Question

Explain the use of the following property in the development of the play.

Hat

Answer 1

The hat refers to the official hat of the Mayor. In order to avoid being seen by his brother (Dr. Stockmann), the Mayor hides in a separate room but leaves his hat and stick in plain sight. Since the hat is the official hat of the Mayor, it easily reveals the presence of the Mayor in the newspaper office to Dr. Stockmann who notices it and proceeds to mock the Mayor by wearing it himself and tipping it in salute as he exposes him. The hat is the first item to be noticed and thus sparks the final conflict of the Act between the two brothers. This conflict exposes the true colours of the characters as the manipulative nature of the Mayor and the corrupt nature of the newspapermen (the media as a whole), is revealed.