Wit by Margaret Edson

1422 Words3 Pages

Patients and doctors have one major thing in common, sickness. The patients have the illness and the doctors treat the illness as necessary. In this instance, Vivian Bearing is the patient while the two research doctors treating her are Harvey Kelekian and Jason Posner. Each individual has their own needs, aspirations and goals to associate with in the play W;t, written by Margaret Edson. Because individuals are just that, individuals, each of these traits may either coincide or conflict with another character. Goals are logical and calculated, aspirations are emotional and inspirational, and needs cannot be avoided and are necessary to survival. Goals are typically about meeting, narrowing, and focusing on an outcome. Therefore, they can limit and create a narrow-minded approach of the world. On the other hand, aspirations are expansive and create new possibilities. There are more paths and options available, with a better sense of opportunities as they arise. Needs are finite things, motivating forces that compel action for satisfaction. There are two needs that coincide between patient and the researching doctors; one) being thorough when doing research and presenting information, two) the human relations aspect of their careers and lives. All three of them strive to have the most information possible shown as Bearing listens and dissects the terminology in an attempt to understand Kelekian and Posner describe the stage four ovarian cancer and the procedures that will follow her treatment. She also references books that she has read for information while listening to them. Kelekian and Posner examine her multiple times as her disease progresses to collect their data and Kelekian uses Bearing while teaching stu... ... middle of paper ... ...ject. His dedication to Dr. Kelekian and his job is so strong that Jason doesn’t realize how impersonal he is. They both want to keep patients alive but don’t take individual desires and feelings into account when directly interacting with them. Dr. Bearing approves of the way Dr. Posner conducts himself because she also has a strong appreciation for detail because of her academic work. Both Dr. Bearing and Dr. Kelekian agree that Posner has an excellent command of detail during the Grand Observations. (pg….) Dr. Bearing, Dr. Kelekian and Dr. Posner in Margaret Edson’s play W;t each have needs, goals and aspirations. Some of them are individually based, while some coincide with another character and with others they conflict with another character. No matter what, everything comes together to form a unique insight in to how each of the three doctors work and live.

More about Wit by Margaret Edson

Open Document