How was Joseph Stalin viewed by the people of his nation? How do you know what the public opinion was?

Opinions on him differed. Some people were Stalin's fanatics because they believed the propoganda in the media but most were living in fear since they had no liberty of speech and they had to be extremely careful about what they say or do in public not to be deported or killed. The people acted as if they honored him but in reality they did not honor him and just did that to stay safe.

The people in the Soviet Union were taught to see him as a perfect leader without faults, and not question him or else they would end up in the Gulag. So they saw him as a strong leader they had no other option.