An Enemy of the People

It's an evergreen problem, and very good play; pitting a community's treasured resource against a public health emergency, reason against greed, the many against the few. However, there are clear anti-democratic and elitist lines in this play that it's surprising to see a modern audience skip right past in seeing modern parallels to climate and pollution issues. The play makes several direct appeals to the madness of democracy and the wisdom of the educated elite, that aren't challenged at all in the little post-play interview LA Theatre Works put together to draw parallels to modern issues.

ایبسن یکی از نمایشنامه‌نویسان مورد علاقه‌ی منه... یه نویسنده که به نظر من مثل داستایفسکی از زمان خودشون خیلی جلوتر بودند... کسی که تو قرن 19 از فردیت زن حرف می‌زنه و شخصیت زنی قوی شده مثل «لورا»ی خانه‌ی عروسک رو می‌نویسه. هر چند تفکرات ناتورالیستی داره و احتمالاً فکر می‌کرده خصلت‌های آدمی نسل به نسل قابل وراثته (هم تو نمایشنامه‌ی اشباح، هم توی موعظه‌ی بلند دکتر استوکمان داخل همین نمایشنامه)، اما نمی‌شه بهش show more خرده گرفت چون شاید اگه ما هم هم‌دوره‌ی زولا و ایبسن بودیم، همین اعتقاد رو پیدا می‌کردیم.
دشمن مردم داستان یک مسیح مدرنه... داستانی که سیاست و به خصوص جامعه رو مضحکه‌ی خودش می‌کنه و چیزهایی می‌گه که تو جهان و سیاست امروزی ما هم مصادیق عینی بسیاری داره... البته این‌بار داستان مملو از یهوداست... دکتر استوکمان، به عنوان یک مسیح مدرن عمل می‌کنه و خواستار اصلاح جامعه‌شه اما جامعه خواستار اصلاح نیست. show less

A great work that I found incredibly pertinent for me as an American in late 2025, though it was written in 1882. I was unfamiliar with the film or with other adaptations like Miller’s, but came aware of the play through Wisdom of the Open Air by Reed/Rothenberg. Environmental crisis, political corruption, the good and ills of democracy and the ‘compact majority’ - it’s all here in a tight, compelling tale.

I love Ibsen for his dense dramatic works with dialogue that has both a surface meaning and a subtext and the subtlety with which "scandalous" material is handled. This play is much more overt. Written as a reaction to the negative reception of his brilliant Ghosts, An Enemy of the People depicts how a respectable man can be ruined by the powers-that-be. Even though the characters seem to be closer to caricatures, the first few acts are quite well done. I loved how the antagonist, Peter, manipulates the very people that swore to support the protagonist; it felt very real. And at first I admired how Thomas refused to back down. But in an effort underscore the "moral", Ibsen gives Thomas actions and speeches that are beyond reason and the show more play loses the previous tight focus. (And it is at this point in the play where recent productions have gotten creative and eschewed the script). So, unfortunately, I have to conclude that this is not one of Ibsen's best plays. show less

Not as profound a character study as Hedda Gabler, still an incisive critique of the greed and moral corruption of the bourgeois and the gullibility and shallowness of the working people who are easily misdirected from their best interests. Deeply resonant in the Age of Trump, thankfully subdued for now.

A truly magnificent play. The speeches by Dr. Stockmann in Act 4 were simply brilliant. I was worried in Act 5 that the play would turn into tragedy and Dr. Stockmann would sell his soul to the devil. Instead, his heroism increased tenfold. A beautifully written -- not predictable, unexpected and truly the stuff that plays should be made of.

Armiku i popullit”, një nga veprat më të njohura të Henrik Ibsen, u shkrua në vitin 1882 si kundërpërgjigje ndaj protestave publike kundër veprës së tij “Fantazma”, që në atë kohë u konsiderua si skandaloze. “Armiku i popullit” u adresohet tendencave irracionale të masës dhe natyrës korruptive të sistemit politik