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