A Foucauldian Analysis of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People: A Poststructuralist Perspective

Abstract

           Post structuralism took literature in a whirlwind by shaking its foundational theories and implementing new ideas that there is no fixed or singular meaning of a work, but constructed socially and are unstable. Michael Foucault, a key figure in post structuralism, was an eye-opener in the realm of power relation, knowledge & discourse. His concepts stood the test of time and are relevant up to the modern times. Henrik Ibsen, the father of modern drama, challenged conventions and customs in his plays. A Foucauldian analysis of literature helps in deconstructing power or knowledge and investigating discursive formations. This paper aims to bring out the power dynamics and structures that govern the society in the play through a poststructuralist perspective.