Dr. Stockmann is basing his opinions about the poor water quality on scientific evidence. As a man of science, he thinks that this will be convincing to other people as well. The people with whom he initially shares the results agree that the findings should be revealed in order to prevent a public health catastrophe. While Dr. Thomas Stockmann is not a politician, his brother Peter Stockmann, the town’s mayor, is. It does not take long for the majority opinion to be swayed by political considerations. The printer Aslaksen changes sides, further influencing the compact majority’s opinions.

Soon most people seem to be worried more about the town’s reputation than the public health threat. Henrik Ibsen shows the audience the motives of numerous characters; in turn, each reveals an aspect of self-interest that will align them with Peter and against Thomas. Even more important, it is clear that the doctor not only lacks political wiles, he also has a bad temper, is an elitist, and seems devoid of common sense. During the meeting, he rails against the townspeople, berating them for their stupidity, and seems so rigid in his anti-corruption stance that he loses whatever supporters he might still have had. Ibsen distributes the blame for the doctor’s failure between his inability to read people and the large amount of truth in the conclusions he has drawn.

By Act 5, the townspeople have turned against him and his family: stones have been thrown at their house, they are getting evicted, and both he and his daughter are fired from their jobs. Even his father-in-law no longer back him, as he stands to lose all the money he invested in the Baths.