How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Act.Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue. We used R. Farquharson Sharp's translation.
Quote #1
Mayor Peter Stockmann: "I am entitled to request most emphatically that all arrangements shall be […] dealt with by the legally constituted authorities. I can allow no going behind our backs by any roundabout means." (1.103)
The Mayor gets pretty cranky when Dr. Stockmann won't immediately tell him why he's withholding a positive report on the sanitary conditions at the Baths. He's afraid that his brother is doing something outside of the proper political channels. This sort of thing is a direct challenge to system of government that the Mayor represents.
Quote #2
Billing: "A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.
Horster: "Maybe that is all very well on shore; but on board ship it wouldn't work." (1.140-141)
Here Billing is making a case that everyone should take part in governing society. This is pretty much the basic principle of democracy. Captain Horster, however, points out that's not the way a ship is run. As the captain, he's basically a dictator and everything runs just fine. An Enemy of the People was considered somewhat subversive in it's time because it attacks the basic principle of democracy by saying that majority rule isn't necessarily a good thing. Dr. Stockmann ends up coming to the conclusion that the majority itself is a kind of dictator. In a land where the majority is in control, it is very hard for people in the minority to get a fare shake.
Quote #3
Hovstad: "what is the most crying need in the humbler ranks of life […] is that they should be allowed some part in the direction of public affairs, Doctor." (2.104)
Hovstad is of the opinion that the way to fix the government is to give the poorer classes more of a voice. It's interesting that though he constantly champions democracy, his calls for the workers of the world to unite against the wealthy sound a whole lot like early communist propaganda.
Quote #4
Aslaksen: "No, no, no; there must be no discourtesy to the authorities, Mr. Hovstad. It is no use falling foul of those upon whom our welfare so closely depends." (2.137)
Aslaksen has played the political game for a while now. He's of the opinion that things only get done when problems are addressed with moderation and temperance. His ideas are in direct contrast to Hovstad's radical approach and later on to Dr. Stockmann's blistering societal critiques.
Quote #5
Hovstad: "Well, fortunately we can turn the situation to good account, whatever happens. If the Mayor will not fall in with the Doctor's project, he will have all the small tradesmen down on him […] And if he does fall in with it, he will fall out with the whole crowd of large shareholders in the Baths" (3.13)
Hovstad seems to have a good grasp on the politics of the town. He's convinced at this point in the play that he's got the Mayor in an inescapable trap. Of course, the wily Mayor proves to be far better player of the political game than the newspaperman and easily manipulates Hovstad to his side.
Quote #6
Aslaksen: "Timid? Yes, when it is a question of the local authorities […] But try me in higher politics, in matters that concern the government itself, and then see if I am timid." (3.73)
Aslaksen defends his moderate opinions on local politics by saying that he's much more radical when it comes to national issues. Aren't the two things linked, though? How can you separate them?
Quote #7
Aslaksen: "If you attack the government, you don't do the community any harm, anyway; those fellows pay no attention to attacks, you see--they go on just as they are, in spite of them." (3.75)
The Printer tries to defend his political timidity by saying that he's more involved with national politics. With this quote, however, he seems to directly contradict himself. He's basically saying that he doesn't mind attacking national politicians because it doesn't do any good anyway. It seems that no matter how you look at it, Aslaksen is political mouse.
Quote #8
Hovstad: "Politics are the most important thing in life--for a newspaper, anyway." (3.120)
With this statement, Hovstad is trying to convince Petra that it is necessary for a newspaperman to play the political game in order to survive. What do you think? He seems to have a point. If a journalist is completely oblivious to the political ramifications of what he prints, it may very well destroy his career. Then again, isn't a journalist's main job to report the truth? On the other hand, what is the truth?
Quote #9
Dr. Stockmann: "I will say no more about our leading men. […] For I cherish the comforting conviction that these parasites […] are most admirably paving the way for their own extinction; […]. It is not they who are most instrumental in poisoning the sources of our moral life and infecting the ground on which we stand. […] The most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom amongst us is the compact majority--yes, the damned compact Liberal majority." (4.87-89)
Dr. Stockmann is attacking both conservatives and liberals at the same time. He's basically knowingly and willingly committing political suicide. By the time he's done, he'll be totally isolated.
Quote #10
Dr. Stockmann: "A party is like a sausage machine; it mashes up all sorts of heads together into the same mincemeat--fatheads and blockheads, all in one mash!" (5.76)
The Doctor seems to have no respect for any political party at all by this point in the play. To him, any large group that unites to form ideas is inevitably full of lies. The only real truths are to be found with individuals.