have to provide +for? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Ah, don't think always first of us, mother. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, it is easy for you to talk; you are able to shift +for yourself, if need be. But remember the boys, Thomas; and think a +little of yourself too, and of me— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I think you are out of your senses, Katherine! If I were +to be such a miserable coward as to go on my knees to Peter and his +damned crew, do you suppose I should ever know an hour's peace of mind +all my life afterwards? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know anything about that; but God preserve us +from the peace of mind we shall have, all the same, if you go on +defying him! You will find yourself again without the means of +subsistence, with no income to count upon. I should think we had had +enough of that in the old days. Remember that, Thomas; think what that +means. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (collecting himself with a struggle and clenching his +fists). And this is what this slavery can bring upon a free, honourable +man! Isn't it horrible, Katherine? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, it is sinful to treat you so, it is perfectly +true. But, good heavens, one has to put up with so much injustice in +this world. There are the boys, Thomas! Look at them! What is to become +of them? Oh, no, no, you can never have the heart—. (EJLIF and MORTEN +have come in, while she was speaking, with their school books in their +hands.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The boys— I (Recovers himself suddenly.) No, even if +the whole world goes to pieces, I will never bow my neck to this yokel +(Goes towards his room.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (following him). Thomas—what are you going to do! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (at his door). I mean to have the right to look my sons +in the face when they are grown men. (Goes into his room.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (bursting into tears). God help us all! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Father is splendid! He will not give in. +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(The boys look on in amazement; PETRA signs to them not to speak.) +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ACT III +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +(SCENE.—The editorial office of the "People's Messenger." The entrance +door is on the left-hand side of the back wall; on the right-hand side +is another door with glass panels through which the printing room can +be seen. Another door in the right-hand wall. In the middle of the room +is a large table covered with papers, newspapers and books. In the +foreground on the left a window, before which stands a desk and a high +stool. There are a couple of easy chairs by the table, and other chairs +standing along the wall. The room is dingy and uncomfortable; the +furniture is old, the chairs stained and torn. In the printing room the +compositors are seen at work, and a printer is working a handpress. +HOVSTAD is sitting at the desk, writing. BILLING comes in from the +right with DR. STOCKMANN'S manuscript in his hand.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Well, I must say! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (still writing). Have you read it through? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing (laying the MS. on the desk). Yes, indeed I have. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Don't you think the Doctor hits them pretty hard? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Hard? Bless my soul, he's crushing! Every word falls like—how +shall I put it?—like the blow of a sledgehammer. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, but they are not the people to throw up the sponge at the +first blow. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. That is true; and for that reason we must strike blow upon +blow until the whole of this aristocracy tumbles to pieces. As I sat in +there reading this, I almost seemed to see a revolution in being. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (turning round). Hush!—Speak so that Aslaksen cannot hear you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing (lowering his voice). Aslaksen is a chicken-hearted chap, a +coward; there is nothing of the man in him. But this time you will +insist on your own way, won't you? You will put the Doctor's article in? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, and if the Mayor doesn't like it— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. That will be the devil of a nuisance. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, fortunately we can turn the situation to good account, +whatever happens. If the Mayor will not fall in with the Doctor's +project, he will have all the small tradesmen down on him—the whole of +the Householders' Association and the rest of them. And if he does fall +in with it, he will fall out with the whole crowd of large shareholders +in the Baths, who up to now have been his most valuable supporters— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Yes, because they will certainly have to fork out a pretty +penny— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, you may be sure they will. And in this way the ring will +be broken up, you see, and then in every issue of the paper we will +enlighten the public on the Mayor's incapability on one point and +another, and make it clear that all the positions of trust in the town, +the whole control of municipal affairs, ought to be put in the hands of +the Liberals. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. That is perfectly true! I see it coming—I see it coming; we +are on the threshold of a revolution! +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(A knock is heard at the door.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Hush! (Calls out.) Come in! (DR. STOCKMANN comes in by the +street door. HOVSTAD goes to meet him.) Ah, it is you, Doctor! Well? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You may set to work and print it, Mr. Hovstad! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Has it come to that, then? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Hurrah! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, print away. Undoubtedly it has come to that. Now +they must take what they get. There is going to be a fight in the town, +Mr. Billing! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. War to the knife, I hope! We will get our knives to their +throats, Doctor! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. This article is only a beginning. I have already got +four or five more sketched out in my head. Where is Aslaksen? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing (calls into the printing-room). Aslaksen, just come here for a +minute! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Four or five more articles, did you say? On the same subject? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No—far from it, my dear fellow. No, they are about +quite another matter. But they all spring from the question of the +water supply and the drainage. One thing leads to another, you know. It +is like beginning to pull down an old house, exactly. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Upon my soul, it's true; you find you are not done till you +have pulled all the old rubbish down. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (coming in). Pulled down? You are not thinking of pulling down +the Baths surely, Doctor? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Far from it, don't be afraid. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, we meant something quite different. Well, what do +you think of my article, Mr. Hovstad? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I think it is simply a masterpiece. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Do you really think so? Well, I am very pleased, very +pleased. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is so clear and intelligible. One need have no special +knowledge to understand the bearing of it. You will have every +enlightened man on your side. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And every prudent man too, I hope? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. The prudent and the imprudent—almost the whole town. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. In that case we may venture to print it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I should think so! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. We will put it in tomorrow morning. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Of course—you must not lose a single day. What I wanted +to ask you, Mr. Aslaksen, was if you would supervise the printing of it +yourself. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. With pleasure. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Take care of it as if it were a treasure! No +misprints—every word is important. I will look in again a little +later; perhaps you will be able to let me see a proof. I can't tell you +how eager I am to see it in print, and see it burst upon the public— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Burst upon them—yes, like a flash of lightning! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. —and to have it submitted to the judgment of my +intelligent fellow townsmen. You cannot imagine what I have gone +through today. I have been threatened first with one thing and then +with another; they have tried to rob me of my most elementary rights as +a man— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. What! Your rights as a man! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. —they have tried to degrade me, to make a coward of me, +to force me to put personal interests before my most sacred convictions. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. That is too much—I'm damned if it isn't. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh, you mustn't be surprised at anything from that quarter. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, they will get the worst of it with me; they may +assure themselves of that. I shall consider the "People's Messenger" my +sheet-anchor now, and every single day I will bombard them with one +article after another, like bombshells— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, but +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Hurrah!—it is war, it is war! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I shall smite them to the ground—I shall crush them—I +shall break down all their defenses, before the eyes of the honest +public! That is what I shall do! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen, Yes, but in moderation, Doctor—proceed with moderation. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Not a bit of it, not a bit of it! Don't spare the dynamite! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Because it is not merely a question of water-supply and +drains now, you know. No—it is the whole of our social life that we +have got to purify and disinfect— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Spoken like a deliverer! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. All the incapables must be turned out, you +understand—and that in every walk of life! Endless vistas have opened +themselves to my mind's eye today. I cannot see it all quite clearly +yet, but I shall in time. Young and vigorous standard-bearers—those +are what we need and must seek, my friends; we must have new men in +command at all our outposts. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Hear hear! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. We only need to stand by one another, and it will all be +perfectly easy. The revolution will be launched like a ship that runs +smoothly off the stocks. Don't you think so? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. For my part I think we have now a prospect of getting the +municipal authority into the hands where it should lie. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And if only we proceed with moderation, I cannot imagine that +there will be any risk. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Who the devil cares whether there is any risk or not! +What I am doing, I am doing in the name of truth and for the sake of my +conscience. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. You are a man who deserves to be supported, Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, there is no denying that the Doctor is a true friend to +the town—a real friend to the community, that he is. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Take my word for it, Aslaksen, Dr. Stockmann is a friend of +the people. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I fancy the Householders' Association will make use of that +expression before long. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (affected, grasps their hands). Thank you, thank you, my +dear staunch friends. It is very refreshing to me to hear you say that; +my brother called me something quite different. By Jove, he shall have +it back, with interest! But now I must be off to see a poor devil—I +will come back, as I said. Keep a very careful eye on the manuscript, +Aslaksen, and don't for worlds leave out any of my notes of +exclamation! Rather put one or two more in! Capital, capital! Well, +good-bye for the present—goodbye, goodbye! (They show him to the door, +and bow him out.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. He may prove an invaluably useful man to us. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, so long as he confines himself to this matter of the +Baths. But if he goes farther afield, I don't think it would be +advisable to follow him. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Hm!—that all depends— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. You are so infernally timid, Aslaksen! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Timid? Yes, when it is a question of the local authorities, I +am timid, Mr. Billing; it is a lesson I have learned in the school of +experience, let me tell you. But try me in higher politics, in matters +that concern the government itself, and then see if I am timid. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. No, you aren't, I admit. But this is simply contradicting +yourself. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I am a man with a conscience, and that is the whole matter. +If you attack the government, you don't do the community any harm, +anyway; those fellows pay no attention to attacks, you see—they go on +just as they are, in spite of them. But local authorities are +different; they can be turned out, and then perhaps you may get an +ignorant lot into office who may do irreparable harm to the +householders and everybody else. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. But what of the education of citizens by self +government—don't you attach any importance to that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. When a man has interests of his own to protect, he cannot +think of everything, Mr. Hovstad. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Then I hope I shall never have interests of my own to protect! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Hear, hear! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (with a smile). Hm! (Points to the desk.) Mr. Sheriff +Stensgaard was your predecessor at that editorial desk. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing (spitting). Bah! That turncoat. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I am not a weathercock—and never will be. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. A politician should never be too certain of anything, Mr. +Hovstad. And as for you, Mr. Billing, I should think it is time for you +to be taking in a reef or two in your sails, seeing that you are +applying for the post of secretary to the Bench. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. I—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Are you, Billing? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Well, yes—but you must clearly understand I am only doing it +to annoy the bigwigs. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Anyhow, it is no business of mine. But if I am to be accused +of timidity and of inconsistency in my principles, this is what I want +to point out: my political past is an open book. I have never changed, +except perhaps to become a little more moderate, you see. My heart is +still with the people; but I don't deny that my reason has a certain +bias towards the authorities—the local ones, I mean. (Goes into the +printing room.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Oughtn't we to try and get rid of him, Hovstad? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Do you know anyone else who will advance the money for our +paper and printing bill? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. It is an infernal nuisance that we don't possess some capital +to trade on. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (sitting down at his desk). Yes, if we only had that, then— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Suppose you were to apply to Dr. Stockmann? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (turning over some papers). What is the use? He has got nothing. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. No, but he has got a warm man in the background, old Morten +Kiil—"the Badger," as they call him. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (writing). Are you so sure he has got anything? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Good Lord, of course he has! And some of it must come to the +Stockmanns. Most probably he will do something for the children, at all +events. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (turning half round). Are you counting on that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Counting on it? Of course I am not counting on anything. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. That is right. And I should not count on the secretaryship to +the Bench either, if I were you; for I can assure you—you won't get it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Do you think I am not quite aware of that? My object is +precisely not to get it. A slight of that kind stimulates a man's +fighting power—it is like getting a supply of fresh bile—and I am +sure one needs that badly enough in a hole-and-corner place like this, +where it is so seldom anything happens to stir one up. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (writing). Quite so, quite so. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Ah, I shall be heard of yet!—Now I shall go and write the +appeal to the Householders' Association. (Goes into the room on the +right.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (sitting al his desk, biting his penholder, says slowly). +Hm!—that's it, is it. (A knock is heard.) Come in! (PETRA comes in by +the outer door. HOVSTAD gets up.) What, you!—here? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, you must forgive me— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (pulling a chair forward). Won't you sit down? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. No, thank you; I must go again in a moment. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Have you come with a message from your father, by any chance? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. No, I have come on my own account. (Takes a book out of her coat +pocket.) Here is the English story. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Why have you brought it back? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Because I am not going to translate it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. But you promised me faithfully. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, but then I had not read it, I don't suppose you have read +it either? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, you know quite well I don't understand English; but— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Quite so. That is why I wanted to tell you that you must find +something else. (Lays the book on the table.) You can't use this for +the "People's Messenger." +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Why not? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Because it conflicts with all your opinions. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh, for that matter— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. You don't understand me. The burden of this story is that there +is a supernatural power that looks after the so-called good people in +this world and makes everything happen for the best in their +case—while all the so-called bad people are punished. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, but that is all right. That is just what our readers +want. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. And are you going to be the one to give it to them? For myself, +I do not believe a word of it. You know quite well that things do not +happen so in reality. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. You are perfectly right; but an editor cannot always act as he +would prefer. He is often obliged to bow to the wishes of the public in +unimportant matters. Politics are the most important thing in life—for +a newspaper, anyway; and if I want to carry my public with me on the +path that leads to liberty and progress, I must not frighten them away. +If they find a moral tale of this sort in the serial at the bottom of +the page, they will be all the more ready to read what is printed above +it; they feel more secure, as it were. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. For shame! You would never go and set a snare like that for your +readers; you are not a spider! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (smiling). Thank you for having such a good opinion of me. No; +as a matter of fact that is Billing's idea and not mine. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Billing's! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes; anyway, he propounded that theory here one day. And it is +Billing who is so anxious to have that story in the paper; I don't know +anything about the book. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. But how can Billing, with his emancipated views— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh, Billing is a many-sided man. He is applying for the post +of secretary to the Bench, too, I hear. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. I don't believe it, Mr. Hovstad. How could he possibly bring +himself to do such a thing? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Ah, you must ask him that. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. I should never have thought it of him. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (looking more closely at her). No? Does it really surprise you +so much? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Yes. Or perhaps not altogether. Really, I don't quite know +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. We journalists are not much worth, Miss Stockmann. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Do you really mean that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I think so sometimes. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Yes, in the ordinary affairs of everyday life, perhaps; I can +understand that. But now, when you have taken a weighty matter in hand— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. This matter of your father's, you mean? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Exactly. It seems to me that now you must feel you are a man +worth more than most. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, today I do feel something of that sort. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Of course you do, don't you? It is a splendid vocation you have +chosen—to smooth the way for the march of unappreciated truths, and +new and courageous lines of thought. If it were nothing more than +because you stand fearlessly in the open and take up the cause of an +injured man— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Especially when that injured man is—ahem!—I don't rightly +know how to— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. When that man is so upright and so honest, you mean? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (more gently). Especially when he is your father I meant. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (suddenly checked). That? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, Petra—Miss Petra. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Is it that, that is first and foremost with you? Not the matter +itself? Not the truth?—not my father's big generous heart? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Certainly—of course—that too. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. No, thank you; you have betrayed yourself, Mr. Hovstad, and now +I shall never trust you again in anything. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Can you really take it so amiss in me that it is mostly for +your sake—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. What I am angry with you for, is for not having been honest with +my father. You talked to him as if the truth and the good of the +community were what lay nearest to your heart. You have made fools of +both my father and me. You are not the man you made yourself out to be. +And that I shall never forgive you-never! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. You ought not to speak so bitterly, Miss Petra—least of all +now. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Why not now, especially? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Because your father cannot do without my help. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (looking him up and down). Are you that sort of man too? For +shame! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, no, I am not. This came upon me so unexpectedly—you must +believe that. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. I know what to believe. Goodbye. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (coming from the printing room, hurriedly and with an air of +mystery). Damnation, Hovstad!—(Sees PETRA.) Oh, this is awkward— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. There is the book; you must give it to some one else. (Goes +towards the door.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (following her). But, Miss Stockmann— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Goodbye. (Goes out.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I say—Mr. Hovstad— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well well!—what is it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. The Mayor is outside in the printing room. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. The Mayor, did you say? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes he wants to speak to you. He came in by the back +door—didn't want to be seen, you understand. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. What can he want? Wait a bit—I will go myself. (Goes to the +door of the printing room, opens it, bows and invites PETER STOCKMANN +in.) Just see, Aslaksen, that no one— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Quite so. (Goes into the printing-room.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You did not expect to see me here, Mr. Hovstad? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, I confess I did not. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (looking round). You are very snug in here—very nice +indeed. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And here I come, without any notice, to take up your +time! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. By all means, Mr. Mayor. I am at your service. But let me +relieve you of your—(takes STOCKMANN's hat and stick and puts them on +a chair). Won't you sit down? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (sitting down by the table). Thank you. (HOVSTAD sits +down.) I have had an extremely annoying experience to-day, Mr. Hovstad. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Really? Ah well, I expect with all the various business you +have to attend to— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The Medical Officer of the Baths is responsible for +what happened today. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Indeed? The Doctor? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. He has addressed a kind of report to the Baths +Committee on the subject of certain supposed defects in the Baths. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Has he indeed? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes—has he not told you? I thought he said— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Ah, yes—it is true he did mention something about— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (coming from the printing-room). I ought to have that copy. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (angrily). Ahem!—there it is on the desk. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (taking it). Right. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. But look there—that is the thing I was speaking of! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, that is the Doctor's article, Mr. Mayor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh, is THAT what you were speaking about? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, that is it. What do you think of it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh, I am only a layman—and I have only taken a very cursory +glance at it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. But you are going to print it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I cannot very well refuse a distinguished man. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I have nothing to do with editing the paper, Mr. Mayor— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I understand. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I merely print what is put into my hands. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Quite so. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And so I must— (moves off towards the printing-room). +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. No, but wait a moment, Mr. Aslaksen. You will allow +me, Mr. Hovstad? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. If you please, Mr. Mayor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You are a discreet and thoughtful man, Mr. Aslaksen. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I am delighted to hear you think so, sir. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And a man of very considerable influence. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Chiefly among the small tradesmen, sir. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The small tax-payers are the majority—here as +everywhere else. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. That is true. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And I have no doubt you know the general trend of +opinion among them, don't you? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes I think I may say I do, Mr. Mayor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes. Well, since there is such a praiseworthy spirit +of self-sacrifice among the less wealthy citizens of our town— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. What? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Self-sacrifice? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. It is pleasing evidence of a public-spirited feeling, +extremely pleasing evidence. I might almost say I hardly expected it. +But you have a closer knowledge of public opinion than I. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. But, Mr. Mayor— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. And indeed it is no small sacrifice that the town is +going to make. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. The town? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. But I don't understand. Is it the Baths—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. At a provisional estimate, the alterations that the +Medical Officer asserts to be desirable will cost somewhere about +twenty thousand pounds. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. That is a lot of money, but— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Of course it will be necessary to raise a municipal +loan. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (getting up). Surely you never mean that the town must pay—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Do you mean that it must come out of the municipal +funds?—out of the ill-filled pockets of the small tradesmen? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Well, my dear Mr. Aslaksen, where else is the money to +come from? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. The gentlemen who own the Baths ought to provide that. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The proprietors of the Baths are not in a position to +incur any further expense. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Is that absolutely certain, Mr. Mayor? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I have satisfied myself that it is so. If the town +wants these very extensive alterations, it will have to pay for them. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. But, damn it all—I beg your pardon—this is quite another +matter, Mr. Hovstad! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is, indeed. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The most fatal part of it is that we shall be obliged +to shut the Baths for a couple of years. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Shut them? Shut them altogether? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. For two years? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, the work will take as long as that—at least. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I'm damned if we will stand that, Mr. Mayor! What are we +householders to live upon in the meantime? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Unfortunately, that is an extremely difficult question +to answer, Mr. Aslaksen. But what would you have us do? Do you suppose +we shall have a single visitor in the town, if we go about proclaiming +that our water is polluted, that we are living over a plague spot, that +the entire town— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And the whole thing is merely imagination? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. With the best will in the world, I have not been able +to come to any other conclusion. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Well then I must say it is absolutely unjustifiable of Dr. +Stockmann—I beg your pardon, Mr. Mayor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. What you say is lamentably true, Mr. Aslaksen. My +brother has unfortunately always been a headstrong man. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. After this, do you mean to give him your support, Mr. Hovstad? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Can you suppose for a moment that I—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I have drawn up a short resume of the situation as it +appears from a reasonable man's point of view. In it I have indicated +how certain possible defects might suitably be remedied without +outrunning the resources of the Baths Committee. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Have you got it with you, Mr. Mayor? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (fumbling in his pocket). Yes, I brought it with me in +case you should— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Good Lord, there he is! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Who? My brother? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Where? Where? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. He has just gone through the printing room. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. How unlucky! I don't want to meet him here, and I had +still several things to speak to you about. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (pointing to the door on the right). Go in there for the +present. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. But—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. You will only find Billing in there. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Quick, quick, Mr. Mayor—he is just coming. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, very well; but see that you get rid of him +quickly. (Goes out through the door on the right, which ASLAKSEN opens +for him and shuts after him.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Pretend to be doing something, Aslaksen. (Sits down and +writes. ASLAKSEN begins foraging among a heap of newspapers that are +lying on a chair.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (coming in from the printing room). Here I am again. +(Puts down his hat and stick.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (writing). Already, Doctor? Hurry up with what we were speaking +about, Aslaksen. We are very pressed for time today. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (to ASLAKSEN). No proof for me to see yet, I hear. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (without turning round). You couldn't expect it yet, Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, no; but I am impatient, as you can understand. I +shall not know a moment's peace of mind until I see it in print. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Hm!—It will take a good while yet, won't it, Aslaksen? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, I am almost afraid it will. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. All right, my dear friends; I will come back. I do not +mind coming back twice if necessary. A matter of such great +importance—the welfare of the town at stake—it is no time to shirk +trouble, (is just going, but stops and comes back.) Look here—there is +one thing more I want to speak to you about. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Excuse me, but could it not wait till some other time? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I can tell you in half a dozen words. It is only this. +When my article is read tomorrow and it is realised that I have been +quietly working the whole winter for the welfare of the town— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes but, Doctor— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I know what you are going to say. You don't see how on +earth it was any more than my duty—my obvious duty as a citizen. Of +course it wasn't; I know that as well as you. But my fellow citizens, +you know—! Good Lord, think of all the good souls who think so highly +of me—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, our townsfolk have had a very high opinion of you so +far, Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and that is just why I am afraid they—. Well, this +is the point; when this reaches them, especially the poorer classes, +and sounds in their ears like a summons to take the town's affairs into +their own hands for the future... +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (getting up). Ahem I Doctor, I won't conceal from you the fact— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah I—I knew there was something in the wind! But I +won't hear a word of it. If anything of that sort is being set on foot— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Of what sort? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, whatever it is—whether it is a demonstration in +my honour, or a banquet, or a subscription list for some presentation +to me—whatever it is, you most promise me solemnly and faithfully to +put a stop to it. You too, Mr. Aslaksen; do you understand? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. You must forgive me, Doctor, but sooner or later we must tell +you the plain truth— +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(He is interrupted by the entrance Of MRS. STOCKMANN, who comes in from +the street door.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (seeing her husband). Just as I thought! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (going towards her). You too, Mrs. Stockmann? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What on earth do you want here, Katherine? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. I should think you know very well what I want. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad, Won't you sit down? Or perhaps— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. No, thank you; don't trouble. And you must not be +offended at my coming to fetch my husband; I am the mother of three +children, you know. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Nonsense!—we know all about that. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, one would not give you credit for much thought +for your wife and children today; if you had had that, you would not +have gone and dragged us all into misfortune. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Are you out of your senses, Katherine! Because a man has +a wife and children, is he not to be allowed to proclaim the truth-is +he not to be allowed to be an actively useful citizen—is he not to be +allowed to do a service to his native town! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, Thomas—in reason. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Just what I say. Moderation in everything. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. And that is why you wrong us, Mr. Hovstad, in enticing +my husband away from his home and making a dupe of him in all this. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I certainly am making a dupe of no one— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Making a dupe of me! Do you suppose I should allow +myself to be duped! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. It is just what you do. I know quite well you have more +brains than anyone in the town, but you are extremely easily duped, +Thomas. (To Hovstad.) Please do realise that he loses his post at the +Baths if you print what he has written. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. What! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Look here, Doctor! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (laughing). Ha-ha!—just let them try! No, no—they will +take good care not to. I have got the compact majority behind me, let +me tell you! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is just the worst of it—your having any such +horrid thing behind you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Rubbish, Katherine!—Go home and look after your house +and leave me to look after the community. How can you be so afraid, +when I am so confident and happy? (Walks up and down, rubbing his +hands.) Truth and the People will win the fight, you may be certain! I +see the whole of the broad-minded middle class marching like a +victorious army—! (Stops beside a chair.) What the deuce is that lying +there? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen Good Lord! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Ahem! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Here we have the topmost pinnacle of authority! (Takes +the Mayor's official hat carefully between his finger-tips and holds it +up in the air.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. The Mayor's hat! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And here is the staff of office too. How in the name of +all that's wonderful—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, you see— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, I understand. He has been here trying to talk you +over. Ha-ha!—he made rather a mistake there! And as soon as he caught +sight of me in the printing room. (Bursts out laughing.) Did he run +away, Mr. Aslaksen? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (hurriedly). Yes, he ran away, Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ran away without his stick or his—. Fiddlesticks! Peter +doesn't run away and leave his belongings behind him. But what the +deuce have you done with him? Ah!—in there, of course. Now you shall +see, Katherine! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Thomas—please don't—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Don't be rash, Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(DR. STOCKMANN has put on the Mayor's hat and taken his stick in his +hand. He goes up to the door, opens it, and stands with his hand to his +hat at the salute. PETER STOCKMANN comes in, red with anger. BILLING +follows him.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. What does this tomfoolery mean? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Be respectful, my good Peter. I am the chief authority +in the town now. (Walks up and down.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (almost in tears). Really, Thomas! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (following him about). Give me my hat and stick. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (in the same tone as before). If you are chief constable, +let me tell you that I am the Mayor—I am the master of the whole town, +please understand! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Take off my hat, I tell you. Remember it is part of an +official uniform. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Pooh! Do you think the newly awakened lionhearted people +are going to be frightened by an official hat? There is going to be a +revolution in the town tomorrow, let me tell you. You thought you could +turn me out; but now I shall turn you out—turn you out of all your +various offices. Do you think I cannot? Listen to me. I have triumphant +social forces behind me. Hovstad and Billing will thunder in the +"People's Messenger," and Aslaksen will take the field at the head of +the whole Householders' Association— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. That I won't, Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Of course you will— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Ah!—may I ask then if Mr. Hovstad intends to join +this agitation? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, Mr. Mayor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. No, Mr. Hovstad is not such a fool as to go and ruin his +paper and himself for the sake of an imaginary grievance. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (looking round him). What does this mean? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. You have represented your case in a false light, Doctor, and +therefore I am unable to give you my support. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. And after what the Mayor was so kind as to tell me just now, +I— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A false light! Leave that part of it to me. Only print +my article; I am quite capable of defending it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I am not going to print it. I cannot and will not and dare not +print it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You dare not? What nonsense!—you are the editor; and an +editor controls his paper, I suppose! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. No, it is the subscribers, Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Fortunately, yes. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. It is public opinion—the enlightened public—householders +and people of that kind; they control the newspapers. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (composedly). And I have all these influences against me? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, you have. It would mean the absolute ruin of the +community if your article were to appear. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. My hat and stick, if you please. (DR. STOCKMANN takes +off the hat and lays it on the table with the stick. PETER STOCKMANN +takes them up.) Your authority as mayor has come to an untimely end. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. We have not got to the end yet. (To HOVSTAD.) Then it is +quite impossible for you to print my article in the "People's +Messenger"? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Quite impossible—out of regard for your family as well. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You need not concern yourself about his family, thank +you, Mr. Hovstad. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (taking a paper from his pocket). It will be +sufficient, for the guidance of the public, if this appears. It is an +official statement. May I trouble you? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (taking the paper). Certainly; I will see that it is printed. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But not mine. Do you imagine that you can silence me and +stifle the truth! You will not find it so easy as you suppose. Mr. +Aslaksen, kindly take my manuscript at once and print it as a +pamphlet—at my expense. I will have four hundred copies—no, five or +six hundred. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. If you offered me its weight in gold, I could not lend my +press for any such purpose, Doctor. It would be flying in the face of +public opinion. You will not get it printed anywhere in the town. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Then give it me back. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (giving him the MS.). Here it is. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (taking his hat and stick). It shall be made public all +the same. I will read it out at a mass meeting of the townspeople. All +my fellow-citizens shall hear the voice of truth! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You will not find any public body in the town that +will give you the use of their hall for such a purpose. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Not a single one, I am certain. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. No, I'm damned if you will find one. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But this is too shameful! Why should every one turn +against you like that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (angrily). I will tell you why. It is because all the men +in this town are old women—like you; they all think of nothing but +their families, and never of the community. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (putting her arm into his). Then I will show them that +an old woman can be a man for once. I am going to stand by you, Thomas! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Bravely said, Katherine! It shall be made public—as I +am a living soul! If I can't hire a hall, I shall hire a drum, and +parade the town with it and read it at every street-corner. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You are surely not such an errant fool as that! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, I am. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. You won't find a single man in the whole town to go with you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. No, I'm damned if you will. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Don't give in, Thomas. I will tell the boys to go with +you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That is a splendid idea! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Morten will be delighted; and Ejlif will do whatever he +does. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and Petra!—and you too, Katherine! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. No, I won't do that; but I will stand at the window and +watch you, that's what I will do. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (puts his arms round her and kisses her). Thank you, my +dear! Now you and I are going to try a fall, my fine gentlemen! I am +going to see whether a pack of cowards can succeed in gagging a patriot +who wants to purify society! (He and his wife go out by the street +door.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (shaking his head seriously). Now he has sent her out +of her senses, too. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ACT IV +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +(SCENE.—A big old-fashioned room in CAPTAIN HORSTER'S house. At the +back folding-doors, which are standing open, lead to an ante-room. +Three windows in the left-hand wall. In the middle of the opposite wall +a platform has been erected. On this is a small table with two candles, +a water-bottle and glass, and a bell. The room is lit by lamps placed +between the windows. In the foreground on the left there is a table +with candles and a chair. To the right is a door and some chairs +standing near it. The room is nearly filled with a crowd of townspeople +of all sorts, a few women and schoolboys being amongst them. People are +still streaming in from the back, and the room is soon filled.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +1st Citizen (meeting another). Hullo, Lamstad! You here too? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +2nd Citizen. I go to every public meeting, I do. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +3rd Citizen. Brought your whistle too, I expect! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +2nd Citizen. I should think so. Haven't you? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +3rd Citizen. Rather! And old Evensen said he was going to bring a +cow-horn, he did. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +2nd Citizen. Good old Evensen! (Laughter among the crowd.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +4th Citizen (coming up to them). I say, tell me what is going on here +tonight? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +2nd Citizen. Dr. Stockmann is going to deliver an address attacking the +Mayor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +4th Citizen. But the Mayor is his brother. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +1st Citizen. That doesn't matter; Dr. Stockmann's not the chap to be +afraid. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. For various reasons, which you will easily understand, +I must beg to be excused. But fortunately we have amongst us a man who +I think will be acceptable to you all. I refer to the President of the +Householders' Association, Mr. Aslaksen. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Several voices. Yes—Aslaksen! Bravo Aslaksen! +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(DR. STOCKMANN takes up his MS. and walks up and down the platform.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Since my fellow-citizens choose to entrust me with this duty, +I cannot refuse. +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(Loud applause. ASLAKSEN mounts the platform.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing (writing), "Mr. Aslaksen was elected with enthusiasm." +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And now, as I am in this position, I should like to say a few +brief words. I am a quiet and peaceable man, who believes in discreet +moderation, and—and—in moderate discretion. All my friends can bear +witness to that. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Several Voices. That's right! That's right, Aslaksen! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I have learned in the school of life and experience that +moderation is the most valuable virtue a citizen can possess— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Hear, hear! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. —And moreover, that discretion and moderation are what +enable a man to be of most service to the community. I would therefore +suggest to our esteemed fellow-citizen, who has called this meeting, +that he should strive to keep strictly within the bounds of moderation. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +A Man by the door. Three cheers for the Moderation Society! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +A Voice. Shame! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Several Voices. Sh!-Sh! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. No interruptions, gentlemen, please! Does anyone wish to make +any remarks? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. The Mayor will address the meeting. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. In consideration of the close relationship in which, +as you all know, I stand to the present Medical Officer of the Baths, I +should have preferred not to speak this evening. But my official +position with regard to the Baths and my solicitude for the vital +interests of the town compel me to bring forward a motion. I venture to +presume that there is not a single one of our citizens present who +considers it desirable that unreliable and exaggerated accounts of the +sanitary condition of the Baths and the town should be spread abroad. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Several Voices. No, no! Certainly not! We protest against it! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Therefore, I should like to propose that the meeting +should not permit the Medical Officer either to read or to comment on +his proposed lecture. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (impatiently). Not permit—! What the devil—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coughing). Ahem!-ahem! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (collecting himself). Very well, Go ahead! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. In my communication to the "People's Messenger," I +have put the essential facts before the public in such a way that every +fair-minded citizen can easily form his own opinion. From it you will +see that the main result of the Medical Officer's proposals—apart from +their constituting a vote of censure on the leading men of the +town—would be to saddle the ratepayers with an unnecessary expenditure +of at least some thousands of pounds. +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(Sounds of disapproval among the audience, and some cat-calls.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). Silence, please, gentlemen! I beg to +support the Mayor's motion. I quite agree with him that there is +something behind this agitation started by the Doctor. He talks about +the Baths; but it is a revolution he is aiming at—he wants to get the +administration of the town put into new hands. No one doubts the +honesty of the Doctor's intentions—no one will suggest that there can +be any two opinions as to that, I myself am a believer in +self-government for the people, provided it does not fall too heavily +on the ratepayers. But that would be the case here; and that is why I +will see Dr. Stockmann damned—I beg your pardon—before I go with him +in the matter. You can pay too dearly for a thing sometimes; that is my +opinion. +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(Loud applause on all sides.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I, too, feel called upon to explain my position. Dr. +Stockmann's agitation appeared to be gaining a certain amount of +sympathy at first, so I supported it as impartially as I could. But +presently we had reason to suspect that we had allowed ourselves to be +misled by misrepresentation of the state of affairs— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Misrepresentation—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, let us say a not entirely trustworthy representation. +The Mayor's statement has proved that. I hope no one here has any doubt +as to my liberal principles; the attitude of the "People's Messenger" +towards important political questions is well known to everyone. But +the advice of experienced and thoughtful men has convinced me that in +purely local matters a newspaper ought to proceed with a certain +caution. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I entirely agree with the speaker. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. And, in the matter before us, it is now an undoubted fact that +Dr. Stockmann has public opinion against him. Now, what is an editor's +first and most obvious duty, gentlemen? Is it not to work in harmony +with his readers? Has he not received a sort of tacit mandate to work +persistently and assiduously for the welfare of those whose opinions he +represents? Or is it possible I am mistaken in that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Voices from the crowd. No, no! You are quite right! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. It has cost me a severe struggle to break with a man in whose +house I have been lately a frequent guest—a man who till today has +been able to pride himself on the undivided goodwill of his +fellow-citizens—a man whose only, or at all events whose essential, +failing is that he is swayed by his heart rather than his head. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +A few scattered voices. That is true! Bravo, Stockmann! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. But my duty to the community obliged me to break with him. And +there is another consideration that impels me to oppose him, and, as +far as possible, to arrest him on the perilous course he has adopted; +that is, consideration for his family— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Please stick to the water-supply and drainage! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. —consideration, I repeat, for his wife and his children for +whom he has made no provision. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten. Is that us, mother? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Hush! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. I will now put the Mayor's proposition to the vote. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. There is no necessity! Tonight I have no intention of +dealing with all that filth down at the Baths. No; I have something +quite different to say to you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (aside). What is coming now? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +A Drunken Man (by the entrance door). I am a ratepayer! And therefore, +I have a right to speak too! And my entire—firm—inconceivable opinion +is— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +A number of voices. Be quiet, at the back there! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Others. He is drunk! Turn him out! (They turn him out.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Am I allowed to speak? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). Dr. Stockmann will address the meeting. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I should like to have seen anyone, a few days ago, dare +to attempt to silence me as has been done tonight! I would have +defended my sacred rights as a man, like a lion! But now it is all one +to me; I have something of even weightier importance to say to you. +(The crowd presses nearer to him, MORTEN Kiil conspicuous among them.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (continuing). I have thought and pondered a great deal, +these last few days—pondered over such a variety of things that in the +end my head seemed too full to hold them— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (with a cough). Ahem! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. —but I got them clear in my mind at last, and then I +saw the whole situation lucidly. And that is why I am standing here +to-night. I have a great revelation to make to you, my fellow-citizens! +I will impart to you a discovery of a far wider scope than the trifling +matter that our water supply is poisoned and our medicinal Baths are +standing on pestiferous soil. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +A number of voices (shouting). Don't talk about the Baths! We won't +hear you! None of that! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I have already told you that what I want to speak about +is the great discovery I have made lately—the discovery that all the +sources of our moral life are poisoned and that the whole fabric of our +civic community is founded on the pestiferous soil of falsehood. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Voices of disconcerted Citizens. What is that he says? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Such an insinuation—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (with his hand on his bell). I call upon the speaker to +moderate his language. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I have always loved my native town as a man only can +love the home of his youthful days. I was not old when I went away from +here; and exile, longing and memories cast as it were an additional +halo over both the town and its inhabitants. (Some clapping and +applause.) And there I stayed, for many years, in a horrible hole far +away up north. When I came into contact with some of the people that +lived scattered about among the rocks, I often thought it would of been +more service to the poor half-starved creatures if a veterinary doctor +had been sent up there, instead of a man like me. (Murmurs among the +crowd.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing (laying down his pen). I'm damned if I have ever heard—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is an insult to a respectable population! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Wait a bit! I do not think anyone will charge me with +having forgotten my native town up there. I was like one of the +eider-ducks brooding on its nest, and what I hatched was the plans for +these Baths. (Applause and protests.) And then when fate at last +decreed for me the great happiness of coming home again—I assure you, +gentlemen, I thought I had nothing more in the world to wish for. Or +rather, there was one thing I wished for—eagerly, untiringly, +ardently—and that was to be able to be of service to my native town +and the good of the community. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (looking at the ceiling). You chose a strange way of +doing it—ahem! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And so, with my eyes blinded to the real facts, I +revelled in happiness. But yesterday morning—no, to be precise, it was +yesterday afternoon—the eyes of my mind were opened wide, and the +first thing I realised was the colossal stupidity of the authorities—. +(Uproar, shouts and laughter, MRS. STOCKMANN coughs persistently.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). By virtue of my authority—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is a petty thing to catch me up on a word, Mr. +Aslaksen. What I mean is only that I got scent of the unbelievable +piggishness our leading men had been responsible for down at the Baths. +I can't stand leading men at any price!—I have had enough of such +people in my time. They are like billy-goats on a young plantation; +they do mischief everywhere. They stand in a free man's way, whichever +way he turns, and what I should like best would be to see them +exterminated like any other vermin—. (Uproar.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman, can we allow such expressions to pass? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (with his hand on his bell). Doctor—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I cannot understand how it is that I have only now +acquired a clear conception of what these gentry are, when I had almost +daily before my eyes in this town such an excellent specimen of +them—my brother Peter—slow-witted and hide-bound in prejudice—. +(Laughter, uproar and hisses. MRS. STOCKMANN Sits coughing assiduously. +ASLAKSEN rings his bell violently.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +The Drunken Man (who has got in again). Is it me he is talking about? +My name's Petersen, all right—but devil take me if I— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Angry Voices. Turn out that drunken man! Turn him out. (He is turned +out again.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Who was that person? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +1st Citizen. I don't know who he is, Mr. Mayor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +2nd Citizen. He doesn't belong here. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +3rd Citizen. I expect he is a navvy from over at—(the rest is +inaudible). +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. He had obviously had too much beer. Proceed, Doctor; but +please strive to be moderate in your language. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Very well, gentlemen, I will say no more about our +leading men. And if anyone imagines, from what I have just said, that +my object is to attack these people this evening, he is +wrong—absolutely wide of the mark. For I cherish the comforting +conviction that these parasites—all these venerable relics of a dying +school of thought—are most admirably paving the way for their own +extinction; they need no doctor's help to hasten their end. Nor is it +folk of that kind who constitute the most pressing danger to the +community. It is not they who are most instrumental in poisoning the +sources of our moral life and infecting the ground on which we stand. +It is not they who are the most dangerous enemies of truth and freedom +amongst us. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Shouts from all sides. Who then? Who is it? Name! Name! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You may depend upon it—I shall name them! That is +precisely the great discovery I made yesterday. (Raises his voice.) The +most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom amongst us is the compact +majority—yes, the damned compact Liberal majority—that is it! Now you +know! (Tremendous uproar. Most of the crowd are shouting, stamping and +hissing. Some of the older men among them exchange stolen glances and +seem to be enjoying themselves. MRS. STOCKMANN gets up, looking +anxious. EJLIF and MORTEN advance threateningly upon some schoolboys +who are playing pranks. ASLAKSEN rings his bell and begs for silence. +HOVSTAD and BILLING both talk at once, but are inaudible. At last quiet +is restored.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. As Chairman, I call upon the speaker to withdraw the +ill-considered expressions he has just used. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Never, Mr. Aslaksen! It is the majority in our community +that denies me my freedom and seeks to prevent my speaking the truth. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. The majority always has right on its side. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. And truth too, by God! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The majority never has right on its side. Never, I say! +That is one of these social lies against which an independent, +intelligent man must wage war. Who is it that constitute the majority +of the population in a country? Is it the clever folk, or the stupid? I +don't imagine you will dispute the fact that at present the stupid +people are in an absolutely overwhelming majority all the world over. +But, good Lord!—you can never pretend that it is right that the stupid +folk should govern the clever ones I (Uproar and cries.) Oh, yes—you +can shout me down, I know! But you cannot answer me. The majority has +might on its side—unfortunately; but right it has not. I am in the +right—I and a few other scattered individuals. The minority is always +in the right. (Renewed uproar.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Aha!—so Dr. Stockmann has become an aristocrat since the day +before yesterday! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I have already said that I don't intend to waste a word +on the puny, narrow-chested, short-winded crew whom we are leaving +astern. Pulsating life no longer concerns itself with them. I am +thinking of the few, the scattered few amongst us, who have absorbed +new and vigorous truths. Such men stand, as it were, at the outposts, +so far ahead that the compact majority has not yet been able to come up +with them; and there they are fighting for truths that are too +newly-born into the world of consciousness to have any considerable +number of people on their side as yet. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. So the Doctor is a revolutionary now! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Good heavens—of course I am, Mr. Hovstad! I propose to +raise a revolution against the lie that the majority has the monopoly +of the truth. What sort of truths are they that the majority usually +supports? They are truths that are of such advanced age that they are +beginning to break up. And if a truth is as old as that, it is also in +a fair way to become a lie, gentlemen. (Laughter and mocking cries.) +Yes, believe me or not, as you like; but truths are by no means as +long-lived at Methuselah—as some folk imagine. A normally constituted +truth lives, let us say, as a rule seventeen or eighteen, or at most +twenty years—seldom longer. But truths as aged as that are always worn +frightfully thin, and nevertheless it is only then that the majority +recognises them and recommends them to the community as wholesome moral +nourishment. There is no great nutritive value in that sort of fare, I +can assure you; and, as a doctor, I ought to know. These "majority +truths" are like last year's cured meat—like rancid, tainted ham; and +they are the origin of the moral scurvy that is rampant in our +communities. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. It appears to me that the speaker is wandering a long way +from his subject. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I quite agree with the Chairman. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Have you gone clean out of your senses, Peter? I am +sticking as closely to my subject as I can; for my subject is precisely +this, that it is the masses, the majority—this infernal compact +majority—that poisons the sources of our moral life and infects the +ground we stand on. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. And all this because the great, broadminded majority of the +people is prudent enough to show deference only to well-ascertained and +well-approved truths? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, my good Mr. Hovstad, don't talk nonsense about +well-ascertained truths! The truths of which the masses now approve are +the very truths that the fighters at the outposts held to in the days +of our grandfathers. We fighters at the outposts nowadays no longer +approve of them; and I do not believe there is any other +well-ascertained truth except this, that no community can live a +healthy life if it is nourished only on such old marrowless truths. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. But, instead of standing there using vague generalities, it +would be interesting if you would tell us what these old marrowless +truths are, that we are nourished on. +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(Applause from many quarters.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, I could give you a whole string of such +abominations; but to begin with I will confine myself to one +well-approved truth, which at bottom is a foul lie, but upon which +nevertheless Mr. Hovstad and the "People's Messenger" and all the +"Messenger's" supporters are nourished. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. And that is—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That is, the doctrine you have inherited from your +forefathers and proclaim thoughtlessly far and wide—the doctrine that +the public, the crowd, the masses, are the essential part of the +population—that they constitute the People—that the common folk, the +ignorant and incomplete element in the community, have the same right +to pronounce judgment and to, approve, to direct and to govern, as the +isolated, intellectually superior personalities in it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Well, damn me if ever I— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (at the same time, shouting out). Fellow-citizens, take good +note of that! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +A number of voices (angrily). Oho!—we are not the People! Only the +superior folk are to govern, are they! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +A Workman. Turn the fellow out for talking such rubbish! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Another. Out with him! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Another (calling out). Blow your horn, Evensen! +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(A horn is blown loudly, amidst hisses and an angry uproar.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (when the noise has somewhat abated). Be reasonable! +Can't you stand hearing the voice of truth for once? I don't in the +least expect you to agree with me all at once; but I must say I did +expect Mr. Hovstad to admit I was right, when he had recovered his +composure a little. He claims to be a freethinker— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Voices (in murmurs of astonishment). Freethinker, did he say? Is +Hovstad a freethinker? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (shouting). Prove it, Dr. Stockmann! When have I said so in +print? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (reflecting). No, confound it, you are right!—you have +never had the courage to. Well, I won't put you in a hole, Mr. Hovstad. +Let us say it is I that am the freethinker, then. I am going to prove +to you, scientifically, that the "People's Messenger" leads you by the +nose in a shameful manner when it tells you that you—that the common +people, the crowd, the masses, are the real essence of the People. That +is only a newspaper lie, I tell you! The common people are nothing more +than the raw material of which a People is made. (Groans, laughter and +uproar.) Well, isn't that the case? Isn't there an enormous difference +between a well-bred and an ill-bred strain of animals? Take, for +instance, a common barn-door hen. What sort of eating do you get from a +shrivelled up old scrag of a fowl like that? Not much, do you! And what +sort of eggs does it lay? A fairly good crow or a raven can lay pretty +nearly as good an egg. But take a well-bred Spanish or Japanese hen, or +a good pheasant or a turkey—then you will see the difference. Or take +the case of dogs, with whom we humans are on such intimate terms. Think +first of an ordinary common cur—I mean one of the horrible, +coarse-haired, low-bred curs that do nothing but run about the streets +and befoul the walls of the houses. Compare one of these curs with a +poodle whose sires for many generations have been bred in a gentleman's +house, where they have had the best of food and had the opportunity of +hearing soft voices and music. Do you not think that the poodle's brain +is developed to quite a different degree from that of the cur? Of +course it is. It is puppies of well-bred poodles like that, that +showmen train to do incredibly clever tricks—things that a common cur +could never learn to do even if it stood on its head. (Uproar and +mocking cries.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +A Citizen (calls out). Are you going to make out we are dogs, now? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Another Citizen. We are not animals, Doctor! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes but, bless my soul, we are, my friend! It is true we +are the finest animals anyone could wish for; but, even among us, +exceptionally fine animals are rare. There is a tremendous difference +between poodle-men and cur-men. And the amusing part of it is, that Mr. +Hovstad quite agrees with me as long as it is a question of four-footed +animals— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Yes, it is true enough as far as they are concerned. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Very well. But as soon as I extend the principle and +apply it to two-legged animals, Mr. Hovstad stops short. He no longer +dares to think independently, or to pursue his ideas to their logical +conclusion; so, he turns the whole theory upside down and proclaims in +the "People's Messenger" that it is the barn-door hens and street curs +that are the finest specimens in the menagerie. But that is always the +way, as long as a man retains the traces of common origin and has not +worked his way up to intellectual distinction. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I lay no claim to any sort of distinction, I am the son of +humble country-folk, and I am proud that the stock I come from is +rooted deep among the common people he insults. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Voices. Bravo, Hovstad! Bravo! Bravo! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The kind of common people I mean are not only to be +found low down in the social scale; they crawl and swarm all around +us—even in the highest social positions. You have only to look at your +own fine, distinguished Mayor! My brother Peter is every bit as +plebeian as anyone that walks in two shoes— (laughter and hisses) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I protest against personal allusions of this kind. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (imperturbably).—and that, not because he is like +myself, descended from some old rascal of a pirate from Pomerania or +thereabouts—because that is who we are descended from— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. An absurd legend. I deny it! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. —but because he thinks what his superiors think, and +holds the same opinions as they, People who do that are, intellectually +speaking, common people; and, that is why my magnificent brother Peter +is in reality so very far from any distinction—and consequently also +so far from being liberal-minded. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. So it is only the distinguished men that are liberal-minded in +this country? We are learning something quite new! (Laughter.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that is part of my new discovery too. And another +part of it is that broad-mindedness is almost precisely the same thing +as morality. That is why I maintain that it is absolutely inexcusable +in the "People's Messenger" to proclaim, day in and day out, the false +doctrine that it is the masses, the crowd, the compact majority, that +have the monopoly of broad-mindedness and morality—and that vice and +corruption and every kind of intellectual depravity are the result of +culture, just as all the filth that is draining into our Baths is the +result of the tanneries up at Molledal! (Uproar and interruptions. DR. +STOCKMANN is undisturbed, and goes on, carried away by his ardour, with +a smile.) And yet this same "People's Messenger" can go on preaching +that the masses ought to be elevated to higher conditions of life! But, +bless my soul, if the "Messenger's" teaching is to be depended upon, +this very raising up the masses would mean nothing more or less than +setting them straightway upon the paths of depravity! Happily the +theory that culture demoralises is only an old falsehood that our +forefathers believed in and we have inherited. No, it is ignorance, +poverty, ugly conditions of life, that do the devil's work! In a house +which does not get aired and swept every day—my wife Katherine +maintains that the floor ought to be scrubbed as well, but that is a +debatable question—in such a house, let me tell you, people will lose +within two or three years the power of thinking or acting in a moral +manner. Lack of oxygen weakens the conscience. And there must be a +plentiful lack of oxygen in very many houses in this town, I should +think, judging from the fact that the whole compact majority can be +unconscientious enough to wish to build the town's prosperity on a +quagmire of falsehood and deceit. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. We cannot allow such a grave accusation to be flung at a +citizen community. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +A Citizen. I move that the Chairman direct the speaker to sit down. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Voices (angrily). Hear, hear! Quite right! Make him sit down! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (losing his self-control). Then I will go and shout the +truth at every street corner! I will write it in other towns' +newspapers! The whole country shall know what is going on here! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. It almost seems as if Dr. Stockmann's intention were to ruin +the town. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, my native town is so dear to me that I would rather +ruin it than see it flourishing upon a lie. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. This is really serious. (Uproar and cat-calls MRS. STOCKMANN +coughs, but to no purpose; her husband does not listen to her any +longer.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (shouting above the din). A man must be a public enemy to wish +to ruin a whole community! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (with growing fervor). What does the destruction of a +community matter, if it lives on lies? It ought to be razed to the +ground. I tell you— All who live by lies ought to be exterminated like +vermin! You will end by infecting the whole country; you will bring +about such a state of things that the whole country will deserve to be +ruined. And if things come to that pass, I shall say from the bottom of +my heart: Let the whole country perish, let all these people be +exterminated! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Voices from the crowd. That is talking like an out-and-out enemy of the +people! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. There sounded the voice of the people, by all that's holy! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +The whole crowd (shouting). Yes, yes! He is an enemy of the people! He +hates his country! He hates his own people! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Both as a citizen and as an individual, I am profoundly +disturbed by what we have had to listen to. Dr. Stockmann has shown +himself in a light I should never have dreamed of. I am unhappily +obliged to subscribe to the opinion which I have just heard my +estimable fellow-citizens utter; and I propose that we should give +expression to that opinion in a resolution. I propose a resolution as +follows: "This meeting declares that it considers Dr. Thomas Stockmann, +Medical Officer of the Baths, to be an enemy of the people." (A storm +of cheers and applause. A number of men surround the DOCTOR and hiss +him. MRS. STOCKMANN and PETRA have got up from their seats. MORTEN and +EJLIF are fighting the other schoolboys for hissing; some of their +elders separate them.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (to the men who are hissing him). Oh, you fools! I tell +you that— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). We cannot hear you now, Doctor. A formal +vote is about to be taken; but, out of regard for personal feelings, it +shall be by ballot and not verbal. Have you any clean paper, Mr. +Billing? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. I have both blue and white here. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (going to him). That will do nicely; we shall get on more +quickly that way. Cut it up into small strips—yes, that's it. (To the +meeting.) Blue means no; white means yes. I will come round myself and +collect votes. (PETER STOCKMANN leaves the hall. ASLAKSEN and one or +two others go round the room with the slips of paper in their hats.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +1st Citizen (to HOVSTAD). I say, what has come to the Doctor? What are +we to think of it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Oh, you know how headstrong he is. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +2nd Citizen (to BILLING). Billing, you go to their house—have you ever +noticed if the fellow drinks? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Well I'm hanged if I know what to say. There are always +spirits on the table when you go. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +3rd Citizen. I rather think he goes quite off his head sometimes. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +1st Citizen. I wonder if there is any madness in his family? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. I shouldn't wonder if there were. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +4th Citizen. No, it is nothing more than sheer malice; he wants to get +even with somebody for something or other. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Well certainly he suggested a rise in his salary on one +occasion lately, and did not get it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +The Citizens (together). Ah!—then it is easy to understand how it is! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +The Drunken Man (who has got among the audience again). I want a blue +one, I do! And I want a white one too! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Voices. It's that drunken chap again! Turn him out! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. (going up to DR. STOCKMANN). Well, Stockmann, do you see +what these monkey tricks of yours lead to? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I have done my duty. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. What was that you said about the tanneries at Molledal? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You heard well enough. I said they were the source of +all the filth. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. My tannery too? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Unfortunately your tannery is by far the worst. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Are you going to put that in the papers? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I shall conceal nothing. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. That may cost you dearly, Stockmann. (Goes out.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +A Stout Man (going UP to CAPTAIN HORSTER, Without taking any notice of +the ladies). Well, Captain, so you lend your house to enemies of the +people? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. I imagine I can do what I like with my own possessions, Mr. +Vik. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +The Stout Man. Then you can have no objection to my doing the same with +mine. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. What do you mean, sir? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +The Stout Man. You shall hear from me in the morning. (Turns his back +on him and moves off.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Was that not your owner, Captain Horster? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. Yes, that was Mr. Vik the shipowner. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (with the voting-papers in his hands, gets up on to the +platform and rings his bell). Gentlemen, allow me to announce the +result. By the votes of every one here except one person— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +A Young Man. That is the drunk chap! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. By the votes of everyone here except a tipsy man, this +meeting of citizens declares Dr. Thomas Stockmann to be an enemy of the +people. (Shouts and applause.) Three cheers for our ancient and +honourable citizen community! (Renewed applause.) Three cheers for our +able and energetic Mayor, who has so loyally suppressed the promptings +of family feeling! (Cheers.) The meeting is dissolved. (Gets down.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. Three cheers for the Chairman! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +The whole crowd. Three cheers for Aslaksen! Hurrah! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. My hat and coat, Petra! Captain, have you room on your +ship for passengers to the New World? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. For you and yours we will make room, Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (as PETRA helps him into his coat), Good. Come, +Katherine! Come, boys! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (in an undertone). Thomas, dear, let us go out by the +back way. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No back ways for me, Katherine, (Raising his voice.) You +will hear more of this enemy of the people, before he shakes the dust +off his shoes upon you! I am not so forgiving as a certain Person; I do +not say: "I forgive you, for ye know not what ye do." +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (shouting). That is a blasphemous comparison, Dr. Stockmann! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing. It is, by God! It's dreadful for an earnest man to listen to. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +A Coarse Voice. Threatens us now, does he! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Other Voices (excitedly). Let's go and break his windows! Duck him in +the fjord! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Another Voice. Blow your horn, Evensen! Pip, pip! +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(Horn-blowing, hisses, and wild cries. DR. STOCKMANN goes out through +the hall with his family, HORSTER elbowing a way for them.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +The Whole Crowd (howling after them as they go). Enemy of the People! +Enemy of the People! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Billing (as he puts his papers together). Well, I'm damned if I go and +drink toddy with the Stockmanns tonight! +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(The crowd press towards the exit. The uproar continues outside; shouts +of "Enemy of the People!" are heard from without.) +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ACT V +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +(SCENE.—DR. STOCKMANN'S study. Bookcases and cabinets containing +specimens, line the walls. At the back is a door leading to the hall; +in the foreground on the left, a door leading to the sitting-room. In +the righthand wall are two windows, of which all the panes are broken. +The DOCTOR'S desk, littered with books and papers, stands in the middle +of the room, which is in disorder. It is morning. DR. STOCKMANN in +dressing-gown, slippers and a smoking-cap, is bending down and raking +with an umbrella under one of the cabinets. After a little while he +rakes out a stone.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (calling through the open sitting-room door). Katherine, +I have found another one. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (from the sitting-room). Oh, you will find a lot more +yet, I expect. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (adding the stone to a heap of others on the table). I +shall treasure these stones as relics. Ejlif and Morten shall look at +them every day, and when they are grown up they shall inherit them as +heirlooms. (Rakes about under a bookcase.) Hasn't—what the deuce is +her name?—the girl, you know—hasn't she been to fetch the glazier yet? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in). Yes, but he said he didn't know if he would +be able to come today. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You will see he won't dare to come. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, that is just what Randine thought—that he didn't +dare to, on account of the neighbours. (Calls into the sitting-room.) +What is it you want, Randine? Give it to me. (Goes in, and comes out +again directly.) Here is a letter for you, Thomas. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Let me see it. (Opens and reads it.) Ah!—of course. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Who is it from? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. From the landlord. Notice to quit. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Is it possible? Such a nice man +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (looking at the letter). Does not dare do otherwise, he +says. Doesn't like doing it, but dare not do otherwise—on account of +his fellow-citizens—out of regard for public opinion. Is in a +dependent position—dares not offend certain influential men. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. There, you see, Thomas! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes, I see well enough; the whole lot of them in +the town are cowards; not a man among them dares do anything for fear +of the others. (Throws the letter on to the table.) But it doesn't +matter to us, Katherine. We are going to sail away to the New World, +and— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas, are you sure we are well advised to take +this step? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Are you suggesting that I should stay here, where they +have pilloried me as an enemy of the people—branded me—broken my +windows! And just look here, Katherine—they have torn a great rent in +my black trousers too! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, dear!—and they are the best pair you have got! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You should never wear your best trousers when you go out +to fight for freedom and truth. It is not that I care so much about the +trousers, you know; you can always sew them up again for me. But that +the common herd should dare to make this attack on me, as if they were +my equals—that is what I cannot, for the life of me, swallow! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. There is no doubt they have behaved very ill toward +you, Thomas; but is that sufficient reason for our leaving our native +country for good and all? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. If we went to another town, do you suppose we should not +find the common people just as insolent as they are here? Depend upon +it, there is not much to choose between them. Oh, well, let the curs +snap—that is not the worst part of it. The worst is that, from one end +of this country to the other, every man is the slave of his Party. +Although, as far as that goes, I daresay it is not much better in the +free West either; the compact majority, and liberal public opinion, and +all that infernal old bag of tricks are probably rampant there too. But +there things are done on a larger scale, you see. They may kill you, +but they won't put you to death by slow torture. They don't squeeze a +free man's soul in a vice, as they do here. And, if need be, one can +live in solitude. (Walks up and down.) If only I knew where there was a +virgin forest or a small South Sea island for sale, cheap— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But think of the boys, Thomas! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (standing still). What a strange woman you are, +Katherine! Would you prefer to have the boys grow up in a society like +this? You saw for yourself last night that half the population are out +of their minds; and if the other half have not lost their senses, it is +because they are mere brutes, with no sense to lose. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas dear, the imprudent things you said had +something to do with it, you know. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, isn't what I said perfectly true? Don't they turn +every idea topsy-turvy? Don't they make a regular hotchpotch of right +and wrong? Don't they say that the things I know are true, are lies? +The craziest part of it all is the fact of these "liberals," men of +full age, going about in crowds imagining that they are the +broad-minded party! Did you ever hear anything like it, Katherine! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, yes, it's mad enough of them, certainly; +but—(PETRA comes in from the silting-room). Back from school already? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Yes. I have been given notice of dismissal. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Dismissal? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You too? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Mrs. Busk gave me my notice; so I thought it was best to go at +once. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You were perfectly right, too! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Who would have thought Mrs. Busk was a woman like that! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Mrs. Busk isn't a bit like that, mother; I saw quite plainly how +it hurt her to do it. But she didn't dare do otherwise, she said; and +so I got my notice. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (laughing and rubbing his hands). She didn't dare do +otherwise, either! It's delicious! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, after the dreadful scenes last night— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. It was not only that. Just listen to this, father! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Mrs. Busk showed me no less than three letters she received this +morning— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Anonymous, I suppose? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Yes. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, because they didn't dare to risk signing their +names, Katherine! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. And two of them were to the effect that a man, who has been our +guest here, was declaring last night at the Club that my views on +various subjects are extremely emancipated— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You did not deny that, I hope? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. No, you know I wouldn't. Mrs. Busk's own views are tolerably +emancipated, when we are alone together; but now that this report about +me is being spread, she dare not keep me on any longer. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. And someone who had been a guest of ours! That shows +you the return you get for your hospitality, Thomas! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. We won't live in such a disgusting hole any longer. Pack +up as quickly as you can, Katherine; the sooner we can get away, the +better. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Be quiet—I think I hear someone in the hall. See who +it is, Petra. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (opening the door). Oh, it's you, Captain Horster! Do come in. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster (coming in). Good morning. I thought I would just come in and +see how you were. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (shaking his hand). Thanks—that is really kind of you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. And thank you, too, for helping us through the crowd, +Captain Horster. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. How did you manage to get home again? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. Oh, somehow or other. I am fairly strong, and there is more +sound than fury about these folk. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, isn't their swinish cowardice astonishing? Look +here, I will show you something! There are all the stones they have +thrown through my windows. Just look at them! I'm hanged if there are +more than two decently large bits of hard stone in the whole heap; the +rest are nothing but gravel—wretched little things. And yet they stood +out there bawling and swearing that they would do me some violence; but +as for doing anything—you don't see much of that in this town. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. Just as well for you this time, doctor! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. True enough. But it makes one angry all the same; +because if some day it should be a question of a national fight in real +earnest, you will see that public opinion will be in favour of taking +to one's heels, and the compact majority will turn tail like a flock of +sheep, Captain Horster. That is what is so mournful to think of; it +gives me so much concern, that—. No, devil take it, it is ridiculous +to care about it! They have called me an enemy of the people, so an +enemy of the people let me be! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You will never be that, Thomas. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Don't swear to that, Katherine. To be called an ugly +name may have the same effect as a pin-scratch in the lung. And that +hateful name—I can't get quit of it. It is sticking here in the pit of +my stomach, eating into me like a corrosive acid. And no magnesia will +remove it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Bah!—you should only laugh at them, father, +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. They will change their minds some day, Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, Thomas, as sure as you are standing here. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Perhaps, when it is too late. Much good may it do them! +They may wallow in their filth then and rue the day when they drove a +patriot into exile. When do you sail, Captain Horster? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. Hm!—that was just what I had come to speak about— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Why, has anything gone wrong with the ship? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. No; but what has happened is that I am not to sail in it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Do you mean that you have been dismissed from your command? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster (smiling). Yes, that's just it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. You too. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. There, you see, Thomas! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And that for the truth's sake! Oh, if I had thought such +a thing possible— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. You mustn't take it to heart; I shall be sure to find a job +with some ship-owner or other, elsewhere. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And that is this man Vik—a wealthy man, independent of +everyone and everything—! Shame on him! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. He is quite an excellent fellow otherwise; he told me himself +he would willingly have kept me on, if only he had dared— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But he didn't dare? No, of course not. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. It is not such an easy matter, he said, for a party man— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. The worthy man spoke the truth. A party is like a +sausage machine; it mashes up all sorts of heads together into the same +mincemeat—fatheads and blockheads, all in one mash! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Come, come, Thomas dear! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (to HORSTER). If only you had not come home with us, things might +not have come to this pass. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. I do not regret it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (holding out her hand to him). Thank you for that! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster (to DR. STOCKMANN). And so what I came to say was that if you +are determined to go away, I have thought of another plan— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That's splendid!—if only we can get away at once. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Hush!—wasn't that some one knocking? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. That is uncle, surely. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Aha! (Calls out.) Come in! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Dear Thomas, promise me definitely—. (PETER STOCKMANN +comes in from the hall.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Oh, you are engaged. In that case, I will— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, no, come in. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. But I wanted to speak to you alone. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. We will go into the sitting-room in the meanwhile. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. And I will look in again later. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, go in there with them, Captain Horster; I want to +hear more about—. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. Very well, I will wait, then. (He follows MRS. STOCKMANN and +PETRA into the sitting-room.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I daresay you find it rather draughty here today. Put +your hat on. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Thank you, if I may. (Does so.) I think I caught cold +last night; I stood and shivered— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Really? I found it warm enough. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I regret that it was not in my power to prevent those +excesses last night. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Have you anything in particular to say to me besides +that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (taking a big letter from his pocket). I have this +document for you, from the Baths Committee. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. My dismissal? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, dating from today. (Lays the letter on the +table.) It gives us pain to do it; but, to speak frankly, we dared not +do otherwise on account of public opinion. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (smiling). Dared not? I seem to have heard that word +before, today. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I must beg you to understand your position clearly. +For the future you must not count on any practice whatever in the town. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Devil take the practice! But why are you so sure of that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. The Householders' Association is circulating a list +from house to house. All right-minded citizens are being called upon to +give up employing you; and I can assure you that not a single head of a +family will risk refusing his signature. They simply dare not. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. No, no; I don't doubt it. But what then? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. If I might advise you, it would be best to leave the +place for a little while— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, the propriety of leaving the place has occurred to +me. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Good. And then, when you have had six months to think +things over, if, after mature consideration, you can persuade yourself +to write a few words of regret, acknowledging your error— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I might have my appointment restored to me, do you mean? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Perhaps. It is not at all impossible. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But what about public opinion, then? Surely you would +not dare to do it on account of public feeling... +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Public opinion is an extremely mutable thing. And, to +be quite candid with you, it is a matter of great importance to us to +have some admission of that sort from you in writing. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, that's what you are after, is it! I will just +trouble you to remember what I said to you lately about foxy tricks of +that sort! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Your position was quite different then. At that time +you had reason to suppose you had the whole town at your back— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and now I feel I have the whole town ON my +back—(flaring up). I would not do it if I had the devil and his dam on +my back—! Never—never, I tell you! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. A man with a family has no right to behave as you do. +You have no right to do it, Thomas. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I have no right! There is only one single thing in the +world a free man has no right to do. Do you know what that is? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. No. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Of course you don't, but I will tell you. A free man has +no right to soil himself with filth; he has no right to behave in a way +that would justify his spitting in his own face. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. This sort of thing sounds extremely plausible, of +course; and if there were no other explanation for your obstinacy—. +But as it happens that there is. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What do you mean? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. You understand, very well what I mean. But, as your +brother and as a man of discretion, I advise you not to build too much +upon expectations and prospects that may so very easily fail you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What in the world is all this about? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Do you really ask me to believe that you are ignorant +of the terms of Mr. Kiil's will? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I know that the small amount he possesses is to go to an +institution for indigent old workpeople. How does that concern me? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. In the first place, it is by no means a small amount +that is in question. Mr. Kiil is a fairly wealthy man. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I had no notion of that! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Hm!—hadn't you really? Then I suppose you had no +notion, either, that a considerable portion of his wealth will come to +your children, you and your wife having a life-rent of the capital. Has +he never told you so? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Never, on my honour! Quite the reverse; he has +consistently done nothing but fume at being so unconscionably heavily +taxed. But are you perfectly certain of this, Peter? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I have it from an absolutely reliable source. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Then, thank God, Katherine is provided for—and the +children too! I must tell her this at once—(calls out) Katherine, +Katherine! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (restraining him). Hush, don't say a word yet! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (opening the door). What is the matter? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, nothing, nothing; you can go back. (She shuts the +door. DR. STOCKMANN walks up and down in his excitement.) Provided +for!—Just think of it, we are all provided for! And for life! What a +blessed feeling it is to know one is provided for! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. Yes, but that is just exactly what you are not. Mr. +Kiil can alter his will any day he likes. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But he won't do that, my dear Peter. The "Badger" is +much too delighted at my attack on you and your wise friends. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann (starts and looks intently at him). Ali, that throws a +light on various things. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What things? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I see that the whole thing was a combined manoeuvre on +your part and his. These violent, reckless attacks that you have made +against the leading men of the town, under the pretence that it was in +the name of truth— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. What about them? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. I see that they were nothing else than the stipulated +price for that vindictive old man's will. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (almost speechless). Peter—you are the most disgusting +plebeian I have ever met in all my life. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Peter Stockmann. All is over between us. Your dismissal is +irrevocable—we have a weapon against you now. (Goes out.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. For shame! For shame! (Calls out.) Katherine, you must +have the floor scrubbed after him! Let—what's her name—devil take it, +the girl who has always got soot on her nose— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. (in the sitting-room). Hush, Thomas, be quiet! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (coming to the door). Father, grandfather is here, asking if he +may speak to you alone. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly he may. (Going to the door.) Come in, Mr. +Kiil. (MORTEN KIIL comes in. DR. STOCKMANN shuts the door after him.) +What can I do for you? Won't you sit down? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. I won't sit. (Looks around.) You look very comfortable +here today, Thomas. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, don't we! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Very comfortable—plenty of fresh air. I should think you +have got enough to-day of that oxygen you were talking about yesterday. +Your conscience must be in splendid order to-day, I should think. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. It is. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. So I should think. (Taps his chest.) Do you know what I +have got here? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A good conscience, too, I hope. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Bah!—No, it is something better than that. (He takes a +thick pocket-book from his breast-pocket, opens it, and displays a +packet of papers.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (looking at him in astonishment). Shares in the Baths? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. They were not difficult to get today. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And you have been buying—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. As many as I could pay for. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But, my dear Mr. Kiil—consider the state of the Baths' +affairs! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. If you behave like a reasonable man, you can soon set the +Baths on their feet again. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, you can see for yourself that I have done all I +can, but—. They are all mad in this town! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. You said yesterday that the worst of this pollution came +from my tannery. If that is true, then my grandfather and my father +before me, and I myself, for many years past, have been poisoning the +town like three destroying angels. Do you think I am going to sit quiet +under that reproach? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Unfortunately I am afraid you will have to. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. No, thank you. I am jealous of my name and reputation. +They call me "the Badger," I am told. A badger is a kind of pig, I +believe; but I am not going to give them the right to call me that. I +mean to live and die a clean man. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And how are you going to set about it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. You shall cleanse me, Thomas. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Do you know what money I have bought these shares with? +No, of course you can't know—but I will tell you. It is the money that +Katherine and Petra and the boys will have when I am gone. Because I +have been able to save a little bit after all, you know. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (flaring up). And you have gone and taken Katherine's +money for this! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Yes, the whole of the money is invested in the Baths now. +And now I just want to see whether you are quite stark, staring mad, +Thomas! If you still make out that these animals and other nasty things +of that sort come from my tannery, it will be exactly as if you were to +flay broad strips of skin from Katherine's body, and Petra's, and the +boys'; and no decent man would do that—unless he were mad. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (walking up and down). Yes, but I am mad; I am mad! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. You cannot be so absurdly mad as all that, when it is a +question of your wife and children. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (standing still in front of him). Why couldn't you +consult me about it, before you went and bought all that trash? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. What is done cannot be undone. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (walks about uneasily). If only I were not so certain +about it—! But I am absolutely convinced that I am right. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (weighing the pocket-book in his hand). If you stick to +your mad idea, this won't be worth much, you know. (Puts the +pocket-book in his pocket.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But, hang it all! It might be possible for science to +discover some prophylactic, I should think—or some antidote of some +kind— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. To kill these animals, do you mean? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, or to make them innocuous. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Couldn't you try some rat's-bane? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Don't talk nonsense! They all say it is only +imagination, you know. Well, let it go at that! Let them have their own +way about it! Haven't the ignorant, narrow-minded curs reviled me as an +enemy of the people?—and haven't they been ready to tear the clothes +off my back too? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. And broken all your windows to pieces! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And then there is my duty to my family. I must talk it +over with Katherine; she is great on those things. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. That is right; be guided by a reasonable woman's advice. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (advancing towards him). To think you could do such a +preposterous thing! Risking Katherine's money in this way, and putting +me in such a horribly painful dilemma! When I look at you, I think I +see the devil himself—. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Then I had better go. But I must have an answer from you +before two o'clock—yes or no. If it is no, the shares go to a charity, +and that this very day. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And what does Katherine get? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil. Not a halfpenny. (The door leading to the hall opens, and +HOVSTAD and ASLAKSEN make their appearance.) Look at those two! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (staring at them). What the devil!—have YOU actually the +face to come into my house? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Certainly. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. We have something to say to you, you see. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten Kiil (in a whisper). Yes or no—before two o'clock. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (glancing at HOVSTAD). Aha! (MORTEN KIIL goes out.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, what do you want with me? Be brief. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I can quite understand that you are annoyed with us for our +attitude at the meeting yesterday. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Attitude, do you call it? Yes, it was a charming +attitude! I call it weak, womanish—damnably shameful! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Call it what you like, we could not do otherwise. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You DARED not do otherwise—isn't that it? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Well, if you like to put it that way. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. But why did you not let us have word of it beforehand?—just +a hint to Mr. Hovstad or to me? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. A hint? Of what? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Of what was behind it all. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I don't understand you in the least— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (with a confidential nod). Oh yes, you do, Dr. Stockmann. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is no good making a mystery of it any longer. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (looking first at one of them and then at the other). +What the devil do you both mean? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. May I ask if your father-in-law is not going round the town +buying up all the shares in the Baths? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, he has been buying Baths shares today; but— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. It would have been more prudent to get someone else to do +it—someone less nearly related to you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. And you should not have let your name appear in the affair. +There was no need for anyone to know that the attack on the Baths came +from you. You ought to have consulted me, Dr. Stockmann. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (looks in front of him; then a light seems to dawn on him +and he says in amazement.) Are such things conceivable? Are such things +possible? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (with a smile). Evidently they are. But it is better to use a +little finesse, you know. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. And it is much better to have several persons in a thing of +that sort; because the responsibility of each individual is lessened, +when there are others with him. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (composedly). Come to the point, gentlemen. What do you +want? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Perhaps Mr. Hovstad had better— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. No, you tell him, Aslaksen. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Well, the fact is that, now we know the bearings of the whole +affair, we think we might venture to put the "People's Messenger" at +your disposal. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Do you dare do that now? What about public opinion? Are +you not afraid of a storm breaking upon our heads? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. We will try to weather it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And you must be ready to go off quickly on a new tack, +Doctor. As soon as your invective has done its work— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Do you mean, as soon as my father-in-law and I have got +hold of the shares at a low figure? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. Your reasons for wishing to get the control of the Baths are +mainly scientific, I take it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Of course; it was for scientific reasons that I +persuaded the old "Badger" to stand in with me in the matter. So we +will tinker at the conduit-pipes a little, and dig up a little bit of +the shore, and it shan't cost the town a sixpence. That will be all +right—eh? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. I think so—if you have the "People's Messenger" behind you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. The Press is a power in a free community. Doctor. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so. And so is public opinion. And you, Mr. +Aslaksen—I suppose you will be answerable for the Householders' +Association? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Yes, and for the Temperance Society. You may rely on that. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. But, gentlemen—I really am ashamed to ask the +question—but, what return do you—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. We should prefer to help you without any return whatever, +believe me. But the "People's Messenger" is in rather a shaky +condition; it doesn't go really well; and I should be very unwilling to +suspend the paper now, when there is so much work to do here in the +political way. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so; that would be a great trial to such a friend +of the people as you are. (Flares up.) But I am an enemy of the people, +remember! (Walks about the room.) Where have I put my stick? Where the +devil is my stick? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. What's that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Surely you never mean— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (standing still.) And suppose I don't give you a single +penny of all I get out of it? Money is not very easy to get out of us +rich folk, please to remember! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. And you please to remember that this affair of the shares can +be represented in two ways! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and you are just the man to do it. If I don't come +to the rescue of the "People's Messenger," you will certainly take an +evil view of the affair; you will hunt me down, I can well +imagine—pursue me—try to throttle me as a dog does a hare. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. It is a natural law; every animal must fight for its own +livelihood. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. And get its food where it can, you know. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (walking about the room). Then you go and look for yours +in the gutter; because I am going to show you which is the strongest +animal of us three! (Finds an umbrella and brandishes it above his +head.) Ah, now—! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. You are surely not going to use violence! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen. Take care what you are doing with that umbrella. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Out of the window with you, Mr. Hovstad! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad (edging to the door). Are you quite mad! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Out of the window, Mr. Aslaksen! Jump, I tell you! You +will have to do it, sooner or later. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (running round the writing-table). Moderation, Doctor—I am a +delicate man—I can stand so little—(calls out) help, help! +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(MRS. STOCKMANN, PETRA and HORSTER come in from the sitting-room.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Good gracious, Thomas! What is happening? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (brandishing the umbrella). Jump out, I tell you! Out +into the gutter! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Hovstad. An assault on an unoffending man! I call you to witness, +Captain Horster. (Hurries out through the hall.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Aslaksen (irresolutely). If only I knew the way about here—. (Steals +out through the sitting-room.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (holding her husband back). Control yourself, Thomas! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (throwing down the umbrella). Upon my soul, they have +escaped after all. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. What did they want you to do? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I will tell you later on; I have something else to think +about now. (Goes to the table and writes something on a calling-card.) +Look there, Katherine; what is written there? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Three big Noes; what does that mean. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. I will tell you that too, later on. (Holds out the card +to PETRA.) There, Petra; tell sooty-face to run over to the "Badger's" +with that, as quick as she can. Hurry up! (PETRA takes the card and +goes out to the hall.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, I think I have had a visit from every one of the +devil's messengers to-day! But now I am going to sharpen my pen till +they can feel its point; I shall dip it in venom and gall; I shall hurl +my inkpot at their heads! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, but we are going away, you know, Thomas. +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(PETRA comes back.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. She has gone with it. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Good.—Going away, did you say? No, I'll be hanged if we +are going away! We are going to stay where we are, Katherine! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Stay here? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Here, in the town? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, here. This is the field of battle—this is where +the fight will be. This is where I shall triumph! As soon as I have had +my trousers sewn up I shall go out and look for another house. We must +have a roof over our heads for the winter. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. That you shall have in my house. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Can I? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horsier. Yes, quite well. I have plenty of room, and I am almost never +at home. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. How good of you, Captain Horster! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Thank you! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (grasping his hand). Thank you, thank you! That is one +trouble over! Now I can set to work in earnest at once. There is an +endless amount of things to look through here, Katherine! Luckily I +shall have all my time at my disposal; because I have been dismissed +from the Baths, you know. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (with a sigh). Oh yes, I expected that. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And they want to take my practice away from me too. Let +them! I have got the poor people to fall back upon, anyway—those that +don't pay anything; and, after all, they need me most, too. But, by +Jove, they will have to listen to me; I shall preach to them in season +and out of season, as it says somewhere. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, I should have thought events had +showed you what use it is to preach. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. You are really ridiculous, Katherine. Do you want me to +let myself be beaten off the field by public opinion and the compact +majority and all that devilry? No, thank you! And what I want to do is +so simple and clear and straightforward. I only want to drum into the +heads of these curs the fact that the liberals are the most insidious +enemies of freedom—that party programmes strangle every young and +vigorous truth—that considerations of expediency turn morality and +justice upside down—and that they will end by making life here +unbearable. Don't you think, Captain Horster, that I ought to be able +to make people understand that? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Horster. Very likely; I don't know much about such things myself. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Well, look here—I will explain! It is the party leaders +that must be exterminated. A party leader is like a wolf, you see—like +a voracious wolf. He requires a certain number of smaller victims to +prey upon every year, if he is to live. Just look at Hovstad and +Aslaksen! How many smaller victims have they not put an end to—or at +any rate maimed and mangled until they are fit for nothing except to be +householders or subscribers to the "People's Messenger"! (Sits down on +the edge of the table.) Come here, Katherine—look how beautifully the +sun shines to-day! And this lovely spring air I am drinking in! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, if only we could live on sunshine and spring air, +Thomas. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, you will have to pinch and save a bit—then we shall +get along. That gives me very little concern. What is much worse is, +that I know of no one who is liberal-minded and high-minded enough to +venture to take up my work after me. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra. Don't think about that, father; you have plenty of time before +you.—Hello, here are the boys already! +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(EJLIF and MORTEN come in from the sitting-room.) +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Have you got a holiday? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten. No; but we were fighting with the other boys between lessons— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Ejlif. That isn't true; it was the other boys were fighting with us. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten. Well, and then Mr. Rorlund said we had better stay at home for +a day or two. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (snapping his fingers and getting up from the table). I +have it! I have it, by Jove! You shall never set foot in the school +again! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +The Boys. No more school! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Never, I say. I will educate you myself; that is to say, +you shan't learn a blessed thing— +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten. Hooray! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. —but I will make liberal-minded and high-minded men of +you. You must help me with that, Petra. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra, Yes, father, you may be sure I will. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. And my school shall be in the room where they insulted +me and called me an enemy of the people. But we are too few as we are; +I must have at least twelve boys to begin with. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. You will certainly never get them in this town. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. We shall. (To the boys.) Don't you know any street +urchins—regular ragamuffins—? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten. Yes, father, I know lots! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. That's capital! Bring me some specimens of them. I am +going to experiment with curs, just for once; there may be some +exceptional heads among them. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten. And what are we going to do, when you have made liberal-minded +and high-minded men of us? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Then you shall drive all the wolves out of the country, +my boys! +</P> + +<P CLASS="stage"> +(EJLIF looks rather doubtful about it; MORTEN jumps about crying +"Hurrah!") +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Let us hope it won't be the wolves that will drive you +out of the country, Thomas. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Are you out of your mind, Katherine? Drive me out! +Now—when I am the strongest man in the town! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. The strongest—now? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and I will go so far as to say that now I am the +strongest man in the whole world. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Morten. I say! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann (lowering his voice). Hush! You mustn't say anything +about it yet; but I have made a great discovery. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann. Another one? +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. (Gathers them round him, and says confidentially:) +It is this, let me tell you—that the strongest man in the world is he +who stands most alone. +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Mrs. Stockmann (smiling and shaking her head). Oh, Thomas, Thomas! +</P> + +<P CLASS="dialog"> +Petra (encouragingly, as she grasps her father's hands). Father! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of An Enemy of the People, by Henrik Ibsen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE *** + +***** This file should be named 2446-h.htm or 2446-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/4/2446/ + +Produced by Martin Adamson. HTML version by Al Haines. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net + + +Title: An Enemy of the People + +Author: Henrik Ibsen + +Translator: R. Farquharson Sharp + +Posting Date: February 27, 2010 [EBook #2446] +Release Date: December, 2000 +[Last updated: February 28, 2014] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Adamson. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + + +AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE + + +by + +Henrik Ibsen + + + +Translated by R. Farquharson Sharp + + + + +AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE + +A play in five acts + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE + + Dr. Thomas Stockmann, Medical Officer of the Municipal Baths. + Mrs. Stockmann, his wife. + Petra (their daughter) a teacher. + Ejlif & Morten (their sons, aged 13 and 10 respectively). + Peter Stockmann (the Doctor's elder brother), Mayor of the + Town and Chief Constable, Chairman of the Baths' Committee, etc. + Morten Kiil, a tanner (Mrs. Stockmann's adoptive father). + Hovstad, editor of the "People's Messenger." + Billing, sub-editor. + Captain Horster. + Aslaksen, a printer. + +Men of various conditions and occupations, a few women, and a troop of +schoolboys--the audience at a public meeting. + +The action takes place in a coastal town in southern Norway, + + + + +AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE + + + + +ACT I + + +(SCENE.--DR. STOCKMANN'S sitting-room. It is evening. The room is +plainly but neatly appointed and furnished. In the right-hand wall are +two doors; the farther leads out to the hall, the nearer to the +doctor's study. In the left-hand wall, opposite the door leading to the +hall, is a door leading to the other rooms occupied by the family. In +the middle of the same wall stands the stove, and, further forward, a +couch with a looking-glass hanging over it and an oval table in front +of it. On the table, a lighted lamp, with a lampshade. At the back of +the room, an open door leads to the dining-room. BILLING is seen +sitting at the dining table, on which a lamp is burning. He has a +napkin tucked under his chin, and MRS. STOCKMANN is standing by the +table handing him a large plate-full of roast beef. The other places at +the table are empty, and the table somewhat in disorder, evidently a +meal having recently been finished.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. You see, if you come an hour late, Mr. Billing, you +have to put up with cold meat. + +Billing (as he eats). It is uncommonly good, thank you--remarkably good. + +Mrs. Stockmann. My husband makes such a point of having his meals +punctually, you know. + +Billing. That doesn't affect me a bit. Indeed, I almost think I enjoy a +meal all the better when I can sit down and eat all by myself, and +undisturbed. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh well, as long as you are enjoying it--. (Turns to +the hall door, listening.) I expect that is Mr. Hovstad coming too. + +Billing. Very likely. + +(PETER STOCKMANN comes in. He wears an overcoat and his official hat, +and carries a stick.) + +Peter Stockmann. Good evening, Katherine. + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming forward into the sitting-room). Ah, good +evening--is it you? How good of you to come up and see us! + +Peter Stockmann. I happened to be passing, and so--(looks into the +dining-room). But you have company with you, I see. + +Mrs. Stockmann (a little embarrassed). Oh, no--it was quite by chance +he came in. (Hurriedly.) Won't you come in and have something, too? + +Peter Stockmann. I! No, thank you. Good gracious--hot meat at night! +Not with my digestion. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, but just once in a way-- + +Peter Stockmann. No, no, my dear lady; I stick to my tea and bread and +butter. It is much more wholesome in the long run--and a little more +economical, too. + +Mrs. Stockmann (smiling). Now you mustn't think that Thomas and I are +spendthrifts. + +Peter Stockmann. Not you, my dear; I would never think that of you. +(Points to the Doctor's study.) Is he not at home? + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, he went out for a little turn after supper--he and +the boys. + +Peter Stockmann. I doubt if that is a wise thing to do. (Listens.) I +fancy I hear him coming now. + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, I don't think it is he. (A knock is heard at the +door.) Come in! (HOVSTAD comes in from the hall.) Oh, it is you, Mr. +Hovstad! + +Hovstad. Yes, I hope you will forgive me, but I was delayed at the +printers. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. + +Peter Stockmann (bowing a little distantly). Good evening. You have +come on business, no doubt. + +Hovstad. Partly. It's about an article for the paper. + +Peter Stockmann. So I imagined. I hear my brother has become a prolific +contributor to the "People's Messenger." + +Hovstad. Yes, he is good enough to write in the "People's Messenger" +when he has any home truths to tell. + +Mrs. Stockmann (to HOVSTAD). But won't you--? (Points to the +dining-room.) + +Peter Stockmann. Quite so, quite so. I don't blame him in the least, as +a writer, for addressing himself to the quarters where he will find the +readiest sympathy. And, besides that, I personally have no reason to +bear any ill will to your paper, Mr. Hovstad. + +Hovstad. I quite agree with you. + +Peter Stockmann. Taking one thing with another, there is an excellent +spirit of toleration in the town--an admirable municipal spirit. And it +all springs from the fact of our having a great common interest to +unite us--an interest that is in an equally high degree the concern of +every right-minded citizen. + +Hovstad. The Baths, yes. + +Peter Stockmann. Exactly---our fine, new, handsome Baths. Mark my +words, Mr. Hovstad--the Baths will become the focus of our municipal +life! Not a doubt of it! + +Mrs. Stockmann. That is just what Thomas says. + +Peter Stockmann. Think how extraordinarily the place has developed +within the last year or two! Money has been flowing in, and there is +some life and some business doing in the town. Houses and landed +property are rising in value every day. + +Hovstad. And unemployment is diminishing, + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, that is another thing. The burden on the poor +rates has been lightened, to the great relief of the propertied +classes; and that relief will be even greater if only we get a really +good summer this year, and lots of visitors--plenty of invalids, who +will make the Baths talked about. + +Hovstad. And there is a good prospect of that, I hear. + +Peter Stockmann. It looks very promising. Inquiries about apartments +and that sort of thing are reaching us, every day. + +Hovstad. Well, the doctor's article will come in very suitably. + +Peter Stockmann. Has he been writing something just lately? + +Hovstad. This is something he wrote in the winter; a recommendation of +the Baths--an account of the excellent sanitary conditions here. But I +held the article over, temporarily. + +Peter Stockmann. Ah,--some little difficulty about it, I suppose? + +Hovstad. No, not at all; I thought it would be better to wait until the +spring, because it is just at this time that people begin to think +seriously about their summer quarters. + +Peter Stockmann. Quite right; you were perfectly right, Mr. Hovstad. + +Hovstad. Yes, Thomas is really indefatigable when it is a question of +the Baths. + +Peter Stockmann. Well remember, he is the Medical Officer to the Baths. + +Hovstad. Yes, and what is more, they owe their existence to him. + +Peter Stockmann. To him? Indeed! It is true I have heard from time to +time that some people are of that opinion. At the same time I must say +I imagined that I took a modest part in the enterprise. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is what Thomas is always saying. + +Hovstad. But who denies it, Mr. Stockmann? You set the thing going and +made a practical concern of it; we all know that. I only meant that the +idea of it came first from the doctor. + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, ideas yes! My brother has had plenty of them in +his time--unfortunately. But when it is a question of putting an idea +into practical shape, you have to apply to a man of different mettle. +Mr. Hovstad. And I certainly should have thought that in this house at +least... + +Mrs. Stockmann. My dear Peter-- + +Hovstad. How can you think that--? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Won't you go in and have something, Mr. Hovstad? My +husband is sure to be back directly. + +Hovstad. Thank you, perhaps just a morsel. (Goes into the dining-room.) + +Peter Stockmann (lowering his voice a little). It is a curious thing +that these farmers' sons never seem to lose their want of tact. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Surely it is not worth bothering about! Cannot you and +Thomas share the credit as brothers? + +Peter Stockmann. I should have thought so; but apparently some people +are not satisfied with a share. + +Mrs. Stockmann. What nonsense! You and Thomas get on so capitally +together. (Listens.) There he is at last, I think. (Goes out and opens +the door leading to the hall.) + +Dr. Stockmann (laughing and talking outside). Look here--here is +another guest for you, Katherine. Isn't that jolly! Come in, Captain +Horster; hang your coat up on this peg. Ah, you don't wear an overcoat. +Just think, Katherine; I met him in the street and could hardly +persuade him to come up! (CAPTAIN HORSTER comes into the room and +greets MRS. STOCKMANN. He is followed by DR. STOCKMANN.) Come along in, +boys. They are ravenously hungry again, you know. Come along, Captain +Horster; you must have a slice of beef. (Pushes HORSTER into the +dining-room. EJLIF and MORTEN go in after them.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas, don't you see--? + +Dr. Stockmann (turning in the doorway). Oh, is it you, Peter? (Shakes +hands with him.) Now that is very delightful. + +Peter Stockmann. Unfortunately I must go in a moment-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Rubbish! There is some toddy just coming in. You haven't +forgotten the toddy, Katherine? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Of course not; the water is boiling now. (Goes into the +dining-room.) + +Peter Stockmann. Toddy too! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, sit down and we will have it comfortably. + +Peter Stockmann. Thanks, I never care about an evening's drinking. + +Dr. Stockmann. But this isn't an evening's drinking. + +Peter Stockmann. It seems to me--. (Looks towards the dining-room.) It +is extraordinary how they can put away all that food. + +Dr. Stockmann (rubbing his hands). Yes, isn't it splendid to see young +people eat? They have always got an appetite, you know! That's as it +should be. Lots of food--to build up their strength! They are the +people who are going to stir up the fermenting forces of the future, +Peter. + +Peter Stockmann. May I ask what they will find here to "stir up," as +you put it? + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, you must ask the young people that--when the times +comes. We shan't be able to see it, of course. That stands to +reason--two old fogies, like us. + +Peter Stockmann. Really, really! I must say that is an extremely odd +expression to-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, you mustn't take me too literally, Peter. I am so +heartily happy and contented, you know. I think it is such an +extraordinary piece of good fortune to be in the middle of all this +growing, germinating life. It is a splendid time to live in! It is as +if a whole new world were being created around one. + +Peter Stockmann. Do you really think so? + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, naturally you can't appreciate it as keenly as I. +You have lived all your life in these surroundings, and your +impressions have been blunted. But I, who have been buried all these +years in my little corner up north, almost without ever seeing a +stranger who might bring new ideas with him--well, in my case it has +just the same effect as if I had been transported into the middle of a +crowded city. + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, a city--! + +Dr. Stockmann. I know, I know; it is all cramped enough here, compared +with many other places. But there is life here--there is promise--there +are innumerable things to work for and fight for; and that is the main +thing. (Calls.) Katherine, hasn't the postman been here? + +Mrs. Stockmann (from the dining-room). No. + +Dr. Stockmann. And then to be comfortably off, Peter! That is something +one learns to value, when one has been on the brink of starvation, as +we have. + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, surely-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed I can assure you we have often been very hard put +to it, up there. And now to be able to live like a lord! Today, for +instance, we had roast beef for dinner--and, what is more, for supper +too. Won't you come and have a little bit? Or let me show it you, at +any rate? Come here-- + +Peter Stockmann. No, no--not for worlds! + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, but just come here then. Do you see, we have got a +table-cover? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, I noticed it. + +Dr. Stockmann. And we have got a lamp-shade too. Do you see? All out of +Katherine's savings! It makes the room so cosy. Don't you think so? +Just stand here for a moment--no, no, not there--just here, that's it! +Look now, when you get the light on it altogether. I really think it +looks very nice, doesn't it? + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, if you can afford luxuries of this kind-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, I can afford it now. Katherine tells me I earn +almost as much as we spend. + +Peter Stockmann. Almost--yes! + +Dr. Stockmann. But a scientific man must live in a little bit of style. +I am quite sure an ordinary civil servant spends more in a year than I +do. + +Peter Stockmann. I daresay. A civil servant--a man in a well-paid +position... + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, any ordinary merchant, then! A man in that +position spends two or three times as much as-- + +Peter Stockmann. It just depends on circumstances. + +Dr. Stockmann. At all events I assure you I don't waste money +unprofitably. But I can't find it in my heart to deny myself the +pleasure of entertaining my friends. I need that sort of thing, you +know. I have lived for so long shut out of it all, that it is a +necessity of life to me to mix with young, eager, ambitious men, men of +liberal and active minds; and that describes every one of those fellows +who are enjoying their supper in there. I wish you knew more of Hovstad. + +Peter Stockmann. By the way, Hovstad was telling me he was going to +print another article of yours. + +Dr. Stockmann. An article of mine? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, about the Baths. An article you wrote in the +winter. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, that one! No, I don't intend that to appear just for +the present. + +Peter Stockmann. Why not? It seems to me that this would be the most +opportune moment. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, very likely--under normal conditions. (Crosses the +room.) + +Peter Stockmann (following him with his eyes). Is there anything +abnormal about the present conditions? + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still). To tell you the truth, Peter, I can't +say just at this moment--at all events not tonight. There may be much +that is very abnormal about the present conditions--and it is possible +there may be nothing abnormal about them at all. It is quite possible +it may be merely my imagination. + +Peter Stockmann. I must say it all sounds most mysterious. Is there +something going on that I am to be kept in ignorance of? I should have +imagined that I, as Chairman of the governing body of the Baths-- + +Dr. Stockmann. And I should have imagined that I--. Oh, come, don't let +us fly out at one another, Peter. + +Peter Stockmann. Heaven forbid! I am not in the habit of flying out at +people, as you call it. But I am entitled to request most emphatically +that all arrangements shall be made in a businesslike manner, through +the proper channels, and shall be dealt with by the legally constituted +authorities. I can allow no going behind our backs by any roundabout +means. + +Dr. Stockmann. Have I ever at any time tried to go behind your backs? + +Peter Stockmann. You have an ingrained tendency to take your own way, +at all events; and, that is almost equally inadmissible in a well +ordered community, The individual ought undoubtedly to acquiesce in +subordinating himself to the community--or, to speak more accurately, +to the authorities who have the care of the community's welfare. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very likely. But what the deuce has all this got to do +with me? + +Peter Stockmann. That is exactly what you never appear to be willing to +learn, my dear Thomas. But, mark my words, some day you will have to +suffer for it--sooner or later. Now I have told you. Good-bye. + +Dr. Stockmann. Have you taken leave of your senses? You are on the +wrong scent altogether. + +Peter Stockmann. I am not usually that. You must excuse me now if I-- +(calls into the dining-room). Good night, Katherine. Good night, +gentlemen. (Goes out.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming from the dining-room). Has he gone? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and in such a bad temper. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, what have you been doing to him again? + +Dr. Stockmann. Nothing at all. And, anyhow, he can't oblige me to make +my report before the proper time. + +Mrs. Stockmann. What have you got to make a report to him about? + +Dr. Stockmann. Hm! Leave that to me, Katherine. It is an extraordinary +thing that the postman doesn't come. + +(HOVSTAD, BILLING and HORSTER have got up from the table and come into +the sitting-room. EJLIF and MORTEN come in after them.) + +Billing (stretching himself). Ah!--one feels a new man after a meal +like that. + +Hovstad. The mayor wasn't in a very sweet temper tonight, then. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is his stomach; he has wretched digestion. + +Hovstad. I rather think it was us two of the "People's Messenger" that +he couldn't digest. + +Mrs. Stockmann. I thought you came out of it pretty well with him. + +Hovstad. Oh yes; but it isn't anything more than a sort of truce. + +Billing. That is just what it is! That word sums up the situation. + +Dr. Stockmann. We must remember that Peter is a lonely man, poor chap. +He has no home comforts of any kind; nothing but everlasting business. +And all that infernal weak tea wash that he pours into himself! Now +then, my boys, bring chairs up to the table. Aren't we going to have +that toddy, Katherine? + +Mrs. Stockmann (going into the dining-room). I am just getting it. + +Dr. Stockmann. Sit down here on the couch beside me, Captain Horster. +We so seldom see you. Please sit down, my friends. (They sit down at +the table. MRS. STOCKMANN brings a tray, with a spirit-lamp, glasses, +bottles, etc., upon it.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. There you are! This is arrack, and this is rum, and +this one is the brandy. Now every one must help themselves. + +Dr. Stockmann (taking a glass). We will. (They all mix themselves some +toddy.) And let us have the cigars. Ejlif, you know where the box is. +And you, Morten, can fetch my pipe. (The two boys go into the room on +the right.) I have a suspicion that Ejlif pockets a cigar now and +then!--but I take no notice of it. (Calls out.) And my smoking-cap too, +Morten. Katherine, you can tell him where I left it. Ah, he has got it. +(The boys bring the various things.) Now, my friends. I stick to my +pipe, you know. This one has seen plenty of bad weather with me up +north. (Touches glasses with them.) Your good health! Ah, it is good to +be sitting snug and warm here. + +Mrs. Stockmann (who sits knitting). Do you sail soon, Captain Horster? + +Horster. I expect to be ready to sail next week. + +Mrs. Stockmann. I suppose you are going to America? + +Horster. Yes, that is the plan. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Then you won't be able to take part in the coming +election? + +Horster. Is there going to be an election? + +Billing. Didn't you know? + +Horster. No, I don't mix myself up with those things. + +Billing. But do you not take an interest in public affairs? + +Horster. No, I don't know anything about politics. + +Billing. All the same, one ought to vote, at any rate. + +Horster. Even if one doesn't know anything about what is going on? + +Billing. Doesn't know! What do you mean by that? A community is like a +ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm. + +Horster. Maybe that is all very well on shore; but on board ship it +wouldn't work. + +Hovstad. It is astonishing how little most sailors care about what goes +on on shore. + +Billing. Very extraordinary. + +Dr. Stockmann. Sailors are like birds of passage; they feel equally at +home in any latitude. And that is only an additional reason for our +being all the more keen, Hovstad. Is there to be anything of public +interest in tomorrow's "Messenger"? + +Hovstad. Nothing about municipal affairs. But the day after tomorrow I +was thinking of printing your article-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, devil take it--my article! Look here, that must wait +a bit. + +Hovstad. Really? We had just got convenient space for it, and I thought +it was just the opportune moment-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes, very likely you are right; but it must wait +all the same. I will explain to you later. (PETRA comes in from the +hall, in hat and cloak and with a bundle of exercise books under her +arm.) + +Petra. Good evening. + +Dr. Stockmann. Good evening, Petra; come along. + +(Mutual greetings; PETRA takes off her things and puts them down on a +chair by the door.) + +Petra. And you have all been sitting here enjoying yourselves, while I +have been out slaving! + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, come and enjoy yourself too! + +Billing. May I mix a glass for you? + +Petra (coming to the table). Thanks, I would rather do it; you always +mix it too strong. But I forgot, father--I have a letter for you. (Goes +to the chair where she has laid her things.) + +Dr. Stockmann. A letter? From whom? + +Petra (looking in her coat pocket). The postman gave it to me just as I +was going out. + +Dr. Stockmann (getting up and going to her). And you only give to me +now! + +Petra. I really had not time to run up again. There it is! + +Dr. Stockmann (seizing the letter). Let's see, let's see, child! (Looks +at the address.) Yes, that's all right! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Is it the one you have been expecting go anxiously, +Thomas? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, it is. I must go to my room now and-- Where shall I +get a light, Katherine? Is there no lamp in my room again? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, your lamp is already lit on your desk. + +Dr. Stockmann. Good, good. Excuse me for a moment--, (Goes into his +study.) + +Petra. What do you suppose it is, mother? + +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know; for the last day or two he has always +been asking if the postman has not been. + +Billing. Probably some country patient. + +Petra. Poor old dad!--he will overwork himself soon. (Mixes a glass for +herself.) There, that will taste good! + +Hovstad. Have you been teaching in the evening school again today? + +Petra (sipping from her glass). Two hours. + +Billing. And four hours of school in the morning? + +Petra. Five hours. + +Mrs. Stockmann. And you have still got exercises to correct, I see. + +Petra. A whole heap, yes. + +Horster. You are pretty full up with work too, it seems to me. + +Petra. Yes--but that is good. One is so delightfully tired after it. + +Billing. Do you like that? + +Petra. Yes, because one sleeps so well then. + +Morten. You must be dreadfully wicked, Petra. + +Petra. Wicked? + +Morten. Yes, because you work so much. Mr. Rorlund says work is a +punishment for our sins. + +Ejlif. Pooh, what a duffer, you are, to believe a thing like that! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Come, come, Ejlif! + +Billing (laughing). That's capital! + +Hovstad. Don't you want to work as hard as that, Morten? + +Morten. No, indeed I don't. + +Hovstad. What do you want to be, then? + +Morten. I should like best to be a Viking, + +Ejlif. You would have to be a pagan then. + +Morten. Well, I could become a pagan, couldn't I? + +Billing. I agree with you, Morten! My sentiments, exactly. + +Mrs. Stockmann (signalling to him). I am sure that is not true, Mr. +Billing. + +Billing. Yes, I swear it is! I am a pagan, and I am proud of it. +Believe me, before long we shall all be pagans. + +Morten. And then shall be allowed to do anything we like? + +Billing. Well, you'll see, Morten. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You must go to your room now, boys; I am sure you have +some lessons to learn for tomorrow. + +Ejlif. I should like so much to stay a little longer-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, no; away you go, both of you, (The boys say good +night and go into the room on the left.) + +Hovstad. Do you really think it can do the boys any harm to hear such +things? + +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know; but I don't like it. + +Petra. But you know, mother, I think you really are wrong about it. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Maybe, but I don't like it--not in our own home. + +Petra. There is so much falsehood both at home and at school. At home +one must not speak, and at school we have to stand and tell lies to the +children. + +Horster. Tell lies? + +Petra. Yes, don't you suppose we have to teach them all sorts of things +that we don't believe? + +Billing. That is perfectly true. + +Petra. If only I had the means, I would start a school of my own; and +it would be conducted on very different lines. + +Billing. Oh, bother the means--! + +Horster. Well if you are thinking of that, Miss Stockmann, I shall be +delighted to provide you with a schoolroom. The great big old house my +father left me is standing almost empty; there is an immense +dining-room downstairs-- + +Petra (laughing). Thank you very much; but I am afraid nothing will +come of it. + +Hovstad. No, Miss Petra is much more likely to take to journalism, I +expect. By the way, have you had time to do anything with that English +story you promised to translate for us? + +Petra. No, not yet, but you shall have it in good time. + +(DR. STOCKMANN comes in from his room with an open letter in his hand.) + +Dr. Stockmann (waving the letter). Well, now the town will have +something new to talk about, I can tell you! + +Billing. Something new? + +Mrs. Stockmann. What is this? + +Dr. Stockmann. A great discovery, Katherine. + +Hovstad. Really? + +Mrs. Stockmann. A discovery of yours? + +Dr. Stockmann. A discovery of mine. (Walks up and down.) Just let them +come saying, as usual, that it is all fancy and a crazy man's +imagination! But they will be careful what they say this time, I can +tell you! + +Petra. But, father, tell us what it is. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes--only give me time, and you shall know all +about it. If only I had Peter here now! It just shows how we men can go +about forming our judgments, when in reality we are as blind as any +moles-- + +Hovstad. What are you driving at, Doctor? + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still by the table). Isn't it the universal +opinion that our town is a healthy spot? + +Hovstad. Certainly. + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite an unusually healthy spot, in fact--a place that +deserves to be recommended in the warmest possible manner either for +invalids or for people who are well-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, but my dear Thomas-- + +Dr. Stockmann. And we have been recommending it and praising it--I have +written and written, both in the "Messenger" and in pamphlets... + +Hovstad. Well, what then? + +Dr. Stockmann. And the Baths--we have called them the "main artery of +the town's life-blood," the "nerve-centre of our town," and the devil +knows what else-- + +Billing. "The town's pulsating heart" was the expression I once used on +an important occasion. + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so. Well, do you know what they really are, these +great, splendid, much praised Baths, that have cost so much money--do +you know what they are? + +Hovstad. No, what are they? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, what are they? + +Dr. Stockmann. The whole place is a pest-house! + +Petra. The Baths, father? + +Mrs. Stockmann (at the same time), Our Baths? + +Hovstad. But, Doctor-- + +Billing. Absolutely incredible! + +Dr. Stockmann. The whole Bath establishment is a whited, poisoned +sepulchre, I tell you--the gravest possible danger to the public +health! All the nastiness up at Molledal, all that stinking filth, is +infecting the water in the conduit-pipes leading to the reservoir; and +the same cursed, filthy poison oozes out on the shore too-- + +Horster. Where the bathing-place is? + +Dr. Stockmann. Just there. + +Hovstad. How do you come to be so certain of all this, Doctor? + +Dr. Stockmann. I have investigated the matter most conscientiously. For +a long time past I have suspected something of the kind. Last year we +had some very strange cases of illness among the visitors--typhoid +cases, and cases of gastric fever-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is quite true. + +Dr. Stockmann. At the time, we supposed the visitors had been infected +before they came; but later on, in the winter, I began to have a +different opinion; and so I set myself to examine the water, as well as +I could. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Then that is what you have been so busy with? + +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed I have been busy, Katherine. But here I had none +of the necessary scientific apparatus; so I sent samples, both of the +drinking-water and of the sea-water, up to the University, to have an +accurate analysis made by a chemist. + +Hovstad. And have you got that? + +Dr. Stockmann (showing him the letter). Here it is! It proves the +presence of decomposing organic matter in the water--it is full of +infusoria. The water is absolutely dangerous to use, either internally +or externally. + +Mrs. Stockmann. What a mercy you discovered it in time. + +Dr. Stockmann. You may well say so. + +Hovstad. And what do you propose to do now, Doctor? + +Dr. Stockmann. To see the matter put right, naturally. + +Hovstad. Can that be done? + +Dr. Stockmann. It must be done. Otherwise the Baths will be absolutely +useless and wasted. But we need not anticipate that; I have a very +clear idea what we shall have to do. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But why have you kept this all so secret, dear? + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you suppose I was going to run about the town +gossiping about it, before I had absolute proof? No, thank you. I am +not such a fool. + +Petra. Still, you might have told us-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Not a living soul. But tomorrow you may run around to +the old Badger-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, Thomas! Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, to your grandfather, then. The old boy will have +something to be astonished at! I know he thinks I am cracked--and there +are lots of other people who think so too, I have noticed. But now +these good folks shall see--they shall just see! (Walks about, rubbing +his hands.) There will be a nice upset in the town, Katherine; you +can't imagine what it will be. All the conduit-pipes will have to be +relaid. + +Hovstad (getting up). All the conduit-pipes--? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, of course. The intake is too low down; it will have +to be lifted to a position much higher up. + +Petra. Then you were right after all. + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, you remember, Petra--I wrote opposing the plans +before the work was begun. But at that time no one would listen to me. +Well, I am going to let them have it now. Of course I have prepared a +report for the Baths Committee; I have had it ready for a week, and was +only waiting for this to come. (Shows the letter.) Now it shall go off +at once. (Goes into his room and comes back with some papers.) Look at +that! Four closely written sheets!--and the letter shall go with them. +Give me a bit of paper, Katherine--something to wrap them up in. That +will do! Now give it to-to-(stamps his foot)--what the deuce is her +name?--give it to the maid, and tell her to take it at once to the +Mayor. + +(Mrs. Stockmann takes the packet and goes out through the dining-room.) + +Petra. What do you think Uncle Peter will say, father? + +Dr. Stockmann. What is there for him to say? I should think he would be +very glad that such an important truth has been brought to light. + +Hovstad. Will you let me print a short note about your discovery in the +"Messenger?" + +Dr. Stockmann. I shall be very much obliged if you will. + +Hovstad. It is very desirable that the public should be informed of it +without delay. + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly. + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming back). She has just gone with it. + +Billing. Upon my soul, Doctor, you are going to be the foremost man in +the town! + + Dr. Stockmann (walking about happily). Nonsense! As a matter of +fact I have done nothing more than my duty. I have only made a lucky +find--that's all. Still, all the same... + +Billing. Hovstad, don't you think the town ought to give Dr. Stockmann +some sort of testimonial? + +Hovstad. I will suggest it, anyway. + +Billing. And I will speak to Aslaksen about it. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, my good friends, don't let us have any of that +nonsense. I won't hear anything of the kind. And if the Baths Committee +should think of voting me an increase of salary, I will not accept it. +Do you hear, Katherine?--I won't accept it. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You are quite right, Thomas. + +Petra (lifting her glass). Your health, father! + +Hovstad and Billing. Your health, Doctor! Good health! + +Horster (touches glasses with DR. STOCKMANN). I hope it will bring you +nothing but good luck. + +Dr. Stockmann. Thank you, thank you, my dear fellows! I feel +tremendously happy! It is a splendid thing for a man to be able to feel +that he has done a service to his native town and to his +fellow-citizens. Hurrah, Katherine! (He puts his arms round her and +whirls her round and round, while she protests with laughing cries. +They all laugh, clap their hands, and cheer the DOCTOR. The boys put +their heads in at the door to see what is going on.) + + + + +ACT II + + +(SCENE,--The same. The door into the dining room is shut. It is +morning. MRS. STOCKMANN, with a sealed letter in her hand, comes in +from the dining room, goes to the door of the DOCTOR'S study, and peeps +in.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. Are you in, Thomas? + +Dr. Stockmann (from within his room). Yes, I have just come in. (Comes +into the room.) What is it? + +Mrs. Stockmann. A letter from your brother. + +Dr. Stockmann. Aha, let us see! (Opens the letter and reads:) "I return +herewith the manuscript you sent me" (reads on in a low murmur) H'm!-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. What does he say? + +Dr. Stockmann (putting the papers in his pocket). Oh, he only writes +that he will come up here himself about midday. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, try and remember to be at home this time. + +Dr. Stockmann. That will be all right; I have got through all my +morning visits. + +Mrs. Stockmann. I am extremely curious to know how he takes it. + +Dr. Stockmann. You will see he won't like it's having been I, and not +he, that made the discovery. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Aren't you a little nervous about that? + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, he really will be pleased enough, you know. But, at +the same time, Peter is so confoundedly afraid of anyone's doing any +service to the town except himself. + +Mrs. Stockmann. I will tell you what, Thomas--you should be good +natured, and share the credit of this with him. Couldn't you make out +that it was he who set you on the scent of this discovery? + +Dr. Stockmann. I am quite willing. If only I can get the thing set +right. I-- + +(MORTEN KIIL puts his head in through the door leading from the hall, +looks around in an enquiring manner, and chuckles.) + +Morten Kiil (slyly). Is it--is it true? + +Mrs. Stockmann (going to the door). Father!--is it you? + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, Mr. Kiil--good morning, good morning! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But come along in. + +Morten Kiil. If it is true, I will; if not, I am off. + +Dr. Stockmann. If what is true? + +Morten Kiil. This tale about the water supply, is it true? + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly it is true, but how did you come to hear it? + +Morten Kid (coming in). Petra ran in on her way to the school-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Did she? + +Morten Kiil. Yes; and she declares that--I thought she was only making +a fool of me--but it isn't like Petra to do that. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course not. How could you imagine such a thing! + +Morten Kiil. Oh well, it is better never to trust anybody; you may find +you have been made a fool of before you know where you are. But it is +really true, all the same? + +Dr. Stockmann. You can depend upon it that it is true. Won't you sit +down? (Settles him on the couch.) Isn't it a real bit of luck for the +town-- + +Morten Kiil (suppressing his laughter). A bit of luck for the town? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that I made the discovery in good time. + +Morten Kiil (as before). Yes, yes, Yes!--But I should never have +thought you the sort of man to pull your own brother's leg like this! + +Dr. Stockmann. Pull his leg! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Really, father dear-- + +Morten Kiil (resting his hands and his chin on the handle of his stick +and winking slyly at the DOCTOR). Let me see, what was the story? Some +kind of beast that had got into the water-pipes, wasn't it? + +Dr. Stockmann. Infusoria--yes. + +Morten Kiil. And a lot of these beasts had got in, according to +Petra--a tremendous lot. + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly; hundreds of thousands of them, probably. + +Morten Kiil. But no one can see them--isn't that so? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes; you can't see them, + +Morten Kiil (with a quiet chuckle). Damn--it's the finest story I have +ever heard! + +Dr. Stockmann. What do you mean? + +Morten Kiil. But you will never get the Mayor to believe a thing like +that. + +Dr. Stockmann. We shall see. + +Morten Kiil. Do you think he will be fool enough to--? + +Dr. Stockmann. I hope the whole town will be fools enough. + +Morten Kiil. The whole town! Well, it wouldn't be a bad thing. It would +just serve them right, and teach them a lesson. They think themselves +so much cleverer than we old fellows. They hounded me out of the +council; they did, I tell you--they hounded me out. Now they shall pay +for it. You pull their legs too, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. Really, I-- + +Morten Kiil. You pull their legs! (Gets up.) If you can work it so that +the Mayor and his friends all swallow the same bait, I will give ten +pounds to a charity--like a shot! + +Dr. Stockmann. That is very kind of you. + +Morten Kiil. Yes, I haven't got much money to throw away, I can tell +you; but, if you can work this, I will give five pounds to a charity at +Christmas. + +(HOVSTAD comes in by the hall door.) + +Hovstad. Good morning! (Stops.) Oh, I beg your pardon + +Dr. Stockmann. Not at all; come in. + +Morten Kiil (with another chuckle). Oho!--is he in this too? + +Hovstad. What do you mean? + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly he is. + +Morten Kiil. I might have known it! It must get into the papers. You +know how to do it, Thomas! Set your wits to work. Now I must go. + +Dr. Stockmann. Won't you stay a little while? + +Morten Kiil. No, I must be off now. You keep up this game for all it is +worth; you won't repent it, I'm damned if you will! + +(He goes out; MRS. STOCKMANN follows him into the hall.) + +Dr. Stockmann (laughing). Just imagine--the old chap doesn't believe a +word of all this about the water supply. + +Hovstad. Oh that was it, then? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that was what we were talking about. Perhaps it is +the same thing that brings you here? + +Hovstad. Yes, it is, Can you spare me a few minutes, Doctor? + +Dr. Stockmann. As long as you like, my dear fellow. + +Hovstad. Have you heard from the Mayor yet? + +Dr. Stockmann. Not yet. He is coming here later. + +Hovstad. I have given the matter a great deal of thought since last +night. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well? + +Hovstad. From your point of view, as a doctor and a man of science, +this affair of the water supply is an isolated matter. I mean, you do +not realise that it involves a great many other things. + +Dr. Stockmann. How, do you mean?--Let us sit down, my dear fellow. No, +sit here on the couch. (HOVSTAD Sits down on the couch, DR. STOCKMANN +On a chair on the other side of the table.) Now then. You mean that--? + +Hovstad. You said yesterday that the pollution of the water was due to +impurities in the soil. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, unquestionably it is due to that poisonous morass +up at Molledal. + +Hovstad. Begging your pardon, Doctor, I fancy it is due to quite +another morass altogether. + +Dr. Stockmann. What morass? + +Hovstad. The morass that the whole life of our town is built on and is +rotting in. + +Dr. Stockmann. What the deuce are you driving at, Hovstad? + +Hovstad. The whole of the town's interests have, little by little, got +into the hands of a pack of officials. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, come!--they are not all officials. + +Hovstad. No, but those that are not officials are at any rate the +officials' friends and adherents; it is the wealthy folk, the old +families in the town, that have got us entirely in their hands. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, but after all they are men of ability and knowledge. + +Hovstad. Did they show any ability or knowledge when they laid the +conduit pipes where they are now? + +Dr. Stockmann. No, of course that was a great piece of stupidity on +their part. But that is going to be set right now. + +Hovstad. Do you think that will be all such plain sailing? + +Dr. Stockmann. Plain sailing or no, it has got to be done, anyway. + +Hovstad. Yes, provided the press takes up the question. + +Dr. Stockmann. I don't think that will be necessary, my dear fellow, I +am certain my brother-- + +Hovstad. Excuse me, doctor; I feel bound to tell you I am inclined to +take the matter up. + +Dr. Stockmann. In the paper? + +Hovstad. Yes. When I took over the "People's Messenger" my idea was to +break up this ring of self-opinionated old fossils who had got hold of +all the influence. + +Dr. Stockmann. But you know you told me yourself what the result had +been; you nearly ruined your paper. + +Hovstad. Yes, at the time we were obliged to climb down a peg or two, +it is quite true--because there was a danger of the whole project of +the Baths coming to nothing if they failed us. But now the scheme has +been carried through, and we can dispense with these grand gentlemen. + +Dr. Stockmann. Dispense with them, yes; but, we owe them a great debt +of gratitude. + +Hovstad. That shall be recognised ungrudgingly, But a journalist of my +democratic tendencies cannot let such an opportunity as this slip. The +bubble of official infallibility must be pricked. This superstition +must be destroyed, like any other. + +Dr. Stockmann. I am whole-heartedly with you in that, Mr. Hovstad; if +it is a superstition, away with it! + +Hovstad. I should be very reluctant to bring the Mayor into it, because +he is your brother. But I am sure you will agree with me that truth +should be the first consideration. + +Dr. Stockmann. That goes without saying. (With sudden emphasis.) Yes, +but--but-- + +Hovstad. You must not misjudge me. I am neither more self-interested +nor more ambitious than most men. + +Dr. Stockmann. My dear fellow--who suggests anything of the kind? + +Hovstad. I am of humble origin, as you know; and that has given me +opportunities of knowing what is the most crying need in the humbler +ranks of life. It is that they should be allowed some part in the +direction of public affairs, Doctor. That is what will develop their +faculties and intelligence and self respect-- + +Dr. Stockmann. I quite appreciate that. + +Hovstad. Yes--and in my opinion a journalist incurs a heavy +responsibility if he neglects a favourable opportunity of emancipating +the masses--the humble and oppressed. I know well enough that in +exalted circles I shall be called an agitator, and all that sort of +thing; but they may call what they like. If only my conscience doesn't +reproach me, then-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite right! Quite right, Mr. Hovstad. But all the +same--devil take it! (A knock is heard at the door.) Come in! + +(ASLAKSEN appears at the door. He is poorly but decently dressed, in +black, with a slightly crumpled white neckcloth; he wears gloves and +has a felt hat in his hand.) + +Aslaksen (bowing). Excuse my taking the liberty, Doctor-- + +Dr. Stockmann (getting up). Ah, it is you, Aslaksen! + +Aslaksen. Yes, Doctor. + +Hovstad (standing up). Is it me you want, Aslaksen? + +Aslaksen. No; I didn't know I should find you here. No, it was the +Doctor I-- + +Dr. Stockmann. I am quite at your service. What is it? + +Aslaksen. Is what I heard from Mr. Billing true, sir--that you mean to +improve our water supply? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, for the Baths. + +Aslaksen. Quite so, I understand. Well, I have come to say that I will +back that up by every means in my power. + +Hovstad (to the DOCTOR). You see! + +Dr. Stockmann. I shall be very grateful to you, but-- + +Aslaksen. Because it may be no bad thing to have us small tradesmen at +your back. We form, as it were, a compact majority in the town--if we +choose. And it is always a good thing to have the majority with you, +Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. That is undeniably true; but I confess I don't see why +such unusual precautions should be necessary in this case. It seems to +me that such a plain, straightforward thing. + +Aslaksen. Oh, it may be very desirable, all the same. I know our local +authorities so well; officials are not generally very ready to act on +proposals that come from other people. That is why I think it would not +be at all amiss if we made a little demonstration. + +Hovstad. That's right. + +Dr. Stockmann. Demonstration, did you say? What on earth are you going +to make a demonstration about? + +Aslaksen. We shall proceed with the greatest moderation, Doctor. +Moderation is always my aim; it is the greatest virtue in a citizen--at +least, I think so. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is well known to be a characteristic of yours, Mr. +Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. Yes, I think I may pride myself on that. And this matter of +the water supply is of the greatest importance to us small tradesmen. +The Baths promise to be a regular gold-mine for the town. We shall all +make our living out of them, especially those of us who are +householders. That is why we will back up the project as strongly as +possible. And as I am at present Chairman of the Householders' +Association. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes--? + +Aslaksen. And, what is more, local secretary of the Temperance +Society--you know, sir, I suppose, that I am a worker in the temperance +cause? + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course, of course. + +Aslaksen. Well, you can understand that I come into contact with a +great many people. And as I have the reputation of a temperate and +law-abiding citizen--like yourself, Doctor--I have a certain influence +in the town, a little bit of power, if I may be allowed to say so. + +Dr. Stockmann. I know that quite well, Mr. Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. So you see it would be an easy matter for me to set on foot +some testimonial, if necessary. + +Dr. Stockmann. A testimonial? + +Aslaksen. Yes, some kind of an address of thanks from the townsmen for +your share in a matter of such importance to the community. I need +scarcely say that it would have to be drawn up with the greatest regard +to moderation, so as not to offend the authorities--who, after all, +have the reins in their hands. If we pay strict attention to that, no +one can take it amiss, I should think! + +Hovstad. Well, and even supposing they didn't like it-- + +Aslaksen. No, no, no; there must be no discourtesy to the authorities, +Mr. Hovstad. It is no use falling foul of those upon whom our welfare +so closely depends. I have done that in my time, and no good ever comes +of it. But no one can take exception to a reasonable and frank +expression of a citizen's views. + +Dr. Stockmann (shaking him by the hand). I can't tell you, dear Mr. +Aslaksen, how extremely pleased I am to find such hearty support among +my fellow-citizens. I am delighted--delighted! Now, you will take a +small glass of sherry, eh? + +Aslaksen. No, thank you; I never drink alcohol of that kind. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, what do you say to a glass of beer, then? + +Aslaksen. Nor that either, thank you, Doctor. I never drink anything as +early as this. I am going into town now to talk this over with one or +two householders, and prepare the ground. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is tremendously kind of you, Mr. Aslaksen; but I +really cannot understand the necessity for all these precautions. It +seems to me that the thing should go of itself. + +Aslaksen. The authorities are somewhat slow to move, Doctor. Far be it +from me to seem to blame them-- + +Hovstad. We are going to stir them up in the paper tomorrow, Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. But not violently, I trust, Mr. Hovstad. Proceed with +moderation, or you will do nothing with them. You may take my advice; I +have gathered my experience in the school of life. Well, I must say +goodbye, Doctor. You know now that we small tradesmen are at your back +at all events, like a solid wall. You have the compact majority on your +side Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. I am very much obliged, dear Mr. Aslaksen, (Shakes hands +with him.) Goodbye, goodbye. + +Aslaksen. Are you going my way, towards the printing-office. Mr. +Hovstad? + +Hovstad, I will come later; I have something to settle up first. + +Aslaksen. Very well. (Bows and goes out; STOCKMANN follows him into the +hall.) + +Hovstad (as STOCKMANN comes in again). Well, what do you think of that, +Doctor? Don't you think it is high time we stirred a little life into +all this slackness and vacillation and cowardice? + +Dr. Stockmann. Are you referring to Aslaksen? + +Hovstad, Yes, I am. He is one of those who are floundering in a +bog--decent enough fellow though he may be, otherwise. And most of the +people here are in just the same case--see-sawing and edging first to +one side and then to the other, so overcome with caution and scruple +that they never dare to take any decided step. + +Dr. Stockmann, Yes, but Aslaksen seemed to me so thoroughly +well-intentioned. + +Hovstad. There is one thing I esteem higher than that; and that is for +a man to be self-reliant and sure of himself. + +Dr. Stockmann. I think you are perfectly right there. + +Hovstad. That is why I want to seize this opportunity, and try if I +cannot manage to put a little virility into these well-intentioned +people for once. The idol of Authority must be shattered in this town. +This gross and inexcusable blunder about the water supply must be +brought home to the mind of every municipal voter. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very well; if you are of opinion that it is for the good +of the community, so be it. But not until I have had a talk with my +brother. + +Hovstad. Anyway, I will get a leading article ready; and if the Mayor +refuses to take the matter up-- + +Dr. Stockmann. How can you suppose such a thing possible! + +Hovstad. It is conceivable. And in that case-- + +Dr. Stockmann. In that case I promise you--. Look here, in that case +you may print my report--every word of it. + +Hovstad. May I? Have I your word for it? + +Dr. Stockmann (giving him the MS.). Here it is; take it with you. It +can do no harm for you to read it through, and you can give it me back +later on. + +Hovstad. Good, good! That is what I will do. And now goodbye, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Goodbye, goodbye. You will see everything will run quite +smoothly, Mr. Hovstad--quite smoothly. + +Hovstad. Hm!--we shall see. (Bows and goes out.) + +Dr. Stockmann (opens the dining-room door and looks in). Katherine! Oh, +you are back, Petra? + +Petra (coming in). Yes, I have just come from the school. + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in). Has he not been here yet? + +Dr. Stockmann. Peter? No, but I have had a long talk with Hovstad. He +is quite excited about my discovery, I find it has a much wider bearing +than I at first imagined. And he has put his paper at my disposal if +necessity should arise. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Do you think it will? + +Dr. Stockmann. Not for a moment. But at all events it makes me feel +proud to know that I have the liberal-minded independent press on my +side. Yes, and just imagine--I have had a visit from the Chairman of +the Householders' Association! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh! What did he want? + +Dr. Stockmann. To offer me his support too. They will support me in a +body if it should be necessary. Katherine--do you know what I have got +behind me? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Behind you? No, what have you got behind you? + +Dr. Stockmann. The compact majority. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Really? Is that a good thing for you Thomas? + +Dr. Stockmann. I should think it was a good thing. (Walks up and down +rubbing his hands.) By Jove, it's a fine thing to feel this bond of +brotherhood between oneself and one's fellow citizens! + +Petra. And to be able to do so much that is good and useful, father! + +Dr. Stockmann. And for one's own native town into the bargain, my child! + +Mrs. Stockmann. That was a ring at the bell. + +Dr. Stockmann. It must be he, then. (A knock is heard at the door.) +Come in! + +Peter Stockmann (comes in from the hall). Good morning. + +Dr. Stockmann. Glad to see you, Peter! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Good morning, Peter, How are you? + +Peter Stockmann. So so, thank you. (To DR. STOCKMANN.) I received from +you yesterday, after office hours, a report dealing with the condition +of the water at the Baths. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. Have you read it? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, I have, + +Dr. Stockmann. And what have you to say to it? + +Peter Stockmann (with a sidelong glance). Hm!-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. Come along, Petra. (She and PETRA go into the room on +the left.) + +Peter Stockmann (after a pause). Was it necessary to make all these +investigations behind my back? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, because until I was absolutely certain about it-- + +Peter Stockmann. Then you mean that you are absolutely certain now? + +Dr. Stockmann. Surely you are convinced of that. + +Peter Stockmann. Is it your intention to bring this document before the +Baths Committee as a sort of official communication? + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly. Something must be done in the matter--and +that quickly. + +Peter Stockmann. As usual, you employ violent expressions in your +report. You say, amongst other things, that what we offer visitors in +our Baths is a permanent supply of poison. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, can you describe it any other way, Peter? Just +think--water that is poisonous, whether you drink it or bathe in it! +And this we offer to the poor sick folk who come to us trustfully and +pay us at an exorbitant rate to be made well again! + +Peter Stockmann. And your reasoning leads you to this conclusion, that +we must build a sewer to draw off the alleged impurities from Molledal +and must relay the water conduits. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. Do you see any other way out of it? I don't. + +Peter Stockmann. I made a pretext this morning to go and see the town +engineer, and, as if only half seriously, broached the subject of these +proposals as a thing we might perhaps have to take under consideration +some time later on. + +Dr. Stockmann. Some time later on! + +Peter Stockmann. He smiled at what he considered to be my extravagance, +naturally. Have you taken the trouble to consider what your proposed +alterations would cost? According to the information I obtained, the +expenses would probably mount up to fifteen or twenty thousand pounds. + +Dr. Stockmann. Would it cost so much? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes; and the worst part of it would be that the work +would take at least two years. + +Dr. Stockmann. Two years? Two whole years? + +Peter Stockmann. At least. And what are we to do with the Baths in the +meantime? Close them? Indeed we should be obliged to. And do you +suppose anyone would come near the place after it had got out that the +water was dangerous? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes but, Peter, that is what it is. + +Peter Stockmann. And all this at this juncture--just as the Baths are +beginning to be known. There are other towns in the neighbourhood with +qualifications to attract visitors for bathing purposes. Don't you +suppose they would immediately strain every nerve to divert the entire +stream of strangers to themselves? Unquestionably they would; and then +where should we be? We should probably have to abandon the whole thing, +which has cost us so much money-and then you would have ruined your +native town. + +Dr. Stockmann. I--should have ruined--! + +Peter Stockmann. It is simply and solely through the Baths that the +town has before it any future worth mentioning. You know that just as +well as I. + +Dr. Stockmann. But what do you think ought to be done, then? + +Peter Stockmann. Your report has not convinced me that the condition of +the water at the Baths is as bad as you represent it to be. + +Dr. Stockmann. I tell you it is even worse!--or at all events it will +be in summer, when the warm weather comes. + +Peter Stockmann. As I said, I believe you exaggerate the matter +considerably. A capable physician ought to know what measures to +take--he ought to be capable of preventing injurious influences or of +remedying them if they become obviously persistent. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well? What more? + +Peter Stockmann. The water supply for the Baths is now an established +fact, and in consequence must be treated as such. But probably the +Committee, at its discretion, will not be disinclined to consider the +question of how far it might be possible to introduce certain +improvements consistently with a reasonable expenditure. + +Dr. Stockmann. And do you suppose that I will have anything to do with +such a piece of trickery as that? + +Peter Stockmann. Trickery!! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, it would be a trick--a fraud, a lie, a downright +crime towards the public, towards the whole community! + +Peter Stockmann. I have not, as I remarked before, been able to +convince myself that there is actually any imminent danger. + +Dr. Stockmann. You have! It is impossible that you should not be +convinced. I know I have represented the facts absolutely truthfully +and fairly. And you know it very well, Peter, only you won't +acknowledge it. It was owing to your action that both the Baths and the +water conduits were built where they are; and that is what you won't +acknowledge--that damnable blunder of yours. Pooh!--do you suppose I +don't see through you? + +Peter Stockmann. And even if that were true? If I perhaps guard my +reputation somewhat anxiously, it is in the interests of the town. +Without moral authority I am powerless to direct public affairs as +seems, to my judgment, to be best for the common good. And on that +account--and for various other reasons too--it appears to me to be a +matter of importance that your report should not be delivered to the +Committee. In the interests of the public, you must withhold it. Then, +later on, I will raise the question and we will do our best, privately; +but, nothing of this unfortunate affair not a single word of it--must +come to the ears of the public. + +Dr. Stockmann. I am afraid you will not be able to prevent that now, my +dear Peter. + +Peter Stockmann. It must and shall be prevented. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is no use, I tell you. There are too many people that +know about it. + +Peter Stockmann. That know about it? Who? Surely you don't mean those +fellows on the "People's Messenger"? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, they know. The liberal-minded independent press is +going to see that you do your duty. + +Peter Stockmann (after a short pause). You are an extraordinarily +independent man, Thomas. Have you given no thought to the consequences +this may have for yourself? + +Dr. Stockmann. Consequences?--for me? + +Peter Stockmann. For you and yours, yes. + +Dr. Stockmann. What the deuce do you mean? + +Peter Stockmann. I believe I have always behaved in a brotherly way to +you--haven't I always been ready to oblige or to help you? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, you have, and I am grateful to you for it. + +Peter Stockmann. There is no need. Indeed, to some extent I was forced +to do so--for my own sake. I always hoped that, if I helped to improve +your financial position, I should be able to keep some check on you. + +Dr. Stockmann. What! Then it was only for your own sake--! + +Peter Stockmann. Up to a certain point, yes. It is painful for a man in +an official position to have his nearest relative compromising himself +time after time. + +Dr. Stockmann. And do you consider that I do that? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, unfortunately, you do, without even being aware +of it. You have a restless, pugnacious, rebellious disposition. And +then there is that disastrous propensity of yours to want to write +about every sort of possible and impossible thing. The moment an idea +comes into your head, you must needs go and write a newspaper article +or a whole pamphlet about it. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, but is it not the duty of a citizen to let the +public share in any new ideas he may have? + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, the public doesn't require any new ideas. The +public is best served by the good, old established ideas it already has. + +Dr. Stockmann. And that is your honest opinion? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, and for once I must talk frankly to you. Hitherto +I have tried to avoid doing so, because I know how irritable you are; +but now I must tell you the truth, Thomas. You have no conception what +an amount of harm you do yourself by your impetuosity. You complain of +the authorities, you even complain of the government--you are always +pulling them to pieces; you insist that you have been neglected and +persecuted. But what else can such a cantankerous man as you expect? + +Dr. Stockmann. What next! Cantankerous, am I? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, Thomas, you are an extremely cantankerous man to +work with--I know that to my cost. You disregard everything that you +ought to have consideration for. You seem completely to forget that it +is me you have to thank for your appointment here as medical officer to +the Baths. + +Dr. Stockmann. I was entitled to it as a matter of course!--I and +nobody else! I was the first person to see that the town could be made +into a flourishing watering-place, and I was the only one who saw it at +that time. I had to fight single-handed in support of the idea for many +years; and I wrote and wrote-- + +Peter Stockmann. Undoubtedly. But things were not ripe for the scheme +then--though, of course, you could not judge of that in your +out-of-the-way corner up north. But as soon as the opportune moment +came I--and the others--took the matter into our hands. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and made this mess of all my beautiful plan. It is +pretty obvious now what clever fellows you were! + +Peter Stockmann. To my mind the whole thing only seems to mean that you +are seeking another outlet for your combativeness. You want to pick a +quarrel with your superiors--an old habit of yours. You cannot put up +with any authority over you. You look askance at anyone who occupies a +superior official position; you regard him as a personal enemy, and +then any stick is good enough to beat him with. But now I have called +your attention to the fact that the town's interests are at stake--and, +incidentally, my own too. And therefore, I must tell you, Thomas, that +you will find me inexorable with regard to what I am about to require +you to do. + +Dr. Stockmann. And what is that? + +Peter Stockmann. As you have been so indiscreet as to speak of this +delicate matter to outsiders, despite the fact that you ought to have +treated it as entirely official and confidential, it is obviously +impossible to hush it up now. All sorts of rumours will get about +directly, and everybody who has a grudge against us will take care to +embellish these rumours. So it will be necessary for you to refute them +publicly. + +Dr. Stockmann. I! How? I don't understand. + +Peter Stockmann. What we shall expect is that, after making further +investigations, you will come to the conclusion that the matter is not +by any means as dangerous or as critical as you imagined in the first +instance. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oho!--so that is what you expect! + +Peter Stockmann. And, what is more, we shall expect you to make public +profession of your confidence in the Committee and in their readiness +to consider fully and conscientiously what steps may be necessary to +remedy any possible defects. + +Dr. Stockmann. But you will never be able to do that by patching and +tinkering at it--never! Take my word for it, Peter; I mean what I say, +as deliberately and emphatically as possible. + +Peter Stockmann. As an officer under the Committee, you have no right +to any individual opinion. + +Dr. Stockmann (amazed). No right? + +Peter Stockmann. In your official capacity, no. As a private person, it +is quite another matter. But as a subordinate member of the staff of +the Baths, you have no right to express any opinion which runs contrary +to that of your superiors. + +Dr. Stockmann. This is too much! I, a doctor, a man of science, have no +right to--! + +Peter Stockmann. The matter in hand is not simply a scientific one. It +is a complicated matter, and has its economic as well as its technical +side. + +Dr. Stockmann. I don't care what it is! I intend to be free to express +my opinion on any subject under the sun. + +Peter Stockmann. As you please--but not on any subject concerning the +Baths. That we forbid. + +Dr. Stockmann (shouting). You forbid--! You! A pack of-- + +Peter Stockmann. I forbid it--I, your chief; and if I forbid it, you +have to obey. + +Dr. Stockmann (controlling himself). Peter--if you were not my brother-- + +Petra (throwing open the door). Father, you shan't stand this! + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in after her). Petra, Petra! + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, so you have been eavesdropping. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You were talking so loud, we couldn't help it! + +Petra. Yes, I was listening. + +Peter Stockmann. Well, after all, I am very glad-- + +Dr. Stockmann (going up to him). You were saying something about +forbidding and obeying? + +Peter Stockmann. You obliged me to take that tone with you. + +Dr. Stockmann. And so I am to give myself the lie, publicly? + +Peter Stockmann. We consider it absolutely necessary that you should +make some such public statement as I have asked for. + +Dr. Stockmann. And if I do not--obey? + +Peter Stockmann. Then we shall publish a statement ourselves to +reassure the public. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very well; but in that case I shall use my pen against +you. I stick to what I have said; I will show that I am right and that +you are wrong. And what will you do then? + +Peter Stockmann. Then I shall not be able to prevent your being +dismissed. + +Dr. Stockmann. What--? + +Petra. Father--dismissed! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Dismissed! + +Peter Stockmann. Dismissed from the staff of the Baths. I shall be +obliged to propose that you shall immediately be given notice, and +shall not be allowed any further participation in the Baths' affairs. + +Dr. Stockmann. You would dare to do that! + +Peter Stockmann. It is you that are playing the daring game. + +Petra. Uncle, that is a shameful way to treat a man like father! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Do hold your tongue, Petra! + +Peter Stockmann (looking at PETRA). Oh, so we volunteer our opinions +already, do we? Of course. (To MRS. STOCKMANN.) Katherine, I imagine +you are the most sensible person in this house. Use any influence you +may have over your husband, and make him see what this will entail for +his family as well as-- + +Dr. Stockmann. My family is my own concern and nobody else's! + +Peter Stockmann. --for his own family, as I was saying, as well as for +the town he lives in. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is I who have the real good of the town at heart! I +want to lay bare the defects that sooner or later must come to the +light of day. I will show whether I love my native town. + +Peter Stockmann. You, who in your blind obstinacy want to cut off the +most important source of the town's welfare? + +Dr. Stockmann. The source is poisoned, man! Are you mad? We are making +our living by retailing filth and corruption! The whole of our +flourishing municipal life derives its sustenance from a lie! + +Peter Stockmann. All imagination--or something even worse. The man who +can throw out such offensive insinuations about his native town must be +an enemy to our community. + +Dr. Stockmann (going up to him). Do you dare to--! + +Mrs. Stockmann (throwing herself between them). Thomas! + +Petra (catching her father by the arm). Don't lose your temper, father! + +Peter Stockmann. I will not expose myself to violence. Now you have had +a warning; so reflect on what you owe to yourself and your family. +Goodbye. (Goes out.) + +Dr. Stockmann (walking up and down). Am I to put up with such treatment +as this? In my own house, Katherine! What do you think of that! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Indeed it is both shameful and absurd, Thomas-- + +Petra. If only I could give uncle a piece of my mind-- + +Dr. Stockmann. It is my own fault. I ought to have flown out at him +long ago!--shown my teeth!--bitten! To hear him call me an enemy to our +community! Me! I shall not take that lying down, upon my soul! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, your brother has power on his side. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, but I have right on mine, I tell you. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh yes, right--right. What is the use of having right +on your side if you have not got might? + +Petra. Oh, mother!--how can you say such a thing! + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you imagine that in a free country it is no use +having right on your side? You are absurd, Katherine. Besides, haven't +I got the liberal-minded, independent press to lead the way, and the +compact majority behind me? That is might enough, I should think! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, good heavens, Thomas, you don't mean to? + +Dr. Stockmann. Don't mean to what? + +Mrs. Stockmann. To set yourself up in opposition to your brother. + +Dr. Stockmann. In God's name, what else do you suppose I should do but +take my stand on right and truth? + +Petra. Yes, I was just going to say that. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But it won't do you any earthly good. If they won't do +it, they won't. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oho, Katherine! Just give me time, and you will see how +I will carry the war into their camp. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, you carry the war into their camp, and you get +your dismissal--that is what you will do. + +Dr. Stockmann. In any case I shall have done my duty towards the +public--towards the community, I, who am called its enemy! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But towards your family, Thomas? Towards your own home! +Do you think that is doing your duty towards those you have to provide +for? + +Petra. Ah, don't think always first of us, mother. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, it is easy for you to talk; you are able to shift +for yourself, if need be. But remember the boys, Thomas; and think a +little of yourself too, and of me-- + +Dr. Stockmann. I think you are out of your senses, Katherine! If I were +to be such a miserable coward as to go on my knees to Peter and his +damned crew, do you suppose I should ever know an hour's peace of mind +all my life afterwards? + +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know anything about that; but God preserve us +from the peace of mind we shall have, all the same, if you go on +defying him! You will find yourself again without the means of +subsistence, with no income to count upon. I should think we had had +enough of that in the old days. Remember that, Thomas; think what that +means. + +Dr. Stockmann (collecting himself with a struggle and clenching his +fists). And this is what this slavery can bring upon a free, honourable +man! Isn't it horrible, Katherine? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, it is sinful to treat you so, it is perfectly +true. But, good heavens, one has to put up with so much injustice in +this world. There are the boys, Thomas! Look at them! What is to become +of them? Oh, no, no, you can never have the heart--. (EJLIF and MORTEN +have come in, while she was speaking, with their school books in their +hands.) + +Dr. Stockmann. The boys-- I (Recovers himself suddenly.) No, even if +the whole world goes to pieces, I will never bow my neck to this yokel +(Goes towards his room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (following him). Thomas--what are you going to do! + +Dr. Stockmann (at his door). I mean to have the right to look my sons +in the face when they are grown men. (Goes into his room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (bursting into tears). God help us all! + +Petra. Father is splendid! He will not give in. + +(The boys look on in amazement; PETRA signs to them not to speak.) + + + + +ACT III + + +(SCENE.--The editorial office of the "People's Messenger." The entrance +door is on the left-hand side of the back wall; on the right-hand side +is another door with glass panels through which the printing room can +be seen. Another door in the right-hand wall. In the middle of the room +is a large table covered with papers, newspapers and books. In the +foreground on the left a window, before which stands a desk and a high +stool. There are a couple of easy chairs by the table, and other chairs +standing along the wall. The room is dingy and uncomfortable; the +furniture is old, the chairs stained and torn. In the printing room the +compositors are seen at work, and a printer is working a handpress. +HOVSTAD is sitting at the desk, writing. BILLING comes in from the +right with DR. STOCKMANN'S manuscript in his hand.) + +Billing. Well, I must say! + +Hovstad (still writing). Have you read it through? + +Billing (laying the MS. on the desk). Yes, indeed I have. + +Hovstad. Don't you think the Doctor hits them pretty hard? + +Billing. Hard? Bless my soul, he's crushing! Every word falls like--how +shall I put it?--like the blow of a sledgehammer. + +Hovstad. Yes, but they are not the people to throw up the sponge at the +first blow. + +Billing. That is true; and for that reason we must strike blow upon +blow until the whole of this aristocracy tumbles to pieces. As I sat in +there reading this, I almost seemed to see a revolution in being. + +Hovstad (turning round). Hush!--Speak so that Aslaksen cannot hear you. + +Billing (lowering his voice). Aslaksen is a chicken-hearted chap, a +coward; there is nothing of the man in him. But this time you will +insist on your own way, won't you? You will put the Doctor's article in? + +Hovstad. Yes, and if the Mayor doesn't like it-- + +Billing. That will be the devil of a nuisance. + +Hovstad. Well, fortunately we can turn the situation to good account, +whatever happens. If the Mayor will not fall in with the Doctor's +project, he will have all the small tradesmen down on him--the whole of +the Householders' Association and the rest of them. And if he does fall +in with it, he will fall out with the whole crowd of large shareholders +in the Baths, who up to now have been his most valuable supporters-- + +Billing. Yes, because they will certainly have to fork out a pretty +penny-- + +Hovstad. Yes, you may be sure they will. And in this way the ring will +be broken up, you see, and then in every issue of the paper we will +enlighten the public on the Mayor's incapability on one point and +another, and make it clear that all the positions of trust in the town, +the whole control of municipal affairs, ought to be put in the hands of +the Liberals. + +Billing. That is perfectly true! I see it coming--I see it coming; we +are on the threshold of a revolution! + +(A knock is heard at the door.) + +Hovstad. Hush! (Calls out.) Come in! (DR. STOCKMANN comes in by the +street door. HOVSTAD goes to meet him.) Ah, it is you, Doctor! Well? + +Dr. Stockmann. You may set to work and print it, Mr. Hovstad! + +Hovstad. Has it come to that, then? + +Billing. Hurrah! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, print away. Undoubtedly it has come to that. Now +they must take what they get. There is going to be a fight in the town, +Mr. Billing! + +Billing. War to the knife, I hope! We will get our knives to their +throats, Doctor! + +Dr. Stockmann. This article is only a beginning. I have already got +four or five more sketched out in my head. Where is Aslaksen? + +Billing (calls into the printing-room). Aslaksen, just come here for a +minute! + +Hovstad. Four or five more articles, did you say? On the same subject? + +Dr. Stockmann. No--far from it, my dear fellow. No, they are about +quite another matter. But they all spring from the question of the +water supply and the drainage. One thing leads to another, you know. It +is like beginning to pull down an old house, exactly. + +Billing. Upon my soul, it's true; you find you are not done till you +have pulled all the old rubbish down. + +Aslaksen (coming in). Pulled down? You are not thinking of pulling down +the Baths surely, Doctor? + +Hovstad. Far from it, don't be afraid. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, we meant something quite different. Well, what do +you think of my article, Mr. Hovstad? + +Hovstad. I think it is simply a masterpiece. + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you really think so? Well, I am very pleased, very +pleased. + +Hovstad. It is so clear and intelligible. One need have no special +knowledge to understand the bearing of it. You will have every +enlightened man on your side. + +Aslaksen. And every prudent man too, I hope? + +Billing. The prudent and the imprudent--almost the whole town. + +Aslaksen. In that case we may venture to print it. + +Dr. Stockmann. I should think so! + +Hovstad. We will put it in tomorrow morning. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course--you must not lose a single day. What I wanted +to ask you, Mr. Aslaksen, was if you would supervise the printing of it +yourself. + +Aslaksen. With pleasure. + +Dr. Stockmann. Take care of it as if it were a treasure! No +misprints--every word is important. I will look in again a little +later; perhaps you will be able to let me see a proof. I can't tell you +how eager I am to see it in print, and see it burst upon the public-- + +Billing. Burst upon them--yes, like a flash of lightning! + +Dr. Stockmann. --and to have it submitted to the judgment of my +intelligent fellow townsmen. You cannot imagine what I have gone +through today. I have been threatened first with one thing and then +with another; they have tried to rob me of my most elementary rights as +a man-- + +Billing. What! Your rights as a man! + +Dr. Stockmann. --they have tried to degrade me, to make a coward of me, +to force me to put personal interests before my most sacred convictions. + +Billing. That is too much--I'm damned if it isn't. + +Hovstad. Oh, you mustn't be surprised at anything from that quarter. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, they will get the worst of it with me; they may +assure themselves of that. I shall consider the "People's Messenger" my +sheet-anchor now, and every single day I will bombard them with one +article after another, like bombshells-- + +Aslaksen. Yes, but + +Billing. Hurrah!--it is war, it is war! + +Dr. Stockmann. I shall smite them to the ground--I shall crush them--I +shall break down all their defenses, before the eyes of the honest +public! That is what I shall do! + +Aslaksen, Yes, but in moderation, Doctor--proceed with moderation. + +Billing. Not a bit of it, not a bit of it! Don't spare the dynamite! + +Dr. Stockmann. Because it is not merely a question of water-supply and +drains now, you know. No--it is the whole of our social life that we +have got to purify and disinfect-- + +Billing. Spoken like a deliverer! + +Dr. Stockmann. All the incapables must be turned out, you +understand--and that in every walk of life! Endless vistas have opened +themselves to my mind's eye today. I cannot see it all quite clearly +yet, but I shall in time. Young and vigorous standard-bearers--those +are what we need and must seek, my friends; we must have new men in +command at all our outposts. + +Billing. Hear hear! + +Dr. Stockmann. We only need to stand by one another, and it will all be +perfectly easy. The revolution will be launched like a ship that runs +smoothly off the stocks. Don't you think so? + +Hovstad. For my part I think we have now a prospect of getting the +municipal authority into the hands where it should lie. + +Aslaksen. And if only we proceed with moderation, I cannot imagine that +there will be any risk. + +Dr. Stockmann. Who the devil cares whether there is any risk or not! +What I am doing, I am doing in the name of truth and for the sake of my +conscience. + +Hovstad. You are a man who deserves to be supported, Doctor. + +Aslaksen. Yes, there is no denying that the Doctor is a true friend to +the town--a real friend to the community, that he is. + +Billing. Take my word for it, Aslaksen, Dr. Stockmann is a friend of +the people. + +Aslaksen. I fancy the Householders' Association will make use of that +expression before long. + +Dr. Stockmann (affected, grasps their hands). Thank you, thank you, my +dear staunch friends. It is very refreshing to me to hear you say that; +my brother called me something quite different. By Jove, he shall have +it back, with interest! But now I must be off to see a poor devil--I +will come back, as I said. Keep a very careful eye on the manuscript, +Aslaksen, and don't for worlds leave out any of my notes of +exclamation! Rather put one or two more in! Capital, capital! Well, +good-bye for the present--goodbye, goodbye! (They show him to the door, +and bow him out.) + +Hovstad. He may prove an invaluably useful man to us. + +Aslaksen. Yes, so long as he confines himself to this matter of the +Baths. But if he goes farther afield, I don't think it would be +advisable to follow him. + +Hovstad. Hm!--that all depends-- + +Billing. You are so infernally timid, Aslaksen! + +Aslaksen. Timid? Yes, when it is a question of the local authorities, I +am timid, Mr. Billing; it is a lesson I have learned in the school of +experience, let me tell you. But try me in higher politics, in matters +that concern the government itself, and then see if I am timid. + +Billing. No, you aren't, I admit. But this is simply contradicting +yourself. + +Aslaksen. I am a man with a conscience, and that is the whole matter. +If you attack the government, you don't do the community any harm, +anyway; those fellows pay no attention to attacks, you see--they go on +just as they are, in spite of them. But local authorities are +different; they can be turned out, and then perhaps you may get an +ignorant lot into office who may do irreparable harm to the +householders and everybody else. + +Hovstad. But what of the education of citizens by self +government--don't you attach any importance to that? + +Aslaksen. When a man has interests of his own to protect, he cannot +think of everything, Mr. Hovstad. + +Hovstad. Then I hope I shall never have interests of my own to protect! + +Billing. Hear, hear! + +Aslaksen (with a smile). Hm! (Points to the desk.) Mr. Sheriff +Stensgaard was your predecessor at that editorial desk. + +Billing (spitting). Bah! That turncoat. + +Hovstad. I am not a weathercock--and never will be. + +Aslaksen. A politician should never be too certain of anything, Mr. +Hovstad. And as for you, Mr. Billing, I should think it is time for you +to be taking in a reef or two in your sails, seeing that you are +applying for the post of secretary to the Bench. + +Billing. I--! + +Hovstad. Are you, Billing? + +Billing. Well, yes--but you must clearly understand I am only doing it +to annoy the bigwigs. + +Aslaksen. Anyhow, it is no business of mine. But if I am to be accused +of timidity and of inconsistency in my principles, this is what I want +to point out: my political past is an open book. I have never changed, +except perhaps to become a little more moderate, you see. My heart is +still with the people; but I don't deny that my reason has a certain +bias towards the authorities--the local ones, I mean. (Goes into the +printing room.) + +Billing. Oughtn't we to try and get rid of him, Hovstad? + +Hovstad. Do you know anyone else who will advance the money for our +paper and printing bill? + +Billing. It is an infernal nuisance that we don't possess some capital +to trade on. + +Hovstad (sitting down at his desk). Yes, if we only had that, then-- + +Billing. Suppose you were to apply to Dr. Stockmann? + +Hovstad (turning over some papers). What is the use? He has got nothing. + +Billing. No, but he has got a warm man in the background, old Morten +Kiil--"the Badger," as they call him. + +Hovstad (writing). Are you so sure he has got anything? + +Billing. Good Lord, of course he has! And some of it must come to the +Stockmanns. Most probably he will do something for the children, at all +events. + +Hovstad (turning half round). Are you counting on that? + +Billing. Counting on it? Of course I am not counting on anything. + +Hovstad. That is right. And I should not count on the secretaryship to +the Bench either, if I were you; for I can assure you--you won't get it. + +Billing. Do you think I am not quite aware of that? My object is +precisely not to get it. A slight of that kind stimulates a man's +fighting power--it is like getting a supply of fresh bile--and I am +sure one needs that badly enough in a hole-and-corner place like this, +where it is so seldom anything happens to stir one up. + +Hovstad (writing). Quite so, quite so. + +Billing. Ah, I shall be heard of yet!--Now I shall go and write the +appeal to the Householders' Association. (Goes into the room on the +right.) + +Hovstad (sitting al his desk, biting his penholder, says slowly). +Hm!--that's it, is it. (A knock is heard.) Come in! (PETRA comes in by +the outer door. HOVSTAD gets up.) What, you!--here? + +Petra. Yes, you must forgive me-- + +Hovstad (pulling a chair forward). Won't you sit down? + +Petra. No, thank you; I must go again in a moment. + +Hovstad. Have you come with a message from your father, by any chance? + +Petra. No, I have come on my own account. (Takes a book out of her coat +pocket.) Here is the English story. + +Hovstad. Why have you brought it back? + +Petra. Because I am not going to translate it. + +Hovstad. But you promised me faithfully. + +Petra. Yes, but then I had not read it, I don't suppose you have read +it either? + +Hovstad. No, you know quite well I don't understand English; but-- + +Petra. Quite so. That is why I wanted to tell you that you must find +something else. (Lays the book on the table.) You can't use this for +the "People's Messenger." + +Hovstad. Why not? + +Petra. Because it conflicts with all your opinions. + +Hovstad. Oh, for that matter-- + +Petra. You don't understand me. The burden of this story is that there +is a supernatural power that looks after the so-called good people in +this world and makes everything happen for the best in their +case--while all the so-called bad people are punished. + +Hovstad. Well, but that is all right. That is just what our readers +want. + +Petra. And are you going to be the one to give it to them? For myself, +I do not believe a word of it. You know quite well that things do not +happen so in reality. + +Hovstad. You are perfectly right; but an editor cannot always act as he +would prefer. He is often obliged to bow to the wishes of the public in +unimportant matters. Politics are the most important thing in life--for +a newspaper, anyway; and if I want to carry my public with me on the +path that leads to liberty and progress, I must not frighten them away. +If they find a moral tale of this sort in the serial at the bottom of +the page, they will be all the more ready to read what is printed above +it; they feel more secure, as it were. + +Petra. For shame! You would never go and set a snare like that for your +readers; you are not a spider! + +Hovstad (smiling). Thank you for having such a good opinion of me. No; +as a matter of fact that is Billing's idea and not mine. + +Petra. Billing's! + +Hovstad. Yes; anyway, he propounded that theory here one day. And it is +Billing who is so anxious to have that story in the paper; I don't know +anything about the book. + +Petra. But how can Billing, with his emancipated views-- + +Hovstad. Oh, Billing is a many-sided man. He is applying for the post +of secretary to the Bench, too, I hear. + +Petra. I don't believe it, Mr. Hovstad. How could he possibly bring +himself to do such a thing? + +Hovstad. Ah, you must ask him that. + +Petra. I should never have thought it of him. + +Hovstad (looking more closely at her). No? Does it really surprise you +so much? + +Petra. Yes. Or perhaps not altogether. Really, I don't quite know + +Hovstad. We journalists are not much worth, Miss Stockmann. + +Petra. Do you really mean that? + +Hovstad. I think so sometimes. + +Petra. Yes, in the ordinary affairs of everyday life, perhaps; I can +understand that. But now, when you have taken a weighty matter in hand-- + +Hovstad. This matter of your father's, you mean? + +Petra. Exactly. It seems to me that now you must feel you are a man +worth more than most. + +Hovstad. Yes, today I do feel something of that sort. + +Petra. Of course you do, don't you? It is a splendid vocation you have +chosen--to smooth the way for the march of unappreciated truths, and +new and courageous lines of thought. If it were nothing more than +because you stand fearlessly in the open and take up the cause of an +injured man-- + +Hovstad. Especially when that injured man is--ahem!--I don't rightly +know how to-- + +Petra. When that man is so upright and so honest, you mean? + +Hovstad (more gently). Especially when he is your father I meant. + +Petra (suddenly checked). That? + +Hovstad. Yes, Petra--Miss Petra. + +Petra. Is it that, that is first and foremost with you? Not the matter +itself? Not the truth?--not my father's big generous heart? + +Hovstad. Certainly--of course--that too. + +Petra. No, thank you; you have betrayed yourself, Mr. Hovstad, and now +I shall never trust you again in anything. + +Hovstad. Can you really take it so amiss in me that it is mostly for +your sake--? + +Petra. What I am angry with you for, is for not having been honest with +my father. You talked to him as if the truth and the good of the +community were what lay nearest to your heart. You have made fools of +both my father and me. You are not the man you made yourself out to be. +And that I shall never forgive you-never! + +Hovstad. You ought not to speak so bitterly, Miss Petra--least of all +now. + +Petra. Why not now, especially? + +Hovstad. Because your father cannot do without my help. + +Petra (looking him up and down). Are you that sort of man too? For +shame! + +Hovstad. No, no, I am not. This came upon me so unexpectedly--you must +believe that. + +Petra. I know what to believe. Goodbye. + +Aslaksen (coming from the printing room, hurriedly and with an air of +mystery). Damnation, Hovstad!--(Sees PETRA.) Oh, this is awkward-- + +Petra. There is the book; you must give it to some one else. (Goes +towards the door.) + +Hovstad (following her). But, Miss Stockmann-- + +Petra. Goodbye. (Goes out.) + +Aslaksen. I say--Mr. Hovstad-- + +Hovstad. Well well!--what is it? + +Aslaksen. The Mayor is outside in the printing room. + +Hovstad. The Mayor, did you say? + +Aslaksen. Yes he wants to speak to you. He came in by the back +door--didn't want to be seen, you understand. + +Hovstad. What can he want? Wait a bit--I will go myself. (Goes to the +door of the printing room, opens it, bows and invites PETER STOCKMANN +in.) Just see, Aslaksen, that no one-- + +Aslaksen. Quite so. (Goes into the printing-room.) + +Peter Stockmann. You did not expect to see me here, Mr. Hovstad? + +Hovstad. No, I confess I did not. + +Peter Stockmann (looking round). You are very snug in here--very nice +indeed. + +Hovstad. Oh-- + +Peter Stockmann. And here I come, without any notice, to take up your +time! + +Hovstad. By all means, Mr. Mayor. I am at your service. But let me +relieve you of your--(takes STOCKMANN's hat and stick and puts them on +a chair). Won't you sit down? + +Peter Stockmann (sitting down by the table). Thank you. (HOVSTAD sits +down.) I have had an extremely annoying experience to-day, Mr. Hovstad. + +Hovstad. Really? Ah well, I expect with all the various business you +have to attend to-- + +Peter Stockmann. The Medical Officer of the Baths is responsible for +what happened today. + +Hovstad. Indeed? The Doctor? + +Peter Stockmann. He has addressed a kind of report to the Baths +Committee on the subject of certain supposed defects in the Baths. + +Hovstad. Has he indeed? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes--has he not told you? I thought he said-- + +Hovstad. Ah, yes--it is true he did mention something about-- + +Aslaksen (coming from the printing-room). I ought to have that copy. + +Hovstad (angrily). Ahem!--there it is on the desk. + +Aslaksen (taking it). Right. + +Peter Stockmann. But look there--that is the thing I was speaking of! + +Aslaksen. Yes, that is the Doctor's article, Mr. Mayor. + +Hovstad. Oh, is THAT what you were speaking about? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, that is it. What do you think of it? + +Hovstad. Oh, I am only a layman--and I have only taken a very cursory +glance at it. + +Peter Stockmann. But you are going to print it? + +Hovstad. I cannot very well refuse a distinguished man. + +Aslaksen. I have nothing to do with editing the paper, Mr. Mayor-- + +Peter Stockmann. I understand. + +Aslaksen. I merely print what is put into my hands. + +Peter Stockmann. Quite so. + +Aslaksen. And so I must-- (moves off towards the printing-room). + +Peter Stockmann. No, but wait a moment, Mr. Aslaksen. You will allow +me, Mr. Hovstad? + +Hovstad. If you please, Mr. Mayor. + +Peter Stockmann. You are a discreet and thoughtful man, Mr. Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. I am delighted to hear you think so, sir. + +Peter Stockmann. And a man of very considerable influence. + +Aslaksen. Chiefly among the small tradesmen, sir. + +Peter Stockmann. The small tax-payers are the majority--here as +everywhere else. + +Aslaksen. That is true. + +Peter Stockmann. And I have no doubt you know the general trend of +opinion among them, don't you? + +Aslaksen. Yes I think I may say I do, Mr. Mayor. + +Peter Stockmann. Yes. Well, since there is such a praiseworthy spirit +of self-sacrifice among the less wealthy citizens of our town-- + +Aslaksen. What? + +Hovstad. Self-sacrifice? + +Peter Stockmann. It is pleasing evidence of a public-spirited feeling, +extremely pleasing evidence. I might almost say I hardly expected it. +But you have a closer knowledge of public opinion than I. + +Aslaksen. But, Mr. Mayor-- + +Peter Stockmann. And indeed it is no small sacrifice that the town is +going to make. + +Hovstad. The town? + +Aslaksen. But I don't understand. Is it the Baths--? + +Peter Stockmann. At a provisional estimate, the alterations that the +Medical Officer asserts to be desirable will cost somewhere about +twenty thousand pounds. + +Aslaksen. That is a lot of money, but-- + +Peter Stockmann. Of course it will be necessary to raise a municipal +loan. + +Hovstad (getting up). Surely you never mean that the town must pay--? + +Aslaksen. Do you mean that it must come out of the municipal +funds?--out of the ill-filled pockets of the small tradesmen? + +Peter Stockmann. Well, my dear Mr. Aslaksen, where else is the money to +come from? + +Aslaksen. The gentlemen who own the Baths ought to provide that. + +Peter Stockmann. The proprietors of the Baths are not in a position to +incur any further expense. + +Aslaksen. Is that absolutely certain, Mr. Mayor? + +Peter Stockmann. I have satisfied myself that it is so. If the town +wants these very extensive alterations, it will have to pay for them. + +Aslaksen. But, damn it all--I beg your pardon--this is quite another +matter, Mr. Hovstad! + +Hovstad. It is, indeed. + +Peter Stockmann. The most fatal part of it is that we shall be obliged +to shut the Baths for a couple of years. + +Hovstad. Shut them? Shut them altogether? + +Aslaksen. For two years? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, the work will take as long as that--at least. + +Aslaksen. I'm damned if we will stand that, Mr. Mayor! What are we +householders to live upon in the meantime? + +Peter Stockmann. Unfortunately, that is an extremely difficult question +to answer, Mr. Aslaksen. But what would you have us do? Do you suppose +we shall have a single visitor in the town, if we go about proclaiming +that our water is polluted, that we are living over a plague spot, that +the entire town-- + +Aslaksen. And the whole thing is merely imagination? + +Peter Stockmann. With the best will in the world, I have not been able +to come to any other conclusion. + +Aslaksen. Well then I must say it is absolutely unjustifiable of Dr. +Stockmann--I beg your pardon, Mr. Mayor. + +Peter Stockmann. What you say is lamentably true, Mr. Aslaksen. My +brother has unfortunately always been a headstrong man. + +Aslaksen. After this, do you mean to give him your support, Mr. Hovstad? + +Hovstad. Can you suppose for a moment that I--? + +Peter Stockmann. I have drawn up a short resume of the situation as it +appears from a reasonable man's point of view. In it I have indicated +how certain possible defects might suitably be remedied without +outrunning the resources of the Baths Committee. + +Hovstad. Have you got it with you, Mr. Mayor? + +Peter Stockmann (fumbling in his pocket). Yes, I brought it with me in +case you should-- + +Aslaksen. Good Lord, there he is! + +Peter Stockmann. Who? My brother? + +Hovstad. Where? Where? + +Aslaksen. He has just gone through the printing room. + +Peter Stockmann. How unlucky! I don't want to meet him here, and I had +still several things to speak to you about. + +Hovstad (pointing to the door on the right). Go in there for the +present. + +Peter Stockmann. But--? + +Hovstad. You will only find Billing in there. + +Aslaksen. Quick, quick, Mr. Mayor--he is just coming. + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, very well; but see that you get rid of him +quickly. (Goes out through the door on the right, which ASLAKSEN opens +for him and shuts after him.) + +Hovstad. Pretend to be doing something, Aslaksen. (Sits down and +writes. ASLAKSEN begins foraging among a heap of newspapers that are +lying on a chair.) + +Dr. Stockmann (coming in from the printing room). Here I am again. +(Puts down his hat and stick.) + +Hovstad (writing). Already, Doctor? Hurry up with what we were speaking +about, Aslaksen. We are very pressed for time today. + +Dr. Stockmann (to ASLAKSEN). No proof for me to see yet, I hear. + +Aslaksen (without turning round). You couldn't expect it yet, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, no; but I am impatient, as you can understand. I +shall not know a moment's peace of mind until I see it in print. + +Hovstad. Hm!--It will take a good while yet, won't it, Aslaksen? + +Aslaksen. Yes, I am almost afraid it will. + +Dr. Stockmann. All right, my dear friends; I will come back. I do not +mind coming back twice if necessary. A matter of such great +importance--the welfare of the town at stake--it is no time to shirk +trouble, (is just going, but stops and comes back.) Look here--there is +one thing more I want to speak to you about. + +Hovstad. Excuse me, but could it not wait till some other time? + +Dr. Stockmann. I can tell you in half a dozen words. It is only this. +When my article is read tomorrow and it is realised that I have been +quietly working the whole winter for the welfare of the town-- + +Hovstad. Yes but, Doctor-- + +Dr. Stockmann. I know what you are going to say. You don't see how on +earth it was any more than my duty--my obvious duty as a citizen. Of +course it wasn't; I know that as well as you. But my fellow citizens, +you know--! Good Lord, think of all the good souls who think so highly +of me--! + +Aslaksen. Yes, our townsfolk have had a very high opinion of you so +far, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and that is just why I am afraid they--. Well, this +is the point; when this reaches them, especially the poorer classes, +and sounds in their ears like a summons to take the town's affairs into +their own hands for the future... + +Hovstad (getting up). Ahem I Doctor, I won't conceal from you the fact-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah I--I knew there was something in the wind! But I +won't hear a word of it. If anything of that sort is being set on foot-- + +Hovstad. Of what sort? + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, whatever it is--whether it is a demonstration in +my honour, or a banquet, or a subscription list for some presentation +to me--whatever it is, you most promise me solemnly and faithfully to +put a stop to it. You too, Mr. Aslaksen; do you understand? + +Hovstad. You must forgive me, Doctor, but sooner or later we must tell +you the plain truth-- + +(He is interrupted by the entrance Of MRS. STOCKMANN, who comes in from +the street door.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (seeing her husband). Just as I thought! + +Hovstad (going towards her). You too, Mrs. Stockmann? + +Dr. Stockmann. What on earth do you want here, Katherine? + +Mrs. Stockmann. I should think you know very well what I want. + +Hovstad, Won't you sit down? Or perhaps-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, thank you; don't trouble. And you must not be +offended at my coming to fetch my husband; I am the mother of three +children, you know. + +Dr. Stockmann. Nonsense!--we know all about that. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, one would not give you credit for much thought +for your wife and children today; if you had had that, you would not +have gone and dragged us all into misfortune. + +Dr. Stockmann. Are you out of your senses, Katherine! Because a man has +a wife and children, is he not to be allowed to proclaim the truth-is +he not to be allowed to be an actively useful citizen--is he not to be +allowed to do a service to his native town! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, Thomas--in reason. + +Aslaksen. Just what I say. Moderation in everything. + +Mrs. Stockmann. And that is why you wrong us, Mr. Hovstad, in enticing +my husband away from his home and making a dupe of him in all this. + +Hovstad. I certainly am making a dupe of no one-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Making a dupe of me! Do you suppose I should allow +myself to be duped! + +Mrs. Stockmann. It is just what you do. I know quite well you have more +brains than anyone in the town, but you are extremely easily duped, +Thomas. (To Hovstad.) Please do realise that he loses his post at the +Baths if you print what he has written. + +Aslaksen. What! + +Hovstad. Look here, Doctor! + +Dr. Stockmann (laughing). Ha-ha!--just let them try! No, no--they will +take good care not to. I have got the compact majority behind me, let +me tell you! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is just the worst of it--your having any such +horrid thing behind you. + +Dr. Stockmann. Rubbish, Katherine!--Go home and look after your house +and leave me to look after the community. How can you be so afraid, +when I am so confident and happy? (Walks up and down, rubbing his +hands.) Truth and the People will win the fight, you may be certain! I +see the whole of the broad-minded middle class marching like a +victorious army--! (Stops beside a chair.) What the deuce is that lying +there? + +Aslaksen Good Lord! + +Hovstad. Ahem! + +Dr. Stockmann. Here we have the topmost pinnacle of authority! (Takes +the Mayor's official hat carefully between his finger-tips and holds it +up in the air.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. The Mayor's hat! + +Dr. Stockmann. And here is the staff of office too. How in the name of +all that's wonderful--? + +Hovstad. Well, you see-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, I understand. He has been here trying to talk you +over. Ha-ha!--he made rather a mistake there! And as soon as he caught +sight of me in the printing room. (Bursts out laughing.) Did he run +away, Mr. Aslaksen? + +Aslaksen (hurriedly). Yes, he ran away, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Ran away without his stick or his--. Fiddlesticks! Peter +doesn't run away and leave his belongings behind him. But what the +deuce have you done with him? Ah!--in there, of course. Now you shall +see, Katherine! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Thomas--please don't--! + +Aslaksen. Don't be rash, Doctor. + +(DR. STOCKMANN has put on the Mayor's hat and taken his stick in his +hand. He goes up to the door, opens it, and stands with his hand to his +hat at the salute. PETER STOCKMANN comes in, red with anger. BILLING +follows him.) + +Peter Stockmann. What does this tomfoolery mean? + +Dr. Stockmann. Be respectful, my good Peter. I am the chief authority +in the town now. (Walks up and down.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (almost in tears). Really, Thomas! + +Peter Stockmann (following him about). Give me my hat and stick. + +Dr. Stockmann (in the same tone as before). If you are chief constable, +let me tell you that I am the Mayor--I am the master of the whole town, +please understand! + +Peter Stockmann. Take off my hat, I tell you. Remember it is part of an +official uniform. + +Dr. Stockmann. Pooh! Do you think the newly awakened lionhearted people +are going to be frightened by an official hat? There is going to be a +revolution in the town tomorrow, let me tell you. You thought you could +turn me out; but now I shall turn you out--turn you out of all your +various offices. Do you think I cannot? Listen to me. I have triumphant +social forces behind me. Hovstad and Billing will thunder in the +"People's Messenger," and Aslaksen will take the field at the head of +the whole Householders' Association-- + +Aslaksen. That I won't, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course you will-- + +Peter Stockmann. Ah!--may I ask then if Mr. Hovstad intends to join +this agitation? + +Hovstad. No, Mr. Mayor. + +Aslaksen. No, Mr. Hovstad is not such a fool as to go and ruin his +paper and himself for the sake of an imaginary grievance. + +Dr. Stockmann (looking round him). What does this mean? + +Hovstad. You have represented your case in a false light, Doctor, and +therefore I am unable to give you my support. + +Billing. And after what the Mayor was so kind as to tell me just now, +I-- + +Dr. Stockmann. A false light! Leave that part of it to me. Only print +my article; I am quite capable of defending it. + +Hovstad. I am not going to print it. I cannot and will not and dare not +print it. + +Dr. Stockmann. You dare not? What nonsense!--you are the editor; and an +editor controls his paper, I suppose! + +Aslaksen. No, it is the subscribers, Doctor. + +Peter Stockmann. Fortunately, yes. + +Aslaksen. It is public opinion--the enlightened public--householders +and people of that kind; they control the newspapers. + +Dr. Stockmann (composedly). And I have all these influences against me? + +Aslaksen. Yes, you have. It would mean the absolute ruin of the +community if your article were to appear. + +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed. + +Peter Stockmann. My hat and stick, if you please. (DR. STOCKMANN takes +off the hat and lays it on the table with the stick. PETER STOCKMANN +takes them up.) Your authority as mayor has come to an untimely end. + +Dr. Stockmann. We have not got to the end yet. (To HOVSTAD.) Then it is +quite impossible for you to print my article in the "People's +Messenger"? + +Hovstad. Quite impossible--out of regard for your family as well. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You need not concern yourself about his family, thank +you, Mr. Hovstad. + +Peter Stockmann (taking a paper from his pocket). It will be +sufficient, for the guidance of the public, if this appears. It is an +official statement. May I trouble you? + +Hovstad (taking the paper). Certainly; I will see that it is printed. + +Dr. Stockmann. But not mine. Do you imagine that you can silence me and +stifle the truth! You will not find it so easy as you suppose. Mr. +Aslaksen, kindly take my manuscript at once and print it as a +pamphlet--at my expense. I will have four hundred copies--no, five or +six hundred. + +Aslaksen. If you offered me its weight in gold, I could not lend my +press for any such purpose, Doctor. It would be flying in the face of +public opinion. You will not get it printed anywhere in the town. + +Dr. Stockmann. Then give it me back. + +Hovstad (giving him the MS.). Here it is. + +Dr. Stockmann (taking his hat and stick). It shall be made public all +the same. I will read it out at a mass meeting of the townspeople. All +my fellow-citizens shall hear the voice of truth! + +Peter Stockmann. You will not find any public body in the town that +will give you the use of their hall for such a purpose. + +Aslaksen. Not a single one, I am certain. + +Billing. No, I'm damned if you will find one. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But this is too shameful! Why should every one turn +against you like that? + +Dr. Stockmann (angrily). I will tell you why. It is because all the men +in this town are old women--like you; they all think of nothing but +their families, and never of the community. + +Mrs. Stockmann (putting her arm into his). Then I will show them that +an old woman can be a man for once. I am going to stand by you, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. Bravely said, Katherine! It shall be made public--as I +am a living soul! If I can't hire a hall, I shall hire a drum, and +parade the town with it and read it at every street-corner. + +Peter Stockmann. You are surely not such an errant fool as that! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, I am. + +Aslaksen. You won't find a single man in the whole town to go with you. + +Billing. No, I'm damned if you will. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Don't give in, Thomas. I will tell the boys to go with +you. + +Dr. Stockmann. That is a splendid idea! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Morten will be delighted; and Ejlif will do whatever he +does. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and Petra!--and you too, Katherine! + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, I won't do that; but I will stand at the window and +watch you, that's what I will do. + +Dr. Stockmann (puts his arms round her and kisses her). Thank you, my +dear! Now you and I are going to try a fall, my fine gentlemen! I am +going to see whether a pack of cowards can succeed in gagging a patriot +who wants to purify society! (He and his wife go out by the street +door.) + +Peter Stockmann (shaking his head seriously). Now he has sent her out +of her senses, too. + + + + +ACT IV + + +(SCENE.--A big old-fashioned room in CAPTAIN HORSTER'S house. At the +back folding-doors, which are standing open, lead to an ante-room. +Three windows in the left-hand wall. In the middle of the opposite wall +a platform has been erected. On this is a small table with two candles, +a water-bottle and glass, and a bell. The room is lit by lamps placed +between the windows. In the foreground on the left there is a table +with candles and a chair. To the right is a door and some chairs +standing near it. The room is nearly filled with a crowd of townspeople +of all sorts, a few women and schoolboys being amongst them. People are +still streaming in from the back, and the room is soon filled.) + +1st Citizen (meeting another). Hullo, Lamstad! You here too? + +2nd Citizen. I go to every public meeting, I do. + +3rd Citizen. Brought your whistle too, I expect! + +2nd Citizen. I should think so. Haven't you? + +3rd Citizen. Rather! And old Evensen said he was going to bring a +cow-horn, he did. + +2nd Citizen. Good old Evensen! (Laughter among the crowd.) + +4th Citizen (coming up to them). I say, tell me what is going on here +tonight? + +2nd Citizen. Dr. Stockmann is going to deliver an address attacking the +Mayor. + +4th Citizen. But the Mayor is his brother. + +1st Citizen. That doesn't matter; Dr. Stockmann's not the chap to be +afraid. + +Peter Stockmann. For various reasons, which you will easily understand, +I must beg to be excused. But fortunately we have amongst us a man who +I think will be acceptable to you all. I refer to the President of the +Householders' Association, Mr. Aslaksen. + +Several voices. Yes--Aslaksen! Bravo Aslaksen! + +(DR. STOCKMANN takes up his MS. and walks up and down the platform.) + +Aslaksen. Since my fellow-citizens choose to entrust me with this duty, +I cannot refuse. + +(Loud applause. ASLAKSEN mounts the platform.) + +Billing (writing), "Mr. Aslaksen was elected with enthusiasm." + +Aslaksen. And now, as I am in this position, I should like to say a few +brief words. I am a quiet and peaceable man, who believes in discreet +moderation, and--and--in moderate discretion. All my friends can bear +witness to that. + +Several Voices. That's right! That's right, Aslaksen! + +Aslaksen. I have learned in the school of life and experience that +moderation is the most valuable virtue a citizen can possess-- + +Peter Stockmann. Hear, hear! + +Aslaksen. --And moreover, that discretion and moderation are what +enable a man to be of most service to the community. I would therefore +suggest to our esteemed fellow-citizen, who has called this meeting, +that he should strive to keep strictly within the bounds of moderation. + +A Man by the door. Three cheers for the Moderation Society! + +A Voice. Shame! + +Several Voices. Sh!-Sh! + +Aslaksen. No interruptions, gentlemen, please! Does anyone wish to make +any remarks? + +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman. + +Aslaksen. The Mayor will address the meeting. + +Peter Stockmann. In consideration of the close relationship in which, +as you all know, I stand to the present Medical Officer of the Baths, I +should have preferred not to speak this evening. But my official +position with regard to the Baths and my solicitude for the vital +interests of the town compel me to bring forward a motion. I venture to +presume that there is not a single one of our citizens present who +considers it desirable that unreliable and exaggerated accounts of the +sanitary condition of the Baths and the town should be spread abroad. + +Several Voices. No, no! Certainly not! We protest against it! + +Peter Stockmann. Therefore, I should like to propose that the meeting +should not permit the Medical Officer either to read or to comment on +his proposed lecture. + +Dr. Stockmann (impatiently). Not permit--! What the devil--! + +Mrs. Stockmann (coughing). Ahem!-ahem! + +Dr. Stockmann (collecting himself). Very well, Go ahead! + +Peter Stockmann. In my communication to the "People's Messenger," I +have put the essential facts before the public in such a way that every +fair-minded citizen can easily form his own opinion. From it you will +see that the main result of the Medical Officer's proposals--apart from +their constituting a vote of censure on the leading men of the +town--would be to saddle the ratepayers with an unnecessary expenditure +of at least some thousands of pounds. + +(Sounds of disapproval among the audience, and some cat-calls.) + +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). Silence, please, gentlemen! I beg to +support the Mayor's motion. I quite agree with him that there is +something behind this agitation started by the Doctor. He talks about +the Baths; but it is a revolution he is aiming at--he wants to get the +administration of the town put into new hands. No one doubts the +honesty of the Doctor's intentions--no one will suggest that there can +be any two opinions as to that, I myself am a believer in +self-government for the people, provided it does not fall too heavily +on the ratepayers. But that would be the case here; and that is why I +will see Dr. Stockmann damned--I beg your pardon--before I go with him +in the matter. You can pay too dearly for a thing sometimes; that is my +opinion. + +(Loud applause on all sides.) + +Hovstad. I, too, feel called upon to explain my position. Dr. +Stockmann's agitation appeared to be gaining a certain amount of +sympathy at first, so I supported it as impartially as I could. But +presently we had reason to suspect that we had allowed ourselves to be +misled by misrepresentation of the state of affairs-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Misrepresentation--! + +Hovstad. Well, let us say a not entirely trustworthy representation. +The Mayor's statement has proved that. I hope no one here has any doubt +as to my liberal principles; the attitude of the "People's Messenger" +towards important political questions is well known to everyone. But +the advice of experienced and thoughtful men has convinced me that in +purely local matters a newspaper ought to proceed with a certain +caution. + +Aslaksen. I entirely agree with the speaker. + +Hovstad. And, in the matter before us, it is now an undoubted fact that +Dr. Stockmann has public opinion against him. Now, what is an editor's +first and most obvious duty, gentlemen? Is it not to work in harmony +with his readers? Has he not received a sort of tacit mandate to work +persistently and assiduously for the welfare of those whose opinions he +represents? Or is it possible I am mistaken in that? + +Voices from the crowd. No, no! You are quite right! + +Hovstad. It has cost me a severe struggle to break with a man in whose +house I have been lately a frequent guest--a man who till today has +been able to pride himself on the undivided goodwill of his +fellow-citizens--a man whose only, or at all events whose essential, +failing is that he is swayed by his heart rather than his head. + +A few scattered voices. That is true! Bravo, Stockmann! + +Hovstad. But my duty to the community obliged me to break with him. And +there is another consideration that impels me to oppose him, and, as +far as possible, to arrest him on the perilous course he has adopted; +that is, consideration for his family-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Please stick to the water-supply and drainage! + +Hovstad. --consideration, I repeat, for his wife and his children for +whom he has made no provision. + +Morten. Is that us, mother? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Hush! + +Aslaksen. I will now put the Mayor's proposition to the vote. + +Dr. Stockmann. There is no necessity! Tonight I have no intention of +dealing with all that filth down at the Baths. No; I have something +quite different to say to you. + +Peter Stockmann (aside). What is coming now? + +A Drunken Man (by the entrance door). I am a ratepayer! And therefore, +I have a right to speak too! And my entire--firm--inconceivable opinion +is-- + +A number of voices. Be quiet, at the back there! + +Others. He is drunk! Turn him out! (They turn him out.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Am I allowed to speak? + +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). Dr. Stockmann will address the meeting. + +Dr. Stockmann. I should like to have seen anyone, a few days ago, dare +to attempt to silence me as has been done tonight! I would have +defended my sacred rights as a man, like a lion! But now it is all one +to me; I have something of even weightier importance to say to you. +(The crowd presses nearer to him, MORTEN Kiil conspicuous among them.) + +Dr. Stockmann (continuing). I have thought and pondered a great deal, +these last few days--pondered over such a variety of things that in the +end my head seemed too full to hold them-- + +Peter Stockmann (with a cough). Ahem! + +Dr. Stockmann. --but I got them clear in my mind at last, and then I +saw the whole situation lucidly. And that is why I am standing here +to-night. I have a great revelation to make to you, my fellow-citizens! +I will impart to you a discovery of a far wider scope than the trifling +matter that our water supply is poisoned and our medicinal Baths are +standing on pestiferous soil. + +A number of voices (shouting). Don't talk about the Baths! We won't +hear you! None of that! + +Dr. Stockmann. I have already told you that what I want to speak about +is the great discovery I have made lately--the discovery that all the +sources of our moral life are poisoned and that the whole fabric of our +civic community is founded on the pestiferous soil of falsehood. + +Voices of disconcerted Citizens. What is that he says? + +Peter Stockmann. Such an insinuation--! + +Aslaksen (with his hand on his bell). I call upon the speaker to +moderate his language. + +Dr. Stockmann. I have always loved my native town as a man only can +love the home of his youthful days. I was not old when I went away from +here; and exile, longing and memories cast as it were an additional +halo over both the town and its inhabitants. (Some clapping and +applause.) And there I stayed, for many years, in a horrible hole far +away up north. When I came into contact with some of the people that +lived scattered about among the rocks, I often thought it would of been +more service to the poor half-starved creatures if a veterinary doctor +had been sent up there, instead of a man like me. (Murmurs among the +crowd.) + +Billing (laying down his pen). I'm damned if I have ever heard--! + +Hovstad. It is an insult to a respectable population! + +Dr. Stockmann. Wait a bit! I do not think anyone will charge me with +having forgotten my native town up there. I was like one of the +eider-ducks brooding on its nest, and what I hatched was the plans for +these Baths. (Applause and protests.) And then when fate at last +decreed for me the great happiness of coming home again--I assure you, +gentlemen, I thought I had nothing more in the world to wish for. Or +rather, there was one thing I wished for--eagerly, untiringly, +ardently--and that was to be able to be of service to my native town +and the good of the community. + +Peter Stockmann (looking at the ceiling). You chose a strange way of +doing it--ahem! + +Dr. Stockmann. And so, with my eyes blinded to the real facts, I +revelled in happiness. But yesterday morning--no, to be precise, it was +yesterday afternoon--the eyes of my mind were opened wide, and the +first thing I realised was the colossal stupidity of the authorities--. +(Uproar, shouts and laughter, MRS. STOCKMANN coughs persistently.) + +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman! + +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). By virtue of my authority--! + +Dr. Stockmann. It is a petty thing to catch me up on a word, Mr. +Aslaksen. What I mean is only that I got scent of the unbelievable +piggishness our leading men had been responsible for down at the Baths. +I can't stand leading men at any price!--I have had enough of such +people in my time. They are like billy-goats on a young plantation; +they do mischief everywhere. They stand in a free man's way, whichever +way he turns, and what I should like best would be to see them +exterminated like any other vermin--. (Uproar.) + +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman, can we allow such expressions to pass? + +Aslaksen (with his hand on his bell). Doctor--! + +Dr. Stockmann. I cannot understand how it is that I have only now +acquired a clear conception of what these gentry are, when I had almost +daily before my eyes in this town such an excellent specimen of +them--my brother Peter--slow-witted and hide-bound in prejudice--. +(Laughter, uproar and hisses. MRS. STOCKMANN Sits coughing assiduously. +ASLAKSEN rings his bell violently.) + +The Drunken Man (who has got in again). Is it me he is talking about? +My name's Petersen, all right--but devil take me if I-- + +Angry Voices. Turn out that drunken man! Turn him out. (He is turned +out again.) + +Peter Stockmann. Who was that person? + +1st Citizen. I don't know who he is, Mr. Mayor. + +2nd Citizen. He doesn't belong here. + +3rd Citizen. I expect he is a navvy from over at--(the rest is +inaudible). + +Aslaksen. He had obviously had too much beer. Proceed, Doctor; but +please strive to be moderate in your language. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very well, gentlemen, I will say no more about our +leading men. And if anyone imagines, from what I have just said, that +my object is to attack these people this evening, he is +wrong--absolutely wide of the mark. For I cherish the comforting +conviction that these parasites--all these venerable relics of a dying +school of thought--are most admirably paving the way for their own +extinction; they need no doctor's help to hasten their end. Nor is it +folk of that kind who constitute the most pressing danger to the +community. It is not they who are most instrumental in poisoning the +sources of our moral life and infecting the ground on which we stand. +It is not they who are the most dangerous enemies of truth and freedom +amongst us. + +Shouts from all sides. Who then? Who is it? Name! Name! + +Dr. Stockmann. You may depend upon it--I shall name them! That is +precisely the great discovery I made yesterday. (Raises his voice.) The +most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom amongst us is the compact +majority--yes, the damned compact Liberal majority--that is it! Now you +know! (Tremendous uproar. Most of the crowd are shouting, stamping and +hissing. Some of the older men among them exchange stolen glances and +seem to be enjoying themselves. MRS. STOCKMANN gets up, looking +anxious. EJLIF and MORTEN advance threateningly upon some schoolboys +who are playing pranks. ASLAKSEN rings his bell and begs for silence. +HOVSTAD and BILLING both talk at once, but are inaudible. At last quiet +is restored.) + +Aslaksen. As Chairman, I call upon the speaker to withdraw the +ill-considered expressions he has just used. + +Dr. Stockmann. Never, Mr. Aslaksen! It is the majority in our community +that denies me my freedom and seeks to prevent my speaking the truth. + +Hovstad. The majority always has right on its side. + +Billing. And truth too, by God! + +Dr. Stockmann. The majority never has right on its side. Never, I say! +That is one of these social lies against which an independent, +intelligent man must wage war. Who is it that constitute the majority +of the population in a country? Is it the clever folk, or the stupid? I +don't imagine you will dispute the fact that at present the stupid +people are in an absolutely overwhelming majority all the world over. +But, good Lord!--you can never pretend that it is right that the stupid +folk should govern the clever ones I (Uproar and cries.) Oh, yes--you +can shout me down, I know! But you cannot answer me. The majority has +might on its side--unfortunately; but right it has not. I am in the +right--I and a few other scattered individuals. The minority is always +in the right. (Renewed uproar.) + +Hovstad. Aha!--so Dr. Stockmann has become an aristocrat since the day +before yesterday! + +Dr. Stockmann. I have already said that I don't intend to waste a word +on the puny, narrow-chested, short-winded crew whom we are leaving +astern. Pulsating life no longer concerns itself with them. I am +thinking of the few, the scattered few amongst us, who have absorbed +new and vigorous truths. Such men stand, as it were, at the outposts, +so far ahead that the compact majority has not yet been able to come up +with them; and there they are fighting for truths that are too +newly-born into the world of consciousness to have any considerable +number of people on their side as yet. + +Hovstad. So the Doctor is a revolutionary now! + +Dr. Stockmann. Good heavens--of course I am, Mr. Hovstad! I propose to +raise a revolution against the lie that the majority has the monopoly +of the truth. What sort of truths are they that the majority usually +supports? They are truths that are of such advanced age that they are +beginning to break up. And if a truth is as old as that, it is also in +a fair way to become a lie, gentlemen. (Laughter and mocking cries.) +Yes, believe me or not, as you like; but truths are by no means as +long-lived at Methuselah--as some folk imagine. A normally constituted +truth lives, let us say, as a rule seventeen or eighteen, or at most +twenty years--seldom longer. But truths as aged as that are always worn +frightfully thin, and nevertheless it is only then that the majority +recognises them and recommends them to the community as wholesome moral +nourishment. There is no great nutritive value in that sort of fare, I +can assure you; and, as a doctor, I ought to know. These "majority +truths" are like last year's cured meat--like rancid, tainted ham; and +they are the origin of the moral scurvy that is rampant in our +communities. + +Aslaksen. It appears to me that the speaker is wandering a long way +from his subject. + +Peter Stockmann. I quite agree with the Chairman. + +Dr. Stockmann. Have you gone clean out of your senses, Peter? I am +sticking as closely to my subject as I can; for my subject is precisely +this, that it is the masses, the majority--this infernal compact +majority--that poisons the sources of our moral life and infects the +ground we stand on. + +Hovstad. And all this because the great, broadminded majority of the +people is prudent enough to show deference only to well-ascertained and +well-approved truths? + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, my good Mr. Hovstad, don't talk nonsense about +well-ascertained truths! The truths of which the masses now approve are +the very truths that the fighters at the outposts held to in the days +of our grandfathers. We fighters at the outposts nowadays no longer +approve of them; and I do not believe there is any other +well-ascertained truth except this, that no community can live a +healthy life if it is nourished only on such old marrowless truths. + +Hovstad. But, instead of standing there using vague generalities, it +would be interesting if you would tell us what these old marrowless +truths are, that we are nourished on. + +(Applause from many quarters.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, I could give you a whole string of such +abominations; but to begin with I will confine myself to one +well-approved truth, which at bottom is a foul lie, but upon which +nevertheless Mr. Hovstad and the "People's Messenger" and all the +"Messenger's" supporters are nourished. + +Hovstad. And that is--? + +Dr. Stockmann. That is, the doctrine you have inherited from your +forefathers and proclaim thoughtlessly far and wide--the doctrine that +the public, the crowd, the masses, are the essential part of the +population--that they constitute the People--that the common folk, the +ignorant and incomplete element in the community, have the same right +to pronounce judgment and to, approve, to direct and to govern, as the +isolated, intellectually superior personalities in it. + +Billing. Well, damn me if ever I-- + +Hovstad (at the same time, shouting out). Fellow-citizens, take good +note of that! + +A number of voices (angrily). Oho!--we are not the People! Only the +superior folk are to govern, are they! + +A Workman. Turn the fellow out for talking such rubbish! + +Another. Out with him! + +Another (calling out). Blow your horn, Evensen! + +(A horn is blown loudly, amidst hisses and an angry uproar.) + +Dr. Stockmann (when the noise has somewhat abated). Be reasonable! +Can't you stand hearing the voice of truth for once? I don't in the +least expect you to agree with me all at once; but I must say I did +expect Mr. Hovstad to admit I was right, when he had recovered his +composure a little. He claims to be a freethinker-- + +Voices (in murmurs of astonishment). Freethinker, did he say? Is +Hovstad a freethinker? + +Hovstad (shouting). Prove it, Dr. Stockmann! When have I said so in +print? + +Dr. Stockmann (reflecting). No, confound it, you are right!--you have +never had the courage to. Well, I won't put you in a hole, Mr. Hovstad. +Let us say it is I that am the freethinker, then. I am going to prove +to you, scientifically, that the "People's Messenger" leads you by the +nose in a shameful manner when it tells you that you--that the common +people, the crowd, the masses, are the real essence of the People. That +is only a newspaper lie, I tell you! The common people are nothing more +than the raw material of which a People is made. (Groans, laughter and +uproar.) Well, isn't that the case? Isn't there an enormous difference +between a well-bred and an ill-bred strain of animals? Take, for +instance, a common barn-door hen. What sort of eating do you get from a +shrivelled up old scrag of a fowl like that? Not much, do you! And what +sort of eggs does it lay? A fairly good crow or a raven can lay pretty +nearly as good an egg. But take a well-bred Spanish or Japanese hen, or +a good pheasant or a turkey--then you will see the difference. Or take +the case of dogs, with whom we humans are on such intimate terms. Think +first of an ordinary common cur--I mean one of the horrible, +coarse-haired, low-bred curs that do nothing but run about the streets +and befoul the walls of the houses. Compare one of these curs with a +poodle whose sires for many generations have been bred in a gentleman's +house, where they have had the best of food and had the opportunity of +hearing soft voices and music. Do you not think that the poodle's brain +is developed to quite a different degree from that of the cur? Of +course it is. It is puppies of well-bred poodles like that, that +showmen train to do incredibly clever tricks--things that a common cur +could never learn to do even if it stood on its head. (Uproar and +mocking cries.) + +A Citizen (calls out). Are you going to make out we are dogs, now? + +Another Citizen. We are not animals, Doctor! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes but, bless my soul, we are, my friend! It is true we +are the finest animals anyone could wish for; but, even among us, +exceptionally fine animals are rare. There is a tremendous difference +between poodle-men and cur-men. And the amusing part of it is, that Mr. +Hovstad quite agrees with me as long as it is a question of four-footed +animals-- + +Hovstad. Yes, it is true enough as far as they are concerned. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very well. But as soon as I extend the principle and +apply it to two-legged animals, Mr. Hovstad stops short. He no longer +dares to think independently, or to pursue his ideas to their logical +conclusion; so, he turns the whole theory upside down and proclaims in +the "People's Messenger" that it is the barn-door hens and street curs +that are the finest specimens in the menagerie. But that is always the +way, as long as a man retains the traces of common origin and has not +worked his way up to intellectual distinction. + +Hovstad. I lay no claim to any sort of distinction, I am the son of +humble country-folk, and I am proud that the stock I come from is +rooted deep among the common people he insults. + +Voices. Bravo, Hovstad! Bravo! Bravo! + +Dr. Stockmann. The kind of common people I mean are not only to be +found low down in the social scale; they crawl and swarm all around +us--even in the highest social positions. You have only to look at your +own fine, distinguished Mayor! My brother Peter is every bit as +plebeian as anyone that walks in two shoes-- (laughter and hisses) + +Peter Stockmann. I protest against personal allusions of this kind. + +Dr. Stockmann (imperturbably).--and that, not because he is like +myself, descended from some old rascal of a pirate from Pomerania or +thereabouts--because that is who we are descended from-- + +Peter Stockmann. An absurd legend. I deny it! + +Dr. Stockmann. --but because he thinks what his superiors think, and +holds the same opinions as they, People who do that are, intellectually +speaking, common people; and, that is why my magnificent brother Peter +is in reality so very far from any distinction--and consequently also +so far from being liberal-minded. + +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman--! + +Hovstad. So it is only the distinguished men that are liberal-minded in +this country? We are learning something quite new! (Laughter.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that is part of my new discovery too. And another +part of it is that broad-mindedness is almost precisely the same thing +as morality. That is why I maintain that it is absolutely inexcusable +in the "People's Messenger" to proclaim, day in and day out, the false +doctrine that it is the masses, the crowd, the compact majority, that +have the monopoly of broad-mindedness and morality--and that vice and +corruption and every kind of intellectual depravity are the result of +culture, just as all the filth that is draining into our Baths is the +result of the tanneries up at Molledal! (Uproar and interruptions. DR. +STOCKMANN is undisturbed, and goes on, carried away by his ardour, with +a smile.) And yet this same "People's Messenger" can go on preaching +that the masses ought to be elevated to higher conditions of life! But, +bless my soul, if the "Messenger's" teaching is to be depended upon, +this very raising up the masses would mean nothing more or less than +setting them straightway upon the paths of depravity! Happily the +theory that culture demoralises is only an old falsehood that our +forefathers believed in and we have inherited. No, it is ignorance, +poverty, ugly conditions of life, that do the devil's work! In a house +which does not get aired and swept every day--my wife Katherine +maintains that the floor ought to be scrubbed as well, but that is a +debatable question--in such a house, let me tell you, people will lose +within two or three years the power of thinking or acting in a moral +manner. Lack of oxygen weakens the conscience. And there must be a +plentiful lack of oxygen in very many houses in this town, I should +think, judging from the fact that the whole compact majority can be +unconscientious enough to wish to build the town's prosperity on a +quagmire of falsehood and deceit. + +Aslaksen. We cannot allow such a grave accusation to be flung at a +citizen community. + +A Citizen. I move that the Chairman direct the speaker to sit down. + +Voices (angrily). Hear, hear! Quite right! Make him sit down! + +Dr. Stockmann (losing his self-control). Then I will go and shout the +truth at every street corner! I will write it in other towns' +newspapers! The whole country shall know what is going on here! + +Hovstad. It almost seems as if Dr. Stockmann's intention were to ruin +the town. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, my native town is so dear to me that I would rather +ruin it than see it flourishing upon a lie. + +Aslaksen. This is really serious. (Uproar and cat-calls MRS. STOCKMANN +coughs, but to no purpose; her husband does not listen to her any +longer.) + +Hovstad (shouting above the din). A man must be a public enemy to wish +to ruin a whole community! + +Dr. Stockmann (with growing fervor). What does the destruction of a +community matter, if it lives on lies? It ought to be razed to the +ground. I tell you-- All who live by lies ought to be exterminated like +vermin! You will end by infecting the whole country; you will bring +about such a state of things that the whole country will deserve to be +ruined. And if things come to that pass, I shall say from the bottom of +my heart: Let the whole country perish, let all these people be +exterminated! + +Voices from the crowd. That is talking like an out-and-out enemy of the +people! + +Billing. There sounded the voice of the people, by all that's holy! + +The whole crowd (shouting). Yes, yes! He is an enemy of the people! He +hates his country! He hates his own people! + +Aslaksen. Both as a citizen and as an individual, I am profoundly +disturbed by what we have had to listen to. Dr. Stockmann has shown +himself in a light I should never have dreamed of. I am unhappily +obliged to subscribe to the opinion which I have just heard my +estimable fellow-citizens utter; and I propose that we should give +expression to that opinion in a resolution. I propose a resolution as +follows: "This meeting declares that it considers Dr. Thomas Stockmann, +Medical Officer of the Baths, to be an enemy of the people." (A storm +of cheers and applause. A number of men surround the DOCTOR and hiss +him. MRS. STOCKMANN and PETRA have got up from their seats. MORTEN and +EJLIF are fighting the other schoolboys for hissing; some of their +elders separate them.) + +Dr. Stockmann (to the men who are hissing him). Oh, you fools! I tell +you that-- + +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). We cannot hear you now, Doctor. A formal +vote is about to be taken; but, out of regard for personal feelings, it +shall be by ballot and not verbal. Have you any clean paper, Mr. +Billing? + +Billing. I have both blue and white here. + +Aslaksen (going to him). That will do nicely; we shall get on more +quickly that way. Cut it up into small strips--yes, that's it. (To the +meeting.) Blue means no; white means yes. I will come round myself and +collect votes. (PETER STOCKMANN leaves the hall. ASLAKSEN and one or +two others go round the room with the slips of paper in their hats.) + +1st Citizen (to HOVSTAD). I say, what has come to the Doctor? What are +we to think of it? + +Hovstad. Oh, you know how headstrong he is. + +2nd Citizen (to BILLING). Billing, you go to their house--have you ever +noticed if the fellow drinks? + +Billing. Well I'm hanged if I know what to say. There are always +spirits on the table when you go. + +3rd Citizen. I rather think he goes quite off his head sometimes. + +1st Citizen. I wonder if there is any madness in his family? + +Billing. I shouldn't wonder if there were. + +4th Citizen. No, it is nothing more than sheer malice; he wants to get +even with somebody for something or other. + +Billing. Well certainly he suggested a rise in his salary on one +occasion lately, and did not get it. + +The Citizens (together). Ah!--then it is easy to understand how it is! + +The Drunken Man (who has got among the audience again). I want a blue +one, I do! And I want a white one too! + +Voices. It's that drunken chap again! Turn him out! + +Morten Kiil. (going up to DR. STOCKMANN). Well, Stockmann, do you see +what these monkey tricks of yours lead to? + +Dr. Stockmann. I have done my duty. + +Morten Kiil. What was that you said about the tanneries at Molledal? + +Dr. Stockmann. You heard well enough. I said they were the source of +all the filth. + +Morten Kiil. My tannery too? + +Dr. Stockmann. Unfortunately your tannery is by far the worst. + +Morten Kiil. Are you going to put that in the papers? + +Dr. Stockmann. I shall conceal nothing. + +Morten Kiil. That may cost you dearly, Stockmann. (Goes out.) + +A Stout Man (going UP to CAPTAIN HORSTER, Without taking any notice of +the ladies). Well, Captain, so you lend your house to enemies of the +people? + +Horster. I imagine I can do what I like with my own possessions, Mr. +Vik. + +The Stout Man. Then you can have no objection to my doing the same with +mine. + +Horster. What do you mean, sir? + +The Stout Man. You shall hear from me in the morning. (Turns his back +on him and moves off.) + +Petra. Was that not your owner, Captain Horster? + +Horster. Yes, that was Mr. Vik the shipowner. + +Aslaksen (with the voting-papers in his hands, gets up on to the +platform and rings his bell). Gentlemen, allow me to announce the +result. By the votes of every one here except one person-- + +A Young Man. That is the drunk chap! + +Aslaksen. By the votes of everyone here except a tipsy man, this +meeting of citizens declares Dr. Thomas Stockmann to be an enemy of the +people. (Shouts and applause.) Three cheers for our ancient and +honourable citizen community! (Renewed applause.) Three cheers for our +able and energetic Mayor, who has so loyally suppressed the promptings +of family feeling! (Cheers.) The meeting is dissolved. (Gets down.) + +Billing. Three cheers for the Chairman! + +The whole crowd. Three cheers for Aslaksen! Hurrah! + +Dr. Stockmann. My hat and coat, Petra! Captain, have you room on your +ship for passengers to the New World? + +Horster. For you and yours we will make room, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann (as PETRA helps him into his coat), Good. Come, +Katherine! Come, boys! + +Mrs. Stockmann (in an undertone). Thomas, dear, let us go out by the +back way. + +Dr. Stockmann. No back ways for me, Katherine, (Raising his voice.) You +will hear more of this enemy of the people, before he shakes the dust +off his shoes upon you! I am not so forgiving as a certain Person; I do +not say: "I forgive you, for ye know not what ye do." + +Aslaksen (shouting). That is a blasphemous comparison, Dr. Stockmann! + +Billing. It is, by God! It's dreadful for an earnest man to listen to. + +A Coarse Voice. Threatens us now, does he! + +Other Voices (excitedly). Let's go and break his windows! Duck him in +the fjord! + +Another Voice. Blow your horn, Evensen! Pip, pip! + +(Horn-blowing, hisses, and wild cries. DR. STOCKMANN goes out through +the hall with his family, HORSTER elbowing a way for them.) + +The Whole Crowd (howling after them as they go). Enemy of the People! +Enemy of the People! + +Billing (as he puts his papers together). Well, I'm damned if I go and +drink toddy with the Stockmanns tonight! + +(The crowd press towards the exit. The uproar continues outside; shouts +of "Enemy of the People!" are heard from without.) + + + + +ACT V + + +(SCENE.--DR. STOCKMANN'S study. Bookcases and cabinets containing +specimens, line the walls. At the back is a door leading to the hall; +in the foreground on the left, a door leading to the sitting-room. In +the righthand wall are two windows, of which all the panes are broken. +The DOCTOR'S desk, littered with books and papers, stands in the middle +of the room, which is in disorder. It is morning. DR. STOCKMANN in +dressing-gown, slippers and a smoking-cap, is bending down and raking +with an umbrella under one of the cabinets. After a little while he +rakes out a stone.) + +Dr. Stockmann (calling through the open sitting-room door). Katherine, +I have found another one. + +Mrs. Stockmann (from the sitting-room). Oh, you will find a lot more +yet, I expect. + +Dr. Stockmann (adding the stone to a heap of others on the table). I +shall treasure these stones as relics. Ejlif and Morten shall look at +them every day, and when they are grown up they shall inherit them as +heirlooms. (Rakes about under a bookcase.) Hasn't--what the deuce is +her name?--the girl, you know--hasn't she been to fetch the glazier yet? + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in). Yes, but he said he didn't know if he would +be able to come today. + +Dr. Stockmann. You will see he won't dare to come. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, that is just what Randine thought--that he didn't +dare to, on account of the neighbours. (Calls into the sitting-room.) +What is it you want, Randine? Give it to me. (Goes in, and comes out +again directly.) Here is a letter for you, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Let me see it. (Opens and reads it.) Ah!--of course. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Who is it from? + +Dr. Stockmann. From the landlord. Notice to quit. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Is it possible? Such a nice man + +Dr. Stockmann (looking at the letter). Does not dare do otherwise, he +says. Doesn't like doing it, but dare not do otherwise--on account of +his fellow-citizens--out of regard for public opinion. Is in a +dependent position--dares not offend certain influential men. + +Mrs. Stockmann. There, you see, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes, I see well enough; the whole lot of them in +the town are cowards; not a man among them dares do anything for fear +of the others. (Throws the letter on to the table.) But it doesn't +matter to us, Katherine. We are going to sail away to the New World, +and-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas, are you sure we are well advised to take +this step? + +Dr. Stockmann. Are you suggesting that I should stay here, where they +have pilloried me as an enemy of the people--branded me--broken my +windows! And just look here, Katherine--they have torn a great rent in +my black trousers too! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, dear!--and they are the best pair you have got! + +Dr. Stockmann. You should never wear your best trousers when you go out +to fight for freedom and truth. It is not that I care so much about the +trousers, you know; you can always sew them up again for me. But that +the common herd should dare to make this attack on me, as if they were +my equals--that is what I cannot, for the life of me, swallow! + +Mrs. Stockmann. There is no doubt they have behaved very ill toward +you, Thomas; but is that sufficient reason for our leaving our native +country for good and all? + +Dr. Stockmann. If we went to another town, do you suppose we should not +find the common people just as insolent as they are here? Depend upon +it, there is not much to choose between them. Oh, well, let the curs +snap--that is not the worst part of it. The worst is that, from one end +of this country to the other, every man is the slave of his Party. +Although, as far as that goes, I daresay it is not much better in the +free West either; the compact majority, and liberal public opinion, and +all that infernal old bag of tricks are probably rampant there too. But +there things are done on a larger scale, you see. They may kill you, +but they won't put you to death by slow torture. They don't squeeze a +free man's soul in a vice, as they do here. And, if need be, one can +live in solitude. (Walks up and down.) If only I knew where there was a +virgin forest or a small South Sea island for sale, cheap-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. But think of the boys, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still). What a strange woman you are, +Katherine! Would you prefer to have the boys grow up in a society like +this? You saw for yourself last night that half the population are out +of their minds; and if the other half have not lost their senses, it is +because they are mere brutes, with no sense to lose. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas dear, the imprudent things you said had +something to do with it, you know. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, isn't what I said perfectly true? Don't they turn +every idea topsy-turvy? Don't they make a regular hotchpotch of right +and wrong? Don't they say that the things I know are true, are lies? +The craziest part of it all is the fact of these "liberals," men of +full age, going about in crowds imagining that they are the +broad-minded party! Did you ever hear anything like it, Katherine! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, yes, it's mad enough of them, certainly; +but--(PETRA comes in from the silting-room). Back from school already? + +Petra. Yes. I have been given notice of dismissal. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Dismissal? + +Dr. Stockmann. You too? + +Petra. Mrs. Busk gave me my notice; so I thought it was best to go at +once. + +Dr. Stockmann. You were perfectly right, too! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Who would have thought Mrs. Busk was a woman like that! + +Petra. Mrs. Busk isn't a bit like that, mother; I saw quite plainly how +it hurt her to do it. But she didn't dare do otherwise, she said; and +so I got my notice. + +Dr. Stockmann (laughing and rubbing his hands). She didn't dare do +otherwise, either! It's delicious! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, after the dreadful scenes last night-- + +Petra. It was not only that. Just listen to this, father! + +Dr. Stockmann. Well? + +Petra. Mrs. Busk showed me no less than three letters she received this +morning-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Anonymous, I suppose? + +Petra. Yes. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, because they didn't dare to risk signing their +names, Katherine! + +Petra. And two of them were to the effect that a man, who has been our +guest here, was declaring last night at the Club that my views on +various subjects are extremely emancipated-- + +Dr. Stockmann. You did not deny that, I hope? + +Petra. No, you know I wouldn't. Mrs. Busk's own views are tolerably +emancipated, when we are alone together; but now that this report about +me is being spread, she dare not keep me on any longer. + +Mrs. Stockmann. And someone who had been a guest of ours! That shows +you the return you get for your hospitality, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. We won't live in such a disgusting hole any longer. Pack +up as quickly as you can, Katherine; the sooner we can get away, the +better. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Be quiet--I think I hear someone in the hall. See who +it is, Petra. + +Petra (opening the door). Oh, it's you, Captain Horster! Do come in. + +Horster (coming in). Good morning. I thought I would just come in and +see how you were. + +Dr. Stockmann (shaking his hand). Thanks--that is really kind of you. + +Mrs. Stockmann. And thank you, too, for helping us through the crowd, +Captain Horster. + +Petra. How did you manage to get home again? + +Horster. Oh, somehow or other. I am fairly strong, and there is more +sound than fury about these folk. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, isn't their swinish cowardice astonishing? Look +here, I will show you something! There are all the stones they have +thrown through my windows. Just look at them! I'm hanged if there are +more than two decently large bits of hard stone in the whole heap; the +rest are nothing but gravel--wretched little things. And yet they stood +out there bawling and swearing that they would do me some violence; but +as for doing anything--you don't see much of that in this town. + +Horster. Just as well for you this time, doctor! + +Dr. Stockmann. True enough. But it makes one angry all the same; +because if some day it should be a question of a national fight in real +earnest, you will see that public opinion will be in favour of taking +to one's heels, and the compact majority will turn tail like a flock of +sheep, Captain Horster. That is what is so mournful to think of; it +gives me so much concern, that--. No, devil take it, it is ridiculous +to care about it! They have called me an enemy of the people, so an +enemy of the people let me be! + +Mrs. Stockmann. You will never be that, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Don't swear to that, Katherine. To be called an ugly +name may have the same effect as a pin-scratch in the lung. And that +hateful name--I can't get quit of it. It is sticking here in the pit of +my stomach, eating into me like a corrosive acid. And no magnesia will +remove it. + +Petra. Bah!--you should only laugh at them, father, + +Horster. They will change their minds some day, Doctor. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, Thomas, as sure as you are standing here. + +Dr. Stockmann. Perhaps, when it is too late. Much good may it do them! +They may wallow in their filth then and rue the day when they drove a +patriot into exile. When do you sail, Captain Horster? + +Horster. Hm!--that was just what I had come to speak about-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Why, has anything gone wrong with the ship? + +Horster. No; but what has happened is that I am not to sail in it. + +Petra. Do you mean that you have been dismissed from your command? + +Horster (smiling). Yes, that's just it. + +Petra. You too. + +Mrs. Stockmann. There, you see, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. And that for the truth's sake! Oh, if I had thought such +a thing possible-- + +Horster. You mustn't take it to heart; I shall be sure to find a job +with some ship-owner or other, elsewhere. + +Dr. Stockmann. And that is this man Vik--a wealthy man, independent of +everyone and everything--! Shame on him! + +Horster. He is quite an excellent fellow otherwise; he told me himself +he would willingly have kept me on, if only he had dared-- + +Dr. Stockmann. But he didn't dare? No, of course not. + +Horster. It is not such an easy matter, he said, for a party man-- + +Dr. Stockmann. The worthy man spoke the truth. A party is like a +sausage machine; it mashes up all sorts of heads together into the same +mincemeat--fatheads and blockheads, all in one mash! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Come, come, Thomas dear! + +Petra (to HORSTER). If only you had not come home with us, things might +not have come to this pass. + +Horster. I do not regret it. + +Petra (holding out her hand to him). Thank you for that! + +Horster (to DR. STOCKMANN). And so what I came to say was that if you +are determined to go away, I have thought of another plan-- + +Dr. Stockmann. That's splendid!--if only we can get away at once. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Hush!--wasn't that some one knocking? + +Petra. That is uncle, surely. + +Dr. Stockmann. Aha! (Calls out.) Come in! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Dear Thomas, promise me definitely--. (PETER STOCKMANN +comes in from the hall.) + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, you are engaged. In that case, I will-- + +Dr. Stockmann. No, no, come in. + +Peter Stockmann. But I wanted to speak to you alone. + +Mrs. Stockmann. We will go into the sitting-room in the meanwhile. + +Horster. And I will look in again later. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, go in there with them, Captain Horster; I want to +hear more about--. + +Horster. Very well, I will wait, then. (He follows MRS. STOCKMANN and +PETRA into the sitting-room.) + +Dr. Stockmann. I daresay you find it rather draughty here today. Put +your hat on. + +Peter Stockmann. Thank you, if I may. (Does so.) I think I caught cold +last night; I stood and shivered-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Really? I found it warm enough. + +Peter Stockmann. I regret that it was not in my power to prevent those +excesses last night. + +Dr. Stockmann. Have you anything in particular to say to me besides +that? + +Peter Stockmann (taking a big letter from his pocket). I have this +document for you, from the Baths Committee. + +Dr. Stockmann. My dismissal? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, dating from today. (Lays the letter on the +table.) It gives us pain to do it; but, to speak frankly, we dared not +do otherwise on account of public opinion. + +Dr. Stockmann (smiling). Dared not? I seem to have heard that word +before, today. + +Peter Stockmann. I must beg you to understand your position clearly. +For the future you must not count on any practice whatever in the town. + +Dr. Stockmann. Devil take the practice! But why are you so sure of that? + +Peter Stockmann. The Householders' Association is circulating a list +from house to house. All right-minded citizens are being called upon to +give up employing you; and I can assure you that not a single head of a +family will risk refusing his signature. They simply dare not. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, no; I don't doubt it. But what then? + +Peter Stockmann. If I might advise you, it would be best to leave the +place for a little while-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, the propriety of leaving the place has occurred to +me. + +Peter Stockmann. Good. And then, when you have had six months to think +things over, if, after mature consideration, you can persuade yourself +to write a few words of regret, acknowledging your error-- + +Dr. Stockmann. I might have my appointment restored to me, do you mean? + +Peter Stockmann. Perhaps. It is not at all impossible. + +Dr. Stockmann. But what about public opinion, then? Surely you would +not dare to do it on account of public feeling... + +Peter Stockmann. Public opinion is an extremely mutable thing. And, to +be quite candid with you, it is a matter of great importance to us to +have some admission of that sort from you in writing. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, that's what you are after, is it! I will just +trouble you to remember what I said to you lately about foxy tricks of +that sort! + +Peter Stockmann. Your position was quite different then. At that time +you had reason to suppose you had the whole town at your back-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and now I feel I have the whole town ON my +back--(flaring up). I would not do it if I had the devil and his dam on +my back--! Never--never, I tell you! + +Peter Stockmann. A man with a family has no right to behave as you do. +You have no right to do it, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. I have no right! There is only one single thing in the +world a free man has no right to do. Do you know what that is? + +Peter Stockmann. No. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course you don't, but I will tell you. A free man has +no right to soil himself with filth; he has no right to behave in a way +that would justify his spitting in his own face. + +Peter Stockmann. This sort of thing sounds extremely plausible, of +course; and if there were no other explanation for your obstinacy--. +But as it happens that there is. + +Dr. Stockmann. What do you mean? + +Peter Stockmann. You understand, very well what I mean. But, as your +brother and as a man of discretion, I advise you not to build too much +upon expectations and prospects that may so very easily fail you. + +Dr. Stockmann. What in the world is all this about? + +Peter Stockmann. Do you really ask me to believe that you are ignorant +of the terms of Mr. Kiil's will? + +Dr. Stockmann. I know that the small amount he possesses is to go to an +institution for indigent old workpeople. How does that concern me? + +Peter Stockmann. In the first place, it is by no means a small amount +that is in question. Mr. Kiil is a fairly wealthy man. + +Dr. Stockmann. I had no notion of that! + +Peter Stockmann. Hm!--hadn't you really? Then I suppose you had no +notion, either, that a considerable portion of his wealth will come to +your children, you and your wife having a life-rent of the capital. Has +he never told you so? + +Dr. Stockmann. Never, on my honour! Quite the reverse; he has +consistently done nothing but fume at being so unconscionably heavily +taxed. But are you perfectly certain of this, Peter? + +Peter Stockmann. I have it from an absolutely reliable source. + +Dr. Stockmann. Then, thank God, Katherine is provided for--and the +children too! I must tell her this at once--(calls out) Katherine, +Katherine! + +Peter Stockmann (restraining him). Hush, don't say a word yet! + +Mrs. Stockmann (opening the door). What is the matter? + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, nothing, nothing; you can go back. (She shuts the +door. DR. STOCKMANN walks up and down in his excitement.) Provided +for!--Just think of it, we are all provided for! And for life! What a +blessed feeling it is to know one is provided for! + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, but that is just exactly what you are not. Mr. +Kiil can alter his will any day he likes. + +Dr. Stockmann. But he won't do that, my dear Peter. The "Badger" is +much too delighted at my attack on you and your wise friends. + +Peter Stockmann (starts and looks intently at him). Ali, that throws a +light on various things. + +Dr. Stockmann. What things? + +Peter Stockmann. I see that the whole thing was a combined manoeuvre on +your part and his. These violent, reckless attacks that you have made +against the leading men of the town, under the pretence that it was in +the name of truth-- + +Dr. Stockmann. What about them? + +Peter Stockmann. I see that they were nothing else than the stipulated +price for that vindictive old man's will. + +Dr. Stockmann (almost speechless). Peter--you are the most disgusting +plebeian I have ever met in all my life. + +Peter Stockmann. All is over between us. Your dismissal is +irrevocable--we have a weapon against you now. (Goes out.) + +Dr. Stockmann. For shame! For shame! (Calls out.) Katherine, you must +have the floor scrubbed after him! Let--what's her name--devil take it, +the girl who has always got soot on her nose-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. (in the sitting-room). Hush, Thomas, be quiet! + +Petra (coming to the door). Father, grandfather is here, asking if he +may speak to you alone. + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly he may. (Going to the door.) Come in, Mr. +Kiil. (MORTEN KIIL comes in. DR. STOCKMANN shuts the door after him.) +What can I do for you? Won't you sit down? + +Morten Kiil. I won't sit. (Looks around.) You look very comfortable +here today, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, don't we! + +Morten Kiil. Very comfortable--plenty of fresh air. I should think you +have got enough to-day of that oxygen you were talking about yesterday. +Your conscience must be in splendid order to-day, I should think. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is. + +Morten Kiil. So I should think. (Taps his chest.) Do you know what I +have got here? + +Dr. Stockmann. A good conscience, too, I hope. + +Morten Kiil. Bah!--No, it is something better than that. (He takes a +thick pocket-book from his breast-pocket, opens it, and displays a +packet of papers.) + +Dr. Stockmann (looking at him in astonishment). Shares in the Baths? + +Morten Kiil. They were not difficult to get today. + +Dr. Stockmann. And you have been buying--? + +Morten Kiil. As many as I could pay for. + +Dr. Stockmann. But, my dear Mr. Kiil--consider the state of the Baths' +affairs! + +Morten Kiil. If you behave like a reasonable man, you can soon set the +Baths on their feet again. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, you can see for yourself that I have done all I +can, but--. They are all mad in this town! + +Morten Kiil. You said yesterday that the worst of this pollution came +from my tannery. If that is true, then my grandfather and my father +before me, and I myself, for many years past, have been poisoning the +town like three destroying angels. Do you think I am going to sit quiet +under that reproach? + +Dr. Stockmann. Unfortunately I am afraid you will have to. + +Morten Kiil. No, thank you. I am jealous of my name and reputation. +They call me "the Badger," I am told. A badger is a kind of pig, I +believe; but I am not going to give them the right to call me that. I +mean to live and die a clean man. + +Dr. Stockmann. And how are you going to set about it? + +Morten Kiil. You shall cleanse me, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. I! + +Morten Kiil. Do you know what money I have bought these shares with? +No, of course you can't know--but I will tell you. It is the money that +Katherine and Petra and the boys will have when I am gone. Because I +have been able to save a little bit after all, you know. + +Dr. Stockmann (flaring up). And you have gone and taken Katherine's +money for this! + +Morten Kiil. Yes, the whole of the money is invested in the Baths now. +And now I just want to see whether you are quite stark, staring mad, +Thomas! If you still make out that these animals and other nasty things +of that sort come from my tannery, it will be exactly as if you were to +flay broad strips of skin from Katherine's body, and Petra's, and the +boys'; and no decent man would do that--unless he were mad. + +Dr. Stockmann (walking up and down). Yes, but I am mad; I am mad! + +Morten Kiil. You cannot be so absurdly mad as all that, when it is a +question of your wife and children. + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still in front of him). Why couldn't you +consult me about it, before you went and bought all that trash? + +Morten Kiil. What is done cannot be undone. + +Dr. Stockmann (walks about uneasily). If only I were not so certain +about it--! But I am absolutely convinced that I am right. + +Morten Kiil (weighing the pocket-book in his hand). If you stick to +your mad idea, this won't be worth much, you know. (Puts the +pocket-book in his pocket.) + +Dr. Stockmann. But, hang it all! It might be possible for science to +discover some prophylactic, I should think--or some antidote of some +kind-- + +Morten Kiil. To kill these animals, do you mean? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, or to make them innocuous. + +Morten Kiil. Couldn't you try some rat's-bane? + +Dr. Stockmann. Don't talk nonsense! They all say it is only +imagination, you know. Well, let it go at that! Let them have their own +way about it! Haven't the ignorant, narrow-minded curs reviled me as an +enemy of the people?--and haven't they been ready to tear the clothes +off my back too? + +Morten Kiil. And broken all your windows to pieces! + +Dr. Stockmann. And then there is my duty to my family. I must talk it +over with Katherine; she is great on those things. + +Morten Kiil. That is right; be guided by a reasonable woman's advice. + +Dr. Stockmann (advancing towards him). To think you could do such a +preposterous thing! Risking Katherine's money in this way, and putting +me in such a horribly painful dilemma! When I look at you, I think I +see the devil himself--. + +Morten Kiil. Then I had better go. But I must have an answer from you +before two o'clock--yes or no. If it is no, the shares go to a charity, +and that this very day. + +Dr. Stockmann. And what does Katherine get? + +Morten Kiil. Not a halfpenny. (The door leading to the hall opens, and +HOVSTAD and ASLAKSEN make their appearance.) Look at those two! + +Dr. Stockmann (staring at them). What the devil!--have YOU actually the +face to come into my house? + +Hovstad. Certainly. + +Aslaksen. We have something to say to you, you see. + +Morten Kiil (in a whisper). Yes or no--before two o'clock. + +Aslaksen (glancing at HOVSTAD). Aha! (MORTEN KIIL goes out.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, what do you want with me? Be brief. + +Hovstad. I can quite understand that you are annoyed with us for our +attitude at the meeting yesterday. + +Dr. Stockmann. Attitude, do you call it? Yes, it was a charming +attitude! I call it weak, womanish--damnably shameful! + +Hovstad. Call it what you like, we could not do otherwise. + +Dr. Stockmann. You DARED not do otherwise--isn't that it? + +Hovstad. Well, if you like to put it that way. + +Aslaksen. But why did you not let us have word of it beforehand?--just +a hint to Mr. Hovstad or to me? + +Dr. Stockmann. A hint? Of what? + +Aslaksen. Of what was behind it all. + +Dr. Stockmann. I don't understand you in the least-- + +Aslaksen (with a confidential nod). Oh yes, you do, Dr. Stockmann. + +Hovstad. It is no good making a mystery of it any longer. + +Dr. Stockmann (looking first at one of them and then at the other). +What the devil do you both mean? + +Aslaksen. May I ask if your father-in-law is not going round the town +buying up all the shares in the Baths? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, he has been buying Baths shares today; but-- + +Aslaksen. It would have been more prudent to get someone else to do +it--someone less nearly related to you. + +Hovstad. And you should not have let your name appear in the affair. +There was no need for anyone to know that the attack on the Baths came +from you. You ought to have consulted me, Dr. Stockmann. + +Dr. Stockmann (looks in front of him; then a light seems to dawn on him +and he says in amazement.) Are such things conceivable? Are such things +possible? + +Aslaksen (with a smile). Evidently they are. But it is better to use a +little finesse, you know. + +Hovstad. And it is much better to have several persons in a thing of +that sort; because the responsibility of each individual is lessened, +when there are others with him. + +Dr. Stockmann (composedly). Come to the point, gentlemen. What do you +want? + +Aslaksen. Perhaps Mr. Hovstad had better-- + +Hovstad. No, you tell him, Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. Well, the fact is that, now we know the bearings of the whole +affair, we think we might venture to put the "People's Messenger" at +your disposal. + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you dare do that now? What about public opinion? Are +you not afraid of a storm breaking upon our heads? + +Hovstad. We will try to weather it. + +Aslaksen. And you must be ready to go off quickly on a new tack, +Doctor. As soon as your invective has done its work-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you mean, as soon as my father-in-law and I have got +hold of the shares at a low figure? + +Hovstad. Your reasons for wishing to get the control of the Baths are +mainly scientific, I take it. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course; it was for scientific reasons that I +persuaded the old "Badger" to stand in with me in the matter. So we +will tinker at the conduit-pipes a little, and dig up a little bit of +the shore, and it shan't cost the town a sixpence. That will be all +right--eh? + +Hovstad. I think so--if you have the "People's Messenger" behind you. + +Aslaksen. The Press is a power in a free community. Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so. And so is public opinion. And you, Mr. +Aslaksen--I suppose you will be answerable for the Householders' +Association? + +Aslaksen. Yes, and for the Temperance Society. You may rely on that. + +Dr. Stockmann. But, gentlemen--I really am ashamed to ask the +question--but, what return do you--? + +Hovstad. We should prefer to help you without any return whatever, +believe me. But the "People's Messenger" is in rather a shaky +condition; it doesn't go really well; and I should be very unwilling to +suspend the paper now, when there is so much work to do here in the +political way. + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so; that would be a great trial to such a friend +of the people as you are. (Flares up.) But I am an enemy of the people, +remember! (Walks about the room.) Where have I put my stick? Where the +devil is my stick? + +Hovstad. What's that? + +Aslaksen. Surely you never mean-- + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still.) And suppose I don't give you a single +penny of all I get out of it? Money is not very easy to get out of us +rich folk, please to remember! + +Hovstad. And you please to remember that this affair of the shares can +be represented in two ways! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and you are just the man to do it. If I don't come +to the rescue of the "People's Messenger," you will certainly take an +evil view of the affair; you will hunt me down, I can well +imagine--pursue me--try to throttle me as a dog does a hare. + +Hovstad. It is a natural law; every animal must fight for its own +livelihood. + +Aslaksen. And get its food where it can, you know. + +Dr. Stockmann (walking about the room). Then you go and look for yours +in the gutter; because I am going to show you which is the strongest +animal of us three! (Finds an umbrella and brandishes it above his +head.) Ah, now--! + +Hovstad. You are surely not going to use violence! + +Aslaksen. Take care what you are doing with that umbrella. + +Dr. Stockmann. Out of the window with you, Mr. Hovstad! + +Hovstad (edging to the door). Are you quite mad! + +Dr. Stockmann. Out of the window, Mr. Aslaksen! Jump, I tell you! You +will have to do it, sooner or later. + +Aslaksen (running round the writing-table). Moderation, Doctor--I am a +delicate man--I can stand so little--(calls out) help, help! + +(MRS. STOCKMANN, PETRA and HORSTER come in from the sitting-room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. Good gracious, Thomas! What is happening? + +Dr. Stockmann (brandishing the umbrella). Jump out, I tell you! Out +into the gutter! + +Hovstad. An assault on an unoffending man! I call you to witness, +Captain Horster. (Hurries out through the hall.) + +Aslaksen (irresolutely). If only I knew the way about here--. (Steals +out through the sitting-room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (holding her husband back). Control yourself, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann (throwing down the umbrella). Upon my soul, they have +escaped after all. + +Mrs. Stockmann. What did they want you to do? + +Dr. Stockmann. I will tell you later on; I have something else to think +about now. (Goes to the table and writes something on a calling-card.) +Look there, Katherine; what is written there? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Three big Noes; what does that mean. + +Dr. Stockmann. I will tell you that too, later on. (Holds out the card +to PETRA.) There, Petra; tell sooty-face to run over to the "Badger's" +with that, as quick as she can. Hurry up! (PETRA takes the card and +goes out to the hall.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, I think I have had a visit from every one of the +devil's messengers to-day! But now I am going to sharpen my pen till +they can feel its point; I shall dip it in venom and gall; I shall hurl +my inkpot at their heads! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, but we are going away, you know, Thomas. + +(PETRA comes back.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Well? + +Petra. She has gone with it. + +Dr. Stockmann. Good.--Going away, did you say? No, I'll be hanged if we +are going away! We are going to stay where we are, Katherine! + +Petra. Stay here? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Here, in the town? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, here. This is the field of battle--this is where +the fight will be. This is where I shall triumph! As soon as I have had +my trousers sewn up I shall go out and look for another house. We must +have a roof over our heads for the winter. + +Horster. That you shall have in my house. + +Dr. Stockmann. Can I? + +Horsier. Yes, quite well. I have plenty of room, and I am almost never +at home. + +Mrs. Stockmann. How good of you, Captain Horster! + +Petra. Thank you! + +Dr. Stockmann (grasping his hand). Thank you, thank you! That is one +trouble over! Now I can set to work in earnest at once. There is an +endless amount of things to look through here, Katherine! Luckily I +shall have all my time at my disposal; because I have been dismissed +from the Baths, you know. + +Mrs. Stockmann (with a sigh). Oh yes, I expected that. + +Dr. Stockmann. And they want to take my practice away from me too. Let +them! I have got the poor people to fall back upon, anyway--those that +don't pay anything; and, after all, they need me most, too. But, by +Jove, they will have to listen to me; I shall preach to them in season +and out of season, as it says somewhere. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, I should have thought events had +showed you what use it is to preach. + +Dr. Stockmann. You are really ridiculous, Katherine. Do you want me to +let myself be beaten off the field by public opinion and the compact +majority and all that devilry? No, thank you! And what I want to do is +so simple and clear and straightforward. I only want to drum into the +heads of these curs the fact that the liberals are the most insidious +enemies of freedom--that party programmes strangle every young and +vigorous truth--that considerations of expediency turn morality and +justice upside down--and that they will end by making life here +unbearable. Don't you think, Captain Horster, that I ought to be able +to make people understand that? + +Horster. Very likely; I don't know much about such things myself. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, look here--I will explain! It is the party leaders +that must be exterminated. A party leader is like a wolf, you see--like +a voracious wolf. He requires a certain number of smaller victims to +prey upon every year, if he is to live. Just look at Hovstad and +Aslaksen! How many smaller victims have they not put an end to--or at +any rate maimed and mangled until they are fit for nothing except to be +householders or subscribers to the "People's Messenger"! (Sits down on +the edge of the table.) Come here, Katherine--look how beautifully the +sun shines to-day! And this lovely spring air I am drinking in! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, if only we could live on sunshine and spring air, +Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, you will have to pinch and save a bit--then we shall +get along. That gives me very little concern. What is much worse is, +that I know of no one who is liberal-minded and high-minded enough to +venture to take up my work after me. + +Petra. Don't think about that, father; you have plenty of time before +you.--Hello, here are the boys already! + +(EJLIF and MORTEN come in from the sitting-room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. Have you got a holiday? + +Morten. No; but we were fighting with the other boys between lessons-- + +Ejlif. That isn't true; it was the other boys were fighting with us. + +Morten. Well, and then Mr. Rorlund said we had better stay at home for +a day or two. + +Dr. Stockmann (snapping his fingers and getting up from the table). I +have it! I have it, by Jove! You shall never set foot in the school +again! + +The Boys. No more school! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Never, I say. I will educate you myself; that is to say, +you shan't learn a blessed thing-- + +Morten. Hooray! + +Dr. Stockmann. --but I will make liberal-minded and high-minded men of +you. You must help me with that, Petra. + +Petra, Yes, father, you may be sure I will. + +Dr. Stockmann. And my school shall be in the room where they insulted +me and called me an enemy of the people. But we are too few as we are; +I must have at least twelve boys to begin with. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You will certainly never get them in this town. + +Dr. Stockmann. We shall. (To the boys.) Don't you know any street +urchins--regular ragamuffins--? + +Morten. Yes, father, I know lots! + +Dr. Stockmann. That's capital! Bring me some specimens of them. I am +going to experiment with curs, just for once; there may be some +exceptional heads among them. + +Morten. And what are we going to do, when you have made liberal-minded +and high-minded men of us? + +Dr. Stockmann. Then you shall drive all the wolves out of the country, +my boys! + +(EJLIF looks rather doubtful about it; MORTEN jumps about crying +"Hurrah!") + +Mrs. Stockmann. Let us hope it won't be the wolves that will drive you +out of the country, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Are you out of your mind, Katherine? Drive me out! +Now--when I am the strongest man in the town! + +Mrs. Stockmann. The strongest--now? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and I will go so far as to say that now I am the +strongest man in the whole world. + +Morten. I say! + +Dr. Stockmann (lowering his voice). Hush! You mustn't say anything +about it yet; but I have made a great discovery. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Another one? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. (Gathers them round him, and says confidentially:) +It is this, let me tell you--that the strongest man in the world is he +who stands most alone. + +Mrs. Stockmann (smiling and shaking her head). Oh, Thomas, Thomas! + +Petra (encouragingly, as she grasps her father's hands). 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + + +martin@grassmarket.freeserve.co.uk + + + + + +AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE + +by Henrik Ibsen + +Translated by R Farquharson Sharp + + + + +AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE + +A play in five acts + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE + +Dr. Thomas Stockmann, Medical Officer of the Municipal Baths. +Mrs. Stockmann, his wife. +Petra (their daughter) a teacher. +Ejlif & Morten (their sons, aged 13 and 10 respectively). +Peter Stockmann (the Doctor's elder brother), Mayor of the +Town and Chief Constable, Chairman of the Baths' Committee, etc. +Morten Kiil, a tanner (Mrs. Stockmann's adoptive father). +Hovstad, editor of the "People's Messenger." +Billing, sub-editor. +Captain Horster. +Aslaksen, a printer. +Men of various conditions and occupations, a few women, and a +troop of schoolboys--the audience at a public meeting. + +The action takes place in a coastal town in southern Norway, + +AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE + +ACT I + +(SCENE.--DR. STOCKMANN'S sitting-room. It is evening. The room is +plainly but neatly appointed and furnished. In the right-hand +wall are two doors; the farther leads out to the hall, the nearer +to the doctor's study. In the left-hand wall, opposite the door +leading to the hall, is a door leading to the other rooms +occupied by the family. In the middle of the same wall stands the +stove, and, further forward, a couch with a looking-glass hanging +over it and an oval table in front of it. On the table, a lighted +lamp, with a lampshade. At the back of the room, an open door +leads to the dining-room. BILLING is seen sitting at the dining +table, on which a lamp is burning. He has a napkin tucked under +his chin, and MRS. STOCKMANN is standing by the table handing him +a large plate-full of roast beef. The other places at the table +are empty, and the table somewhat in disorder, evidently a meal +having recently been finished.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. You see, if you come an hour late, Mr. Billing, +you have to put up with cold meat. + +Billing (as he eats). It is uncommonly good, thank you-- +remarkably good. + +Mrs. Stockmann. My husband makes such a point of having his meals +punctually, you know. + +Billing. That doesn't affect me a bit. Indeed, I almost think I +enjoy a meal all the better when I can sit down and eat all by +myself, and undisturbed. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh well, as long as you are enjoying it--. (Turns +to the hall door, listening.) I expect that is Mr. Hovstad coming +too. + +Billing. Very likely. + +(PETER STOCKMANN comes in. He wears an overcoat and his official +hat, and carries a stick.) + +Peter Stockmann. Good evening, Katherine. + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming forward into the sitting-room). Ah, good +evening--is it you? How good of you to come up and see us! + +Peter Stockmann. I happened to be passing, and so--(looks into +the dining-room). But you have company with you, I see. + +Mrs. Stockmann (a little embarrassed). Oh, no--it was quite by +chance he came in. (Hurriedly.) Won't you come in and have +something, too? + +Peter Stockmann. I! No, thank you. Good gracious--hot meat at +night! Not with my digestion, + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, but just once in a way-- + +Peter Stockmann. No, no, my dear lady; I stick to my tea and +bread and butter. It is much more wholesome in the long run--and +a little more economical, too. + +Mrs. Stockmann (smiling). Now you mustn't think that Thomas and I +are spendthrifts. + +Peter Stockmann. Not you, my dear; I would never think that of +you. (Points to the Doctor's study.) Is he not at home? + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, he went out for a little turn after supper-- +he and the boys. + +Peter Stockmann. I doubt if that is a wise thing to do. +(Listens.) I fancy I hear him coming now. + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, I don't think it is he. (A knock is heard at +the door.) Come in! (HOVSTAD comes in from the hall.) Oh, it is +you, Mr. Hovstad! + +Hovstad. Yes, I hope you will forgive me, but I was delayed at +the printers. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. + +Peter Stockmann (bowing a little distantly). Good evening. You +have come on business, no doubt. + +Hovstad. Partly. It's about an article for the paper. + +Peter Stockmann. So I imagined. I hear my brother has become a +prolific contributor to the "People's Messenger." + +Hovstad. Yes, he is good enough to write in the "People's +Messenger" when he has any home truths to tell. + +Mrs, Stockmann (to HOVSTAD). But won't you--? (Points to the +dining-room.) + +Peter Stockmann. Quite so, quite so. I don't blame him in the +least, as a writer, for addressing himself to the quarters where +he will find the readiest sympathy. And, besides that, I +personally have no reason to bear any ill will to your paper, Mr. +Hovstad. + +Hovstad. I quite agree with you. + +Peter Stockmann. Taking one thing with another, there is an +excellent spirit of toleration in the town--an admirable +municipal spirit. And it all springs from the fact of our having +a great common interest to unite us--an interest that is in an +equally high degree the concern of every right-minded citizen + +Hovstad. The Baths, yes. + +Peter Stockmann. Exactly---our fine, new, handsome Baths. Mark my +words, Mr. Hovstad--the Baths will become the focus of our +municipal life! Not a doubt of it! + +Mrs. Stockmann. That is just what Thomas says. + +Peter Stockmann. Think how extraordinarily the place has +developed within the last year or two! Money has been flowing in, +and there is some life and some business doing in the town. +Houses and landed property are rising in value every day. + +Hovstad. And unemployment is diminishing, + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, that is another thing. The burden on the +poor rates has been lightened, to the great relief of the +propertied classes; and that relief will be even greater if only +we get a really good summer this year, and lots of visitors-- +plenty of invalids, who will make the Baths talked about. + +Hovstad. And there is a good prospect of that, I hear. + +Peter Stockmann. It looks very promising. Inquiries about +apartments and that sort of thing are reaching us, every day. + +Hovstad. Well, the doctor's article will come in very suitably. + +Peter Stockmann. Has he been writing something just lately? + +Hovstad. This is something he wrote in the winter; a +recommendation of the Baths--an account of the excellent sanitary +conditions here. But I held the article over, temporarily. + +Peter Stockmann. Ah,--some little difficulty about it, I suppose? + +Hovstad. No, not at all; I thought it would be better to wait +until the spring, because it is just at this time that people +begin to think seriously about their summer quarters. + +Peter Stockmann. Quite right; you were perfectly right, Mr. +Hovstad. + +Hovstad. Yes, Thomas is really indefatigable when it is a +question of the Baths. + +Peter Stockmann. Well remember, he is the Medical Officer to the +Baths. + +Hovstad. Yes, and what is more, they owe their existence to him. + +Peter Stockmann. To him? Indeed! It is true I have heard from +time to time that some people are of that opinion. At the same +time I must say I imagined that I took a modest part in the +enterprise, + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is what Thomas is always saying. + +Hovstad. But who denies it, Mr. Stockmann? You set the thing +going and made a practical concern of it; we all know that. I +only meant that the idea of it came first from the doctor. + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, ideas yes! My brother has had plenty of them +in his time--unfortunately. But when it is a question of putting +an idea into practical shape, you have to apply to a man of +different mettle. Mr. Hovstad. And I certainly should have +thought that in this house at least... + +Mrs. Stockmann. My dear Peter-- + +Hovstad. How can you think that--? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Won't you go in and have something, Mr. Hovstad? +My husband is sure to be back directly. + +Hovstad. Thank you, perhaps just a morsel. (Goes into the dining- +room.) + +Peter Stockmann (lowering his voice a little). It is a curious +thing that these farmers' sons never seem to lose their want of +tact. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Surely it is not worth bothering about! Cannot +you and Thomas share the credit as brothers? + +Peter Stockmann. I should have thought so; but apparently some +people are not satisfied with a share. + +Mrs. Stockmann. What nonsense! You and Thomas get on so capitally +together. (Listens.) There he is at last, I think. (Goes out and +opens the door leading to the hall.) + +Dr. Stockmann (laughing and talking outside). Look here--here is +another guest for you, Katherine. Isn't that jolly! Come in, +Captain Horster; hang your coat up on this peg. Ah, you don't +wear an overcoat. Just think, Katherine; I met him in the street +and could hardly persuade him to come up! (CAPTAIN HORSTER comes +into the room and greets MRS. STOCKMANN. He is followed by DR. +STOCKMANN.) Come along in, boys. They are ravenously hungry +again, you know. Come along, Captain Horster; you must have a +slice of beef. (Pushes HORSTER into the dining-room. EJLIF and +MORTEN go in after them.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas, don't you see--? + +Dr. Stockmann (turning in the doorway). Oh, is it you, Peter? +(Shakes hands with him.) Now that is very delightful. + +Peter Stockmann. Unfortunately I must go in a moment-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Rubbish! There is some toddy just coming in. You +haven't forgotten the toddy, Katherine? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Of course not; the water is boiling now. (Goes +into the dining-room.) + +Peter Stockmann. Toddy too! + +Dr, Stockmann. Yes, sit down and we will have it comfortably. + +Peter Stockmann. Thanks, I never care about an evening's +drinking. + +Dr. Stockmann. But this isn't an evening's drinking. + +Peter Stockmann. It seems to me--. (Looks towards the dining- +room.) It is extraordinary how they can put away all that food. + +Dr. Stockmann (rubbing his hands). Yes, isn't it splendid to see +young people eat? They have always got an appetite, you know! +That's as it should be. Lots of food--to build up their strength! +They are the people who are going to stir up the fermenting +forces of the future, Peter. + +Peter Stockmann. May I ask what they will find here to "stir up," +as you put it? + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, you must ask the young people that--when the +times comes. We shan't be able to see it, of course. That stands +to reason--two old fogies, like us. + +Peter Stockmann. Really, really! I must say that is an extremely +odd expression to-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, you mustn't take me too literally, Peter. I am +so heartily happy and contented, you know. I think it is such an +extraordinary piece of good fortune to be in the middle of all +this growing, germinating life. It is a splendid time to live in! +It is as if a whole new world were being created around one. + +Peter Stockmann. Do you really think so? + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, naturally you can't appreciate it as keenly as +I. You have lived all your life in these surroundings, and your +impressions have been blunted. But I, who have been buried all +these years in my little corner up north, almost without ever +seeing a stranger who might bring new ideas with him--well, in +my case it has just the same effect as if I had been transported +into the middle of a crowded city. + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, a city--! + +Dr. Stockmann. I know, I know; it is all cramped enough here, +compared with many other places. But there is life here--there is +promise--there are innumerable things to work for and fight for; +and that is the main thing. (Calls.) Katherine, hasn't the +postman been here? + +Mrs. Stockmann (from the dining-room). No. + +Dr. Stockmann. And then to be comfortably off, Peter! That is +something one learns to value, when one has been on the brink of +starvation, as we have. + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, surely-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed I can assure you we have often been very +hard put to it, up there. And now to be able to live like a lord! +Today, for instance, we had roast beef for dinner--and, what is +more, for supper too. Won't you come and have a little bit? Or +let me show it you, at any rate? Come here-- + +Peter Stockmann. No, no--not for worlds! + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, but just come here then. Do you see, we have +got a table-cover? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, I noticed it. + +Dr. Stockmann. And we have got a lamp-shade too. Do you see? All +out of Katherine's savings! It makes the room so cosy. Don't you +think so? Just stand here for a moment--no, no, not there--just +here, that's it! Look now, when you get the light on it +altogether. I really think it looks very nice, doesn't it? + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, if you can afford luxuries of this kind-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, I can afford it now. Katherine tells me I +earn almost as much as we spend. + +Peter Stockmann. Almost--yes! + +Dr. Stockmann. But a scientific man must live in a little bit of +style. I am quite sure an ordinary civil servant spends more in a +year than I do. + +Peter Stockmann. I daresay. A civil servant--a man in a well-paid +position... + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, any ordinary merchant, then! A man in that +position spends two or three times as much as-- + +Peter Stockmann. It just depends on circumstances. + +Dr. Stockmann. At all events I assure you I don't waste money +unprofitably. But I can't find it in my heart to deny myself the +pleasure of entertaining my friends. I need that sort of thing, +you know. I have lived for so long shut out of it all, that it is +a necessity of life to me to mix with young, eager, ambitious +men, men of liberal and active minds; and that describes every +one of those fellows who are enjoying their supper in there. I +wish you knew more of Hovstad. + +Peter Stockmann. By the way, Hovstad was telling me he was going +to print another article of yours. + +Dr. Stockmann. An article of mine? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, about the Baths. An article you wrote in +the winter. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, that one! No, I don't intend that to appear +just for the present. + +Peter Stockmann. Why not? It seems to me that this would be the +most opportune moment. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, very likely--under normal conditions. +(Crosses the room.) + +Peter Stockmann (following him with his eyes). Is there anything +abnormal about the present conditions? + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still). To tell you the truth, Peter, I +can't say just at this moment--at all events not tonight. There +may be much that is very abnormal about the present conditions-- +and it is possible there may be nothing abnormal about them at +all. It is quite possible it may be merely my imagination. + +Peter Stockmann. I must say it all sounds most mysterious. Is +there something going on that I am to be kept in ignorance of? I +should have imagined that I, as Chairman of the governing body of +the Baths-- + +Dr. Stockmann. And I should have imagined that I--. Oh, come, +don't let us fly out at one another, Peter. + +Peter Stockmann. Heaven forbid! I am not in the habit of flying +out at people, as you call it. But I am entitled to request most +emphatically that all arrangements shall be made in a +businesslike manner, through the proper channels, and shall be +dealt with by the legally constituted authorities. I can allow no +going behind our backs by any roundabout means. + +Dr. Stockmann. Have I ever at any time tried to go behind your +backs? + +Peter Stockmann. You have an ingrained tendency to take your own +way, at all events; and, that is almost equally inadmissible in a +well ordered community, The individual ought undoubtedly to +acquiesce in subordinating himself to the community--or, to speak +more accurately, to the authorities who have the care of the +community's welfare. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very likely. But what the deuce has all this got +to do with me? + +Peter Stockmann. That is exactly what you never appear to be +willing to learn, my dear Thomas. But, mark my words, some day +you will have to suffer for it--sooner or later. Now I have told +you. Good-bye. + +Dr. Stockmann. Have you taken leave of your senses? You are on +the wrong scent altogether. + +Peter Stockmann. I am not usually that. You must excuse me now if +I-- (calls into the dining-room). Good night, Katherine. Good +night, gentlemen. (Goes out.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming from the dining-room). Has he gone? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and in such a bad temper. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, what have you been doing to him +again? + +Dr. Stockmann. Nothing at all. And, anyhow, he can't oblige me to +make my report before the proper time. + +Mrs. Stockmann. What have you got to make a report to him about? + +Dr. Stockmann. Hm! Leave that to me, Katherine. It is an +extraordinary thing that the postman doesn't come. + +(HOVSTAD, BILLING and HORSTER have got up from the table and come +into the sitting-room. EJLIF and MORTEN come in after them.) + +Billing (stretching himself). Ah!--one feels a new man after a +meal like that. + +Hovstad. The mayor wasn't in a very sweet temper tonight, then. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is his stomach; he has wretched digestion. + +Hovstad. I rather think it was us two of the "People's Messenger" +that he couldn't digest. + +Mrs. Stockmann. I thought you came out of it pretty well with +him. + +Hovstad. Oh yes; but it isn't anything more than a sort of truce. + +Billing. That is just what it is! That word sums up the +situation. + +Dr. Stockmann. We must remember that Peter is a lonely man, poor +chap. He has no home comforts of any kind; nothing but +everlasting business. And all that infernal weak tea wash that he +pours into himself! Now then, my boys, bring chairs up to the +table. Aren't we going to have that toddy, Katherine? + +Mrs. Stockmann (going into the dining-room). I am just getting +it. + +Dr. Stockmann. Sit down here on the couch beside me, Captain +Horster. We so seldom see you. Please sit down, my friends. +(They sit down at the table. MRS. STOCKMANN brings a tray, with a +spirit-lamp, glasses, bottles, etc., upon it.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. There you are! This is arrack, and this is rum, +and this one is the brandy. Now every one must help themselves. + +Dr. Stockmann (taking a glass). We will. (They all mix themselves +some toddy.) And let us have the cigars. Ejlif, you know where +the box is. And you, Morten, can fetch my pipe. (The two boys go +into the room on the right.) I have a suspicion that Ejlif +pockets a cigar now and then!--but I take no notice of it. (Calls +out.) And my smoking-cap too, Morten. Katherine, you can tell him +where I left it. Ah, he has got it. (The boys bring the various +things.) Now, my friends. I stick to my pipe, you know. This one +has seen plenty of bad weather with me up north. (Touches glasses +with them.) Your good health! Ah, it is good to be sitting snug +and warm here, + +Mrs. Stockmann (who sits knitting). Do you sail soon, Captain +Horster? + +Horster. I expect to be ready to sail next week. + +Mrs. Stockmann. I suppose you are going to America? + +Horster. Yes, that is the plan. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Then you won't be able to take part in the coming +election? + +Horster. Is there going to be an election? + +Billing. Didn't you know? + +Horster. No, I don't mix myself up with those things. + +Billing. But do you not take an interest in public affairs? + +Horster. No, I don't know anything about politics. + +Billing. All the same, one ought to vote, at any rate. + +Horster. Even if one doesn't know anything about what is going +on? + +Billing. Doesn't know! What do you mean by that? A community is +like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm. + +Horster. Maybe that is all very well on shore; but on board ship +it wouldn't work. + +Hovstad. It is astonishing how little most sailors care about +what goes on on shore. + +Billing. Very extraordinary. + +Dr. Stockmann. Sailors are like birds of passage; they feel +equally at home in any latitude. And that is only an additional +reason for our being all the more keen, Hovstad. Is there to be +anything of public interest in tomorrow's "Messenger"? + +Hovstad. Nothing about municipal affairs. But the day after +tomorrow I was thinking of printing your article-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, devil take it--my article! Look here, that +must wait a bit. + +Hovstad. Really? We had just got convenient space for it, and I +thought it was just the opportune moment-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes, very likely you are right; but it must +wait all the same. I will explain to you later. (PETRA comes in +from the hall, in hat and cloak and with a bundle of exercise +books under her arm.) + +Petra. Good evening. + +Dr. Stockmann. Good evening, Petra; come along. + +(Mutual greetings; PETRA takes off her things and puts them down +on a chair by the door.) + +Petra. And you have all been sitting here enjoying yourselves, +while I have been out slaving! + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, come and enjoy yourself too! + +Billing. May I mix a glass for you? + +Petra (coming to the table). Thanks, I would rather do it; you +always mix it too strong. But I forgot, father--I have a letter +for you. (Goes to the chair where she has laid her things.) + +Dr. Stockmann. A letter? From whom? + +Petra (looking in her coat pocket). The postman gave it to me +just as I was going out. + +Dr. Stockmann (getting up and going to her). And you only give to +me now! + +Petra. I really had not time to run up again. There it is! + +Dr. Stockmann (seizing the letter). Let's see, let's see, child! +(Looks at the address.) Yes, that's all right! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Is it the one you have been expecting go +anxiously, Thomas? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, it is. I must go to my room now and-- Where +shall I get a light, Katherine? Is there no lamp in my room +again? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, your lamp is already lit on your desk. + +Dr. Stockmann. Good, good. Excuse me for a moment--, (Goes into +his study.) + +Petra. What do you suppose it is, mother? + +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know; for the last day or two he has +always been asking if the postman has not been, + +Billing. Probably some country patient. + +Petra. Poor old dad!--he will overwork himself soon. (Mixes a +glass for herself.) There, that will taste good! + +Hovstad. Have you been teaching in the evening school again +today? + +Petra (sipping from her glass). Two hours. + +Billing. And four hours of school in the morning? + +Petra. Five hours. + +Mrs. Stockmann. And you have still got exercises to correct, I +see. + +Petra. A whole heap, yes. + +Horster. You are pretty full up with work too, it seems to me. + +Petra. Yes--but that is good. One is so delightfully tired after +it. + +Billing. Do you like that? + +Petra. Yes, because one sleeps so well then. + +Morten. You must be dreadfully wicked, Petra. + +Petra. Wicked? + +Morten. Yes, because you work so much. Mr. Rorlund says work is a +punishment for our sins. + +Ejlif. Pooh, what a duffer, you are, to believe a thing like +that! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Come, come, Ejlif! + +Billing (laughing). That's capital! + +Hovstad. Don't you want to work as hard as that, Morten? + +Morten. No, indeed I don't. + +Hovstad. What do you want to be, then? + +Morten. I should like best to be a Viking, + +Ejlif. You would have to be a pagan then. + +Morten. Well, I could become a pagan, couldn't I? + +Billing. I agree with you, Morten! My sentiments, exactly. + +Mrs. Stockmann (signalling to him). I am sure that is not true, +Mr. Billing. + +Billing. Yes, I swear it is! I am a pagan, and I am proud of it. +Believe me, before long we shall all be pagans. + +Morten. And then shall be allowed to do anything we like? + +Billing. Well, you'll see, Morten. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You must go to your room now, boys; I am sure you +have some lessons to learn for tomorrow. + +Ejlif. I should like so much to stay a little longer-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, no; away you go, both of you, (The boys say +good night and go into the room on the left.) + +Hovstad. Do you really think it can do the boys any harm to hear +such things? + +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know; but I don't like it. + +Petra. But you know, mother, I think you really are wrong about +it. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Maybe, but I don't like it--not in our own home. + +Petra. There is so much falsehood both at home and at school. At +home one must not speak, and at school we have to stand and tell +lies to the children. + +Horster. Tell lies? + +Petra. Yes, don't you suppose we have to teach them all sorts of +things that we don't believe? + +Billing. That is perfectly true. + +Petra. If only I had the means, I would start a school of my own; +and it would be conducted on very different lines. + +Billing. Oh, bother the means--! + +Horster. Well if you are thinking of that, Miss Stockmann, I +shall be delighted to provide you with a schoolroom. The great +big old house my father left me is standing almost empty; there +is an immense dining-room downstairs-- + +Petra (laughing). Thank you very much; but I am afraid nothing +will come of it. + +Hovstad. No, Miss Petra is much more likely to take to +journalism, I expect. By the way, have you had time to do +anything with that English story you promised to translate for +us? + +Petra. No, not yet, but you shall have it in good time. + +(DR. STOCKMANN comes in from his room with an open letter in his +hand.) + +Dr. Stockmann (waving the letter). Well, now the town will have +something new to talk about, I can tell you! + +Billing. Something new? + +Mrs. Stockmann. What is this? + +Dr. Stockmann. A great discovery, Katherine. + +Hovstad. Really? + +Mrs. Stockmann. A discovery of yours? + +Dr. Stockmann. A discovery of mine. (Walks up and down.) Just let +them come saying, as usual, that it is all fancy and a crazy +man's imagination! But they will be careful what they say this +time, I can tell you! + +Petra. But, father, tell us what it is. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes--only give me time, and you shall know +all about it. If only I had Peter here now! It just shows how we +men can go about forming our judgments, when in reality we are as +blind as any moles-- + +Hovstad. What are you driving at, Doctor? + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still by the table). Isn't it the +universal opinion that our town is a healthy spot? + +Hovstad. Certainly. + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite an unusually healthy spot, in fact--a place +that deserves to be recommended in the warmest possible manner +either for invalids or for people who are well-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, but my dear Thomas-- + +Dr. Stockmann. And we have been recommending it and praising it-- +I have written and written, both in the "Messenger" and in +pamphlets... + +Hovstad. Well, what then? + +Dr. Stockmann. And the Baths--we have called them the "main +artery of the town's life-blood," the "nerve-centre of our town," +and the devil knows what else-- + +Billing. "The town's pulsating heart" was the expression I once +used on an important occasion. + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so. Well, do you know what they really are, +these great, splendid, much praised Baths, that have cost so much +money--do you know what they are? + +Hovstad. No, what are they? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, what are they? + +Dr. Stockmann. The whole place is a pest-house! + +Petra. The Baths, father? + +Mrs. Stockmann (at the same time), Our Baths? + +Hovstad. But, Doctor-- + +Billing. Absolutely incredible! + +Dr. Stockmann. The whole Bath establishment is a whited, poisoned +sepulchre, I tell you--the gravest possible danger to the public +health! All the nastiness up at Molledal, all that stinking +filth, is infecting the water in the conduit-pipes leading to the +reservoir; and the same cursed, filthy poison oozes out on the +shore too-- + +Horster. Where the bathing-place is? + +Dr. Stockmann. Just there. + +Hovstad. How do you come to be so certain of all this, Doctor? + +Dr. Stockmann. I have investigated the matter most +conscientiously. For a long time past I have suspected something +of the kind. Last year we had some very strange cases of illness +among the visitors--typhoid cases, and cases of gastric fever-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is quite true. + +Dr. Stockmann. At the time, we supposed the visitors had been +infected before they came; but later on, in the winter, I began +to have a different opinion; and so I set myself to examine the +water, as well as I could. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Then that is what you have been so busy with? + +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed I have been busy, Katherine. But here I had +none of the necessary scientific apparatus; so I sent samples, +both of the drinking-water and of the sea-water, up to the +University, to have an accurate analysis made by a chemist. + +Hovstad. And have you got that? + +Dr. Stockmann (showing him the letter). Here it is! It proves the +presence of decomposing organic matter in the water--it is full +of infusoria. The water is absolutely dangerous to use, either +internally or externally. + +Mrs. Stockmann. What a mercy you discovered it in time. + +Dr. Stockmann. You may well say so. + +Hovstad. And what do you propose to do now, Doctor? + +Dr. Stockmann. To see the matter put right, naturally. + +Hovstad. Can that be done? + +Dr. Stockmann. It must be done. Otherwise the Baths will be +absolutely useless and wasted. But we need not anticipate that; I +have a very clear idea what we shall have to do. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But why have you kept this all so secret, dear? + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you suppose I was going to run about the town +gossiping about it, before I had absolute proof? No, thank you. I +am not such a fool. + +Petra. Still, you might have told us-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Not a living soul. But tomorrow you may run around +to the old Badger-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, Thomas! Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, to your grandfather, then. The old boy will +have something to be astonished at! I know he thinks I am +cracked--and there are lots of other people who think so too, I have +noticed. But now these good folks shall see--they shall just see! +(Walks about, rubbing his hands.) There will be a nice upset +in the town, Katherine; you can't imagine what it will be. All +the conduit-pipes will have to be relaid. + +Hovstad (getting up). All the conduit-pipes--? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, of course. The intake is too low down; it +will have to be lifted to a position much higher up. + +Petra. Then you were right after all. + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, you remember, Petra--I wrote opposing the +plans before the work was begun. But at that time no one would +listen to me. Well, I am going to let them have it now. Of +course I have prepared a report for the Baths Committee; I have +had it ready for a week, and was only waiting for this to come. +(Shows the letter.) Now it shall go off at once. (Goes into his +room and comes back with some papers.) Look at that! Four closely +written sheets!--and the letter shall go with them. Give me a bit +of paper, Katherine--something to wrap them up in. That will do! +Now give it to-to-(stamps his foot)--what the deuce is her name? +--give it to the maid, and tell her to take it at once to the +Mayor. + +(Mrs. Stockmann takes the packet and goes out through the dining- +room.) + +Petra. What do you think Uncle Peter will say, father? + +Dr. Stockmann. What is there for him to say? I should think he +would be very glad that such an important truth has been brought +to light. + +Hovstad. Will you let me print a short note about your discovery +in the "Messenger?" + +Dr. Stockmann. I shall be very much obliged if you will. + +Hovstad. It is very desirable that the public should be informed +of it without delay. + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly. + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming back). She has just gone with it. + +Billing. Upon my soul, Doctor, you are going to be the foremost +man in the town! + + Dr. Stockmann (walking about happily). Nonsense! As a matter of +fact I have done nothing more than my duty. I have only made a +lucky find--that's all. Still, all the same... + +Billing. Hovstad, don't you think the town ought to give Dr. +Stockmann some sort of testimonial? + +Hovstad. I will suggest it, anyway. + +Billing. And I will speak to Aslaksen about it. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, my good friends, don't let us have any of that +nonsense. I won't hear anything of the kind. And if the Baths +Committee should think of voting me an increase of salary, I will +not accept it. Do you hear, Katherine?--I won't accept it. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You are quite right, Thomas. + +Petra (lifting her glass). Your health, father! + +Hovstad and Billing. Your health, Doctor! Good health! + +Horster (touches glasses with DR. STOCKMANN). I hope it will +bring you nothing but good luck. + +Dr. Stockmann. Thank you, thank you, my dear fellows! I feel +tremendously happy! It is a splendid thing for a man to be able +to feel that he has done a service to his native town and to his +fellow-citizens. Hurrah, Katherine! (He puts his arms round her +and whirls her round and round, while she protests with laughing +cries. They all laugh, clap their hands, and cheer the DOCTOR. +The boys put their heads in at the door to see what is going on.) + +ACT II + +(SCENE,--The same. The door into the dining room is shut. It is +morning. MRS. STOCKMANN, with a sealed letter in her hand, comes +in from the dining room, goes to the door of the DOCTOR'S study, +and peeps in.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. Are you in, Thomas? + +Dr. Stockmann (from within his room). Yes, I have just come in. +(Comes into the room.) What is it? + +Mrs. Stockmann. A letter from your brother. + +Dr. Stockmann. Aha, let us see! (Opens the letter and reads:) "I +return herewith the manuscript you sent me" (reads on in a low +murmur) H'm!-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. What does he say? + +Dr. Stockmann (putting the papers in his pocket). Oh, he only +writes that he will come up here himself about midday. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, try and remember to be at home this time. + +Dr. Stockmann. That will be all right; I have got through all my +morning visits. + +Mrs. Stockmann. I am extremely curious to know how he takes it. + +Dr. Stockmann. You will see he won't like it's having been I, and +not he, that made the discovery. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Aren't you a little nervous about that? + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, he really will be pleased enough, you know. +But, at the same time, Peter is so confoundedly afraid of +anyone's doing any service to the town except himself. + +Mrs. Stockmann. I will tell you what, Thomas--you should be good +natured, and share the credit of this with him. Couldn't you make +out that it was he who set you on the scent of this discovery? + +Dr. Stockmann. I am quite willing. If only I can get the thing +set right. I-- + +(MORTEN KIIL puts his head in through the door leading from the +hall, looks around in an enquiring manner, and chuckles.) + +Morten Kiil (slyly). Is it--is it true? + +Mrs. Stockmann (going to the door). Father!--is it you? + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, Mr. Kiil--good morning, good morning! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But come along in. + +Morten Kiil. If it is true, I will; if not, I am off. + +Dr. Stockmann. If what is true? + +Morten Kiil. This tale about the water supply, is it true? + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly it is true, but how did you come to hear +it? + +Morten Kid (coming in). Petra ran in on her way to the school-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Did she? + +Morten Kiil. Yes; and she declares that--I thought she was only +making a fool of me--but it isn't like Petra to do that. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course not. How could you imagine such a thing! + +Morten Kiil. Oh well, it is better never to trust anybody; you +may find you have been made a fool of before you know where you +are. But it is really true, all the same? + +Dr. Stockmann. You can depend upon it that it is true. Won't you +sit down? (Settles him on the couch.) Isn't it a real bit of luck +for the town-- + +Morten Kiil (suppressing his laughter). A bit of luck for the +town? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that I made the discovery in good time. + +Morten Kiil (as before). Yes, yes, Yes!--But I should never have +thought you the sort of man to pull your own brother's leg like +this! + +Dr. Stockmann. Pull his leg! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Really, father dear-- + +Morten Kiil (resting his hands and his chin on the handle of his +stick and winking slyly at the DOCTOR). Let me see, what was the +story? Some kind of beast that had got into the water-pipes, +wasn't it? + +Dr. Stockmann. Infusoria--yes. + +Morten Kiil. And a lot of these beasts had got in, according to +Petra--a tremendous lot. + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly; hundreds of thousands of them, +probably. + +Morten Kiil. But no one can see them--isn't that so? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes; you can't see them, + +Morten Kiil (with a quiet chuckle). Damn--it's the finest story +I have ever heard! + +Dr. Stockmann. What do you mean? + +Morten Kiil. But you will never get the Mayor to believe a thing +like that. + +Dr. Stockmann. We shall see. + +Morten Kiil. Do you think he will be fool enough to--? + +Dr. Stockmann. I hope the whole town will be fools enough. + +Morten Kiil. The whole town! Well, it wouldn't be a bad thing. It +would just serve them right, and teach them a lesson. They think +themselves so much cleverer than we old fellows. They hounded me +out of the council; they did, I tell you--they hounded me out. +Now they shall pay for it. You pull their legs too, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. Really, I-- + +Morten Kiil. You pull their legs! (Gets up.) If you can work it +so that the Mayor and his friends all swallow the same bait, I +will give ten pounds to a charity--like a shot! + +Dr. Stockmann. That is very kind of you. + +Morten Kiil. Yes, I haven't got much money to throw away, I can +tell you; but, if you can work this, I will give five pounds to a +charity at Christmas. + +(HOVSTAD comes in by the hall door.) + +Hovstad. Good morning! (Stops.) Oh, I beg your pardon + +Dr. Stockmann. Not at all; come in. + +Morten Kiil (with another chuckle). Oho!--is he in this too? + +Hovstad. What do you mean? + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly he is. + +Morten Kiil. I might have known it! It must get into the papers. +You know how to do it, Thomas! Set your wits to work. Now I must +go. + +Dr. Stockmann. Won't you stay a little while? + +Morten Kiil. No, I must be off now. You keep up this game for all +it is worth; you won't repent it, I'm damned if you will! + +(He goes out; MRS. STOCKMANN follows him into the hall.) + +Dr. Stockmann (laughing). Just imagine--the old chap doesn't +believe a word of all this about the water supply. + +Hovstad. Oh that was it, then? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that was what we were talking about. Perhaps +it is the same thing that brings you here? + +Hovstad. Yes, it is, Can you spare me a few minutes, Doctor? + +Dr. Stockmann. As long as you like, my dear fellow. + +Hovstad. Have you heard from the Mayor yet? + +Dr. Stockmann. Not yet. He is coming here later. + +Hovstad. I have given the matter a great deal of thought since +last night. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well? + +Hovstad. From your point of view, as a doctor and a man of +science, this affair of the water supply is an isolated matter. I +mean, you do not realise that it involves a great many other +things. + +Dr. Stockmann. How, do you mean?--Let us sit down, my dear +fellow. No, sit here on the couch. (HOVSTAD Sits down on the +couch, DR. STOCKMANN On a chair on the other side of the table.) +Now then. You mean that--? + +Hovstad. You said yesterday that the pollution of the water was +due to impurities in the soil. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, unquestionably it is due to that poisonous +morass up at Molledal. + +Hovstad. Begging your pardon, Doctor, I fancy it is due to quite +another morass altogether. + +Dr. Stockmann. What morass? + +Hovstad. The morass that the whole life of our town is built on +and is rotting in. + +Dr. Stockmann. What the deuce are you driving at, Hovstad? + +Hovstad. The whole of the town's interests have, little by +little, got into the hands of a pack of officials. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, come!--they are not all officials. + +Hovstad. No, but those that are not officials are at any rate the +officials' friends and adherents; it is the wealthy folk, the old +families in the town, that have got us entirely in their hands. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, but after all they are men of ability and +knowledge. + +Hovstad. Did they show any ability or knowledge when they laid +the conduit pipes where they are now? + +Dr. Stockmann. No, of course that was a great piece of stupidity +on their part. But that is going to be set right now. + +Hovstad. Do you think that will be all such plain sailing? + +Dr. Stockmann. Plain sailing or no, it has got to be done, +anyway. + +Hovstad. Yes, provided the press takes up the question. + +Dr. Stockmann. I don't think that will be necessary, my dear +fellow, I am certain my brother-- + +Hovstad. Excuse me, doctor; I feel bound to tell you I am +inclined to take the matter up. + +Dr. Stockmann. In the paper? + +Hovstad. Yes. When I took over the "People's Messenger" my idea +was to break up this ring of self-opinionated old fossils who had +got hold of all the influence. + +Dr. Stockmann. But you know you told me yourself what the result +had been; you nearly ruined your paper. + +Hovstad. Yes, at the time we were obliged to climb down a peg or +two, it is quite true--because there was a danger of the whole +project of the Baths coming to nothing if they failed us. But now +the scheme has been carried through, and we can dispense with +these grand gentlemen. + +Dr. Stockmann. Dispense with them, yes; but, we owe them a great +debt of gratitude. + +Hovstad. That shall be recognised ungrudgingly, But a journalist +of my democratic tendencies cannot let such an opportunity as +this slip. The bubble of official infallibility must be pricked. +This superstition must be destroyed, like any other. + +Dr. Stockmann. I am whole-heartedly with you in that, Mr. +Hovstad; if it is a superstition, away with it! + +Hovstad. I should be very reluctant to bring the Mayor into it, +because he is your brother. But I am sure you will agree with me +that truth should be the first consideration. + +Dr. Stockmann. That goes without saying. (With sudden emphasis.) +Yes, but--but-- + +Hovstad. You must not misjudge me. I am neither more self- +interested nor more ambitious than most men. + +Dr. Stockmann. My dear fellow--who suggests anything of the kind? + +Hovstad. I am of humble origin, as you know; and that has given +me opportunities of knowing what is the most crying need in the +humbler ranks of life. It is that they should be allowed some +part in the direction of public affairs, Doctor. That is what +will develop their faculties and intelligence and self respect-- + +Dr. Stockmann. I quite appreciate that. + +Hovstad. Yes--and in my opinion a journalist incurs a heavy +responsibility if he neglects a favourable opportunity of +emancipating the masses--the humble and oppressed. I know well +enough that in exalted circles I shall be called an agitator, and +all that sort of thing; but they may call what they like. If only +my conscience doesn't reproach me, then-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite right! Quite right, Mr. Hovstad. But all the +same--devil take it! (A knock is heard at the door.) Come in! + +(ASLAKSEN appears at the door. He is poorly but decently dressed, +in black, with a slightly crumpled white neckcloth; he wears +gloves and has a felt hat in his hand.) + +Aslaksen (bowing). Excuse my taking the liberty, Doctor-- + +Dr. Stockmann (getting up). Ah, it is you, Aslaksen! + +Aslaksen. Yes, Doctor. + +Hovstad (standing up). Is it me you want, Aslaksen? + +Aslaksen. No; I didn't know I should find you here. No, it was +the Doctor I-- + +Dr. Stockmann. I am quite at your service. What is it? + +Aslaksen. Is what I heard from Mr. Billing true, sir--that you +mean to improve our water supply? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, for the Baths. + +Aslaksen. Quite so, I understand. Well, I have come to say that I +will back that up by every means in my power. + +Hovstad (to the DOCTOR). You see! + +Dr. Stockmann. I shall be very grateful to you, but-- + +Aslaksen. Because it may be no bad thing to have us small +tradesmen at your back. We form, as it were, a compact majority +in the town--if we choose. And it is always a good thing to have +the majority with you, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. That is undeniably true; but I confess I don't see +why such unusual precautions should be necessary in this case. It +seems to me that such a plain, straightforward thing. + +Aslaksen. Oh, it may be very desirable, all the same. I know our +local authorities so well; officials are not generally very ready +to act on proposals that come from other people. That is why I +think it would not be at all amiss if we made a little +demonstration. + +Hovstad. That's right. + +Dr. Stockmann. Demonstration, did you say? What on earth are you +going to make a demonstration about? + +Aslaksen. We shall proceed with the greatest moderation, Doctor. +Moderation is always my aim; it is the greatest virtue in a +citizen--at least, I think so. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is well known to be a characteristic of yours, +Mr. Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. Yes, I think I may pride myself on that. And this +matter of the water supply is of the greatest importance to us +small tradesmen. The Baths promise to be a regular gold-mine for +the town. We shall all make our living out of them, especially +those of us who are householders. That is why we will back up the +project as strongly as possible. And as I am at present Chairman +of the Householders' Association. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes--? + +Aslaksen. And, what is more, local secretary of the Temperance +Society--you know, sir, I suppose, that I am a worker in the +temperance cause? + +Dr, Stockmann. Of course, of course. + +Aslaksen. Well, you can understand that I come into contact with +a great many people. And as I have the reputation of a temperate +and law-abiding citizen--like yourself, Doctor--I have a certain +influence in the town, a little bit of power, if I may be allowed +to say so. + +Dr. Stockmann. I know that quite well, Mr. Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. So you see it would be an easy matter for me to set on +foot some testimonial, if necessary. + +Dr. Stockmann. A testimonial? + +Aslaksen. Yes, some kind of an address of thanks from the +townsmen for your share in a matter of such importance to the +community. I need scarcely say that it would have to be drawn up +with the greatest regard to moderation, so as not to offend the +authorities--who, after all, have the reins in their hands. If we +pay strict attention to that, no one can take it amiss, I should +think! + +Hovstad. Well, and even supposing they didn't like it-- + +Aslaksen. No, no, no; there must be no discourtesy to the +authorities, Mr. Hovstad. It is no use falling foul of those upon +whom our welfare so closely depends. I have done that in my time, +and no good ever comes of it. But no one can take exception to a +reasonable and frank expression of a citizen's views. + +Dr. Stockmann (shaking him by the hand). I can't tell you, dear +Mr. Aslaksen, how extremely pleased I am to find such hearty +support among my fellow-citizens. I am delighted--delighted! Now, +you will take a small glass of sherry, eh? + +Aslaksen. No, thank you; I never drink alcohol of that kind. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, what do you say to a glass of beer, then? + +Aslaksen. Nor that either, thank you, Doctor. I never drink +anything as early as this. I am going into town now to talk this +over with one or two householders, and prepare the ground. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is tremendously kind of you, Mr. Aslaksen; but +I really cannot understand the necessity for all these +precautions. It seems to me that the thing should go of itself. + +Aslaksen. The authorities are somewhat slow to move, Doctor. Far +be it from me to seem to blame them-- + +Hovstad. We are going to stir them up in the paper tomorrow, +Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. But not violently, I trust, Mr. Hovstad. Proceed with +moderation, or you will do nothing with them. You may take my +advice; I have gathered my experience in the school of life. +Well, I must say goodbye, Doctor. You know now that we small +tradesmen are at your back at all events, like a solid wall. You +have the compact majority on your side Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. I am very much obliged, dear Mr. Aslaksen, (Shakes +hands with him.) Goodbye, goodbye. + +Aslaksen. Are you going my way, towards the printing-office. Mr. +Hovstad? + +Hovstad, I will come later; I have something to settle up first. + +Aslaksen. Very well. (Bows and goes out; STOCKMANN follows him +into the hall.) + +Hovstad (as STOCKMANN comes in again). Well, what do you think of +that, Doctor? Don't you think it is high time we stirred a little +life into all this slackness and vacillation and cowardice? + +Dr. Stockmann. Are you referring to Aslaksen? + +Hovstad, Yes, I am. He is one of those who are floundering in a +bog--decent enough fellow though he may be, otherwise. And most +of the people here are in just the same case--see-sawing and +edging first to one side and then to the other, so overcome with +caution and scruple that they never dare to take any decided +step. + +Dr. Stockmann, Yes, but Aslaksen seemed to me so thoroughly well- +intentioned. + +Hovstad. There is one thing I esteem higher than that; and that +is for a man to be self-reliant and sure of himself. + +Dr. Stockmann. I think you are perfectly right there. + +Hovstad. That is why I want to seize this opportunity, and try if +I cannot manage to put a little virility into these well- +intentioned people for once. The idol of Authority must be +shattered in this town. This gross and inexcusable blunder about +the water supply must be brought home to the mind of every +municipal voter. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very well; if you are of opinion that it is for +the good of the community, so be it. But not until I have had a +talk with my brother. + +Hovstad. Anyway, I will get a leading article ready; and if the +Mayor refuses to take the matter up-- + +Dr. Stockmann. How can you suppose such a thing possible! + +Hovstad. It is conceivable. And in that case-- + +Dr. Stockmann. In that case I promise you--. Look here, in that +case you may print my report--every word of it. + +Hovstad. May I? Have I your word for it? + +Dr. Stockmann (giving him the MS.). Here it is; take it with you. +It can do no harm for you to read it through, and you can give it +me back later on. + +Hovstad. Good, good! That is what I will do. And now goodbye, +Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Goodbye, goodbye. You will see everything will +run quite smoothly, Mr. Hovstad--quite smoothly. + +Hovstad. Hm!--we shall see. (Bows and goes out.) + +Dr. Stockmann (opens the dining-room door and looks in). +Katherine! Oh, you are back, Petra? + +Petra (coming in). Yes, I have just come from the school. + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in). Has he not been here yet? + +Dr. Stockmann. Peter? No, but I have had a long talk with +Hovstad. He is quite excited about my discovery, I find it has a +much wider bearing than I at first imagined. And he has put his +paper at my disposal if necessity should arise. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Do you think it will? + +Dr. Stockmann. Not for a moment. But at all events it makes me +feel proud to know that I have the liberal-minded independent +press on my side. Yes, and just imagine--I have had a visit from +the Chairman of the Householders' Association! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh! What did he want? + +Dr. Stockmann. To offer me his support too. They will support me +in a body if it should be necessary. Katherine--do you know what +I have got behind me? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Behind you? No, what have you got behind you? + +Dr. Stockmann. The compact majority. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Really? Is that a good thing for you Thomas? + +Dr. Stockmann. I should think it was a good thing. (Walks up and +down rubbing his hands.) By Jove, it's a fine thing to feel this +bond of brotherhood between oneself and one's fellow citizens! + +Petra. And to be able to do so much that is good and useful, +father! + +Dr. Stockmann. And for one's own native town into the bargain, my +child! + +Mrs. Stockmann. That was a ring at the bell. + +Dr. Stockmann. It must be he, then. (A knock is heard at the +door.) Come in! + +Peter Stockmann (comes in from the hall). Good morning. + +Dr. Stockmann. Glad to see you, Peter! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Good morning, Peter, How are you? + +Peter Stockmann. So so, thank you. (To DR. STOCKMANN.) I received +from you yesterday, after office hours, a report dealing with the +condition of the water at the Baths. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. Have you read it? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, I have, + +Dr. Stockmann. And what have you to say to it? + +Peter Stockmann (with a sidelong glance). Hm!-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. Come along, Petra. (She and PETRA go into the +room on the left.) + +Peter Stockmann (after a pause). Was it necessary to make all +these investigations behind my back? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, because until I was absolutely certain about +it-- + +Peter Stockmann. Then you mean that you are absolutely certain +now? + +Dr. Stockmann. Surely you are convinced of that. + +Peter Stockmann. Is it your intention to bring this document +before the Baths Committee as a sort of official communication? + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly. Something must be done in the matter-- +and that quickly. + +Peter Stockmann. As usual, you employ violent expressions in your +report. You say, amongst other things, that what we offer +visitors in our Baths is a permanent supply of poison. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, can you describe it any other way, Peter? +Just think--water that is poisonous, whether you drink it or bathe +in it! And this we offer to the poor sick folk who come to us +trustfully and pay us at an exorbitant rate to be made well +again! + +Peter Stockmann. And your reasoning leads you to this conclusion, +that we must build a sewer to draw off the alleged impurities +from Molledal and must relay the water conduits. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. Do you see any other way out of it? I don't. + +Peter Stockmann. I made a pretext this morning to go and see the +town engineer, and, as if only half seriously, broached the +subject of these proposals as a thing we might perhaps have to +take under consideration some time later on. + +Dr. Stockmann. Some time later on! + +Peter Stockmann. He smiled at what he considered to be my +extravagance, naturally. Have you taken the trouble to consider +what your proposed alterations would cost? According to the +information I obtained, the expenses would probably mount up to +fifteen or twenty thousand pounds. + +Dr. Stockmann. Would it cost so much? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes; and the worst part of it would be that the +work would take at least two years. + +Dr. Stockmann. Two years? Two whole years? + +Peter Stockmann. At least. And what are we to do with the Baths +in the meantime? Close them? Indeed we should be obliged to. And +do you suppose anyone would come near the place after it had got +out that the water was dangerous? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes but, Peter, that is what it is. + +Peter Stockmann. And all this at this juncture--just as the Baths +are beginning to be known. There are other towns in the +neighbourhood with qualifications to attract visitors for bathing +purposes. Don't you suppose they would immediately strain every +nerve to divert the entire stream of strangers to themselves? +Unquestionably they would; and then where should we be? We should +probably have to abandon the whole thing, which has cost us so +much money-and then you would have ruined your native town. + +Dr. Stockmann. I--should have ruined--! + +Peter Stockmann. It is simply and solely through the Baths that +the town has before it any future worth mentioning. You know that +just as well as I. + +Dr. Stockmann. But what do you think ought to be done, then? + +Peter Stockmann. Your report has not convinced me that the +condition of the water at the Baths is as bad as you represent it +to be. + +Dr. Stockmann. I tell you it is even worse!--or at all events it +will be in summer, when the warm weather comes. + +Peter Stockmann. As I said, I believe you exaggerate the matter +considerably. A capable physician ought to know what measures to +take--he ought to be capable of preventing injurious influences +or of remedying them if they become obviously persistent. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well? What more? + +Peter Stockmann. The water supply for the Baths is now an +established fact, and in consequence must be treated as such. But +probably the Committee, at its discretion, will not be +disinclined to consider the question of how far it might be +possible to introduce certain improvements consistently with a +reasonable expenditure. + +Dr. Stockmann. And do you suppose that I will have anything to do +with such a piece of trickery as that? + +Peter Stockmann. Trickery!! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, it would be a trick--a fraud, a lie, a +downright crime towards the public, towards the whole community! + +Peter Stockmann. I have not, as I remarked before, been able to +convince myself that there is actually any imminent danger. + +Dr. Stockmann. You have! It is impossible that you should not be +convinced. I know I have represented the facts absolutely +truthfully and fairly. And you know it very well, Peter, only you +won't acknowledge it. It was owing to your action that both the +Baths and the water conduits were built where they are; and that +is what you won't acknowledge--that damnable blunder of yours. +Pooh!--do you suppose I don't see through you? + +Peter Stockmann. And even if that were true? If I perhaps guard +my reputation somewhat anxiously, it is in the interests of the +town. Without moral authority I am powerless to direct public +affairs as seems, to my judgment, to be best for the common good. +And on that account--and for various other reasons too--it appears +to me to be a matter of importance that your report should not be +delivered to the Committee. In the interests of the public, you +must withhold it. Then, later on, I will raise the question and +we will do our best, privately; but, nothing of this unfortunate +affair not a single word of it--must come to the ears of the +public. + +Dr. Stockmann. I am afraid you will not be able to prevent that +now, my dear Peter. + +Peter Stockmann. It must and shall be prevented. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is no use, I tell you. There are too many +people that know about it. + +Peter Stockmann. That know about it? Who? Surely you don't mean +those fellows on the "People's Messenger"? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, they know. The liberal-minded independent +press is going to see that you do your duty. + +Peter Stockmann (after a short pause). You are an extraordinarily +independent man, Thomas. Have you given no thought to the +consequences this may have for yourself? + +Dr. Stockmann. Consequences?--for me? + +Peter Stockmann. For you and yours, yes. + +Dr. Stockmann. What the deuce do you mean? + +Peter Stockmann. I believe I have always behaved in a brotherly +way to you--haven't I always been ready to oblige or to help you? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, you have, and I am grateful to you for it. + +Peter Stockmann. There is no need. Indeed, to some extent I was +forced to do so--for my own sake. I always hoped that, if I +helped to improve your financial position, I should be able to +keep some check on you, + +Dr. Stockmann. What! Then it was only for your own sake--! + +Peter Stockmann. Up to a certain point, yes. It is painful for a +man in an official position to have his nearest relative +compromising himself time after time. + +Dr. Stockmann. And do you consider that I do that? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, unfortunately, you do, without even being +aware of it. You have a restless, pugnacious, rebellious +disposition. And then there is that disastrous propensity of +yours to want to write about every sort of possible and +impossible thing. The moment an idea comes into your head, you +must needs go and write a newspaper article or a whole pamphlet +about it. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, but is it not the duty of a citizen to let +the public share in any new ideas he may have? + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, the public doesn't require any new ideas. +The public is best served by the good, old established ideas it +already has. + +Dr. Stockmann. And that is your honest opinion? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, and for once I must talk frankly to you. +Hitherto I have tried to avoid doing so, because I know how +irritable you are; but now I must tell you the truth, Thomas. You +have no conception what an amount of harm you do yourself by your +impetuosity. You complain of the authorities, you even complain +of the government--you are always pulling them to pieces; you +insist that you have been neglected and persecuted. But what else +can such a cantankerous man as you expect? + +Dr. Stockmann. What next! Cantankerous, am I? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, Thomas, you are an extremely cantankerous +man to work with--I know that to my cost. You disregard +everything that you ought to have consideration for. You seem +completely to forget that it is me you have to thank for your +appointment here as medical officer to the Baths. + +Dr. Stockmann. I was entitled to it as a matter of course!--I and +nobody else! I was the first person to see that the town could be +made into a flourishing watering-place, and I was the only one +who saw it at that time. I had to fight single-handed in support +of the idea for many years; and I wrote and wrote-- + +Peter Stockmann. Undoubtedly. But things were not ripe for the +scheme then--though, of course, you could not judge of that in +your out-of-the-way corner up north. But as soon as the opportune +moment came I--and the others--took the matter into our hands + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and made this mess of all my beautiful plan. +It is pretty obvious now what clever fellows you were! + +Peter Stockmann. To my mind the whole thing only seems to mean +that you are seeking another outlet for your combativeness. You +want to pick a quarrel with your superiors--an old habit of +yours. You cannot put up with any authority over you. You look +askance at anyone who occupies a superior official position; you +regard him as a personal enemy, and then any stick is good enough +to beat him with. But now I have called your attention to the +fact that the town's interests are at stake--and, incidentally, +my own too. And therefore, I must tell you, Thomas, that you will +find me inexorable with regard to what I am about to require you +to do. + +Dr. Stockmann. And what is that? + +Peter Stockmann. As you have been so indiscreet as to speak of +this delicate matter to outsiders, despite the fact that you +ought to have treated it as entirely official and confidential, +it is obviously impossible to hush it up now. All sorts of +rumours will get about directly, and everybody who has a grudge +against us will take care to embellish these rumours. So it will +be necessary for you to refute them publicly. + +Dr. Stockmann. I! How? I don't understand. + +Peter Stockmann. What we shall expect is that, after making +further investigations, you will come to the conclusion that the +matter is not by any means as dangerous or as critical as you +imagined in the first instance. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oho!--so that is what you expect! + +Peter Stockmann. And, what is more, we shall expect you to make +public profession of your confidence in the Committee and in +their readiness to consider fully and conscientiously what steps +may be necessary to remedy any possible defects. + +Dr. Stockmann. But you will never be able to do that by patching +and tinkering at it--never! Take my word for it, Peter; I mean +what I say, as deliberately and emphatically as possible. + +Peter Stockmann. As an officer under the Committee, you have no +right to any individual opinion. + +Dr. Stockmann (amazed). No right? + +Peter Stockmann. In your official capacity, no. As a private +person, it is quite another matter. But as a subordinate member +of the staff of the Baths, you have no right to express any +opinion which runs contrary to that of your superiors. + +Dr. Stockmann. This is too much! I, a doctor, a man of science, +have no right to--! + +Peter Stockmann. The matter in hand is not simply a scientific +one. It is a complicated matter, and has its economic as well as +its technical side. + +Dr. Stockmann. I don't care what it is! I intend to be free to +express my opinion on any subject under the sun. + +Peter Stockmann. As you please--but not on any subject concerning +the Baths. That we forbid. + +Dr, Stockmann (shouting). You forbid--! You! A pack of-- + +Peter Stockmann. I forbid it--I, your chief; and if I forbid +it, you have to obey. + +Dr. Stockmann (controlling himself). Peter--if you were not my +brother-- + +Petra (throwing open the door). Father, you shan't stand this! + +Mrs, Stockmann (coming in after her). Petra, Petra! + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, so you have been eavesdropping. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You were talking so loud, we couldn't help it! + +Petra. Yes, I was listening. + +Peter Stockmann. Well, after all, I am very glad-- + +Dr. Stockmann (going up to him). You were saying something about +forbidding and obeying? + +Peter Stockmann. You obliged me to take that tone with you. + +Dr. Stockmann. And so I am to give myself the lie, publicly? + +Peter Stockmann. We consider it absolutely necessary that you +should make some such public statement as I have asked for. + +Dr. Stockmann. And if I do not--obey? + +Peter Stockmann. Then we shall publish a statement ourselves to +reassure the public. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very well; but in that case I shall use my pen +against you. I stick to what I have said; I will show that I am +right and that you are wrong. And what will you do then? + +Peter Stockmann. Then I shall not be able to prevent your being +dismissed. + +Dr. Stockmann. What--? + +Petra. Father--dismissed! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Dismissed! + +Peter Stockmann. Dismissed from the staff of the Baths. I shall +be obliged to propose that you shall immediately be given notice, +and shall not be allowed any further participation in the Baths' +affairs. + +Dr. Stockmann. You would dare to do that! + +Peter Stockmann. It is you that are playing the daring game. + +Petra. Uncle, that is a shameful way to treat a man like father! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Do hold your tongue, Petra! + +Peter Stockmann (looking at PETRA). Oh, so we volunteer our +opinions already, do we? Of course. (To MRS. STOCKMANN.) +Katherine, I imagine you are the most sensible person in this +house. Use any influence you may have over your husband, and make +him see what this will entail for his family as well as-- + +Dr. Stockmann. My family is my own concern and nobody else's! + +Peter Stockmann. --for his own family, as I was saying, as well +as for the town he lives in. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is I who have the real good of the town at +heart! I want to lay bare the defects that sooner or later must +come to the light of day. I will show whether I love my native +town. + +Peter Stockmann. You, who in your blind obstinacy want to cut off +the most important source of the town's welfare? + +Dr. Stockmann. The source is poisoned, man! Are you mad? We are +making our living by retailing filth and corruption! The whole of +our flourishing municipal life derives its sustenance from a lie! + +Peter Stockmann. All imagination--or something even worse. The +man who can throw out such offensive insinuations about his +native town must be an enemy to our community. + +Dr. Stockmann (going up to him). Do you dare to--! + +Mrs. Stockmann (throwing herself between them). Thomas! + +Petra (catching her father by the arm). Don't lose your temper, +father! + +Peter Stockmann. I will not expose myself to violence. Now you +have had a warning; so reflect on what you owe to yourself and +your family. Goodbye. (Goes out.) + +Dr. Stockmann (walking up and down). Am I to put up with such +treatment as this? In my own house, Katherine! What do you think +of that! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Indeed it is both shameful and absurd, Thomas-- + +Petra. If only I could give uncle a piece of my mind-- + +Dr. Stockmann. It is my own fault. I ought to have flown out at +him long ago!--shown my teeth!--bitten! To hear him call me an +enemy to our community! Me! I shall not take that lying down, +upon my soul! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, your brother has power on his +side. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, but I have right on mine, I tell you. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh yes, right--right. What is the use of having +right on your side if you have not got might? + +Petra. Oh, mother!--how can you say such a thing! + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you imagine that in a free country it is no use +having right on your side? You are absurd, Katherine. Besides, +haven't I got the liberal-minded, independent press to lead the +way, and the compact majority behind me? That is might enough, I +should think! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, good heavens, Thomas, you don't mean to? + +Dr. Stockmann. Don't mean to what? + +Mrs. Stockmann. To set yourself up in opposition to your brother. + +Dr. Stockmann. In God's name, what else do you suppose I should +do but take my stand on right and truth? + +Petra. Yes, I was just going to say that. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But it won't do you any earthly good. If they +won't do it, they won't. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oho, Katherine! Just give me time, and you will +see how I will carry the war into their camp. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, you carry the war into their camp, and you +get your dismissal--that is what you will do. + +Dr. Stockmann. In any case I shall have done my duty towards the +public--towards the community, I, who am called its enemy! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But towards your family, Thomas? Towards your own +home! Do you think that is doing your duty towards those you have +to provide for? + +Petra. Ah, don't think always first of us, mother. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, it is easy for you to talk; you are able to +shift for yourself, if need be. But remember the boys, Thomas; +and think a little of yourself too, and of me-- + +Dr. Stockmann. I think you are out of your senses, Katherine! If +I were to be such a miserable coward as to go on my knees to +Peter and his damned crew, do you suppose I should ever know an +hour's peace of mind all my life afterwards? + +Mrs. Stockmann. I don't know anything about that; but God +preserve us from the peace of mind we shall have, all the same, +if you go on defying him! You will find yourself again without +the means of subsistence, with no income to count upon. I should +think we had had enough of that in the old days. Remember that, +Thomas; think what that means. + +Dr. Stockmann (collecting himself with a struggle and clenching +his fists). And this is what this slavery can bring upon a free, +honourable man! Isn't it horrible, Katherine? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, it is sinful to treat you so, it is +perfectly true. But, good heavens, one has to put up with so much +injustice in this world. There are the boys, Thomas! Look at +them! What is to become of them? Oh, no, no, you can never have +the heart--. (EJLIF and MORTEN have come in, while she was +speaking, with their school books in their hands.) + +Dr. Stockmann. The boys-- I (Recovers himself suddenly.) No, even +if the whole world goes to pieces, I will never bow my neck to +this yokel (Goes towards his room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (following him). Thomas--what are you going to do! + +Dr. Stockmann (at his door). I mean to have the right to look my +sons in the face when they are grown men. (Goes into his room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (bursting into tears). God help us all! + +Petra. Father is splendid! He will not give in. + +(The boys look on in amazement; PETRA signs to them not to +speak.) + +ACT III + +(SCENE.--The editorial office of the "People's Messenger." The +entrance door is on the left-hand side of the back wall; on the +right-hand side is another door with glass panels through which +the printing room can be seen. Another door in the right-hand +wall. In the middle of the room is a large table covered with +papers, newspapers and books. In the foreground on the left a +window, before which stands a desk and a high stool. There are a +couple of easy chairs by the table, and other chairs standing +along the wall. The room is dingy and uncomfortable; the +furniture is old, the chairs stained and torn. In the printing +room the compositors are seen at work, and a printer is working a +handpress. HOVSTAD is sitting at the desk, writing. BILLING +comes in from the right with DR. STOCKMANN'S manuscript in his +hand.) + +Billing. Well, I must say! + +Hovstad (still writing). Have you read it through? + +Billing (laying the MS. on the desk). Yes, indeed I have. + +Hovstad. Don't you think the Doctor hits them pretty hard? + +Billing. Hard? Bless my soul, he's crushing! Every word falls +like--how shall I put it?--like the blow of a sledgehammer. + +Hovstad. Yes, but they are not the people to throw up the sponge +at the first blow. + +Billing. That is true; and for that reason we must strike blow +upon blow until the whole of this aristocracy tumbles to pieces. +As I sat in there reading this, I almost seemed to see a +revolution in being. + +Hovstad (turning round). Hush!--Speak so that Aslaksen cannot +hear you. + +Billing (lowering his voice). Aslaksen is a chicken-hearted chap, +a coward; there is nothing of the man in him. But this time you +will insist on your own way, won't you? You will put the Doctor's +article in? + +Hovstad. Yes, and if the Mayor doesn't like it-- + +Billing. That will be the devil of a nuisance. + +Hovstad. Well, fortunately we can turn the situation to good +account, whatever happens. If the Mayor will not fall in with the +Doctor's project, he will have all the small tradesmen down on +him--the whole of the Householders' Association and the rest of +them. And if he does fall in with it, he will fall out with the +whole crowd of large shareholders in the Baths, who up to now +have been his most valuable supporters-- + +Billing. Yes, because they will certainly have to fork out a +pretty penny-- + +Hovstad. Yes, you may be sure they will. And in this way the ring +will be broken up, you see, and then in every issue of the paper +we will enlighten the public on the Mayor's incapability on one +point and another, and make it clear that all the positions of +trust in the town, the whole control of municipal affairs, ought +to be put in the hands of the Liberals. + +Billing. That is perfectly true! I see it coming--I see it +coming; we are on the threshold of a revolution! + +(A knock is heard at the door.) + +Hovstad. Hush! (Calls out.) Come in! (DR. STOCKMANN comes in by +the street door. HOVSTAD goes to meet him.) Ah, it is you, +Doctor! Well? + +Dr. Stockmann. You may set to work and print it, Mr. Hovstad! + +Hovstad. Has it come to that, then? + +Billing. Hurrah! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, print away. Undoubtedly it has come to that. +Now they must take what they get. There is going to be a fight in +the town, Mr. Billing! + +Billing. War to the knife, I hope! We will get our knives to +their throats, Doctor! + +Dr. Stockmann. This article is only a beginning. I have already +got four or five more sketched out in my head. Where is Aslaksen? + +Billing (calls into the printing-room). Aslaksen, just come here +for a minute! + +Hovstad. Four or five more articles, did you say? On the same +subject? + +Dr. Stockmann. No--far from it, my dear fellow. No, they are +about quite another matter. But they all spring from the question +of the water supply and the drainage. One thing leads to another, +you know. It is like beginning to pull down an old house, +exactly. + +Billing. Upon my soul, it's true; you find you are not done till +you have pulled all the old rubbish down. + +Aslaksen (coming in). Pulled down? You are not thinking of +pulling down the Baths surely, Doctor? + +Hovstad. Far from it, don't be afraid. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, we meant something quite different. Well, what +do you think of my article, Mr. Hovstad? + +Hovstad. I think it is simply a masterpiece. + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you really think so? Well, I am very pleased, +very pleased. + +Hovstad. It is so clear and intelligible. One need have no +special knowledge to understand the bearing of it. You will have +every enlightened man on your side. + +Aslaksen. And every prudent man too, I hope? + +Billing. The prudent and the imprudent--almost the whole town. + +Aslaksen. In that case we may venture to print it. + +Dr. Stockmann. I should think so! + +Hovstad. We will put it in tomorrow morning. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course--you must not lose a single day. What I +wanted to ask you, Mr. Aslaksen, was if you would supervise the +printing of it yourself. + +Aslaksen. With pleasure. + +Dr. Stockmann. Take care of it as if it were a treasure! No +misprints--every word is important. I will look in again a little +later; perhaps you will be able to let me see a proof. I can't +tell you how eager I am to see it in print, and see it burst upon +the public-- + +Billing. Burst upon them--yes, like a flash of lightning! + +Dr. Stockmann. --and to have it submitted to the judgment of my +intelligent fellow townsmen. You cannot imagine what I have gone +through today. I have been threatened first with one thing and +then with another; they have tried to rob me of my most +elementary rights as a man-- + +Billing. What! Your rights as a man! + +Dr. Stockmann. --they have tried to degrade me, to make a coward +of me, to force me to put personal interests before my most +sacred convictions. + +Billing. That is too much--I'm damned if it isn't. + +Hovstad. Oh, you mustn't be surprised at anything from that +quarter. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, they will get the worst of it with me; they +may assure themselves of that. I shall consider the "People's +Messenger" my sheet-anchor now, and every single day I will +bombard them with one article after another, like bombshells-- + +Aslaksen. Yes, but + +Billing. Hurrah!--it is war, it is war! + +Dr. Stockmann. I shall smite them to the ground--I shall crush +them--I shall break down all their defenses, before the eyes of +the honest public! That is what I shall do! + +Aslaksen, Yes, but in moderation, Doctor--proceed with +moderation. + +Billing. Not a bit of it, not a bit of it! Don't spare the +dynamite! + +Dr. Stockmann. Because it is not merely a question of water- +supply and drains now, you know. No--it is the whole of our +social life that we have got to purify and disinfect-- + +Billing. Spoken like a deliverer! + +Dr. Stockmann. All the incapables must be turned out, you +understand--and that in every walk of life! Endless vistas have +opened themselves to my mind's eye today. I cannot see it all +quite clearly yet, but I shall in time. Young and vigorous +standard-bearers--those are what we need and must seek, my +friends; we must have new men in command at all our outposts. + +Billing. Hear hear! + +Dr. Stockmann. We only need to stand by one another, and it will +all be perfectly easy. The revolution will be launched like a +ship that runs smoothly off the stocks. Don't you think so? + +Hovstad. For my part I think we have now a prospect of getting +the municipal authority into the hands where it should lie. + +Aslaksen. And if only we proceed with moderation, I cannot +imagine that there will be any risk. + +Dr. Stockmann. Who the devil cares whether there is any risk or +not! What I am doing, I am doing in the name of truth and for the +sake of my conscience. + +Hovstad. You are a man who deserves to be supported, Doctor. + +Aslaksen. Yes, there is no denying that the Doctor is a true +friend to the town--a real friend to the community, that he is. + +Billing. Take my word for it, Aslaksen, Dr. Stockmann is a friend +of the people. + +Aslaksen. I fancy the Householders' Association will make use of +that expression before long. + +Dr. Stockmann (affected, grasps their hands). Thank you, thank +you, my dear staunch friends. It is very refreshing to me to hear +you say that; my brother called me something quite different. By +Jove, he shall have it back, with interest! But now I must be off +to see a poor devil--I will come back, as I said. Keep a very +careful eye on the manuscript, Aslaksen, and don't for worlds +leave out any of my notes of exclamation! Rather put one or two +more in! Capital, capital! Well, good-bye for the present-- +goodbye, goodbye! +(They show him to the door, and bow him out.) + +Hovstad. He may prove an invaluably useful man to us. + +Aslaksen. Yes, so long as he confines himself to this matter of +the Baths. But if he goes farther afield, I don't think it would +be advisable to follow him. + +Hovstad. Hm!--that all depends- + +Billing. You are so infernally timid, Aslaksen! + +Aslaksen. Timid? Yes, when it is a question of the local +authorities, I am timid, Mr. Billing; it is a lesson I have +learned in the school of experience, let me tell you. But try me +in higher politics, in matters that concern the government +itself, and then see if I am timid. + +Billing. No, you aren't, I admit. But this is simply +contradicting yourself. + +Aslaksen. I am a man with a conscience, and that is the whole +matter. If you attack the government, you don't do the community +any harm, anyway; those fellows pay no attention to attacks, you +see--they go on just as they are, in spite of them. But local +authorities are different; they can be turned out, and then +perhaps you may get an ignorant lot into office who may do +irreparable harm to the householders and everybody else. + +Hovstad. But what of the education of citizens by self +government--don't you attach any importance to that? + +Aslaksen. When a man has interests of his own to protect, he +cannot think of everything, Mr. Hovstad. + +Hovstad. Then I hope I shall never have interests of my own to +protect! + +Billing. Hear, hear! + +Aslaksen (with a smile). Hm! (Points to the desk.) Mr. Sheriff +Stensgaard was your predecessor at that editorial desk. + +Billing (spitting). Bah! That turncoat. + +Hovstad. I am not a weathercock--and never will be. + +Aslaksen. A politician should never be too certain of anything, +Mr. Hovstad. And as for you, Mr. Billing, I should think it is +time for you to be taking in a reef or two in your sails, seeing +that you are applying for the post of secretary to the Bench. + +Billing. I--! + +Hovstad. Are you, Billing? + +Billing. Well, yes--but you must clearly understand I am only +doing it to annoy the bigwigs. + +Aslaksen. Anyhow, it is no business of mine. But if I am to be +accused of timidity and of inconsistency in my principles, this +is what I want to point out: my political past is an open book. I +have never changed, except perhaps to become a little more +moderate, you see. My heart is still with the people; but I don't +deny that my reason has a certain bias towards the authorities-- +the local ones, I mean. (Goes into the printing room.) + +Billing. Oughtn't we to try and get rid of him, Hovstad? + +Hovstad. Do you know anyone else who will advance the money for +our paper and printing bill? + +Billing. It is an infernal nuisance that we don't possess some +capital to trade on. + +Hovstad (sitting down at his desk). Yes, if we only had that, +then-- + +Billing. Suppose you were to apply to Dr. Stockmann? + +Hovstad (turning over some papers). What is the use? He has got +nothing. + +Billing. No, but he has got a warm man in the background, old +Morten Kiil--"the Badger," as they call him. + +Hovstad (writing). Are you so sure he has got anything? + +Billing. Good Lord, of course he has! And some of it must come to +the Stockmanns. Most probably he will do something for the +children, at all events. + +Hovstad (turning half round). Are you counting on that? + +Billing. Counting on it? Of course I am not counting on anything. + +Hovstad. That is right. And I should not count on the +secretaryship to the Bench either, if I were you; for I can +assure you--you won't get it. + +Billing. Do you think I am not quite aware of that? My object is +precisely not to get it. A slight of that kind stimulates a man's +fighting power--it is like getting a supply of fresh bile--and I +am sure one needs that badly enough in a hole-and-corner place +like this, where it is so seldom anything happens to stir one up. + +Hovstad (writing). Quite so, quite so. + +Billing. Ah, I shall be heard of yet!--Now I shall go and write +the appeal to the Householders' Association. (Goes into the room +on the right.) + +Hovstad (sitting al his desk, biting his penholder, says slowly). +Hm!--that's it, is it. (A knock is heard.) Come in! (PETRA comes +in by the outer door. HOVSTAD gets up.) What, you!--here? + +Petra. Yes, you must forgive me-- + +Hovstad (pulling a chair forward). Won't you sit down? + +Petra. No, thank you; I must go again in a moment. + +Hovstad. Have you come with a message from your father, by any +chance? + +Petra. No, I have come on my own account. (Takes a book out of +her coat pocket.) Here is the English story. + +Hovstad. Why have you brought it back? + +Petra. Because I am not going to translate it. + +Hovstad. But you promised me faithfully. + +Petra. Yes, but then I had not read it, I don't suppose you have +read it either? + +Hovstad. No, you know quite well I don't understand English; +but-- + +Petra. Quite so. That is why I wanted to tell you that you must +find something else. (Lays the book on the table.) You can't use +this for the "People's Messenger." + +Hovstad. Why not? + +Petra. Because it conflicts with all your opinions. + +Hovstad. Oh, for that matter-- + +Petra. You don't understand me. The burden of this story is that +there is a supernatural power that looks after the so-called good +people in this world and makes everything happen for the best in +their case--while all the so-called bad people are punished. + +Hovstad. Well, but that is all right. That is just what our +readers want. + +Petra. And are you going to be the one to give it to them? For +myself, I do not believe a word of it. You know quite well that +things do not happen so in reality. + +Hovstad. You are perfectly right; but an editor cannot always act +as he would prefer. He is often obliged to bow to the wishes of +the public in unimportant matters. Politics are the most +important thing in life--for a newspaper, anyway; and if I want +to carry my public with me on the path that leads to liberty and +progress, I must not frighten them away. If they find a moral +tale of this sort in the serial at the bottom of the page, they +will be all the more ready to read what is printed above it; they +feel more secure, as it were. + +Petra. For shame! You would never go and set a snare like that +for your readers; you are not a spider! + +Hovstad (smiling). Thank you for having such a good opinion of +me. No; as a matter of fact that is Billing's idea and not mine. + +Petra. Billing's! + +Hovstad. Yes; anyway, he propounded that theory here one day. And +it is Billing who is so anxious to have that story in the paper; +I don't know anything about the book. + +Petra. But how can Billing, with his emancipated views-- + +Hovstad. Oh, Billing is a many-sided man. He is applying for the +post of secretary to the Bench, too, I hear. + +Petra. I don't believe it, Mr. Hovstad. How could he possibly +bring himself to do such a thing? + +Hovstad. Ah, you must ask him that. + +Petra. I should never have thought it of him. + +Hovstad (looking more closely at her). No? Does it really +surprise you so much? + +Petra. Yes. Or perhaps not altogether. Really, I don't quite know + +Hovstad. We journalists are not much worth, Miss Stockmann. + +Petra. Do you really mean that? + +Hovstad. I think so sometimes. + +Petra. Yes, in the ordinary affairs of everyday life, perhaps; I +can understand that. But now, when you have taken a weighty +matter in hand-- + +Hovstad. This matter of your father's, you mean? + +Petra. Exactly. It seems to me that now you must feel you are a +man worth more than most. + +Hovstad. Yes, today I do feel something of that sort. + +Petra. Of course you do, don't you? It is a splendid vocation you +have chosen--to smooth the way for the march of unappreciated +truths, and new and courageous lines of thought. If it were +nothing more than because you stand fearlessly in the open and +take up the cause of an injured man-- + +Hovstad. Especially when that injured man is--ahem!--I don't +rightly know how to-- + +Petra. When that man is so upright and so honest, you mean? + +Hovstad (more gently). Especially when he is your father I meant. + +Petra (suddenly checked). That? + +Hovstad. Yes, Petra--Miss Petra. + +Petra. Is it that, that is first and foremost with you? Not the +matter itself? Not the truth?--not my father's big generous +heart? + +Hovstad. Certainly--of course--that too. + +Petra. No, thank you; you have betrayed yourself, Mr. Hovstad, +and now I shall never trust you again in anything. + +Hovstad. Can you really take it so amiss in me that it is mostly +for your sake--? + +Petra. What I am angry with you for, is for not having been +honest with my father. You talked to him as if the truth and the +good of the community were what lay nearest to your heart. You +have made fools of both my father and me. You are not the man you +made yourself out to be. And that I shall never forgive you- +never! + +Hovstad. You ought not to speak so bitterly, Miss Petra--least of +all now. + +Petra. Why not now, especially? + +Hovstad. Because your father cannot do without my help. + +Petra (looking him up and down). Are you that sort of man too? +For shame! + +Hovstad. No, no, I am not. This came upon me so unexpectedly--you +must believe that. + +Petra. I know what to believe. Goodbye. + +Aslaksen (coming from the printing room, hurriedly and with an +air of mystery). Damnation, Hovstad!--(Sees PETRA.) Oh, this is +awkward-- + +Petra. There is the book; you must give it to some one else. +(Goes towards the door.) + +Hovstad (following her). But, Miss Stockmann-- + +Petra. Goodbye. (Goes out.) + +Aslaksen. I say--Mr, Hovstad-- + +Hovstad. Well well!--what is it? + +Aslaksen. The Mayor is outside in the printing room. + +Hovstad. The Mayor, did you say? + +Aslaksen. Yes he wants to speak to you. He came in by the back +door--didn't want to be seen, you understand. + +Hovstad. What can he want? Wait a bit--I will go myself. (Goes to +the door of the printing room, opens it, bows and invites PETER +STOCKMANN in.) Just see, Aslaksen, that no one-- + +Aslaksen. Quite so. (Goes into the printing-room.) + +Peter Stockmann. You did not expect to see me here, Mr. Hovstad? + +Hovstad. No, I confess I did not. + +Peter Stockmann (looking round). You are very snug in here--very +nice indeed. + +Hovstad. Oh-- + +Peter Stockmann. And here I come, without any notice, to take up +your time! + +Hovstad. By all means, Mr. Mayor. I am at your service. But let +me relieve you of your--(takes STOCKMANN's hat and stick and puts +them on a chair). Won't you sit down? + +Peter Stockmann (sitting down by the table). Thank you. (HOVSTAD +sits down.) I have had an extremely annoying experience to-day, +Mr. Hovstad. + +Hovstad. Really? Ah well, I expect with all the various business +you have to attend to-- + +Peter Stockmann. The Medical Officer of the Baths is responsible +for what happened today. + +Hovstad. Indeed? The Doctor? + +Peter Stockmann. He has addressed a kind of report to the Baths +Committee on the subject of certain supposed defects in the +Baths. + +Hovstad. Has he indeed? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes--has he not told you? I thought he said-- + +Hovstad. Ah, yes--it is true he did mention something about-- + +Aslaksen (coming from the printing-room). I ought to have that +copy. + +Hovstad (angrily). Ahem!--there it is on the desk. + +Aslaksen (taking it). Right. + +Peter Stockmann. But look there--that is the thing I was speaking +of! + +Aslaksen. Yes, that is the Doctor's article, Mr. Mayor. + +Hovstad. Oh, is THAT what you were speaking about? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, that is it. What do you think of it? + +Hovstad. Oh, I am only a layman--and I have only taken a very +cursory glance at it. + +Peter Stockmann. But you are going to print it? + +Hovstad. I cannot very well refuse a distinguished man. + +Aslaksen. I have nothing to do with editing the paper, Mr. +Mayor-- + +Peter Stockmann. I understand. + +Aslaksen. I merely print what is put into my hands. + +Peter Stockmann. Quite so. + +Aslaksen. And so I must-- (moves off towards the printing-room). + +Peter Stockmann. No, but wait a moment, Mr. Aslaksen. You will +allow me, Mr. Hovstad? + +Hovstad. If you please, Mr. Mayor. + +Peter Stockmann. You are a discreet and thoughtful man, Mr. +Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. I am delighted to hear you think so, sir. + +Peter Stockmann. And a man of very considerable influence. + +Aslaksen. Chiefly among the small tradesmen, sir. + +Peter Stockmann. The small tax-payers are the majority--here as +everywhere else. + +Aslaksen. That is true. + +Peter Stockmann. And I have no doubt you know the general trend +of opinion among them, don't you? + +Aslaksen. Yes I think I may say I do, Mr. Mayor. + +Peter Stockmann. Yes. Well, since there is such a praiseworthy +spirit of self-sacrifice among the less wealthy citizens of our +town-- + +Aslaksen. What? + +Hovstad. Self-sacrifice? + +Peter Stockmann. It is pleasing evidence of a public-spirited +feeling, extremely pleasing evidence. I might almost say I hardly +expected it. But you have a closer knowledge of public opinion +than I. + +Aslaksen. But, Mr. Mayor- + +Peter Stockmann. And indeed it is no small sacrifice that the +town is going to make. + +Hovstad. The town? + +Aslaksen. But I don't understand. Is it the Baths--? + +Peter Stockmann. At a provisional estimate, the alterations that +the Medical Officer asserts to be desirable will cost somewhere +about twenty thousand pounds. + +Aslaksen. That is a lot of money, but-- + +Peter Stockmann. Of course it will be necessary to raise a +municipal loan. + +Hovstad (getting up). Surely you never mean that the town must +pay--? + +Aslaksen. Do you mean that it must come out of the municipal +funds?--out of the ill-filled pockets of the small tradesmen? + +Peter Stockmann. Well, my dear Mr. Aslaksen, where else is the +money to come from? + +Aslaksen. The gentlemen who own the Baths ought to provide that. + +Peter Stockmann. The proprietors of the Baths are not in a +position to incur any further expense. + +Aslaksen. Is that absolutely certain, Mr. Mayor? + +Peter Stockmann. I have satisfied myself that it is so. If the +town wants these very extensive alterations, it will have to pay +for them. + +Aslaksen. But, damn it all--I beg your pardon--this is quite +another matter, Mr, Hovstad! + +Hovstad. It is, indeed. + +Peter Stockmann. The most fatal part of it is that we shall be +obliged to shut the Baths for a couple of years. + +Hovstad. Shut them? Shut them altogether? + +Aslaksen. For two years? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, the work will take as long as that--at +least. + +Aslaksen. I'm damned if we will stand that, Mr. Mayor! What are +we householders to live upon in the meantime? + +Peter Stockmann. Unfortunately, that is an extremely difficult +question to answer, Mr. Aslaksen. But what would you have us do? +Do you suppose we shall have a single visitor in the town, if we +go about proclaiming that our water is polluted, that we are +living over a plague spot, that the entire town-- + +Aslaksen. And the whole thing is merely imagination? + +Peter Stockmann. With the best will in the world, I have not been +able to come to any other conclusion. + +Aslaksen. Well then I must say it is absolutely unjustifiable of +Dr. Stockmann--I beg your pardon, Mr. Mayor. + +Peter Stockmann. What you say is lamentably true, Mr. Aslaksen. +My brother has unfortunately always been a headstrong man. + +Aslaksen. After this, do you mean to give him your support, Mr. +Hovstad? + +Hovstad. Can you suppose for a moment that I--? + +Peter Stockmann. I have drawn up a short resume of the situation +as it appears from a reasonable man's point of view. In it I have +indicated how certain possible defects might suitably be remedied +without outrunning the resources of the Baths Committee. + +Hovstad. Have you got it with you, Mr. Mayor? + +Peter Stockmann (fumbling in his pocket). Yes, I brought it with +me in case you should-- + +Aslaksen. Good Lord, there he is! + +Peter Stockmann. Who? My brother? + +Hovstad. Where? Where? + +Aslaksen. He has just gone through the printing room. + +Peter Stockmann. How unlucky! I don't want to meet him here, and +I had still several things to speak to you about. + +Hovstad (pointing to the door on the right). Go in there for the +present. + +Peter Stockmann. But--? + +Hovstad. You will only find Billing in there. + +Aslaksen. Quick, quick, Mr. Mayor--he is just coming. + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, very well; but see that you get rid of him +quickly. (Goes out through the door on the right, which ASLAKSEN +opens for him and shuts after him.) + +Hovstad. Pretend to be doing something, Aslaksen. (Sits down and +writes. ASLAKSEN begins foraging among a heap of newspapers that +are lying on a chair.) + +Dr. Stockmann (coming in from the printing room). Here I am +again. (Puts down his hat and stick.) + +Hovstad (writing). Already, Doctor? Hurry up with what we were +speaking about, Aslaksen. We are very pressed for time today. + +Dr. Stockmann (to ASLAKSEN). No proof for me to see yet, I hear. + +Aslaksen (without turning round). You couldn't expect it yet, +Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, no; but I am impatient, as you can understand. +I shall not know a moment's peace of mind until I see it in +print. + +Hovstad. Hm!--It will take a good while yet, won't it, Aslaksen? + +Aslaksen. Yes, I am almost afraid it will. + +Dr. Stockmann. All right, my dear friends; I will come back. I do +not mind coming back twice if necessary. A matter of such great +importance--the welfare of the town at stake--it is no time to +shirk trouble, (is just going, but stops and comes back.) Look +here--there is one thing more I want to speak to you about. + +Hovstad. Excuse me, but could it not wait till some other time? + +Dr. Stockmann. I can tell you in half a dozen words. It is only +this. When my article is read tomorrow and it is realised that I +have been quietly working the whole winter for the welfare of the +town-- + +Hovstad. Yes but, Doctor-- + +Dr. Stockmann. I know what you are going to say. You don't see +how on earth it was any more than my duty--my obvious duty as a +citizen. Of course it wasn't; I know that as well as you. But my +fellow citizens, you know--! Good Lord, think of all the good +souls who think so highly of me--! + +Aslaksen. Yes, our townsfolk have had a very high opinion of you +so far, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and that is just why I am afraid they--. +Well, this is the point; when this reaches them, especially the +poorer classes, and sounds in their ears like a summons to take +the town's affairs into their own hands for the future... + +Hovstad (getting up). Ahem I Doctor, I won't conceal from you the +fact-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah I--I knew there was something in the wind! But +I won't hear a word of it. If anything of that sort is being set +on foot-- + +Hovstad. Of what sort? + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, whatever it is--whether it is a +demonstration in my honour, or a banquet, or a subscription list +for some presentation to me--whatever it is, you most promise me +solemnly and faithfully to put a stop to it. You too, Mr. +Aslaksen; do you understand? + +Hovstad. You must forgive me, Doctor, but sooner or later we must +tell you the plain truth-- + +(He is interrupted by the entrance Of MRS. STOCKMANN, who comes +in from the street door.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (seeing her husband). Just as I thought! + +Hovstad (going towards her). You too, Mrs. Stockmann? + +Dr. Stockmann. What on earth do you want here, Katherine? + +Mrs. Stockmann. I should think you know very well what I want. + +Hovstad, Won't you sit down? Or perhaps-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, thank you; don't trouble. And you must not be +offended at my coming to fetch my husband; I am the mother of +three children, you know. + +Dr. Stockmann. Nonsense!--we know all about that. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, one would not give you credit for much +thought for your wife and children today; if you had had that, +you would not have gone and dragged us all into misfortune. + +Dr. Stockmann. Are you out of your senses, Katherine! Because a +man has a wife and children, is he not to be allowed to proclaim +the truth-is he not to be allowed to be an actively useful +citizen--is he not to be allowed to do a service to his native +town! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, Thomas--in reason. + +Aslaksen. Just what I say. Moderation in everything. + +Mrs. Stockmann. And that is why you wrong us, Mr. Hovstad, in +enticing my husband away from his home and making a dupe of him +in all this. + +Hovstad. I certainly am making a dupe of no one-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Making a dupe of me! Do you suppose I should allow +myself to be duped! + +Mrs. Stockmann. It is just what you do. I know quite well you +have more brains than anyone in the town, but you are extremely +easily duped, Thomas. (To Hovstad.) Please do realise that he +loses his post at the Baths if you print what he has written. + +Aslaksen. What! + +Hovstad. Look here, Doctor! + +Dr. Stockmann (laughing). Ha-ha!--just let them try! No, no--they +will take good care not to. I have got the compact majority +behind me, let me tell you! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, that is just the worst of it--your having +any such horrid thing behind you. + +Dr. Stockmann. Rubbish, Katherine!--Go home and look after your +house and leave me to look after the community. How can you be so +afraid, when I am so confident and happy? (Walks up and down, +rubbing his hands.) Truth and the People will win the fight, you +may be certain! I see the whole of the broad-minded middle class +marching like a victorious army--! (Stops beside a chair.) What +the deuce is that lying there? + +Aslaksen Good Lord! + +Hovstad. Ahem! + +Dr. Stockmann. Here we have the topmost pinnacle of authority! +(Takes the Mayor's official hat carefully between his finger-tips +and holds it up in the air.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. The Mayor's hat! + +Dr. Stockmann. And here is the staff of office too. How in the +name of all that's wonderful--? + +Hovstad. Well, you see-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, I understand. He has been here trying to talk +you over. Ha-ha!--he made rather a mistake there! And as soon as +he caught sight of me in the printing room. (Bursts out +laughing.) Did he run away, Mr. Aslaksen? + +Aslaksen (hurriedly). Yes, he ran away, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Ran away without his stick or his--. Fiddlesticks! +Peter doesn't run away and leave his belongings behind him. But +what the deuce have you done with him? Ah!--in there, of course. +Now you shall see, Katherine! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Thomas--please don't--! + +Aslaksen. Don't be rash, Doctor. + +(DR. STOCKMANN has put on the Mayor's hat and taken his stick in +his hand. He goes up to the door, opens it, and stands with his +hand to his hat at the salute. PETER STOCKMANN comes in, red with +anger. BILLING follows him.) + +Peter Stockmann. What does this tomfoolery mean? + +Dr. Stockmann. Be respectful, my good Peter. I am the chief +authority in the town now. (Walks up and down.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (almost in tears). Really, Thomas! + +Peter Stockmann (following him about). Give me my hat and stick. + +Dr. Stockmann (in the same tone as before). If you are chief +constable, let me tell you that I am the Mayor--I am the master +of the whole town, please understand! + +Peter Stockmann. Take off my hat, I tell you. Remember it is part +of an official uniform. + +Dr. Stockmann. Pooh! Do you think the newly awakened lionhearted +people are going to be frightened by an official hat? There is +going to be a revolution in the town tomorrow, let me tell you. +You thought you could turn me out; but now I shall turn you out-- +turn you out of all your various offices. Do you think I cannot? +Listen to me. I have triumphant social forces behind me. Hovstad +and Billing will thunder in the "People's Messenger," and +Aslaksen will take the field at the head of the whole +Householders' Association-- + +Aslaksen. That I won't, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course you will-- + +Peter Stockmann. Ah!--may I ask then if Mr. Hovstad intends to +join this agitation? + +Hovstad. No, Mr. Mayor. + +Aslaksen. No, Mr. Hovstad is not such a fool as to go and ruin +his paper and himself for the sake of an imaginary grievance. + +Dr. Stockmann (looking round him). What does this mean? + +Hovstad. You have represented your case in a false light, Doctor, +and therefore I am unable to give you my support. + +Billing. And after what the Mayor was so kind as to tell me just +now, I-- + +Dr. Stockmann. A false light! Leave that part of it to me. Only +print my article; I am quite capable of defending it. + +Hovstad. I am not going to print it. I cannot and will not and +dare not print it. + +Dr. Stockmann. You dare not? What nonsense!--you are the editor; +and an editor controls his paper, I suppose! + +Aslaksen. No, it is the subscribers, Doctor. + +Peter Stockmann. Fortunately, yes. + +Aslaksen. It is public opinion--the enlightened public-- +householders and people of that kind; they control the +newspapers. + +Dr. Stockmann (composedly). And I have all these influences +against me? + +Aslaksen. Yes, you have. It would mean the absolute ruin of the +community if your article were to appear. + +Dr. Stockmann. Indeed. + +Peter Stockmann. My hat and stick, if you please. (DR. STOCKMANN +takes off the hat and lays it on the table with the stick. PETER +STOCKMANN takes them up.) Your authority as mayor has come to an +untimely end. + +Dr. Stockmann. We have not got to the end yet. (To HOVSTAD.) Then +it is quite impossible for you to print my article in the +"People's Messenger"? + +Hovstad. Quite impossible--out of regard for your family as well. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You need not concern yourself about his family, +thank you, Mr. Hovstad. + +Peter Stockmann (taking a paper from his pocket). It will be +sufficient, for the guidance of the public, if this appears. It +is an official statement. May I trouble you? + +Hovstad (taking the paper). Certainly; I will see that it is +printed. + +Dr. Stockmann. But not mine. Do you imagine that you can silence +me and stifle the truth! You will not find it so easy as you +suppose. Mr. Aslaksen, kindly take my manuscript at once and +print it as a pamphlet--at my expense. I will have four hundred +copies--no, five or six hundred. + +Aslaksen. If you offered me its weight in gold, I could not lend +my press for any such purpose, Doctor. It would be flying in the +face of public opinion. You will not get it printed anywhere in +the town. + +Dr. Stockmann. Then give it me back. + +Hovstad (giving him the MS.). Here it is. + +Dr. Stockmann (taking his hat and stick). It shall be made public +all the same. I will read it out at a mass meeting of the +townspeople. All my fellow-citizens shall hear the voice of +truth! + +Peter Stockmann. You will not find any public body in the town +that will give you the use of their hall for such a purpose. + +Aslaksen. Not a single one, I am certain. + +Billing. No, I'm damned if you will find one. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But this is too shameful! Why should every one +turn against you like that? + +Dr. Stockmann (angrily). I will tell you why. It is because all +the men in this town are old women--like you; they all think of +nothing but their families, and never of the community. + +Mrs. Stockmann (putting her arm into his). Then I will show them +that an old woman can be a man for once. I am going to stand +by you, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. Bravely said, Katherine! It shall be made public-- +as I am a living soul! If I can't hire a hall, I shall hire a +drum, and parade the town with it and read it at every street- +corner. + +Peter Stockmann. You are surely not such an errant fool as that! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, I am. + +Aslaksen. You won't find a single man in the whole town to go +with you. + +Billing. No, I'm damned if you will. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Don't give in, Thomas. I will tell the boys to go +with you. + +Dr. Stockmann. That is a splendid idea! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Morten will be delighted; and Ejlif will do +whatever he does. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and Petra!--and you too, Katherine! + +Mrs. Stockmann. No, I won't do that; but I will stand at the +window and watch you, that's what I will do. + +Dr. Stockmann (puts his arms round her and kisses her). Thank +you, my dear! Now you and I are going to try a fall, my fine +gentlemen! I am going to see whether a pack of cowards can +succeed in gagging a patriot who wants to purify society! (He and +his wife go out by the street door.) + +Peter Stockmann (shaking his head seriously). Now he has sent her +out of her senses, too. + +ACT IV + +(SCENE.--A big old-fashioned room in CAPTAIN HORSTER'S house. At +the back folding-doors, which are standing open, lead to an ante- +room. Three windows in the left-hand wall. In the middle of the +opposite wall a platform has been erected. On this is a small +table with two candles, a water-bottle and glass, and a bell. The +room is lit by lamps placed between the windows. In the +foreground on the left there is a table with candles and a chair. +To the right is a door and some chairs standing near it. The room +is nearly filled with a crowd of townspeople of all sorts, a few +women and schoolboys being amongst them. People are still +streaming in from the back, and the room is soon filled.) + +1st Citizen (meeting another). Hullo, Lamstad! You here too? + +2nd Citizen. I go to every public meeting, I do. + +3rd Citizen. Brought your whistle too, I expect! + +2nd Citizen. I should think so. Haven't you? + +3rd Citizen. Rather! And old Evensen said he was going to bring a +cow-horn, he did. + +2nd Citizen. Good old Evensen! (Laughter among the crowd.) + +4th Citizen (coming up to them). I say, tell me what is going on +here tonight? + +2nd Citizen. Dr. Stockmann is going to deliver an address +attacking the Mayor. + +4th Citizen. But the Mayor is his brother. + +1st Citizen. That doesn't matter; Dr. Stockmann's not the chap to +be afraid. + +Peter Stockmann. For various reasons, which you will easily +understand, I must beg to be excused. But fortunately we have +amongst us a man who I think will be acceptable to you all. I +refer to the President of the Householders' Association, Mr. +Aslaksen. + +Several voices. Yes--Aslaksen! Bravo Aslaksen! + +(DR. STOCKMANN takes up his MS. and walks up and down the +platform.) + +Aslaksen. Since my fellow-citizens choose to entrust me with this +duty, I cannot refuse. + +(Loud applause. ASLAKSEN mounts the platform.) + +Billing (writing), "Mr. Aslaksen was elected with enthusiasm." + +Aslaksen. And now, as I am in this position, I should like to say +a few brief words. I am a quiet and peaceable man, who believes +in discreet moderation, and--and--in moderate discretion. All my +friends can bear witness to that. + +Several Voices. That's right! That's right, Aslaksen! + +Aslaksen. I have learned in the school of life and experience that +moderation is the most valuable virtue a citizen can possess-- + +Peter Stockmann. Hear, hear! + +Aslaksen. --And moreover, that discretion and moderation are what +enable a man to be of most service to the community. I would +therefore suggest to our esteemed fellow-citizen, who has called +this meeting, that he should strive to keep strictly within the +bounds of moderation. + +A Man by the door. Three cheers for the Moderation Society! + +A Voice. Shame! + +Several Voices. Sh!-Sh! + +Aslaksen. No interruptions, gentlemen, please! Does anyone wish +to make any remarks? + +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman. + +Aslaksen. The Mayor will address the meeting. + +Peter Stockmann. In consideration of the close relationship in +which, as you all know, I stand to the present Medical Officer of +the Baths, I should have preferred not to speak this evening. But +my official position with regard to the Baths and my solicitude +for the vital interests of the town compel me to bring forward a +motion. I venture to presume that there is not a single one of +our citizens present who considers it desirable that unreliable +and exaggerated accounts of the sanitary condition of the Baths +and the town should be spread abroad. + +Several Voices. No, no! Certainly not! We protest against it! + +Peter Stockmann. Therefore, I should like to propose that the +meeting should not permit the Medical Officer either to read or +to comment on his proposed lecture. + +Dr. Stockmann (impatiently). Not permit--! What the devil--! + +Mrs. Stockmann (coughing). Ahem!-ahem! + +Dr. Stockmann (collecting himself). Very well, Go ahead! + +Peter Stockmann. In my communication to the "People's Messenger," +I have put the essential facts before the public in such a way +that every fair-minded citizen can easily form his own opinion. +From it you will see that the main result of the Medical +Officer's proposals--apart from their constituting a vote of +censure on the leading men of the town--would be to saddle the +ratepayers with an unnecessary expenditure of at least some +thousands of pounds. + +(Sounds of disapproval among the audience, and some cat-calls.) + +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). Silence, please, gentlemen! I beg to +support the Mayor's motion. I quite agree with him that there is +something behind this agitation started by the Doctor. He talks +about the Baths; but it is a revolution he is aiming at--he wants +to get the administration of the town put into new hands. No one +doubts the honesty of the Doctor's intentions--no one will suggest +that there can be any two opinions as to that, I myself am a +believer in self-government for the people, provided it does not +fall too heavily on the ratepayers. But that would be the case +here; and that is why I will see Dr. Stockmann damned--I beg your +pardon--before I go with him in the matter. You can pay too +dearly for a thing sometimes; that is my opinion. + +(Loud applause on all sides.) + +Hovstad. I, too, feel called upon to explain my position. Dr. +Stockmann's agitation appeared to be gaining a certain amount of +sympathy at first, so I supported it as impartially as I could. +But presently we had reason to suspect that we had allowed +ourselves to be misled by misrepresentation of the state of +affairs-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Misrepresentation--! + +Hovstad. Well, let us say a not entirely trustworthy +representation. The Mayor's statement has proved that. I hope no +one here has any doubt as to my liberal principles; the attitude +of the "People's Messenger" towards important political questions +is well known to everyone. But the advice of experienced and +thoughtful men has convinced me that in purely local matters a +newspaper ought to proceed with a certain caution. + +Aslaksen. I entirely agree with the speaker. + +Hovstad. And, in the matter before us, it is now an undoubted +fact that Dr. Stockmann has public opinion against him. Now, what +is an editor's first and most obvious duty, gentlemen? Is it not +to work in harmony with his readers? Has he not received a sort +of tacit mandate to work persistently and assiduously for the +welfare of those whose opinions he represents? Or is it possible +I am mistaken in that? + +Voices from the crowd. No, no! You are quite right! + +Hovstad. It has cost me a severe struggle to break with a man in +whose house I have been lately a frequent guest--a man who till +today has been able to pride himself on the undivided goodwill +of his fellow-citizens--a man whose only, or at all events whose +essential, failing is that he is swayed by his heart rather than +his head. + +A few scattered voices. That is true! Bravo, Stockmann! + +Hovstad. But my duty to the community obliged me to break with +him. And there is another consideration that impels me to oppose +him, and, as far as possible, to arrest him on the perilous +course he has adopted; that is, consideration for his family-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Please stick to the water-supply and drainage! + +Hovstad. --consideration, I repeat, for his wife and his children +for whom he has made no provision. + +Morten. Is that us, mother? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Hush! + +Aslaksen. I will now put the Mayor's proposition to the vote. + +Dr. Stockmann. There is no necessity! Tonight I have no +intention of dealing with all that filth down at the Baths. No; I +have something quite different to say to you. + +Peter Stockmann (aside). What is coming now? + +A Drunken Man (by the entrance door). I am a ratepayer! And +therefore, I have a right to speak too! And my entire--firm-- +inconceivable opinion is-- + +A number of voices. Be quiet, at the back there! + +Others. He is drunk! Turn him out! (They turn him out.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Am I allowed to speak? + +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). Dr. Stockmann will address the +meeting. + +Dr. Stockmann. I should like to have seen anyone, a few days ago, +dare to attempt to silence me as has been done tonight! I would +have defended my sacred rights as a man, like a lion! But now it +is all one to me; I have something of even weightier importance +to say to you. (The crowd presses nearer to him, MORTEN Kiil +conspicuous among them.) + +Dr. Stockmann (continuing). I have thought and pondered a great +deal, these last few days--pondered over such a variety of things +that in the end my head seemed too full to hold them-- + +Peter Stockmann (with a cough). Ahem! + +Dr. Stockmann. --but I got them clear in my mind at last, and +then I saw the whole situation lucidly. And that is why I am +standing here to-night. I have a great revelation to make to you, +my fellow-citizens! I will impart to you a discovery of a far +wider scope than the trifling matter that our water supply is +poisoned and our medicinal Baths are standing on pestiferous +soil. + +A number of voices (shouting). Don't talk about the Baths! We +won't hear you! None of that! + +Dr. Stockmann. I have already told you that what I want to speak +about is the great discovery I have made lately--the discovery +that all the sources of our moral life are poisoned and that the +whole fabric of our civic community is founded on the pestiferous +soil of falsehood. + +Voices of disconcerted Citizens. What is that he says? + +Peter Stockmann. Such an insinuation--! + +Aslaksen (with his hand on his bell). I call upon the speaker to +moderate his language. + +Dr. Stockmann. I have always loved my native town as a man only +can love the home of his youthful days. I was not old when I went +away from here; and exile, longing and memories cast as it were +an additional halo over both the town and its inhabitants. (Some +clapping and applause.) And there I stayed, for many years, in a +horrible hole far away up north. When I came into contact with +some of the people that lived scattered about among the rocks, I +often thought it would of been more service to the poor half- +starved creatures if a veterinary doctor had been sent up there, +instead of a man like me. (Murmurs among the crowd.) + +Billing (laying down his pen). I'm damned if I have ever heard--! + +Hovstad. It is an insult to a respectable population! + +Dr. Stockmann. Wait a bit! I do not think anyone will charge me +with having forgotten my native town up there. I was like one of +the cider-ducks brooding on its nest, and what I hatched was the +plans for these Baths. (Applause and protests.) And then when +fate at last decreed for me the great happiness of coming home +again--I assure you, gentlemen, I thought I had nothing more in +the world to wish for. Or rather, there was one thing I wished +for--eagerly, untiringly, ardently--and that was to be able to be +of service to my native town and the good of the community. + +Peter Stockmann (looking at the ceiling). You chose a strange way +of doing it--ahem! + +Dr. Stockmann. And so, with my eyes blinded to the real facts, I +revelled in happiness. But yesterday morning--no, to be precise, +it was yesterday afternoon--the eyes of my mind were opened wide, +and the first thing I realised was the colossal stupidity of the +authorities--. (Uproar, shouts and laughter, MRS. STOCKMANN +coughs persistently.) + +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman! + +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). By virtue of my authority--! + +Dr. Stockmann. It is a petty thing to catch me up on a word, Mr. +Aslaksen. What I mean is only that I got scent of the +unbelievable piggishness our leading men had been responsible for +down at the Baths. I can't stand leading men at any price!--I +have had enough of such people in my time. They are like billy- +goats on a young plantation; they do mischief everywhere. They +stand in a free man's way, whichever way he turns, and what I +should like best would be to see them exterminated like any other +vermin--. (Uproar.) + +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman, can we allow such expressions to +pass? + +Aslaksen (with his hand on his bell). Doctor--! + +Dr. Stockmann. I cannot understand how it is that I have only now +acquired a clear conception of what these gentry are, when I had +almost daily before my eyes in this town such an excellent +specimen of them--my brother Peter--slow-witted and hide-bound in +prejudice--. (Laughter, uproar and hisses. MRS. STOCKMANN Sits +coughing assiduously. ASLAKSEN rings his bell violently.) + +The Drunken Man (who has got in again). Is it me he is talking +about? My name's Petersen, all right--but devil take me if I-- + +Angry Voices. Turn out that drunken man! Turn him out. (He is +turned out again.) + +Peter Stockmann. Who was that person? + +1st Citizen. I don't know who he is, Mr. Mayor. + +2nd Citizen. He doesn't belong here. + +3rd Citizen. I expect he is a navvy from over at--(the rest is +inaudible). + +Aslaksen. He had obviously had too much beer. Proceed, Doctor; +but please strive to be moderate in your language. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very well, gentlemen, I will say no more about our +leading men. And if anyone imagines, from what I have just said, +that my object is to attack these people this evening, he is +wrong--absolutely wide of the mark. For I cherish the comforting +conviction that these parasites--all these venerable relics of a +dying school of thought--are most admirably paving the way for +their own extinction; they need no doctor's help to hasten their +end. Nor is it folk of that kind who constitute the most pressing +danger to the community. It is not they who are most instrumental +in poisoning the sources of our moral life and infecting the +ground on which we stand. It is not they who are the most +dangerous enemies of truth and freedom amongst us. + +Shouts from all sides. Who then? Who is it? Name! Name! + +Dr. Stockmann. You may depend upon it--I shall name them! That is +precisely the great discovery I made yesterday. (Raises his +voice.) The most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom amongst us +is the compact majority--yes, the damned compact Liberal +majority--that is it! Now you know! (Tremendous uproar. Most of +the crowd are shouting, stamping and hissing. Some of the older +men among them exchange stolen glances and seem to be enjoying +themselves. MRS. STOCKMANN gets up, looking anxious. EJLIF and +MORTEN advance threateningly upon some schoolboys who are playing +pranks. ASLAKSEN rings his bell and begs for silence. HOVSTAD and +BILLING both talk at once, but are inaudible. At last quiet is +restored.) + +Aslaksen. As Chairman, I call upon the speaker to withdraw the +ill-considered expressions he has just used. + +Dr. Stockmann. Never, Mr. Aslaksen! It is the majority in our +community that denies me my freedom and seeks to prevent my +speaking the truth. + +Hovstad. The majority always has right on its side. + +Billing. And truth too, by God! + +Dr. Stockmann. The majority never has right on its side. Never, I +say! That is one of these social lies against which an +independent, intelligent man must wage war. Who is it that +constitute the majority of the population in a country? Is it the +clever folk, or the stupid? I don't imagine you will dispute the +fact that at present the stupid people are in an absolutely +overwhelming majority all the world over. But, good Lord!--you +can never pretend that it is right that the stupid folk should +govern the clever ones I (Uproar and cries.) Oh, yes--you can +shout me down, I know! But you cannot answer me. The majority has +might on its side--unfortunately; but right it has not. I am in +the right--I and a few other scattered individuals. The minority +is always in the right. (Renewed uproar.) + +Hovstad. Aha!--so Dr. Stockmann has become an aristocrat since +the day before yesterday! + +Dr. Stockmann. I have already said that I don't intend to waste a +word on the puny, narrow-chested, short-winded crew whom we are +leaving astern. Pulsating life no longer concerns itself with +them. I am thinking of the few, the scattered few amongst us, who +have absorbed new and vigorous truths. Such men stand, as it +were, at the outposts, so far ahead that the compact majority has +not yet been able to come up with them; and there they are +fighting for truths that are too newly-born into the world of +consciousness to have any considerable number of people on their +side as yet. + +Hovstad. So the Doctor is a revolutionary now! + +Dr. Stockmann. Good heavens--of course I am, Mr. Hovstad! I +propose to raise a revolution against the lie that the majority +has the monopoly of the truth. What sort of truths are they that +the majority usually supports? They are truths that are of such +advanced age that they are beginning to break up. And if a truth +is as old as that, it is also in a fair way to become a lie, +gentlemen. (Laughter and mocking cries.) Yes, believe me or not, +as you like; but truths are by no means as long-lived at +Methuselah--as some folk imagine. A normally constituted truth +lives, let us say, as a rule seventeen or eighteen, or at most +twenty years--seldom longer. But truths as aged as that are +always worn frightfully thin, and nevertheless it is only then +that the majority recognises them and recommends them to the +community as wholesome moral nourishment. There is no great +nutritive value in that sort of fare, I can assure you; and, as a +doctor, I ought to know. These "majority truths" are like last +year's cured meat--like rancid, tainted ham; and they are the +origin of the moral scurvy that is rampant in our communities. + +Aslaksen. It appears to me that the speaker is wandering a long +way from his subject. + +Peter Stockmann. I quite agree with the Chairman. + +Dr. Stockmann. Have you gone clean out of your senses, Peter? I +am sticking as closely to my subject as I can; for my subject is +precisely this, that it is the masses, the majority--this +infernal compact majority--that poisons the sources of our moral +life and infects the ground we stand on. + +Hovstad. And all this because the great, broadminded majority of +the people is prudent enough to show deference only to well- +ascertained and well-approved truths? + +Dr. Stockmann. Ah, my good Mr. Hovstad, don't talk nonsense about +well-ascertained truths! The truths of which the masses now +approve are the very truths that the fighters at the outposts +held to in the days of our grandfathers. We fighters at the +outposts nowadays no longer approve of them; and I do not believe +there is any other well-ascertained truth except this, that no +community can live a healthy life if it is nourished only on such +old marrowless truths. + +Hovstad. But, instead of standing there using vague generalities, +it would be interesting if you would tell us what these old +marrowless truths are, that we are nourished on. + +(Applause from many quarters.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, I could give you a whole string of such +abominations; but to begin with I will confine myself to one +well-approved truth, which at bottom is a foul lie, but upon +which nevertheless Mr. Hovstad and the "People's Messenger" and +all the "Messenger's" supporters are nourished. + +Hovstad. And that is--? + +Dr. Stockmann. That is, the doctrine you have inherited from your +forefathers and proclaim thoughtlessly far and wide--the doctrine +that the public, the crowd, the masses, are the essential part of +the population--that they constitute the People--that the common +folk, the ignorant and incomplete element in the community, have +the same right to pronounce judgment and to, approve, to direct +and to govern, as the isolated, intellectually superior +personalities in it. + +Billing. Well, damn me if ever I-- + +Hovstad (at the same time, shouting out). Fellow-citizens, take +good note of that! + +A number of voices (angrily). Oho!--we are not the People! Only +the superior folk are to govern, are they! + +A Workman. Turn the fellow out for talking such rubbish! + +Another. Out with him! + +Another (calling out). Blow your horn, Evensen! + +(A horn is blown loudly, amidst hisses and an angry uproar.) + +Dr. Stockmann (when the noise has somewhat abated). Be +reasonable! Can't you stand hearing the voice of truth for once? +I don't in the least expect you to agree with me all at once; but +I must say I did expect Mr. Hovstad to admit I was right, when he +had recovered his composure a little. He claims to be a +freethinker-- + +Voices (in murmurs of astonishment). Freethinker, did he say? Is +Hovstad a freethinker? + +Hovstad (shouting). Prove it, Dr. Stockmann! When have I said so +in print? + +Dr. Stockmann (reflecting). No, confound it, you are right!--you +have never had the courage to. Well, I won't put you in a hole, +Mr. Hovstad. Let us say it is I that am the freethinker, then. I +am going to prove to you, scientifically, that the "People's +Messenger" leads you by the nose in a shameful manner when it +tells you that you--that the common people, the crowd, the +masses, are the real essence of the People. That is only a +newspaper lie, I tell you! The common people are nothing more +than the raw material of which a People is made. (Groans, +laughter and uproar.) Well, isn't that the case? Isn't there an +enormous difference between a well-bred and an ill-bred strain of +animals? Take, for instance, a common barn-door hen. What sort of +eating do you get from a shrivelled up old scrag of a fowl like +that? Not much, do you! And what sort of eggs does it lay? A +fairly good crow or a raven can lay pretty nearly as good an egg. +But take a well-bred Spanish or Japanese hen, or a good pheasant +or a turkey--then you will see the difference. Or take the case +of dogs, with whom we humans are on such intimate terms. Think +first of an ordinary common cur--I mean one of the horrible, +coarse-haired, low-bred curs that do nothing but run about the +streets and befoul the walls of the houses. Compare one of these +curs with a poodle whose sires for many generations have been +bred in a gentleman's house, where they have had the best of food +and had the opportunity of hearing soft voices and music. Do you +not think that the poodle's brain is developed to quite a +different degree from that of the cur? Of course it is. It is +puppies of well-bred poodles like that, that showmen train to do +incredibly clever tricks--things that a common cur could never +learn to do even if it stood on its head. (Uproar and mocking +cries.) + +A Citizen (calls out). Are you going to make out we are dogs, +now? + +Another Citizen. We are not animals, Doctor! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes but, bless my soul, we are, my friend! It is +true we are the finest animals anyone could wish for; but, even +among us, exceptionally fine animals are rare. There is a +tremendous difference between poodle-men and cur-men. And the +amusing part of it is, that Mr. Hovstad quite agrees with me as +long as it is a question of four-footed animals-- + +Hovstad. Yes, it is true enough as far as they are concerned. + +Dr. Stockmann. Very well. But as soon as I extend the principle +and apply it to two-legged animals, Mr. Hovstad stops short. He +no longer dares to think independently, or to pursue his ideas to +their logical conclusion; so, he turns the whole theory upside +down and proclaims in the "People's Messenger" that it is the +barn-door hens and street curs that are the finest specimens in +the menagerie. But that is always the way, as long as a man +retains the traces of common origin and has not worked his way up +to intellectual distinction. + +Hovstad. I lay no claim to any sort of distinction, I am the son +of humble country-folk, and I am proud that the stock I come from +is rooted deep among the common people he insults. + +Voices. Bravo, Hovstad! Bravo! Bravo! + +Dr. Stockmann. The kind of common people I mean are not only to +be found low down in the social scale; they crawl and swarm all +around us--even in the highest social positions. You have only to +look at your own fine, distinguished Mayor! My brother Peter is +every bit as plebeian as anyone that walks in two shoes-- +(laughter and hisses) + +Peter Stockmann. I protest against personal allusions of this +kind. + +Dr. Stockmann (imperturbably).--and that, not because he is like +myself, descended from some old rascal of a pirate from Pomerania +or thereabouts--because that is who we are descended from-- + +Peter Stockmann. An absurd legend. I deny it! + +Dr. Stockmann. --but because he thinks what his superiors think, +and holds the same opinions as they, People who do that are, +intellectually speaking, common people; and, that is why my +magnificent brother Peter is in reality so very far from any +distinction--and consequently also so far from being liberal- +minded. + +Peter Stockmann. Mr. Chairman--! + +Hovstad. So it is only the distinguished men that are liberal- +minded in this country? We are learning something quite new! +(Laughter.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, that is part of my new discovery too. And +another part of it is that broad-mindedness is almost precisely +the same thing as morality. That is why I maintain that it is +absolutely inexcusable in the "People's Messenger" to proclaim, +day in and day out, the false doctrine that it is the masses, the +crowd, the compact majority, that have the monopoly of broad- +mindedness and morality--and that vice and corruption and every +kind of intellectual depravity are the result of culture, just as +all the filth that is draining into our Baths is the result of +the tanneries up at Molledal! (Uproar and interruptions. DR. +STOCKMANN is undisturbed, and goes on, carried away by his +ardour, with a smile.) And yet this same "People's Messenger" can +go on preaching that the masses ought to be elevated to higher +conditions of life! But, bless my soul, if the "Messenger's" +teaching is to be depended upon, this very raising up the masses +would mean nothing more or less than setting them straightway +upon the paths of depravity! Happily the theory that culture +demoralises is only an old falsehood that our forefathers +believed in and we have inherited. No, it is ignorance, poverty, +ugly conditions of life, that do the devil's work! In a house +which does not get aired and swept every day--my wife Katherine +maintains that the floor ought to be scrubbed as well, but that +is a debatable question--in such a house, let me tell you, people +will lose within two or three years the power of thinking or +acting in a moral manner. Lack of oxygen weakens the conscience. +And there must be a plentiful lack of oxygen in very many houses +in this town, I should think, judging from the fact that the +whole compact majority can be unconscientious enough to wish to +build the town's prosperity on a quagmire of falsehood and +deceit. + +Aslaksen. We cannot allow such a grave accusation to be flung at +a citizen community. + +A Citizen. I move that the Chairman direct the speaker to sit +down. + +Voices (angrily). Hear, hear! Quite right! Make him sit down! + +Dr. Stockmann (losing his self-control). Then I will go and shout +the truth at every street corner! I will write it in other towns' +newspapers! The whole country shall know what is going on here! + +Hovstad. It almost seems as if Dr. Stockmann's intention were to +ruin the town. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, my native town is so dear to me that I would +rather ruin it than see it flourishing upon a lie. + +Aslaksen. This is really serious. (Uproar and cat-calls MRS. +STOCKMANN coughs, but to no purpose; her husband does not listen +to her any longer.) + +Hovstad (shouting above the din). A man must be a public enemy to +wish to ruin a whole community! + +Dr. Stockmann (with growing fervor). What does the destruction +of a community matter, if it lives on lies? It ought to be razed +to the ground. I tell you-- All who live by lies ought to be +exterminated like vermin! You will end by infecting the whole +country; you will bring about such a state of things that the +whole country will deserve to be ruined. And if things come to +that pass, I shall say from the bottom of my heart: Let the whole +country perish, let all these people be exterminated! + +Voices from the crowd. That is talking like an out-and-out enemy +of the people! + +Billing. There sounded the voice of the people, by all that's +holy! + +The whole crowd. (shouting). Yes, yes! He is an enemy of the +people! He hates his country! He hates his own people! + +Aslaksen. Both as a citizen and as an individual, I am profoundly +disturbed by what we have had to listen to. Dr. Stockmann has +shown himself in a light I should never have dreamed of. I am +unhappily obliged to subscribe to the opinion which I have just +heard my estimable fellow-citizens utter; and I propose that we +should give expression to that opinion in a resolution. I propose +a resolution as follows: "This meeting declares that it considers +Dr. Thomas Stockmann, Medical Officer of the Baths, to be an +enemy of the people." (A storm of cheers and applause. A number +of men surround the DOCTOR and hiss him. MRS. STOCKMANN and PETRA +have got up from their seats. MORTEN and EJLIF are fighting the +other schoolboys for hissing; some of their elders separate +them.) + +Dr. Stockmann (to the men who are hissing him). Oh, you fools! I +tell you that-- + +Aslaksen (ringing his bell). We cannot hear you now, Doctor. A +formal vote is about to be taken; but, out of regard for personal +feelings, it shall be by ballot and not verbal. Have you any +clean paper, Mr. Billing? + +Billing. I have both blue and white here. + +Aslaksen (going to him). That will do nicely; we shall get on +more quickly that way. Cut it up into small strips--yes, that's +it. (To the meeting.) Blue means no; white means yes. I will come +round myself and collect votes. (PETER STOCKMANN leaves the hall. +ASLAKSEN and one or two others go round the room with the slips +of paper in their hats.) + +1st Citizen (to HOVSTAD). I say, what has come to the Doctor? +What are we to think of it? + +Hovstad. Oh, you know how headstrong he is. + +2nd Citizen (to BILLING). Billing, you go to their house--have +you ever noticed if the fellow drinks? + +Billing. Well I'm hanged if I know what to say. There are always +spirits on the table when you go. + +3rd Citizen. I rather think he goes quite off his head sometimes. + +1st Citizen. I wonder if there is any madness in his family? + +Billing. I shouldn't wonder if there were. + +4th Citizen. No, it is nothing more than sheer malice; he wants +to get even with somebody for something or other. + +Billing. Well certainly he suggested a rise in his salary on one +occasion lately, and did not get it. + +The Citizens (together). Ah!--then it is easy to understand how +it is! + +The Drunken Man (who has got among the audience again). I want +a blue one, I do! And I want a white one too! + +Voices. It's that drunken chap again! Turn him out! + +Morten Kiil. (going up to DR. STOCKMANN). Well, Stockmann, do you +see what these monkey tricks of yours lead to? + +Dr. Stockmann. I have done my duty. + +Morten Kiil. What was that you said about the tanneries at +Molledal? + +Dr. Stockmann. You heard well enough. I said they were the source +of all the filth. + +Morten Kiil. My tannery too? + +Dr. Stockmann. Unfortunately your tannery is by far the worst. + +Morten Kiil. Are you going to put that in the papers? + +Dr. Stockmann. I shall conceal nothing. + +Morten Kiil. That may cost you dearly, Stockmann. (Goes out.) + +A Stout Man (going UP to CAPTAIN HORSTER, Without taking any +notice of the ladies). Well, Captain, so you lend your house to +enemies of the people? + +Horster. I imagine I can do what I like with my own possessions, +Mr. Vik. + +The Stout Man. Then you can have no objection to my doing the +same with mine. + +Horster. What do you mean, sir? + +The Stout Man. You shall hear from me in the morning. (Turns his +back on him and moves off.) + +Petra. Was that not your owner, Captain Horster? + +Horster. Yes, that was Mr. Vik the shipowner. + +Aslaksen (with the voting-papers in his hands, gets up on to the +platform and rings his bell). Gentlemen, allow me to announce the +result. By the votes of every one here except one person-- + +A Young Man. That is the drunk chap! + +Aslaksen. By the votes of everyone here except a tipsy man, this +meeting of citizens declares Dr. Thomas Stockmann to be an enemy +of the people. (Shouts and applause.) Three cheers for our +ancient and honourable citizen community! (Renewed applause.) +Three cheers for our able and energetic Mayor, who has so loyally +suppressed the promptings of family feeling! (Cheers.) The +meeting is dissolved. (Gets down.) + +Billing. Three cheers for the Chairman! + +The whole crowd. Three cheers for Aslaksen! Hurrah! + +Dr. Stockmann. My hat and coat, Petra! Captain, have you room on +your ship for passengers to the New World? + +Horster. For you and yours we will make room, Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann (as PETRA helps him into his coat), Good. Come, +Katherine! Come, boys! + +Mrs. Stockmann (in an undertone). Thomas, dear, let us go out by +the back way. + +Dr. Stockmann. No back ways for me, Katherine, (Raising his +voice.) You will hear more of this enemy of the people, before he +shakes the dust off his shoes upon you! I am not so forgiving as +a certain Person; I do not say: "I forgive you, for ye know not +what ye do." + +Aslaksen (shouting). That is a blasphemous comparison, Dr. +Stockmann! + +Billing. It is, by God! It's dreadful for an earnest man to +listen to. + +A Coarse Voice. Threatens us now, does he! + +Other Voices (excitedly). Let's go and break his windows! Duck +him in the fjord! + +Another Voice. Blow your horn, Evensen! Pip, pip! + +(Horn-blowing, hisses, and wild cries. DR. STOCKMANN goes out +through the hall with his family, HORSTER elbowing a way for +them.) + +The Whole Crowd (howling after them as they go). Enemy of the +People! Enemy of the People! + +Billing (as he puts his papers together). Well, I'm damned if I +go and drink toddy with the Stockmanns tonight! + +(The crowd press towards the exit. The uproar continues outside; +shouts of "Enemy of the People!" are heard from without.) + +ACT V + +(SCENE.--DR. STOCKMANN'S study. Bookcases and cabinets +containing specimens, line the walls. At the back is a door +leading to the hall; in the foreground on the left, a door +leading to the sitting-room. In the righthand wall are two +windows, of which all the panes are broken. The DOCTOR'S desk, +littered with books and papers, stands in the middle of the room, +which is in disorder. It is morning. DR. STOCKMANN in dressing- +gown, slippers and a smoking-cap, is bending down and raking with +an umbrella under one of the cabinets. After a little while he +rakes out a stone.) + +Dr. Stockmann (calling through the open sitting-room door). +Katherine, I have found another one. + +Mrs. Stockmann (from the sitting-room). Oh, you will find a lot +more yet, I expect. + +Dr. Stockmann (adding the stone to a heap of others on the +table). I shall treasure these stones as relies. Ejlif and Morten +shall look at them everyday, and when they are grown up they +shall inherit them as heirlooms. (Rakes about under a bookcase.) +Hasn't--what the deuce is her name?--the girl, you know--hasn't +she been to fetch the glazier yet? + +Mrs. Stockmann (coming in). Yes, but he said he didn't know if he +would be able to come today. + +Dr. Stockmann. You will see he won't dare to come. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, that is just what Randine thought--that he +didn't dare to, on account of the neighbours. (Calls into the +sitting-room.) What is it you want, Randine? Give it to me. (Goes +in, and comes out again directly.) Here is a letter for you, +Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Let me see it. (Opens and reads it.) Ah!--of +course. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Who is it from? + +Dr. Stockmann. From the landlord. Notice to quit. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Is it possible? Such a nice man + +Dr. Stockmann (looking at the letter). Does not dare do +otherwise, he says. Doesn't like doing it, but dare not do +otherwise--on account of his fellow-citizens--out of regard for +public opinion. Is in a dependent position--dares not offend +certain influential men. + +Mrs. Stockmann. There, you see, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, yes, I see well enough; the whole lot of them +in the town are cowards; not a man among them dares do anything +for fear of the others. (Throws the letter on to the table.) But +it doesn't matter to us, Katherine. We are going to sail away to +the New World, and-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas, are you sure we are well advised to +take this step? + +Dr. Stockmann. Are you suggesting that I should stay here, where +they have pilloried me as an enemy of the people--branded me-- +broken my windows! And just look here, Katherine--they have torn +a great rent in my black trousers too! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, dear!--and they are the best pair you have +got! + +Dr. Stockmann. You should never wear your best trousers when you +go out to fight for freedom and truth. It is not that I care so +much about the trousers, you know; you can always sew them up +again for me. But that the common herd should dare to make this +attack on me, as if they were my equals--that is what I cannot, +for the life of me, swallow! + +Mrs. Stockmann. There is no doubt they have behaved very ill toward +you, Thomas; but is that sufficient reason for our leaving our +native country for good and all? + +Dr. Stockmann. If we went to another town, do you suppose we +should not find the common people just as insolent as they are +here? Depend upon it, there is not much to choose between them. +Oh, well, let the curs snap--that is not the worst part of it. +The worst is that, from one end of this country to the other, +every man is the slave of his Party. Although, as far as that +goes, I daresay it is not much better in the free West either; +the compact majority, and liberal public opinion, and all that +infernal old bag of tricks are probably rampant there too. But +there things are done on a larger scale, you see. They may kill +you, but they won't put you to death by slow torture. They don't +squeeze a free man's soul in a vice, as they do here. And, if +need be, one can live in solitude. (Walks up and down.) If only I +knew where there was a virgin forest or a small South Sea island +for sale, cheap-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. But think of the boys, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still). What a strange woman you are, +Katherine! Would you prefer to have the boys grow up in a society +like this? You saw for yourself last night that half the +population are out of their minds; and if the other half have not +lost their senses, it is because they are mere brutes, with no +sense to lose. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas dear, the imprudent things you said +had something to do with it, you know. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, isn't what I said perfectly true? Don't they +turn every idea topsy-turvy? Don't they make a regular hotchpotch +of right and wrong? Don't they say that the things I know are +true, are lies? The craziest part of it all is the fact of these +"liberals," men of full age, going about in crowds imagining that +they are the broad-minded party! Did you ever hear anything like +it, Katherine! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, yes, it's mad enough of them, certainly; +but--(PETRA comes in from the silting-room). Back from school +already? + +Petra. Yes. I have been given notice of dismissal. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Dismissal? + +Dr. Stockmann. You too? + +Petra. Mrs. Busk gave me my notice; so I thought it was best to +go at once. + +Dr. Stockmann. You were perfectly right, too! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Who would have thought Mrs. Busk was a woman like +that! + +Petra. Mrs. Busk isn't a bit like that, mother; I saw quite +plainly how it hurt her to do it. But she didn't dare do +otherwise, she said; and so I got my notice. + +Dr. Stockmann (laughing and rubbing his hands). She didn't dare +do otherwise, either! It's delicious! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Well, after the dreadful scenes last night-- + +Petra. It was not only that. Just listen to this, father! + +Dr. Stockmann. Well? + +Petra. Mrs. Busk showed me no less than three letters she +received this morning-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Anonymous, I suppose? + +Petra. Yes. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, because they didn't dare to risk signing +their names, Katherine! + +Petra. And two of them were to the effect that a man, who has +been our guest here, was declaring last night at the Club that my +views on various subjects are extremely emancipated-- + +Dr. Stockmann. You did not deny that, I hope? + +Petra. No, you know I wouldn't. Mrs. Busk's own views are +tolerably emancipated, when we are alone together; but now that +this report about me is being spread, she dare not keep me on any +longer. + +Mrs. Stockmann. And someone who had been a guest of ours! That +shows you the return you get for your hospitality, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. We won't live in such a disgusting hole any +longer. Pack up as quickly as you can, Katherine; the sooner we +can get away, the better. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Be quiet--I think I hear someone in the hall. +See who it is, Petra. + +Petra (opening the door). Oh, it's you, Captain Horster! Do come +in. + +Horster (coming in). Good morning. I thought I would just come in +and see how you were. + +Dr. Stockmann (shaking his hand). Thanks--that is really kind of +you. + +Mrs. Stockmann. And thank you, too, for helping us through the +crowd, Captain Horster. + +Petra. How did you manage to get home again? + +Horster. Oh, somehow or other. I am fairly strong, and there is +more sound than fury about these folk. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, isn't their swinish cowardice astonishing? +Look here, I will show you something! There are all the stones +they have thrown through my windows. Just look at them! I'm +hanged if there are more than two decently large bits of +hard stone in the whole heap; the rest are nothing but gravel-- +wretched little things. And yet they stood out there bawling and +swearing that they would do me some violence; but as for doing +anything--you don't see much of that in this town. + +Horster. Just as well for you this time, doctor! + +Dr. Stockmann. True enough. But it makes one angry all the same; +because if some day it should be a question of a national fight +in real earnest, you will see that public opinion will be in +favour of taking to one's heels, and the compact majority will +turn tail like a flock of sheep, Captain Horster. That is what is +so mournful to think of; it gives me so much concern, that--. No, +devil take it, it is ridiculous to care about it! They have +called me an enemy of the people, so an enemy of the people let +me be! + +Mrs. Stockmann. You will never be that, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Don't swear to that, Katherine. To be called an +ugly name may have the same effect as a pin-scratch in the lung. +And that hateful name--I can't get quit of it. It is sticking +here in the pit of my stomach, eating into me like a corrosive +acid. And no magnesia will remove it. + +Petra. Bah!--you should only laugh at them, father, + +Horster. They will change their minds some day, Doctor. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, Thomas, as sure as you are standing here. + +Dr. Stockmann. Perhaps, when it is too late. Much good may it do +them! They may wallow in their filth then and rue the day when +they drove a patriot into exile. When do you sail, Captain +Horster? + +Horster. Hm!--that was just what I had come to speak about-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Why, has anything gone wrong with the ship? + +Horster. No; but what has happened is that I am not to sail in +it. + +Petra. Do you mean that you have been dismissed from your +command? + +Horster (smiling). Yes, that's just it. + +Petra. You too. + +Mrs. Stockmann. There, you see, Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann. And that for the truth's sake! Oh, if I had +thought such a thing possible-- + +Horster. You mustn't take it to heart; I shall be sure to find a +job with some ship-owner or other, elsewhere. + +Dr. Stockmann. And that is this man Vik--a wealthy man, +independent of everyone and everything--! Shame on him! + +Horster. He is quite an excellent fellow otherwise; he told me +himself he would willingly have kept me on, if only he had dared-- + +Dr. Stockmann. But he didn't dare? No, of course not. + +Horster. It is not such an easy matter, he said, for a party man-- + +Dr. Stockmann. The worthy man spoke the truth. A party is like a +sausage machine; it mashes up all sorts of heads together into +the same mincemeat--fatheads and blockheads, all in one mash! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Come, come, Thomas dear! + +Petra (to HORSTER). If only you had not come home with us, things +might not have come to this pass. + +Horster. I do not regret it. + +Petra (holding out her hand to him). Thank you for that! + +Horster (to DR. STOCKMANN). And so what I came to say was that if +you are determined to go away, I have thought of another plan-- + +Dr. Stockmann. That's splendid!--if only we can get away at once. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Hush!--wasn't that some one knocking? + +Petra. That is uncle, surely. + +Dr. Stockmann. Aha! (Calls out.) Come in! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Dear Thomas, promise me definitely--. (PETER +STOCKMANN comes in from the hall.) + +Peter Stockmann. Oh, you are engaged. In that case, I will-- + +Dr. Stockmann. No, no, come in. + +Peter Stockmann. But I wanted to speak to you alone. + +Mrs. Stockmann. We will go into the sitting-room in the +meanwhile. + +Horster. And I will look in again later. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, go in there with them, Captain Horster; I want +to hear more about--. + +Horster. Very well, I will wait, then. (He follows MRS. STOCKMANN +and PETRA into the sitting-room.) + +Dr. Stockmann. I daresay you find it rather draughty here today. +Put your hat on. + +Peter Stockmann. Thank you, if I may. (Does so.) I think I caught +cold last night; I stood and shivered-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Really? I found it warm enough. + +Peter Stockmann. I regret that it was not in my power to prevent +those excesses last night. + +Dr. Stockmann. Have you anything in particular to say to me +besides that? + +Peter Stockmann (taking a big letter from his pocket). I have +this document for you, from the Baths Committee. + +Dr. Stockmann. My dismissal? + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, dating from today. (Lays the letter on the +table.) It gives us pain to do it; but, to speak frankly, we +dared not do otherwise on account of public opinion. + +Dr. Stockmann (smiling). Dared not? I seem to have heard that +word before, today. + +Peter Stockmann. I must beg you to understand your position +clearly. For the future you must not count on any practice +whatever in the town. + +Dr. Stockmann. Devil take the practice! But why are you so sure +of that? + +Peter Stockmann. The Householders' Association is circulating a +list from house to house. All right-minded citizens are being +called upon to give up employing you; and I can assure you that +not a single head of a family will risk refusing his signature. +They simply dare not. + +Dr. Stockmann. No, no; I don't doubt it. But what then? + +Peter Stockmann. If I might advise you, it would be best to leave +the place for a little while-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, the propriety of leaving the place has +occurred to me. + +Peter Stockmann. Good. And then, when you have had six months to +think things over, if, after mature consideration, you can +persuade yourself to write a few words of regret, acknowledging +your error-- + +Dr. Stockmann. I might have my appointment restored to me, do you +mean? + +Peter Stockmann. Perhaps. It is not at all impossible. + +Dr. Stockmann. But what about public opinion, then? Surely you +would not dare to do it on account of public feeling... + +Peter Stockmann. Public opinion is an extremely mutable thing. +And, to be quite candid with you, it is a matter of great +importance to us to have some admission of that sort from you in +writing. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, that's what you are after, is it! I will just +trouble you to remember what I said to you lately about foxy +tricks of that sort! + +Peter Stockmann. Your position was quite different then. At that +time you had reason to suppose you had the whole town at your +back-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and now I feel I have the whole town ON my +back--(flaring up). I would not do it if I had the devil and his +dam on my back--! Never--never, I tell you! + +Peter Stockmann. A man with a family has no right to behave as +you do. You have no right to do it, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. I have no right! There is only one single thing in +the world a free man has no right to do. Do you know what that +is? + +Peter Stockmann. No. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course you don't, but I will tell you. A free +man has no right to soil himself with filth; he has no right to +behave in a way that would justify his spitting in his own face. + +Peter Stockmann. This sort of thing sounds extremely plausible, +of course; and if there were no other explanation for your +obstinacy--. But as it happens that there is. + +Dr. Stockmann. What do you mean? + +Peter Stockmann. You understand, very well what I mean. But, as +your brother and as a man of discretion, I advise you not to +build too much upon expectations and prospects that may so very +easily fail you. + +Dr. Stockmann. What in the world is all this about? + +Peter Stockmann. Do you really ask me to believe that you are +ignorant of the terms of Mr. Kiil's will? + +Dr. Stockmann. I know that the small amount he possesses is to go +to an institution for indigent old workpeople. How does that +concern me? + +Peter Stockmann. In the first place, it is by no means a small +amount that is in question. Mr. Kiil is a fairly wealthy man. + +Dr. Stockmann. I had no notion of that! + +Peter Stockmann. Hm!--hadn't you really? Then I suppose you had +no notion, either, that a considerable portion of his wealth will +come to your children, you and your wife having a life-rent of +the capital. Has he never told you so? + +Dr. Stockmann. Never, on my honour! Quite the reverse; he has +consistently done nothing but fume at being so unconscionably +heavily taxed. But are you perfectly certain of this, Peter? + +Peter Stockmann. I have it from an absolutely reliable source. + +Dr. Stockmann. Then, thank God, Katherine is provided for--and +the children too! I must tell her this at once--(calls out) +Katherine, Katherine! + +Peter Stockmann (restraining him). Hush, don't say a word yet! + +Mrs. Stockmann (opening the door). What is the matter? + +Dr, Stockmann. Oh, nothing, nothing; you can go back. (She shuts +the door. DR. STOCKMANN walks up and down in his excitement.) +Provided for!--Just think of it, we are all provided for! And for +life! What a blessed feeling it is to know one is provided for! + +Peter Stockmann. Yes, but that is just exactly what you are not. +Mr. Kiil can alter his will any day he likes. + +Dr. Stockmann. But he won't do that, my dear Peter. The "Badger" +is much too delighted at my attack on you and your wise friends. + +Peter Stockmann (starts and looks intently at him). Ali, that +throws a light on various things. + +Dr. Stockmann. What things? + +Peter Stockmann. I see that the whole thing was a combined +manoeuvre on your part and his. These violent, reckless attacks +that you have made against the leading men of the town, under the +pretence that it was in the name of truth-- + +Dr. Stockmann. What about them? + +Peter Stockmann. I see that they were nothing else than the +stipulated price for that vindictive old man's will. + +Dr. Stockmann (almost speechless). Peter--you are the most +disgusting plebeian I have ever met in all my life. + +Peter Stockmann. All is over between us. Your dismissal is +irrevocable--we have a weapon against you now. (Goes out.) + +Dr. Stockmann. For shame! For shame! (Calls out.) Katherine, you +must have the floor scrubbed after him! Let--what's her name-- +devil take it, the girl who has always got soot on her nose-- + +Mrs. Stockmann. (in the sitting-room). Hush, Thomas, be quiet! + +Petra (coming to the door). Father, grandfather is here, asking +if he may speak to you alone. + +Dr. Stockmann. Certainly he may. (Going to the door.) Come in, +Mr. Kiil. (MORTEN KIIL comes in. DR. STOCKMANN shuts the door +after him.) What can I do for you? Won't you sit down? + +Morten Kiil. I won't sit. (Looks around.) You look very +comfortable here today, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, don't we! + +Morten Kiil. Very comfortable--plenty of fresh air. I should +think you have got enough to-day of that oxygen you were talking +about yesterday. Your conscience must be in splendid order to- +day, I should think. + +Dr. Stockmann. It is. + +Morten Kiil. So I should think. (Taps his chest.) Do you know +what I have got here? + +Dr. Stockmann. A good conscience, too, I hope. + +Morten Kiil. Bah!--No, it is something better than that. (He +takes a thick pocket-book from his breast-pocket, opens it, and +displays a packet of papers.) + +Dr. Stockmann (looking at him in astonishment). Shares in the +Baths? + +Morten Kiil. They were not difficult to get today. + +Dr. Stockmann. And you have been buying--? + +Morten Kiil. As many as I could pay for. + +Dr. Stockmann. But, my dear Mr. Kiil--consider the state of the +Baths' affairs! + +Morten Kiil. If you behave like a reasonable man, you can soon +set the Baths on their feet again. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, you can see for yourself that I have done +all I can, but--. They are all mad in this town! + +Morten Kiil. You said yesterday that the worst of this pollution +came from my tannery. If that is true, then my grandfather and my +father before me, and I myself, for many years past, have been +poisoning the town like three destroying angels. Do you think I +am going to sit quiet under that reproach? + +Dr. Stockmann. Unfortunately I am afraid you will have to. + +Morten Kiil. No, thank you. I am jealous of my name and +reputation. They call me "the Badger," I am told. A badger is a +kind of pig, I believe; but I am not going to give them the right +to call me that. I mean to live and die a clean man. + +Dr. Stockmann. And how are you going to set about it? + +Morten Kiil. You shall cleanse me, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. I! + +Morten Kiil. Do you know what money I have bought these shares +with? No, of course you can't know--but I will tell you. It is +the money that Katherine and Petra and the boys will have when I +am gone. Because I have been able to save a little bit after all, +you know. + +Dr, Stockmann (flaring up). And you have gone and taken +Katherine's money for this! + +Morten Kiil. Yes, the whole of the money is invested in the Baths +now. And now I just want to see whether you are quite stark, +staring mad, Thomas! If you still make out that these animals and +other nasty things of that sort come from my tannery, it will be +exactly as if you were to flay broad strips of skin from +Katherine's body, and Petra's, and the boys'; and no decent man +would do that--unless he were mad. + +Dr. Stockmann (walking up and down). Yes, but I am mad; I am mad! + +Morten Kiil. You cannot be so absurdly mad as all that, when it +is a question of your wife and children. + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still in front of him). Why couldn't you +consult me about it, before you went and bought all that trash? + +Morten Kiil. What is done cannot be undone. + +Dr. Stockmann (walks about uneasily). If only I were not so +certain about it--! But I am absolutely convinced that I am +right. + +Morten Kiil (weighing the pocket-book in his hand). If you stick +to your mad idea, this won't be worth much, you know. (Puts the +pocket-book in his pocket.) + +Dr. Stockmann. But, hang it all! It might be possible for science +to discover some prophylactic, I should think--or some antidote +of some kind-- + +Morten Kiil. To kill these animals, do you mean? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, or to make them innocuous. + +Morten Kiil. Couldn't you try some rat's-bane? + +Dr. Stockmann. Don't talk nonsense! They all say it is only +imagination, you know. Well, let it go at that! Let them have +their own way about it! Haven't the ignorant, narrow-minded curs +reviled me as an enemy of the people?--and haven't they been +ready to tear the clothes off my back too? + +Morten Kiil. And broken all your windows to pieces! + +Dr. Stockmann. And then there is my duty to my family. I must +talk it over with Katherine; she is great on those things, + +Morten Kiil. That is right; be guided by a reasonable woman's +advice. + +Dr. Stockmann (advancing towards him). To think you could do such +a preposterous thing! Risking Katherine's money in this way, and +putting me in such a horribly painful dilemma! When I look at +you, I think I see the devil himself--. + +Morten Kiil. Then I had better go. But I must have an answer from +you before two o'clock--yes or no. If it is no, the shares go to +a charity, and that this very day. + +Dr. Stockmann. And what does Katherine get? + +Morten Kiil. Not a halfpenny. (The door leading to the hall +opens, and HOVSTAD and ASLAKSEN make their appearance.) Look at +those two! + +Dr. Stockmann (staring at them). What the devil!--have YOU +actually the face to come into my house? + +Hovstad. Certainly. + +Aslaksen. We have something to say to you, you see. + +Morten Kiil (in a whisper). Yes or no--before two o'clock. + +Aslaksen (glancing at HOVSTAD). Aha! (MORTEN KIIL goes out.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, what do you want with me? Be brief. + +Hovstad. I can quite understand that you are annoyed with us for +our attitude at the meeting yesterday. + +Dr. Stockmann. Attitude, do you call it? Yes, it was a charming +attitude! I call it weak, womanish--damnably shameful! + +Hovstad. Call it what you like, we could not do otherwise. + +Dr. Stockmann. You DARED not do otherwise--isn't that it? + +Hovstad. Well, if you like to put it that way. + +Aslaksen. But why did you not let us have word of it beforehand? +--just a hint to Mr. Hovstad or to me? + +Dr. Stockmann. A hint? Of what? + +Aslaksen. Of what was behind it all. + +Dr. Stockmann. I don't understand you in the least-- + +Aslaksen (with a confidential nod). Oh yes, you do, Dr. +Stockmann. + +Hovstad. It is no good making a mystery of it any longer. + +Dr. Stockmann (looking first at one of them and then at the +other). What the devil do you both mean? + +Aslaksen. May I ask if your father-in-law is not going round the +town buying up all the shares in the Baths? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, he has been buying Baths shares today; but-- + +Aslaksen. It would have been more prudent to get someone else to +do it--someone less nearly related to you. + +Hovstad. And you should not have let your name appear in the +affair. There was no need for anyone to know that the attack on +the Baths came from you. You ought to have consulted me, Dr. +Stockmann. + +Dr. Stockmann (looks in front of him; then a light seems to dawn +on him and he says in amazement.) Are such things conceivable? +Are such things possible? + +Aslaksen (with a smile). Evidently they are. But it is better to +use a little finesse, you know. + +Hovstad. And it is much better to have several persons in a thing +of that sort; because the responsibility of each individual is +lessened, when there are others with him. + +Dr. Stockmann (composedly). Come to the point, gentlemen. What do +you want? + +Aslaksen. Perhaps Mr. Hovstad had better-- + +Hovstad. No, you tell him, Aslaksen. + +Aslaksen. Well, the fact is that, now we know the bearings of the +whole affair, we think we might venture to put the "People's +Messenger" at your disposal. + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you dare do that now? What about public +opinion? Are you not afraid of a storm breaking upon our heads? + +Hovstad. We will try to weather it. + +Aslaksen. And you must be ready to go off quickly on a new tack, +Doctor. As soon as your invective has done its work-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Do you mean, as soon as my father-in-law and I +have got hold of the shares at a low figure? + +Hovstad. Your reasons for wishing to get the control of the Baths +are mainly scientific, I take it. + +Dr. Stockmann. Of course; it was for scientific reasons that I +persuaded the old "Badger" to stand in with me in the matter. So +we will tinker at the conduit-pipes a little, and dig up a little +bit of the shore, and it shan't cost the town a sixpence. That +will be all right--eh? + +Hovstad. I think so--if you have the "People's Messenger" behind +you. + +Aslaksen. The Press is a power in a free community. Doctor. + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so. And so is public opinion. And you, Mr. +Aslaksen--I suppose you will be answerable for the Householders' +Association? + +Aslaksen. Yes, and for the Temperance Society. You may rely on +that. + +Dr. Stockmann. But, gentlemen--I really am ashamed to ask the +question--but, what return do you--? + +Hovstad. We should prefer to help you without any return +whatever, believe me. But the "People's Messenger" is in rather a +shaky condition; it doesn't go really well; and I should be very +unwilling to suspend the paper now, when there is so much work to +do here in the political way. + +Dr. Stockmann. Quite so; that would be a great trial to such a +friend of the people as you are. (Flares up.) But I am an enemy +of the people, remember! (Walks about the room.) Where have I put +my stick? Where the devil is my stick? + +Hovstad. What's that? + +Aslaksen. Surely you never mean-- + +Dr. Stockmann (standing still.) And suppose I don't give you a +single penny of all I get out of it? Money is not very easy to +get out of us rich folk, please to remember! + +Hovstad. And you please to remember that this affair of the +shares can be represented in two ways! + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and you are just the man to do it. If I don't +come to the rescue of the "People's Messenger," you will +certainly take an evil view of the affair; you will hunt me down, +I can well imagine--pursue me--try to throttle me as a dog does a +hare. + +Hovstad. It is a natural law; every animal must fight for its own +livelihood. + +Aslaksen. And get its food where it can, you know. + +Dr. Stockmann (walking about the room). Then you go and look for +yours in the gutter; because I am going to show you which is the +strongest animal of us three! (Finds an umbrella and brandishes +it above his head.) Ah, now--! + +Hovstad. You are surely not going to use violence! + +Aslaksen. Take care what you are doing with that umbrella. + +Dr. Stockmann. Out of the window with you, Mr. Hovstad! + +Hovstad (edging to the door). Are you quite mad! + +Dr. Stockmann. Out of the window, Mr. Aslaksen! Jump, I tell you! +You will have to do it, sooner or later. + +Aslaksen (running round the writing-table). Moderation, Doctor--I +am a delicate man--I can stand so little--(calls out) help, help! + +(MRS. STOCKMANN, PETRA and HORSTER come in from the sitting- +room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. Good gracious, Thomas! What is happening? + +Dr. Stockmann (brandishing the umbrella). Jump out, I tell you! +Out into the gutter! + +Hovstad. An assault on an unoffending man! I call you to witness, +Captain Horster. (Hurries out through the hall.) + +Aslaksen (irresolutely). If only I knew the way about here--. +(Steals out through the sitting-room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann (holding her husband back). Control yourself, +Thomas! + +Dr. Stockmann (throwing down the umbrella). Upon my soul, they +have escaped after all. + +Mrs. Stockmann. What did they want you to do? + +Dr. Stockmann. I will tell you later on; I have something else to +think about now. (Goes to the table and writes something on a +calling-card.) Look there, Katherine; what is written there? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Three big Noes; what does that mean. + +Dr. Stockmann. I will tell you that too, later on. (Holds out the +card to PETRA.) There, Petra; tell sooty-face to run over to the +"Badger's" with that, as quick as she can. Hurry up! (PETRA takes +the card and goes out to the hall.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, I think I have had a visit from every one of +the devil's messengers to-day! But now I am going to sharpen my +pen till they can feel its point; I shall dip it in venom and +gall; I shall hurl my inkpot at their heads! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, but we are going away, you know, Thomas. + +(PETRA comes back.) + +Dr. Stockmann. Well? + +Petra. She has gone with it. + +Dr. Stockmann. Good.--Going away, did you say? No, I'll be hanged +if we are going away! We are going to stay where we are, +Katherine! + +Petra. Stay here? + +Mrs. Stockmann. Here, in the town? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, here. This is the field of battle--this is +where the fight will be. This is where I shall triumph! As soon +as I have had my trousers sewn up I shall go out and look for +another house. We must have a roof over our heads for the winter. + +Horster. That you shall have in my house. + +Dr. Stockmann. Can I? + +Horsier. Yes, quite well. I have plenty of room, and I am almost +never at home. + +Mrs. Stockmann. How good of you, Captain Horster! + +Petra. Thank you! + +Dr. Stockmann (grasping his hand). Thank you, thank you! That is +one trouble over! Now I can set to work in earnest at once. There +is an endless amount of things to look through here, Katherine! +Luckily I shall have all my time at my disposal; because I have +been dismissed from the Baths, you know. + +Mrs. Stockmann (with a sigh). Oh yes, I expected that. + +Dr. Stockmann. And they want to take my practice away from me +too. Let them! I have got the poor people to fall back upon, +anyway--those that don't pay anything; and, after all, they need +me most, too. But, by Jove, they will have to listen to me; I +shall preach to them in season and out of season, as it says +somewhere. + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, I should have thought events +had showed you what use it is to preach. + +Dr. Stockmann. You are really ridiculous, Katherine. Do you want +me to let myself be beaten off the field by public opinion and +the compact majority and all that devilry? No, thank you! And +what I want to do is so simple and clear and straightforward. I +only want to drum into the heads of these curs the fact that the +liberals are the most insidious enemies of freedom--that party +programmes strangle every young and vigorous truth--that +considerations of expediency turn morality and justice upside +down--and that they will end by making life here unbearable. +Don't you think, Captain Horster, that I ought to be able to make +people understand that? + +Horster. Very likely; I don't know much about such things myself. + +Dr. Stockmann. Well, look here--I will explain! It is the party +leaders that must be exterminated. A party leader is like a wolf, +you see--like a voracious wolf. He requires a certain number of +smaller victims to prey upon every year, if he is to live. Just +look at Hovstad and Aslaksen! How many smaller victims have they +not put an end to--or at any rate maimed and mangled until they +are fit for nothing except to be householders or subscribers to +the "People's Messenger"! (Sits down on the edge of the table.) +Come here, Katherine--look how beautifully the sun shines to-day! +And this lovely spring air I am drinking in! + +Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, if only we could live on sunshine and spring +air, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Oh, you will have to pinch and save a bit--then we +shall get along. That gives me very little concern. What is much +worse is, that I know of no one who is liberal-minded and high- +minded enough to venture to take up my work after me. + +Petra. Don't think about that, father; you have plenty of time +before you.--Hello, here are the boys already! + +(EJLIF and MORTEN come in from the sitting-room.) + +Mrs. Stockmann. Have you got a holiday? + +Morten. No; but we were fighting with the other boys between +lessons-- + +Ejlif. That isn't true; it was the other boys were fighting with +us. + +Morten. Well, and then Mr. Rorlund said we had better stay at +home for a day or two. + +Dr. Stockmann (snapping his fingers and getting up from the +table). I have it! I have it, by Jove! You shall never set foot +in the school again! + +The Boys. No more school! + +Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas-- + +Dr. Stockmann. Never, I say. I will educate you myself; that is +to say, you shan't learn a blessed thing-- + +Morten. Hooray! + +Dr. Stockmann. --but I will make liberal-minded and high-minded +men of you. You must help me with that, Petra. + +Petra, Yes, father, you may be sure I will. + +Dr. Stockmann. And my school shall be in the room where they +insulted me and called me an enemy of the people. But we are too +few as we are; I must have at least twelve boys to begin with. + +Mrs. Stockmann. You will certainly never get them in this town. + +Dr. Stockmann. We shall. (To the boys.) Don't you know any street +urchins--regular ragamuffins--? + +Morten. Yes, father, I know lots! + +Dr. Stockmann. That's capital! Bring me some specimens of them. I +am going to experiment with curs, just for once; there may be +some exceptional heads among them. + +Morten. And what are we going to do, when you have made liberal- +minded and high-minded men of us? + +Dr. Stockmann. Then you shall drive all the wolves out of the +country, my boys! + +(EJLIF looks rather doubtful about it; MORTEN jumps about crying +"Hurrah!") + +Mrs. Stockmann. Let us hope it won't be the wolves that will +drive you out of the country, Thomas. + +Dr. Stockmann. Are you out of your mind, Katherine? Drive me out! +Now--when I am the strongest man in the town! + +Mrs. Stockmann. The strongest--now? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and I will go so far as to say that now I am +the strongest man in the whole world. + +Morten. I say! + +Dr. Stockmann (lowering his voice). Hush! You mustn't say +anything about it yet; but I have made a great discovery. + +Mrs. Stockmann. Another one? + +Dr. Stockmann. Yes. (Gathers them round him, and says +confidentially:) It is this, let me tell you--that the strongest +man in the world is he who stands most alone. + +Mrs. Stockmann (smiling and shaking her head). Oh, Thomas, +Thomas! + +Petra (encouragingly, as she grasps her father's hands). Father! + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's of An Enemy of the People, by Henrik Ibsen + diff --git a/old/aeotp10.zip b/old/aeotp10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1fe67af --- /dev/null +++ b/old/aeotp10.zip |