Interpellation of an individual in Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People

Abstract

This research paper explores the reason for 'interpellation of an individual' in Henrik Ibsen's realistic problem play,An Enemy of the People. Interpellation isdefined as transforming an individual into subject either by the ideological influence or forcibly.The problem play is a type of drama that deals with the controversial social issues in a realistic manner to expose social ills and to arouse discussion upon such issues. In the play, playwright Ibsen has portrayedthe protagonist Dr.Thomas Stockmannin such a way that Louis Althusser's notion of interpellation can be applied in the play. In the reader's or audience's eye, Stockmann is a hero, but the Baths community treats him as an enemy. He is announced as their enemy because of his medical finding and his attempt to expose it to the public. He is announced as an enemy because he goes against the municipal head's order, against the financial prosperity of the whole Baths' community and people. In capitalist society, monetary or financial value is counted as the most important part of life. This research paper claims that in the name of capital gain and financial prosperity, the people of Baths and the professionals who are in power as municipal head or other stakeholders are trying to hidethe pollution of the river of Baths that is harmful to the tourists taking bath there. The interpellation ofan individualhas been done in such a way thatDr. Stockmannis announced as an enemy of the people so that he shall be boycotted from listening bythe community. Toaddress the research question of how and why an individual is interpellated in the play, this papermajorlyuses the insights of Louis Althusser. Key Words: Interpellation, Enemy, Individual, Subject, Ideology, Capitalism