Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

An Enemy of the People (Theatre)

 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
type
TVTItem
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
label
An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
page
AnEnemyOfThePeople
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
comment
An Enemy of the People (Norwegian: En folkefiende) is an 1882 play in five acts by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen.The main character is Dr. Thomas Stockmann, who has recently become popular in his small, unnamed coastal town in Norway for working with Peter Stockmann—his brother, and the town's mayor—to develop and build public baths. When Dr. Stockmann discovers that the spa waters feeding the baths are being dangerously contaminated by a local tannery, he sends a detailed report and proposed solution to Peter. Initially the townspeople support him, but Peter—fearing economic ruin for the town if the baths are forced to close—turns them against him, and he is declared an enemy of the people.Ibsen's message in this play is that The Complainer Is Always Right, or, in Dr. Stockmann's words, "a minority may be right, [but] a majority is always wrong." While the play has many comedic elements, at its core it was meant to be an Author Tract and a Take That, Audience! in response to an earlier work, Ghosts, being considered scandalous.Arthur Miller adapted the play into English in 1950, for a Broadway production that starred Fredric March as Dr. Stockmann. Miller's version was in turn adapted into a 1978 feature film directed by George Schaefer. Steve McQueen starred as Dr. Stockmann, with supporting roles played by Bibi Andersson, Charles Durning, Michael Cristofer, and Richard Dysart.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
fetched
2023-09-03T14:59:41Z
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
parsed
2023-09-03T14:59:41Z
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
processingComment
Dropped link to ThePillarsOfSociety: Not a Feature - ITEM
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_130436b9
type
Annoying Younger Sibling
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_130436b9
comment
Annoying Younger Sibling: When you consider that Peter is the older of the Stockman brothers, his opening dialogue with Thomas sells it.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_130436b9
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_130436b9
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_130436b9
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_1439161f
type
Heroic BSoD
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_1439161f
comment
Heroic BSoD: Dr. Stockmann has a short one in Act V when Morten Kiil, Stockmann's father-in-law and the owner of the tannery, invests his own grandchildren's inheritance in the baths to force him to tell the public he was wrong.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_1439161f
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_1439161f
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_1439161f
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_18d15922
type
Title Drop
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_18d15922
comment
Title Drop: Several times in Act IV.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_18d15922
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_18d15922
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_18d15922
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_2711e392
type
The Complainer Is Always Wrong
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_2711e392
comment
The Complainer Is Always Wrong: Inverted, obviously.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_2711e392
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_2711e392
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_2711e392
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_27a42ebc
type
Spiritual Successor
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_27a42ebc
comment
Stockmann seems to be an even more obvious Spiritual Successor of Stensgaard (the main character in The League of Youth) when you consider that both of them has a brilliant idea, and are being pushed too far by the wild cards. Aslaksen makes it difficult for both of them.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_27a42ebc
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_27a42ebc
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_27a42ebc
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_3a9eb947
type
SpiritualSequel
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_3a9eb947
comment
Spiritual Sequel: To The League of Youth, courtesy of Aslaksen, the newspaper editor. He is present in both plays, and they take place in the same town. The political themes are also related. Stockmann seems to be an even more obvious Spiritual Successor of Stensgaard (the main character in The League of Youth) when you consider that both of them has a brilliant idea, and are being pushed too far by the wild cards. Aslaksen makes it difficult for both of them. To top this, the teacher of Stockman´s sons is none other than Rørlund, last seen in The Pillars of Society. Thus, all three plays are set in the same town.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_3a9eb947
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_3a9eb947
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_3a9eb947
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_4e3d253b
type
Downer Ending
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_4e3d253b
comment
Downer Ending: Stockmann is unable to publish his findings or even read them, and his family suffers as a result of the town refusing to listen. Petra is fired from her job, and people throw rocks in their windows. Katherine's father also invests his grandchildren's inheritance in the baths, which means they'll probably suffer financially in the future. The play ends with the family hiding in the Stockmann home, and many productions also show the crowd getting ready to throw more rocks at them. And the tragedy isn't over yet — Stockmann is right, and in a couple years (or less), the town is going to get hit with the consequences of letting people bathe in poisoned water. So Peter's efforts to open the baths and financially help the town will have been for absolutely nothing.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_4e3d253b
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_4e3d253b
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_4e3d253b
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_599f943f
type
Karma Houdini Warranty
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_599f943f
comment
Karma Houdini Warranty: With that said, their victory won't last long thanks to the fact that the water is still poisoned. It's only a matter of time before it causes a huge scandal.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_599f943f
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_599f943f
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_599f943f
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_6b05b601
type
Jerkass Has a Point
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_6b05b601
comment
Jerkass Has a Point: Dr. Stockmann, obviously, though how much of a jerk he actually is depends on which character you're talking to. Regardless, his attitude and flaws do not change the fact that he is right. The water is poisoned, and it is going to hurt a lot of people. Peter's not wrong to be concerned about how closing the springs will effect the town's economy — Stockmann even acknowledges it. However, he goes way, way too far, and he stubbornly refuses to look at the bigger picture. (Delaying the springs' opening? Bad. Letting people use them, resulting in countless people getting sick or maybe even dying? Worse.)
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_6b05b601
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_6b05b601
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_6b05b601
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30
type
Meaningful Name
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30
comment
Meaningful Name: The Stockmans. Peter (the believer) and Thomas (the doubter).
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_6bda9a30
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_7c862b8a
type
Chronic Backstabbing Disorder
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_7c862b8a
comment
Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Billing. His impetuous and selfish personality suggests that he's had this for a while; for a more direct example, see Wild Card.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_7c862b8a
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_7c862b8a
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_7c862b8a
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_8cb1a369
type
Took a Level in Jerkass
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_8cb1a369
comment
Took a Level in Jerkass: Aslaksen, compared to his drunken status in The League of Youth. In the other play, Aslaksen unwittingly mixed some letters while drunk, messing it up for the main character. In this play, he consciously obstructs Stockmann, after having supported him in the first place. Aslaksen has also developed his social status as a part of the bourgeouis community.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_8cb1a369
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_8cb1a369
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_8cb1a369
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_95a4c6df
type
Wild Card
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_95a4c6df
comment
Wild Card: Hovstad, Billing, and Aslaksen are all this to some extent, especially Billing; it's implied that the mayor turns him against Dr. Stockmann by promising him the position in the town's government he was running for behind his coworkers' backs. (Their newspaper, The People's Messenger, is left-wing and polarized against that right-wing government.)
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_95a4c6df
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_95a4c6df
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_95a4c6df
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_a70223
type
Karma Houdini
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_a70223
comment
Karma Houdini: Every single character other than Dr. Stockmann, his immediate family, and Captain Horster wrongs the Stockmann family somehow and gets away with it. Kiil stands out in particular. Karma Houdini Warranty: With that said, their victory won't last long thanks to the fact that the water is still poisoned. It's only a matter of time before it causes a huge scandal.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_a70223
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_a70223
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_a70223
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_aba8065b
type
Fatal Flaw
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_aba8065b
comment
Fatal Flaw: A lot of the male characters. Dr. Stockmann's arrogance and headstrong personality. Though he has the best intentions of the coastal town in his mind, his attitude towards authority and casual disrespect of the populace as a whole is what utterly ruins him, and his family. Peter Stockmann's pragmatic attitude in regards to the Baths. Though clearly an intelligent man, he is willing to let the Baths run the risk of being poisoned rather than spend thousands fixing them. The venality of Hovstad, Aslaksen, and Billing.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_aba8065b
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_aba8065b
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_aba8065b
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438
type
Deadpan Snarker
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438
comment
Deadpan Snarker: Katherine, though low on the 'snarky'.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_cfc55f21
type
Heroic Wannabe
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_cfc55f21
comment
Heroic Wannabe: Some characters interpret Dr. Stockmann as such.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_cfc55f21
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_cfc55f21
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_cfc55f21
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_dc1761bd
type
A God Am I
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_dc1761bd
comment
A God Am I: During Dr. Stockmann's Author Tract in Act IV, he slips into this territory. This is what ends up turning his audience into an angry mob.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_dc1761bd
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_dc1761bd
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_dc1761bd
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_eab212a8
type
Period Piece
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_eab212a8
comment
Period Piece: Downplayed, but the 1882 tensions in Norwegian politics play its part in the dramatic background. Norwegian politics were going critical, and the "old regime" was about to collapse. When Hovstad talks about the "old men" running the town and that everybody else is kept out, he speaks on behalf of the growing political tension (and frustration) from the leftists.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_eab212a8
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_eab212a8
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_eab212a8
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_f25493f4
type
Nothing Exciting Ever Happens Here
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_f25493f4
comment
Nothing Exciting Ever Happens Here: Billing justifies his support for Stockmann by invoking the trope.
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_f25493f4
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_f25493f4
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_f25493f4
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_name
type
ItemName
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_name
comment
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_name
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre) / int_name
itemName
An Enemy of the People (Theatre)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
Broken-Window Warning / int_257912b7
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
Deconstructed Trope / int_257912b7
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
Ignored Expert / int_257912b7
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
Inferred Holocaust / int_257912b7
 An Enemy of the People (Theatre)
hasFeature
Suit with Vested Interests / int_257912b7