Widely regarded as one of the foremost dramatists of the nineteenth century, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906), created realistic plays bringing the social problems of his day to center stage. His dramas portrayed psychological conflict that emphasized character over devious plots, and over critical objection, he deemed the individual more important than the group.
In this powerful work, Ibsen does just that, as his main character, Dr. Thomas Stockman, is an enlightened and persecuted minority of one confronting an ignorant, powerful majority.