Drama Wit by Margaret Edson - Essay Example

“Wit” is an excellent demonstration of the physical and mental situation of the patient, Prof Vivian, going through very aggressive treatment. It lasted eight months, and during the whole course, she comes across hospital staff that approached her with different attitudes. DR. Jason, a former student of Prof Vivian and a clinical fellow, was very intelligent and hard-working. He respects Vivian most, which is visible from a conversation between Jason and Susie, but at the same time very serious about his fellowship and research.

When Susie asks for lowering Vivian’s dose, he refuses and sticks to the full dose, for research purposes. Susie, the nurse, is very soft-hearted and caring. She loves Vivian and wants to help Vivian in all the ways she needs. She cares for her and does not like to see her in pain. It is visible from the scene when she asks Jason to lessen the dose for Vivian because of her physical situation. She is always there when Vivian needs somebody to talk to. This is understood from the conversation between Susie and Vivian after the whole course is over. Dr. Kelekian, Vivian’s doctor, is a good person. He wishes to cure her, but at the same time, he considers her research.

He is very strict with his profession and does not allow the involvement of emotions. Vivian was more a researcher than a patient for both Kelekian and Jason. They both insist on a full dose despite Vivian’s bad physical condition. In the end also, although Jason knows about Vivian’s DNR status, he calls code because he wants her to stay alive for his research. All these conversations and actions show that overall Vivian is treated with respect and caring, but at the same time, she is an object for research. Through all courses of action, the audience is encouraged to react sympathetically toward Vivian.

This was about other characters in the drama. Now talk about the center charter of play, Vivian. She is a very intelligent and tough lady. She survives through 8 months long strong treatment, which no one expected. She is very strict with her profession as well, and that is why she understands Dr. Kelekian’s strictness of treatment. She understands the importance of research and supports all the requirements. There are many scenes in drama where her toughness is visible, but at last, after all her suffering, she also gives up hope of living. She decides to become “DNR”.
Conclusion

This play is not just about Vivian, but all the patients going through very painstaking treatments. Many times treatments give positive results, but there are some times when the treatment fails. If treatment success, everything is fine and the patient gets back to normal life, but when treatment fails, the situation of the last days is very important. A person always wishes to live his last days on earth with great pleasure. There can not be a bad thing than spending days in the hospital with the hope of a cure. Hope is good, only when it comes true, but spending days in hope, when it is impossible to happen, is worse. The situation of Vivian is similar; she is spending her last days in the hospital. In her last days, she is undergoing aggressive treatment, taking medicines, and injections, and giving exams. Is it the thing that we should offer to a person who is about to die?

Her cancer was at the last stage and was incurable. When doctors knew it, instead of advising her to spend time in a good manner, they admitted her to the hospital for their interest. For their research, they even went against her will and tried to keep her alive. This is not the thing that any living being deserved. Everyone deserves good treatment, at the least from their doctors, whom they trust most for their well-being. Thus according to me every living being should be benefited from the treatment they receive. So when the diesis is clearly incurable, a medical professional should not give their efforts and waste the patient’s precious time. Instead, they should advise them to spend their remaining time doing things that makes them happy. Read More