An Enemy of the People"In one of his most provocative essays, Ibsen offers a rebuke to the Victorian notion of community as well as to the blessings of democracy. His An Enemy of the People creates a situation in which one must stand alone to face the forces allied against him." "In a coastal town, a community-minded physician has promoted the development of public baths in order to attract tourists. When he discovers that the water supply for the baths is contaminated and attempts to publicize the failing and correct it, he encounters political cowards, sold-out journalists, shortsighted armchair economists, and a benighted citizenry. His own principled idealism exacerbates the conflict, and after a public speech that turns into a tirade, the townsfolk label him an enemy of the people. He and his family are all but driven out of the town he was trying to save." "Nicholas Rudall's translations of Ibsen have brought a fresh perspective to the American theatre. His new rendering of An Enemy of the People makes the play more speakable, more American in its speech patterns, and more reflective of the levels of diction required by the class, education, and affectations of the characters." --Book Jacket. |
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afraid Anton Chekhov ASLAKSEN August Strindberg Baths Committee believe better BILLING boys brother Busk Captain Horster chair chairman cheers composing room course coward crowd damn dare dining room Doctor door Eilif and Morten enemy Euripides Father fellow citizens fight fool freethinker gentlemen give goes going golly Goodbye hallway hands happen happy hell Henrik Ibsen Honor hot toddy HOVSTAD idea Katherine last night laughing laughter leave liberal living room look Luigi Pirandello MAYOR mean medical officer mind Moelledal MORTEN KIIL Municipal Baths never Nicholas Rudall Oh yes paper Peter Property Owners Association public opinion SECOND CITIZEN shouting smoking cap society solid majority Sophocles sorry stand stick Stockmann enters stupid sure talk tell Thank there's thing thought toddy toxic Tribune true truth walking water system what's whole town