Act V

In the fifth and final act of this book, resolution is finally found. Many people pay a visit to the Doctor, starting off with Horster; he informs them that they will not be able to sail with him to the new world, as he himself has been dismissed from the ship for being affiliated with Stockmann. He's not the only one dismissed though, as Mrs. Stockmann and Petra are also dismissed from their duties. The Stockmann's are even evicted from their home. I agree with the Doctor when he says that all of these dismissals are the work of cowards, as they are all backed by the excuse of "public opinion." Peter visits to inform Stockmann of his dismissal from the Baths committee. After that, he is visited by Aslaksen and Hovstad who try to make peace and offer him full disposal of the People's Messenger to get his point across, but when they reveal their motives, Stockmann goes mad and tries to get them to jump out of his now-broken windows. Thankfully, Mrs. Stockmann holds him back and the men make an escape. Soon after, the boys get home and Stockmann makes the bold move of telling them they are not to go back to school, and that he will be schooling them on his own.