Enemy of the People: Themes

Truth and Morality:

The play explores what right and wrong are, and what would happen in a situation like this. In the play, the audience follows Dr. Stockmann, a man who finds that the water supply of the town is contaminated.

Dr. Stockmann is motivated by truth and tries to share the information, meanwhile putting his family, reputation, and his safety in jeopardy.

However, his brother, Peter Stockmann, represents the government and keeps people in the dark about the wrongdoing. 

One's Duty:

Dr. Stockmann wavers between his duty between telling the truth, science, the town and his duty toward his family, but ends up choosing the truth. He thinks this is a noble thing to do.

Catherine is forced between her duty toward her family and to her husband, Dr. Stockmann. Although worried about her family's safety she sticks by her husband's side.

As for Peter, he ignores his duty of being a brother and to the townspeople…