Preview

Dr. Thomas Stockmann: Hero or Enemy ?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
944 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Dr. Thomas Stockmann: Hero or Enemy ?
Dr. Thomas Stockmann: Hero or Enemy ?

Dr. Thomas Stockmann is the Medical Officer of the Baths in the play ''enemy of the people'' by Henrik Iben; and the brother of the Burgomaster (mayor) of the town. Jovial by nature, the doctor enjoys the company of "bright, cheerful, freedom loving young fellows" who share his idealism and ability to think freely.
Throughout the play, Stockman shows himself to be a conscientious person and a caring father.
He surely is the strongest character in this play with the most powerful motivation, which is truth and that only. Dr. Stockmann is determined to reveal to the public the health problems they are encountering with the contaminated baths, and is sure that they will thank him for that and appoint him as a hero for the caring of their welfare.
The doctor makes excessive attempts to make the fact known and he will not budge on his stance to protect the general public, even though it is against the will of the mayor, his brother, and the authorities. Will the truth triumph over falsehood and the willingness of an individual to stand up against corrupt bureaucrats?
Dr. Stockmann bravely decides to fight but he doesn't realize the weight of the task he is undertaking,
His discovery that could lead him to be the hero of the town could as well make him the ‘'enemy of the people," if he doesn't handle the matter with extra care.

Dr. Stockmann originally came up with the plans for the baths. When the Burgomaster and the Town Council became involved, the doctor's plans were not followed and short cuts were taken. In fact, the Burgomaster insisted that the baths and the pipes be placed exactly in their present location.
The doctor grew suspicious about problems with the baths when he saw several sick patients. Through his own initiative, he tests the water and discovers that the baths, which supply much of the town's livelihood, are contaminated and became a "pestiferous hole,'' because of the faulty lying of the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    In the article “Should Doctors Tell the Truth” by Joseph Collins, the author describes his experiences as a doctor and discusses how much information a doctor should convey to his or her patients. After reading the article for the first time, I thought I agreed with the Collins’ thesis which states, “The longer I practice medicine the more I am convinced that every physician should cultivate lying as a fine art.” (Collins, p. 194) Collins argues his thesis using two main arguments that lead to the same conclusion. The following two paragraphs illustrate these two arguments.…

    • 1258 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cosi

    • 775 Words
    • 4 Pages

    ( The character of Lewis – he is innocent, ignorant, and immature and through the action of the play he undergoes a process of maturation and becomes aware of his own true beliefs and gains both self-knowledge and self-confidence. He gains understanding of the world and people around him. His motivation for doing the play is “I need the money” but this changes later in the play.…

    • 775 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The doctor worked in a godlike manner. Richard Selzer uses 1st person perspective in his narrative essay “The Surgeon as Priest”. No other doctor could understand the patient’s illness; it would take more then a doctor to solve this mystery.…

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    John, the narrator’s husband, follows the typical role of a male doctor in the Victorian era, as he is the head of the…

    • 1519 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Analysis of I Am the Grass

    • 1714 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Daly Walker has written a story about a doctor who is haunted by the shame and guilt he carries with him from the atrocious acts he committed while serving in the army; acts so horrible that he cannot speak of them. The story depends on his use of three literary elements: setting, plot and symbolism.…

    • 1714 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the play, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Willy Loman suffers a death of an average man. This story comprises of a whole family of unsuccessful men who use backdoors to accomplish a triumph. As the main focus of the play,Willy’s personality traits are gained through involvement with other characters.…

    • 661 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He told the people that fear can make someone act before they can even think about knowing what they are doing. One of those experiences was when he spotted a young man in the cloudy mist walking towards him, with fear, he acted fast without thinking if the man was an enemy. Before he knew it, he had already killed the man when he threw a grenade towards him. Accidents can happen during a soldier’s time in the war.…

    • 454 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “The General Prologue” the narrator introduces the characters in order of who he likes the best, to who he likes the least. The Wife of Bath is in the middle of that list, somewhat near the end. She is not the prettiest woman, “Bold was her face, handsome, and red in hue (GP 468).” She is also very flashy in her clothes and attitude:…

    • 583 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Inherit the Wind Essay

    • 971 Words
    • 4 Pages

    seen as a hero in the eyes of the townspeople. His minimal tolerance towards the teachings of…

    • 971 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The filthy water would not disperse so it stayed there making it even more dirty(Blanton 55). When they created wells the water would become filthy or become salty. The author showed” Surgeon 1”in ( 59) which means they only had one surgeon. They didn't have any reliable sources of water because they threw their waste into the water (Blanton 55). So many people died because getting sick. Many have died because of the lack of water in the times they didn’t have clean or any…

    • 638 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    “With great power comes great responsibility” was the advice given to an all-time favourite superhero, Spiderman. However, a hero is not defined by the power one has but what one does with the power they are given. Power can come in a variety of forms such as wealth, physical capabilities or mental strength, and two powerful characters usually results in an epic battle for ultimate authority where one is seen as a hero and the other a villain. “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” written by Ken Kesey, tells the story of the battle between two strong-willed characters within a mental asylum, Randle P. McMurphy and the Big Nurse Ratched. Randle P. Murphy is seen as a hero to many of the male patients on the ward and in particular to Chief Bromden, through the actions which demonstrate his heroic qualities. Through the determination he possesses, sacrifices he made and influence he had, Randle P. McMurphy is viewed as a hero in the eyes of the patients of the ward.…

    • 1420 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    CaseStudy1

    • 1566 Words
    • 5 Pages

    2. List the questions raised about this situation or that you think that the investigators should ask of the…

    • 1566 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Iliad and Greek Heroes

    • 1500 Words
    • 6 Pages

    hero is advised to avoid risking their life in battle it almost drives them even further…

    • 1500 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Drama Journal Entry

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages

    2. What do you feel is significant about this play? (Discuss possible themes and the author's intentions.)…

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    An Enemy of the People, authored by Hendrik Ibsen and adapted by Arthur Miller performed by the Playmaker’s Repertory Company, was a tremendous spectacle of production. To enhance the audience’s overall experience, key production elements included superior scenery, costumes, lighting, and sound. Each of these elements was required to support the script in a creative and engaging manner. Every decision made by the designers is entirely relevant. The collective workings of these elements dictate the show’s success of spectacle and overall value.…

    • 1129 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays

Related Topics