SparkNotes

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 atfirst 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.)