by Lime Red Tetrahedron

Created on: June 21, 2010

The Effect of Idealism on the Individual’s Response to Truth

Our ideals, in part, define who we are, and profoundly shape how we respond to the truth. Truths that align well with our aspirations are easily accepted, as they advance our pursuits of our goals. However, the truth is not always convenient; rather, it lies contrary to one’s aspirations, and can even serve as an impediment to the pursuit of one’s ideals. In this case, the truth may be rejected and even forcefully denied in favour of a convenient lie. This latter case is exemplified in Arthur Miller’s adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s modern drama An Enemy of the People, in which the audience is presented an array of characters with differing ideals, who in responding to a common truth, enter into conflict.

First of all, Dr. Stockmann – the protagonist of the work holds those ideals that are central to modern democracy; that is, he has a strong belief in the truth, a commitment to free speech, and a sense of individual responsibility. The truth – that “the springs are poisoned” – though inconvenient, is propagated by Dr. Stockmann in the hopes of bettering his society. Though he himself profits greatly from the springs, he feels a sense of responsibility towards those who would be poisoned by its waters, which motivates him to spread the truth to the townspeople. Later, he is surprised to learn that his community wants nothing to do with this truth. In fact, one of the central ironies in the work is that this doctor, whose ideals are the pillars on which democracy is founded, is silenced by majority vote. Uncompromising and having strong convictions, the doctor does not allow his voice to be silenced via majority tyranny, deciding to attempt to pass his ideals on to the next generation via education.

On the opposite end of the spectrum lies Peter Stockmann, to whom power and wealth is the ideal. He holds those ideals that are central to an authoritarian regime: a belief that “the individual should subordinate himself to the powers in charge”, and a belief that the ideal society is one in which everyone thinks the same way. As a result of holding these ideals, Peter Stockmann responds to the truth offered by his brother with hostility. In particular, he sees Dr. Stockmann’s relentless pursuit of truth as a gesture of defiance, and manifesting as his belief that the doctor is working “behind [his] back”. The truth about

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