Excerpt from An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen
CHARACTERS
Dr. Thomas Stockmann, Medical Officer of the Municipal Baths.
Peter Stockmann (the Doctor's elder brother), Mayor of the Town and Chief Constable, Chairman of the Baths' Committee, etc.
The action takes place in a coastal town in southern Norway.
PETER STOCKMANN. (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 (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.
The phrase “only half seriously” in line 15 serves which purpose?
Use passage to answer the question.
A. creating the inciting incident
B. introducing situational irony
C. juxtaposing the two main characters
D. strengthening the position of the protagonist
E. strengthening the position of the antagonist
The phrase “moral authority” in line 37 serves which purpose?
develops a satirical tone
provides comic relief
establishes point of view
demonstrates the conflict
emphasizes the theme
The phrase “violent expressions” in line 11 conveys which of the following?
Peter’s dismissive attitude
Dr. Stockmann’s hysteria
severity of the water problem
public reaction to the report
evidence of the poisoned water
The author’s repetition of the phrase “absolutely certain” in lines 6–7 serves which function?
to demonstrate the stubbornness of both men
to emphasize the themes of truth and perception
to satirize the effectiveness of political leadership
to minimize the seriousness of the water problem
to contrast the personalities of the two brothers
Which lines from the passage emphasize Peter’s corrupt nature? Select the two correct answers.
"Was it necessary to make all these investigations behind my back?"
"Something must be done in the matter—and quickly"
"and then you would have ruined your native town"
"do you suppose I will have anything to do with such a piece of trickery"
"I have represented the facts absolutely truthfully"
Which excerpt from the text does NOT help develop the theme?
"we must build a sewer to draw off the alleged impurities from Molledal"
"do you suppose anyone would go near the place after it had got out that the water was dangerous"
"Your report has not convinced me that the condition of the water at the Baths is as bad as you represent it"
"it would be a trick—a fraud, a lie, a downright crime towards the public, towards the whole community!"
"I know I have represented the facts absolutely truthfully and fairly"
Which of the following is the narrator most concerned with in the passage?
the public good
conveying truth
democratic governing
corruption of power
economic advancement
Dr. Stockmann’s assertion in line 34 that withholding the report would be “a downright crime towards the public” demonstrates which of the following?
Stockmann is arrogant and egotistical.
Stockmann is stubborn and determined.
Stockmann is honest and moralistic.
Stockmann is passionate and emphatic.
Stockmann is self-righteous and judgmental.
The repetition of the word capable in line 29 serves which purpose?
demonstrates Dr. Stockmann’s expertise.
clarifies Peter’s position that there is no danger.
emphasizes Peter’s forceful and authoritative voice.
mocks Dr. Stockmann’s abilities as a doctor.
demonstrates the need for a more reliable assessment.
Which lines from the passage best develop the claim that Ibsen is critiquing governmental authority? Select the two correct answers.
"I received from you yesterday, after office hours, a report dealing with the condition of the water"
"I made a pretext this morning to go and see the town engineer,"
"I tell you it is even worse!—or at all events it will be in summer, when the warm weather comes"
"I have not, as I remarked before, been able to convince myself that there is actually any imminent danger."
"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"
Which of the following is Peter’s primary motivation in suppressing the report?
to maintain his power
to protect the town economy
his inability to admit fault
to gain victory over his brother
to establish his moral authority
The use of short, staccato sentences in the passage does what?
increases the tension
slows the action
emphasizes the conflict
develops complexity
engages the audience
Peter’s accusation in line five that Dr. Stockmann investigated “behind my back” suggests which of the following?
Peter is paranoid he will lose his power.
Dr. Stockmann does not trust his brother.
Peter knows he is doing something immoral.
Dr. Stockmann is obsessed with discovering the truth.
The brothers will never agree on important issues.
In line 36, the adverb absolutely is used for which purpose?
emphasis
contrast
comparison
generalization
minimization