Character Analysis
Hovstad
Hovstad is the professional type of liberal who constantly wants to stir things up as long as he is not directly involved and will not be personally affected. His main concern is to increase the circulation of his paper, and for this purpose he will ignore any principle.
He supports Dr. Stockmann as long as he thinks the compact majority and the public are behind Dr. Stockmann. But as soon as it is known that the public will not support any idea which is going to cost money, he turns against Dr. Stockmann and supports the Burgomaster.