It’swinterinasmallsouthernNorwegiantowninthelatenineteenthcentury.Afteryearsofstruggling,Dr.ThomasStockmannandhisfamily–hiswifeCatherine,theiryoungadultdaughterPetra,andtheirtwoadolescentsonsEjlifandMorten–havereturnedtotownafterbeingawayforfiveyearsupnorth,henowwellrespectedandsuccessfulasthemedicalresidentoftheHealthInstituteatKirstenSprings,whereheisalsoaboardmember.Hedevisedthespringsandinstituteasacenteroftherapeuticbenefitsonhisown,butdevelopeditwithhisbrother,thetownmayor,PeterStockmann,whoistheboardchair.Theyhavereinvigoratedwhatwasthefinanciallycrumblingtown.PetertakescreditforgivingThomasthisairofrespectability,somethingthathasneverbeenimportanttoThomas,whowouldratherbeseenasamanofconvictionindoingtherightthing.Inthisrespect,Petratakesafterherfatheddd
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