ACT FIFTH.

[Laughter and jeers.

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, yes, you may believe me or not, as you please; but truths are by no means the wiry Methusalehs some people think them. A normally-constituted truth lives—let us say—as a rule, seventeen or eighteen years; at the outside twenty; very seldom more. And truths so patriarchal as that are always shockingly emaciated; yet it’s not till then that the majority takes them up and recommends them to society as wholesome food. I can assure you there’s not much nutriment in that sort of fare; you may take my word as a doctor for that. All these majority-truths are like last year’s salt pork; they’re like rancid, mouldy ham, producing all the moral scurvy that devastates society.

Aslaksen.

It seems to me that the honourable speaker is wandering rather far from the subject.

Burgomaster.

I beg to endorse the Chairman’s remark.

Dr. Stockmann.

Why you’re surely mad, Peter! I'm keeping as closely to my text as I possibly can; for my text is precisely this—that the masses, the majority, this devil’s own compact majority—it’s that, I say, that’s poisoning the sources of our spiritual life, and making a plague-spot of the ground beneath our feet.

Hovstad.

And you make this charge against the great, independent majority, just because they have the sense to accept only certain and acknowledged truths?

Dr. Stockmann.

Ah, my dear Mr. Hovstad, don’t talk about certain truths! The truths acknowledged by the masses, the multitude, were certain truths to the vanguard in our grandfathers' days. We, the vanguard of to-day, don’t acknowledge them any longer; and I don’t believe there exists any other certain truth but this—that no society can live a healthy life upon truths so old and and marrowless.

Hovstad.

But instead of all this vague talk, suppose you were to give us some specimens of these old marrowless truths that we are living upon.

[Approval from several quarters.

Dr. Stockmann.

Oh, I could give you no end of samples from the rubbish-heap; but, for the present, I shall keep to one acknowledged truth, which is a hideous lie at bottom, but which Mr. Hovstad, and theMessenger, and all adherents of theMessenger, live on all the same.

Hovstad.

And that is——?

Dr. Stockmann.

That is the doctrine you have inherited from your forefathers, and go on thoughtlessly proclaiming far and wide—the doctrine that the multitude, the vulgar herd, the masses, are the pith of the people—that theyarethe people—that the common man, the ignorant, undeveloped member of society, has the same right to sanction and to condemn, to counsel and to govern, as the intellectually distinguished few.

Billing.

Well, now, strike me dead——!

Hovstad.

[Shouting at the same time.] Citizens, please note this!

Angry Voices.

Ho-ho! Aren’t we the people? Is it only the grand folks that are to govern?

A Working Man.

Out with the fellow that talks like that!

Others.

Turn him out!

A Citizen.

[Shouting.] Blow your horn, Evensen.

[The deep notes of a horn are heard; whistling, and terrific noise in the room.

Dr. Stockmann.

[When the noise has somewhat subsided.] Now do be reasonable! Can’t you bear even for once in a way to hear the voice of truth? I don’t ask you all to agree with me on the instant. But I certainly should have expected Mr. Hovstad to back me up, as soon as he had collected himself a bit. Mr. Hovstad sets up to be a freethinker——

Several Voices.

[Subdued and wondering.] Freethinker, did he say? What? Mr. Hovstad a freethinker?

Hovstad.

[Shouting.] Prove it, Dr. Stockmann. When have I said so in print?

Dr. Stockmann.

[Reflecting.] No, upon my soul, you’re right there; you’ve never had the frankness to do that. Well, well, I won’t put you on the rack, Mr. Hovstad. Let me be the freethinker then. And now I'll make it clear to you all, and on scientific grounds too, that theMessengeris leading you shamefully by the nose, when it tells you that you, the masses, the crowd, are the true pith of the people. I tell you that’s only a newspaper lie. The masses are nothing but the raw material that must be fashioned into a People.

[Murmurs, laughter, and disturbance in the room.

Dr. Stockmann.

Is it not so with all other living creatures? What a difference between a cultivated and an uncultivated breed of animals! Just look at a common barn-door hen. What meat do you get from such a skinny carcase? Not much, I can tell you! And what sort of eggs does she lay? A decent crow or raven can lay nearly as good. Then take a cultivated Spanish or Japanese hen, or take a fine pheasant or turkey—ah! then you’ll see the difference! And now look at the dog, our near relation. Think first of an ordinary vulgar cur—I mean one of those wretched, ragged, plebeian mongrels that haunt the gutters, and soil the sidewalks. Then place such a mongrel by the side of a poodle-dog, descended through many generations from an aristocratic stock, who have lived on delicate food, and heard harmonious voices and music. Do you think the brain of the poodle isn’t very differently developed from that of the mongrel? Yes, you may be sure it is! It’s well-bred poodle-pups like this that jugglers train to perform the most marvellous tricks. A common peasant-cur could never learn anything of the sort—not if he tried till doomsday.

[Noise and laughter are heard all round.

A Citizen.

[Shouting.] Do you want to make dogs of us now?

Another Man.

We’re not animals, Doctor!

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, on my soul, but weareanimals, my good sir! We’re one and all of us animals, whether welike it or not. But truly there are few enough aristocratic animals among us. Oh, there’s a terrible difference between poodle-men and mongrel-men! And the ridiculous part of it is, that Mr. Hovstad quite agrees with me so long as it’s four-legged animals we’re talking of——

Hovstad.

Oh, beasts are only beasts.

Dr. Stockmann.

Well and good—but no sooner do I apply the law to two-legged animals, than Mr. Hovstad stops short; then he daren’t hold his own opinions, or think out his own thoughts; then he turns the whole principle upside down, and proclaims in thePeople’s Messengerthat the barn-door hen and the gutter-mongrel are precisely the finest specimens in the menagerie. But that’s always the way, so long as the commonness still lingers in your system, and you haven’t worked your way up to spiritual distinction.

Hovstad.

I make no pretence to any sort of distinction. I come of simple peasant folk, and I am proud that my root should lie deep down among the common people, who are here being insulted.

Workmen.

Hurrah for Hovstad. Hurrah! hurrah!

Dr. Stockmann.

The sort of common people I am speaking of are not found among the lower classes alone; they crawl and swarm all around us—up to the verysummits of society. Just look at your own smug, respectable Burgomaster! Why, my brother Peter belongs as clearly to the common people as any man that walks on two legs——

[Laughter and hisses.

Burgomaster.

I protest against such personalities.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Imperturbably.]——and that not because, like myself, he’s descended from a good-for-nothing old pirate from Pomerania, or thereabouts—for that’s our ancestry——

Burgomaster.

An absurd tradition! Utterly groundless.

Dr. Stockmann.

——but he is so because he thinks the thoughts and holds the opinions of his official superiors. Men who do that, belong, intellectually-speaking, to the common people; and that is why my distinguished brother Peter is at bottom so undistinguished,—and consequently so illiberal.

Burgomaster.

Mr. Chairman——!

Hovstad.

So that the distinguished people in this country are the Liberals? That’s quite a new light on the subject.[Laughter.

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, that is part of my new discovery. Andthis, too, follows: that liberality of thought isalmost precisely the same thing as morality. Therefore I say it’s absolutely unpardonable of theMessengerto proclaim, day out, day in, the false doctrine that it’s the masses, the multitude, the compact majority, that monopolise liberality and morality,—and that vice and corruption and all sorts of spiritual uncleanness ooze out of culture, as all that filth oozes down to the Baths from the Mill Dale tan-works!

[Noise and interruptions.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Goes on imperturbably, smiling in his eagerness.] And yet this sameMessengercan preach about elevating the masses and the multitude to a higher level of well-being! Why, deuce take it, if theMessenger’sown doctrine holds good, the elevation of the masses would simply mean hurling them straight to perdition! But, happily, the notion that culture demoralises is nothing but an old traditional lie. No it’s stupidity, poverty, the ugliness of life, that do the devil’s work! In a house that isn’t aired and swept every day—my wife maintains that the floors ought to be scrubbed too, but perhaps that is going too far;—well,—in such a house, I say, within two or three years, people lose the power of thinking or acting morally. Lack of oxygen enervates the conscience. And there seems to be precious little oxygen in many and many a house in this town, since the whole compact majority is unscrupulous enough to want to found its future upon a quagmire of lies and fraud.

Aslaksen.

I cannot allow so gross an insult to be levelled against a whole community.

A Gentleman.

I move that the Chairman order the speaker to sit down.

Eager Voices.

Yes, yes! That’s right! Sit down! Sit down!

Dr. Stockmann.

[Flaring up.] Then I shall proclaim the truth at every street corner! I shall write to newspapers in other towns! The whole country shall know how matters stand here!

Hovstad.

It almost seems as if the Doctor’s object were to ruin the town.

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, so well do I love my native town that I would rather ruin it than see it flourishing upon a lie.

Aslaksen.

That’s plain speaking.

[Noise and whistling.Mrs. Stockmanncoughs in vain; theDoctorno longer heeds her.

Hovstad.

[Shouting amid the tumult.] The man who would ruin a whole community must be an enemy to his fellow citizens!

Dr. Stockmann.

[With growing excitement.] What does it matter if a lying community is ruined! Let it be levelled to the ground, say I! All men who live upon a lieought to be exterminated like vermin! You’ll end by poisoning the whole country; you’ll bring it to such a pass that the whole country will deserve to perish. And if ever it comes to that, I shall say, from the bottom of my heart: Perish the country! Perish all its people!

A Man.

[In the crowd.] Why, he talks like a regular enemy of the people!

Billing.

Strike me dead but there spoke the people’s voice!

The Whole Assembly.

[Shouting.] Yes! yes! yes! He’s an enemy of the people! He hates his country! He hates the whole people!

Aslaksen.

Both as a citizen of this town and as a human being, I am deeply shocked at what it has been my lot to hear to-night. Dr.StockmannStockmannhas unmasked himself in a manner I should never have dreamt of. I must reluctantly subscribe to the opinion just expressed by some estimable citizens; and I think we ought toformulateformulatethis opinion in a resolution. I therefore beg to move, “That this meeting declares the medical officer of the Baths, Dr. Thomas Stockmann, to be an enemy of the people.”

[Thunders of applause and cheers. Many form a circle round theDoctorand hoot at him.Mrs. StockmannandPetrahave risen.MortenandEiliffight the other school-boys, who have also been hooting. Some grown-up persons separate them.

Dr. Stockmann.

[To the people hooting.] Ah, fools that you are! I tell you that——

Aslaksen.

[Ringing.] The Doctor is out of order in speaking. A formal vote must be taken; but out of consideration for personal feelings, it will be taken in writing and without names. Have you any blank paper, Mr. Billing?

Billing.

Here’s both blue and white paper——

Aslaksen.

Capital; that will save time. Cut it up into slips. That’s it. [To the meeting.] Blue means no, white means aye. I myself will go round and collect the votes.

[TheBurgomasterleaves the room.Aslaksenand a few others go round with pieces of paper in hats.

A Gentleman.

[ToHovstad.] What can be the matter with the Doctor? What does it all mean?

Hovstad.

Why, you know what a hare-brained creature he is.

Another Gentleman.

[ToBilling.] I say, you’re often at his house. Have you ever noticed if the fellow drinks?

Billing.

Strike me dead if I know what to say. Thetoddy’s always on the table when any one looks in.

A Third Gentleman.

No, I should rather say he went off his head at times.

First Gentleman.

I wonder if there’s madness in the family?

Billing.

I shouldn’t be surprised.

A Fourth Gentleman.

No, it’s pure malice. He wants to be revenged for something or other.

Billing.

He was certainly talking about a rise in his salary the other day; but he didn’t get it.

All the Gentlemen.

[Together.] Aha! That explains everything.

The Drunken Man.

[In the crowd.] I want a blue one, I do! And I'll have a white one too.

Several People.

There’s the tipsy man again! Turn him out.

Morten Kiil.

[Approaching theDoctor.] Well, Stockmann, you see now what such monkey-tricks lead to?

Dr. Stockmann.

I have done my duty.

Morten Kiil.

What was that you said about the Mill Dale tanneries?

Dr Stockmann.

You heard what I said—that all the filth comes from them.

Morten Kiil.

From my tannery as well?

Dr. Stockmann.

I'm sorry to say yours is the worst of all.

Morten Kiil.

Are you going to putthatin the papers, too?

Dr. Stockmann.

I can’t gloze anything over.

Morten Kiil.

This may cost you dear, Stockmann!

[He goes out.

A Fat Gentleman.

[Goes up toHorster, without bowing to the ladies.] Well, Captain, so you lend your house to enemies of the people.

Horster.

I suppose I can do as I please with my own property, Sir.

The Gentleman.

Then of course you can have no objection if I follow your example?

Horster.

What do you mean, Sir?

The Gentleman.

You shall hear from me to-morrow.

[Turns away and goes out.

Petra.

Wasn’t that the owner of your ship, Captain Horster?

Horster.

Yes, that was Mr. Vik.

Aslaksen.

[With the voting papers in his hands, ascends the platform and rings.] Gentlemen! I have now to announce the result of the vote. All the voters, with one exception——

A Young Gentleman.

That’s the tipsy man!

Aslaksen.

With the exception of one intoxicated person, this meeting of citizens unanimously declares the medical officer of the Baths, Dr. Thomas Stockmann, to be an enemy of the people. [Cheers and applause.] Three cheers for our fine old municipality! [Cheers.] Three cheers for our able and energetic Burgomaster, who has so loyally set family prejudice aside! [Cheers.] The meeting is dissolved. [He descends.]

Billing.

Three cheers for the Chairman!

All.

Hurrah for Aslaksen.

Dr. Stockmann.

My hat and coat, Petra. Captain, have you room for passengers to the new world?

Horster.

For you and yours, Doctor, we’ll make room.

Dr. Stockmann.

[WhilePetrahelps him to put on his coat.]Good.Good.Come Katrina, come boys!

[He gives his wife his arm.

Mrs. Stockmann.

[In a low voice.] Thomas, dear, let us go out by the back way.

Dr. Stockmann.

No back ways, Katrina! [In a loud voice.] You shall hear from the enemy of the people, before he shakes the dust from his feet! I am not so forbearing as a certain person; I don’t say: I forgive you, for you know not what you do.

Aslaksen.

[Shouts.] That is a blasphemous comparison, Dr. Stockmann!

Billing.

Strike me——! This is more than a serious man can stand!

A Coarse Voice.

And he threatens us into the bargain!

Angry Cries.

Let’s smash his windows! Duck him in the fiord!

A Man.

[In the crowd.] Blow your horn, Evensen! Blow man, blow!

[Horn-blowing, whistling, and wild shouting. TheDoctor,with his family, goes towards the door.Horsterclears the way for them.

All.

[Yelling after them as they go out.] Enemy of the people! Enemy of the people! Enemy of the people!

Billing.

Strike me dead if I'd care to drink toddy at Stockmann’s to-night!

[The people throng towards the door; the shouting is taken up by others outside; from the street are heard cries of “Enemy of the people! Enemy of the people!”

ACT FIFTH.

Dr. Stockmann’sStudy. Bookshelves and glass cases with various collections along the walls. In the back, a door leading to the hall; in front, on the left, a door to the sitting-room. In the wall to the right are two windows, all the panes of which are smashed. In the middle of the room is theDoctor’swriting-table, covered with books and papers. The room is in disorder. It is forenoon.

Dr. Stockmann,in dressing-gown, slippers, and skull-cap, is bending down and raking with an umbrella under one of the cabinets; at last he rakes out a stone.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Speaking through the sitting-room doorway.] Katrina, I've found another!

Mrs. Stockmann.

[In the sitting-room.] Oh, I'm sure you’ll find plenty more.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Placing the stone on a pile of others on the table.] I shall keep these stones as sacred relics. Eilif and Morten shall see them every day, and when I die they shall be heirlooms. [Raking under the bookcase.] Hasn’t—what the devil is her name?—the girl—hasn’t she been for the glazier yet?

Mrs. Stockmann.

[Coming in.] Yes, but he said he didn’t know whether he would be able to come to-day.

Dr. Stockmann.

I believe, if the truth were told, he daren’t come.

Mrs. Stockmann.

Well, Randina, too, had an idea he was afraid to come, because of the neighbours. [Speaks through the sitting-room doorway.] What is it, Randina?—Very well. [Goes out, and returns immediately.] Here is a letter for you, Thomas.

Dr. Stockmann.

Let me see. [Opens the letter and reads.] Aha!

Mrs. Stockmann.

Who is it from?

Dr. Stockmann.

From the landlord. He gives us notice.

Mrs. Stockmann.

Is it possible? He is such a nice man——

Dr. Stockmann.

[Looking at the letter.] He daren’t do otherwise, he says. He is very unwilling to do it; but he daren’t do otherwise—on account of his fellow citizens—out of respect for public opinion—is in a dependent position—doesn’t dare to offend certain influential men——

Mrs. Stockmann.

There, you see, Thomas.

Dr. Stockmann.

Yes, yes, I see well enough; they are all cowards, every one of them, in this town; no one dares do anything for fear of all the rest. [Throws the letter on the table.] But it’s all the same to us, Katrina. We will shape our course for the new world, and then——

Mrs. Stockmann.

But are you sure this idea of going abroad is altogether wise, Thomas?

Dr. Stockmann.

Would you have me stay here, where they have pilloried me as an enemy of the people, branded me, smashed my windows! And look here, Katrina, they’ve torn a hole in my black trousers, too.

Mrs. Stockmann.

Oh dear; and these are the best you have!

Dr. Stockmann.

A man should never put on his best trousers when he goes out to battle for freedom and truth. Well, I don’t care so much about the trousers; them you can always patch up for me. But that the mob, the rabble, should dare to attack me as if they were my equals—thatis what I can’t, for the life of me, stomach!

Mrs. Stockmann.

Yes, they have behaved abominably to you here, Thomas; but is that any reason for leaving the country altogether?

Dr. Stockmann.

Do you think the plebeians aren’t just as insolentin other towns? Oh yes, they are, my dear; it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other. Well, never mind; let the curs yelp;that’snot the worst; the worst is that every one, all over the country, is the slave of his party. Not that I suppose—very likely it’s no better in the free West either; the compact majority, and enlightened public opinion, and all the other devil’s trash is rampant there too. But you see the conditions are larger there than here; they may kill you, but they don’t slow-torture you; they don’t screw up a free soul in a vice, as they do at home here. And then, if need be, you can keep out of it all. [Walks up and down.] If I only knew of any primeval forest, or a little South Sea island to be sold cheap——

Mrs. Stockmann.

Yes, but the boys, Thomas.

Dr. Stockmann.

[Comes to a standstill.] What an extraordinary woman you are, Katrina! Would you rather have the boys grow up in such a society as ours? Why, you could see for yourself yesterday evening that one half of the population is stark mad, and if the other half hasn’t lost its wits, that’s only because they are brute beasts who haven’t any wits to lose.

Mrs. Stockmann.

But really, my dear Thomas, you do say such imprudent things.

Dr. Stockmann.

What! Isn’t it the truth that I tell them? Don’t they turn all ideas upside down? Don’tthey stir up right and wrong into one hotch-potch? Don’t they call lies everything that I know to be the truth? But the maddest thing of all is to see crowds of grown men, calling themselves Liberals, go about persuading themselves and others that they are friends of freedom! Did you ever hear anything like it, Katrina?

Mrs. Stockmann.

Yes, yes, no doubt. But——

Petraenters from the sitting-room.

Mrs. Stockmann.

Back from school already?

Petra.

Yes; I have been dismissed.

Mrs. Stockmann.

Dismissed?

Dr. Stockmann.

You too!

Petra.

Mrs. Busk gave me notice, and so I thought it best to leave there and then.

Dr. Stockmann.

You did perfectly right!

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