Discover Henrik Ibsen’s incendiary drama, ‘An Enemy of the People’, and read the complete play online for free.
Written in 1882 as a furious response to the backlash against his earlier play Ghosts, Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People is a blistering drama about truth, majority rule, and the individual conscience. Dr. Thomas Stockmann, the medical officer of a small Norwegian town, discovers that the water supply for the town’s lucrative public baths is dangerously contaminated. He naively believes the town will hail him as a hero for exposing the truth and saving its citizens and tourist industry. Instead, he is met with universal opposition.
His brother, the Mayor, leads the charge, framing the costly repairs as a threat to the town’s prosperity. The liberal press backs down, the townspeople—fearing higher taxes and lost jobs—turn against him, and even his so-called friends abandon him. Branded “an enemy of the people,” Stockmann is forced to confront the ugly reality that the majority is not always right, and that the strongest man in the world is “he who stands most alone.” More than a problem play about public health, it is a timeless and explosive exploration of the conflict between integrity and compromise, and the high price of speaking truth to power.
On this page, you can engage with this foundational modern drama. We offer the complete 1882 play for online reading.
Book Info
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | An Enemy of the People (En folkefiende) |
| Author | Henrik Ibsen |
| Year of Publication | 1882 |
| Genre | Drama, Problem Play, Social Criticism |
| Language | English (Translation from Norwegian) |
| Legal Status | Public Domain |
| Format | Online Reading |
Read An Enemy of the People Online
Confront the drama of truth versus power. Begin this incendiary play by exploring the first act interactively below.
This preview establishes the initial discovery, but the full, intense battle of wills and the devastating public meeting are available in the complete text for our subscribers.
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About An Enemy of the People
Ibsen shifts from the psychological family dramas of his “middle period” to a direct, public, and politically charged conflict, creating a work that feels perpetually contemporary.
The Idealist vs. The Pragmatist
The central clash between Dr. Stockmann (the idealistic truth-teller) and Mayor Peter Stockmann (the pragmatic politician) is one of drama’s most compelling brother-against-brother conflicts. It dramatizes the eternal struggle between principle and expediency.
The Corruption of the “Compact Majority”
Ibsen’s most famous and controversial idea, voiced by Stockmann in the climactic fourth act, is a radical critique of democracy and populism. He argues that the majority is rarely right in matters of truth and progress, as it is typically guided by short-term self-interest and manipulated by the powerful.
The Role of the Press
The play offers a scathing portrayal of media spin and cowardice. The editor Hovstad initially supports Stockmann to sell papers and attack the establishment, but quickly withdraws when public opinion shifts, revealing the press as a follower, not a leader, of the people.
A Modern Tragicomedy
While the stakes are serious, Ibsen infuses the play with ironic humor, particularly in Stockmann’s blustering self-righteousness and the townspeople’s fickle hypocrisy. The ending is defiant but isolating, a complex mix of triumph and defeat.
Why Read An Enemy of the People Today?
Its relevance is startling in any era of political polarization, environmental crises, and “fake news” debates. It forces the reader to ask: What happens when scientific truth clashes with economic interest? What is the individual’s responsibility when society chooses to ignore a danger? It is a essential play for understanding civic courage.
FAQ
Is Dr. Stockmann a hero?
He is a flawed hero. His cause is just, but his arrogance, political naivete, and occasional demagoguery complicate his character. Ibsen presents him as passionately right but also self-destructive, making him a fascinating, human protagonist.
Is the play anti-democratic?
It is a critique of unthinking majority rule and mob mentality, not of democracy itself. It champions the individual’s duty to question and speak out, which is itself a democratic ideal.
Why did Ibsen write it?
He was enraged by the critics and public who condemned Ghosts for its discussion of syphilis and hereditary disease. An Enemy is his defiant retort, casting himself as Stockmann and the public as the misguided majority.
Is it still performed?
Constantly. Its themes are evergreen, and it is frequently adapted to comment on contemporary political and environmental scandals.
Can I read it on my phone?
Absolutely. Its dramatic dialogue and clear act structure make it an engaging and quick read on any device.