Henry Ibsen's "Enemy of the People"Formal Essay
An Enemy of the People has two key messages. First, it is a criticism of democracy. Second, it is the story of how one man's bravery and self-respect can survive overwhelming odds. It tells the story of Dr. Thomas Stockman and how he discovers that the famous and financially successful baths in the town are contaminated; he insists that they be shut down for repairs. However, for his honesty, he is ridiculed, persecuted and declared “an enemy of the people” by the townspeople, including those who were once his friends.