Act 5, Scene 1, Part 2 Summary

The Mayor comes in wearing formal clothes and congratulates Brand on his achievement. Brand expresses his unease, but the Mayor tells him he needs to get over it and prepare to preach a thunderous sermon, saying the church's acoustics will make it sound even more impressive. Brand says the church is still too small, leading the Mayor to tell him he won't allow all the hopes of the people to be crushed by Brand telling them the building they've invested so much money and hope in is no good. He tells Brand he's to receive a medal in honor of his achievement, but Brand angrily tells him that the greatness that should be celebrated is the greatness of the soul, not the greatness of material possessions like the church. He then tells the Mayor to find an excuse to...