by Lime Red Tetrahedron

Created on: June 21, 2010

Catherine Stockmann in Arthur Miller's Adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's modern drama An Enemy of the People

Catherine Stockmann dons the role of moderator and voice of reason in a scene full of passionate conflict and emotional strife. Catherine – being marginalized as a result of beliefs about women’s rights in Ibsen’s time – operates with a much more comprehensive perspective of the events that transpire in this scene than those of her excited peers, allowing her to act logically in an emotionally-charged context. For instance, consider that Catherine removes herself from the room when Peter and Thomas Stockmann finally confront each other on the question of Kirsten Springs. Catherine is an intelligent character – she has recognized the rather dangerous conflict of interest between the brothers over the springs (to which her husband is painfully oblivious) and, logically, decides to escape the imminent conflict. Moreover, she brings Petra along with her.  However, Petra strikes me as the type of character not to be intimidated; rather, she is outspoken and confident (as explored in an earlier unit of action). Why, then, does Catherine remove her from the situation?

Mrs. Stockmann’s decision to remove Petra from the room stems from two sources – her maternity and her role as a moderator. First of all, Catherine is Petra’s mother – it is understandable that a mother would be opposed to her daughter seeing her father (the doctor) in heated conflict. (On a related note, we see Dr. Stockmann react in a similar manner, only speaking to Peter “after a moment” has passed since the women had left the room.) As well, Catherine holds “duty towards [her] family” as one of her key values – a value that agrees with the above interpretation.

Secondly, it is likely that Catherine understands Petra’s temperament, and in an effort to mitigate conflict chooses to remove Petra from the upcoming contentious exchange. Petra, as we have seen, demonstrates little restraint in asserting her convictions. For instance, near the end of this very Act, Petra, in response to Peter’s “forbid[ding]” Dr. Stockmann’s “[expression] of opinion” on the matter of the springs, exclaims that her father “[will] not stand for” such resolutions. This exclamation only serves to augment the conflict. If Catherine’s relocation of Petra had persisted, this tension-heightening

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