Maharashtra Board Class 11 English Solution Chapter 4.3.B – An Enemy of the People
Balbharati Maharashtra Board Class 11 English Solution Chapter 4.3.B: An Enemy of the People. Marathi or English Medium Students of Class 11 get here An Enemy of the People full Exercise Solution.
Std |
Maharashtra Class 11 |
Subject |
English Solution |
Chapter |
An Enemy of the People |
1) Mayor Peter Stockmann is a contrast to Dr. Thomas Stockmann. Justify.
Ans. Dr. ThomasStockmann, the protagonist of the drama is shown to be a very principled man with high morals. A generous man who puts the interest of the society before his personal needs. He has his own life troubles, still he wishes to make the world a better place and has the will to fight for justice at any cost.
On the other hand, Mayor Peter Stockmann is shown to be a selfish man who has low morals. When he gets to know about the contamination of batheshetries to suppress the issue as it will harm his reputation and he only thinks of his own reputation instead of thinking of the welfare of his people.
The Mayor shows the face of the majority of the crowd who always thinks of his own welfare, not thinking about anyone else. On the other hand, Dr.Stockmann is the face of the minority of the crowd as he is alone in his quest of finding the truth regarding the contaminated bathes and help people.
2.) Write the character sketch of Dr.Stockmann.
Ans. Dr.Stockmann, the protagonist, is an idealistic man with high principles, he always tries to do what is morally right. We understood this when we see his determination to solve the issue of contamination of the baths. However, this blind determination and his strong ideals make him a bit rigid as well.
He took the matter of contamination of the bathes too personally and does not thinks twice of the huge amount spent on constructing them and now he wants to spend even more on the repairs or by closing the baths how badly the town‘s economy will be affected.
He was played false by his own supporters but still he showed his true mettle and didn’t lose hope and kept fighting his own battle. He is also shown as a selfless man in the paly, who puts forth the problems of the society, instead of thinking of his own personal will.
- Read the given extract (Act III)
- Complete the following table.
S.NO | CHARACTER | SUPPORTIVE CHARECTER | INCIDENT |
1. | Dr.Stockmann | a) Hovstad& Billing
b) Aslaksen
c) Mrs.Stockmann |
They were the publishers who agreed to publish the information to expose corruption among the top authorities.
He refuses to publish Dr.Stockmann‘s report even when he was offered high amount of money.
When everyone went against Dr.Stockmann, his wife only stayed loyal and supportive to her husband. |
2. | Peter Stockmann | a) Hovstad
b) Aslaksen |
Peter Stockmann tries hard to instigate Hovstad and Aslaksen against Dr.Stockmann, to an extent he was successful also.
He convinces Aslaksen not to print the report given to him by Dr.Stockmann. |
3. | Aslaksen | a) Hovstad
b) Dr.Stockmann |
Aslaksen tries to convince Hovstad not to publish yhe report given by Dr.Stockmann and tells him how he can be in a big trouble if he doesn’t listen to Aslaksen.
Later on both Aslaksen and Hovstad refuses to print Dr.Stockmann‘s report regarding the fraud in the contamination of the bathes. It was quite clear that they were highly influenced by the words of the Mayor and thus, changed their decision. |
(ii) Match the column A with column B.
Ans.
COLOUMN A | COLOUMN B |
1. Dr. Thomas Stockmann | Courageous |
2. Katherine | Timid but supportive |
3. Peter Stockmann | Cunning and corrupt |
4. Petra | Honest and upright |
5. Hovstad | Opportunist |
6. Billing | Vulnerable |
7. Aslaksen | Coward |
PLOT
1.) Describe the climax scene in your own words. Write your comments on it.
Ans. Throughout the story we see how much Dr.Stockmann was determined to reveal the truth behind the whole conspiracy related to the contamination of the bathes. He was also confident as he got quite a lot of support from publishers and many common men to. On the other hand the Mayor of the town, Peter Stockmann was busy with his own cunning planning and plotting so that Dr.Stockman will not be able to find out the truth against and he continuously tries to manipulate Hovstad and Aslaksen. Therefore we soon see that Dr.Stockmann’s determination and confidence collapsed as Hovstad and Aslaksen refuses to print his report against the whole conspiracy. They even accuse Doctor’s whole story as mere imagination of his dillusioned mind and Aslaksen was even afraid that publishing the report might offend the public and his paper’s reputation will be at huge stake.
We see Mrs.Stockmann not supporting her husband initially, because of the fear of consequences, now gives him her shoulder of supportas she saw her husband losing all hopes and confidence. Dr.Stockamann felt heavily disheartened but still not defeated by the double-crossing done by Aslaksen, Hovstad and his own brother Peter Stockmann. He promised himself that somehow he will bring forth the truth by hook or by crook. He decided to print pamphlets and spread it throughout the town and even thought of renting a hall where he can gather a good many crowd so that he can read the whole report in front of them to reveal the truth.
The Act ends with the doctor stating that if he cannot arrange a hall, he will march around town with a drum which will attract people’s attention and he will read the report loudly to everyone, which I personally felt was very impractical. Mrs.Stockmann still supports her husband in this non-viable plan also and we see them leave the scene.
Though I personally felt that the Doctor and his statements and actions were irrational, but again he was fighting for the truth and was determined to bring forth the truth in front of the common people at any cost. He had put the society above risking his own family’s life. And the bitter truth of our society we see through the play that when someone tries to fight for the truth, he fights alone.
2.) Describe in your own words the incident when Hovstad’s real intention to help Dr.Stockmann is exposed.
Ans. When Dr.Stockmann reached Hovstad’s office, he notices the Mayor’s stick and hat and soon realises about his presence in the office. Dr.Stockmann asked Hovstadweather he was going to publish the article in ‘People’s Messenger’ or not to which Hovstad replied that he will do it but he has to wait for some time.
Hovstad didn’t refuse directly but had no intensions either to publish the article. The Mayor successfully influenced Hovstad and Aslaksen against his own brother which was now clearly visible. Finally, we see Hovstad refused to print the article and the reason he stated was it will ravage the Doctor’s reputation and ruin his family as well. But the Doctor understood that this was not the actual reason for Hovstad’s not publishing the article and his real intentions were no more hidden.
3.) Write down the consequences of the following occurrences with the help of the play.
(a) Dr. Thomas Stockmann wants an article exposing social evils to be printed in the newspaper.
Ans. When Dr.Stockmann got to know regarding the unhygienic condition of the baths which would have led to a lot of health issues among the common people and it affected Dr.Stockmann a lot. He thought of exposing the whole incident and the Mayor of the town as well which lead to affect the ruling party and people of the town would will revolt against the party.
(b) Mayor Peter Stockmann persuades Mr.Hovstad and Mr. Billing from printing the article.
Ans. He knew if the article is published, his and his men’s reputation will be destroyed within no time and he will have to leave his position as well and it will also cost the party a loss of a huge amount, that’s why Mayor Peter Stockmann persuades Mr.Hovstad and Mr. Billing from printing the article.
(c) Aslaksen declares that he would not print Dr.Stockmann’s article.
Ans. Previously Aslaksen and Hovstad agreed to publish the article given to them by Dr.Stockmann, but later they refused to do so under the influence of Peter Stockmann. They got scared thinking about the after effects of publishing such a heated up article in their paper.
(d) Katherine encourages Dr.Stockmann to proceed in his attempts in the cause of public attempts.
Ans. When Katherine saw how the Mayor, Hovstad, Aslaksen stood up against Dr.Stockmann, she felt petious for her husband as he stood alone in the cause of doing something good. Katherine now gave her husband, the shoulder of support that he really needed in these trying times and was ready to stand with him. She encouraged him not to give up his idea of doing something good for the people of his town. She also ensured Dr.Stockmann that their children Morten, Ejlif and Petra would also led their hand of support to him and will march with him on the street if needed.
SETTING
1.) The setting of the act is the office of the newspaper ‘The Herald’. Explain how it is the proper background for the theme of the play.
Ans. The setting of the play is appropriate to the theme of the whole play and it appropriately supports the background of the play as well.
We see the single door opening to the main office- symbolising the truth as the only way and truth by any means find out its way to be revealed.
The room is dingy and uncomfortable with old furniture like stained and torn chair – clearly shows the situation of the government and media, highly influenced by the corrupted leaders. How the old and orthodox way of governing people shall be changed now and how the media is torn between the leaders, powerful people and the common man.
A large table covered with books and newspapers- shows knowledge is prevalent but people are using it in the right way or for the right cause and the unorganised papers scattered on the table shows how unorganised the government and its knowledge is.
In the foreground on the left a window, and right in front of it there is a desk and a high stool- Through the window light can enter the room of the office which brings in a ray of positivity and hope that things will surely change. In the same way the high stool stands for the high hopes of the common people. Hope that they have from our government and the highly knowledgeable media that will bring forth the truth and nothing else.
2.) Explain the use of the following property in the development of the play.
Ans. (a) Hat– When Dr.Stockmann went to Hovstad’s office to talk to them, he saw Peter Stockmann’s hat and stick lying on the office table, but he himself was nowhere to be seen. Dr.stockman soon realised the whole scenario that Peter visited the office andhe was still there, hiding. He went there to convince Hovstad and Aslaksen not to publish Stockmann’s article and they were convinced with Peter, Stockmann understood this as well.
(b) Stick– Same as above (answer a)
(c) An envelope containing the letter– An envelope containing the letter’ is mentioned in the initial part of the play. This letter in the envelop plays a very vital role in the development of the play as it carried the results of the tests related to the contamination of the baths. Dr.Stockmannordered for the tests to be sure regarding the contamination and once he became sure of the truth he decided to publish this article in the newspaper and make it public. He wanted the people of his town to know the whole truth.
3.) Explain the following statements with reference to the context.
(a) And then, once the ring’s broken, we’ll get to work and show the public every day just how incompetent the Mayor is!
Ans. “And in this way, the ring will be broken up, you see, and then in every issue of the paper, we will enlighten the public on the Mayor‘s incapability on one point and another………..”
The above line was said by Hovstad to Billing, when Dr.Stockmann bought the envelopecontaining the letter. They were excited to knowDr.Stockmann‘s decision to publish the report on the contamination of the baths. Hovstad was ready to publish the report in his newspaper as he wanted to attack the local authorities and the Mayor directly through his newspaper and see them vanquishing.
(b) From now on ‘The Herald’ shall be my artillery.
Ans. The line was said by Dr.Stockmann to Billing, Hovstad, and Aslaksen, when they agreed to publish his article and it also shows Dr.Stockmann’s trust on them. He genuinely believes that in his fight for truth he has got a big support from the media itself. And as we all consider media as one of the biggest weapon of common people, he too believed the same, thus said the above line, “From now on ‘The Herald’ shall be my artillery.”
(c) You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
Ans. This line was said by Petra to Hovstad when she came to know about his real intensions and why he was not willing to publish her father’s article on his newspaper. Hovstad was even ready to lower down his morals and ideals in order to publish an unrealistic story just because it will sell more papers. Petra soon understood Hovstad’s mean intentions and became very angry.
(d) Because your father can’t do without my help.
Ans. When Petra realises Hovstad’s real intentions and spits fire on him, he too becomes very angry and asks her to watch her mouth and said the above lines mentioning that her father Dr.Stockmann will need his help in order to publish that article so whatever he does, she should watch with her mouth shut. This can be taken as an indirect threat as well towards Petra and her father.
(e) And it’s by no means the small sacrifice the town will have to make.
Ans. The above line was said by Peter Stockmann to Aslaksen and Hovstad, when he went to persue them not to publish the article revealing the truth related to the contamination of the bathes as it would not be in the favour of the government and the general public will also face the negative consequences.