Henrik Ibsen/Arthur Miller's An Enemy of the People: Summary and Theme

[@SheepOfHerd]

we finna get an A with this one

[@allisonroth4616]

I'm glad!

[@danchevrie3719]

Gave me everything I needed.

[@learningliterature]

I'm glad it was helpful!

[@sabinamolinelli3618]

Thank you. I liked your analysis because of the focus and the deep and human observation that you gave to the play. It seems like an easy conclusion play to understand, but it is very complex, and you showed that complexity.

[@learningliterature]

That's thoughtful, thank you for appreciating that!

[@johnausterli5t]

Thank you, A really excellent breakdown and analysis.

[@learningliterature]

You're welcome. I'm glad it was helpful!

[@arpitachopra27]

this was super helpful, thank you so much:)

[@learningliterature]

Great, I'm so glad!

[@CultureKonnect]

Recently read that Jaws movie has a similar storyline. What do you think? ‘Steven Spielberg solved the drains problem by making the danger that threatens the prosperity of a tourist town not tiny microorganisms in the polluted waters of the baths but a far more exciting monster that lurks beneath the waves while vacationers frolic on the beach. Yet in all other respects, the first part of Jaws is a faithful compression of Ibsen's didactic five-act satire into half an hour of breathless action. For Ibsen's nameless spa resort on the southern coast of Norway, there is the New England beach town of Amity Island, whose economy is equally dependent on vacationers. For Thomas Stockmann, the medical officer who discovers that the supposedly health-giving waters of the spa are contaminated with deadly bacteria, there is the honest police chief Martin Brody, who tries to insist that the beach be closed down. For Stockmann's elder brother, Peter, who is at once the town mayor, chief constable, and chairman of the board of the spa, there is Amity Island's mayor, Larry Vaughn-both put economic interests before public safety. For Ibsen's corrupt newspaper editor, Hovstad, there is Harry Meadows of The Amity Gazette.’

[@guitikamali9273]

Fantastic 👍

[@allisonroth4616]

Thanks, I appreciate hearing that!

[@paulaweinstein5635]

thank you, interesting analysis

[@learningliterature]

Great, you're welcome!

[@salhepatica323]

I enjoyed your analysis so much that I wish you'd do the same sometime about 1) Wallace Stevens's "Domination of Black," 2) Browning's Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came); 3) Joyce's "Araby," or 4) D.H. Lawrence's, "the Rocking Horse Winner"

[@allisonroth4616]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[@peterwatt9225]

Suggestive of Rousseaus notion of individualism within the social contract. Also supports Chomsky on media. Wholly applicable to social philosophy. Thanks for the insightful analysis.

[@learningliterature]

You're welcome. Thanks for the follow up thoughts!

[@prathamshukla5303]

thank you beti!

[@learningliterature]

You're welcome!

[@emmanuelmvula9605]

Could you please do The concubine

[@learningliterature]

Interesting suggestion, thanks!

[@JustinOzi-lb9ep]

Thanks. Can you please talk about the themes and techniques depicted in the play.😊

[@learningliterature]

Hopefully you got some ideas about themes from the video. I think a key theme of the play is the value of integrity - Dr. Stockmann refuses to lie about his beliefs, despite what it seems to cost him. Then again, saying that the theme is the *value* of integrity assumes that Dr. Stockmann is happy, or at least hopeful, at the end of the play. To argue that the play is advocating for his integrity would require showing that Dr. Stockmann is a success story, a model for how we should live our lives. This is an interesting point of debate.

[@arpitachopra27]

would love if you talked about the reluctant fundementalist

[@learningliterature]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@RemingtonRowland]

what are the best lines in the play?

[@learningliterature]

Fun question! I like Dr. Stockmann's proclamation at the end of Act II that "I don't care if the whole world crumbles, I refuse to be a slave to any man!" and his statement to the people in Act IV that "I'm thinking of the few--those rare spirits among us who have had the vision to recognize the truth in new ideas, new ways of thought--and have made those ways their own. These men are in the vanguard--so far ahead that the solid majority can't begin to reach them; and there they fight for new-born truths--too new and too daring to be accepted by that sacred majority of yours." He is so defiant and condescending in these!

[@whatbitcoinwas5001]

Hi, Thanks and great analysis Have you read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius? Can you take and do that as a request? Thank you

[@learningliterature]

Great suggestion, thanks!

[@whatbitcoinwas5001]

@@learningliterature Can you also do a quick video or let me know what are your Top 10 pieces of Literature?

[@learningliterature]

@@whatbitcoinwas5001 That's a fun, challenging suggestion!

[@GodwinLalaito]

The River between

[@learningliterature]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@ohemaadian6157]

Edufa by Efua Sunderland

[@allisonroth4616]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@peterdowney7980]

Excellent.

[@learningliterature]

Thanks!

[@salhepatica323]

Yet I go to your "Home" on KZbin and see, alas, that you've added nothing new for over a year. That's sad and unfortunate. Pages like yours inspire people to read . . .

[@allisonroth4616]

I appreciate this. I'm working on a video on Coriolanus next.

[@salhepatica323]

@@allisonroth4616 I'm looking forward to it.

[@IbrahimHoldsForth]

Dr. Stockman was the greatest troll of all time. I say his naïve attitude was a put-on so as to all the more enrage the town and, therefore, all the more get off on Being Right and they Being Wrong.