The sub-editor of the town’s liberal newspaper, The People’s Messenger. Billing parrots Hovstad’s ideas but seems to have few opinions of his own. While he claims to be a radical progressive and criticizes others like Mr. Aslaksen for their conservatism, it’s eventually revealed that he himself has applied for a job within the local government he supposedly reviles. This hypocrisy helps prove that media like newspapers are too dependent on the communities they critique to be an impartial voice for justice.
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Billing Character Timeline in An Enemy of the People
The timeline below shows where the character Billing appears in An Enemy of the People. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act I
...table is full of disorderly plates, as if the family has just finished a meal. Billing, the town newspaper’s sub-editor, is sitting at the table while Katherine Stockmann apologizes that she...
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The doorbell rings. Both Katherine and Billing assume that the newspaper’s editor, Hovstad, has arrived, but instead Peter Stockmann—the town mayor and...
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...the upcoming elections. Captain Horster says he never pays attention to politics and never votes. Billing chastises him for his lack of communal engagement, but the captain mildly points out unless...
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...teacher has told him that only sinners have to work hard. The adults chuckle, and Billing suggests that Morten should become a “pagan” like him; then he can do whatever he...
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...will be “glad that such an important truth has been brought to light.” Hovstad and Billing announce their intention to cover the discovery in the newspaper, and say that Dr. Stockmann...
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Act II
Dr. Stockmann reveals that he has shared the contents of the report with Hovstad and Billing, and he may not be able to keep it from the public. Peter accuses his...
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Act III
Hovstad is working at his desk in the shabby and disheveled People’s Messenger office when Billing enters, having just read Dr. Stockmann’s manuscript. Both men laugh and praise Dr. Stockmann for...
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Dr. Stockmann enters the office excitedly, instructing Hovstad and Billing to print his article at once and eagerly predicting “a fight in the town.” He’s...
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...hope that Dr. Stockmann will stick to the baths, rather than making any broader attacks. Billing complains that Mr. Aslaksen is too timid, but Mr. Aslaksen says that his experience has...
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Aslaksen cannily points out the newspaper’s last editor now works for the government, and Billing himself has applied for a public position. Embarrassed, Billing says he’s only done so “to...
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Aslaksen leaves and Billing says that they should get rid of him. Hovstad points out that the newspaper needs...
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Petra criticizes Hovstad for setting “snares for your readers,” but he blames Billing for choosing the story and adds that Billing is applying for a public job. Petra...
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Act IV
Hovstad, Billing, and Peter take their places on the floor; soon after, Dr. Stockmann enters in a...
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Hovstad and Billing shout that the majority is always right, but Dr. Stockmann says that this is never...
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...Aslaksen calls a vote to declare the doctor “an enemy of the people,” and orders Billing to distribute paper. Citizens hiss at Dr. Stockmann, and Morten and Ejlif fight with other...
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