The Individual Voice Against Authoritative Discourse: The Polyphony in Henrik Ibsen's Play An Enemy of the People

Abstract

Henrik Ibsen's play,An Enemy of the People, though written in nineteenth century, appears to advocate the ideas which are, in fact, supposed to be the outcome of the latest postmodern theories of the twentieth century. In this regard, Ibsen's portrayal of countering perspective between the major characters Dr. Thomas Stockmann and the Mayor is analyzed as the expression of multiple voices. The play's portrayal of existing conflict between Dr. Thomas Stockmann, the protagonist, and his brother Peter Stockmann (the Mayor) representing domineering authorial voice seem irreconcilable as Dr. Thomas Stockmann is determined to expose the truth about the bad water systems of which common people are unaware while Peter Stockmann, liberal press and manipulated majority are not in favour of the exposure of the truth. Such a challenge and disruption of domineering ideology byone individual and also the exposure of the perspectives for seeing the truth really characterizes the text as a polyphonic work.