Margaret Edson’s Wit: A Journey into the Mind of a Cancer Patient In Margaret Edson’s play “Wit”, the reader is shown experiences of a cancer patient named Professor Vivian Bearing. Vivian is a scholar who has spent her life contemplating on John Donne’s Holy Sonnets and defining their meaning. Her pursuit in life was to accomplish the hardest goal she could set for herself. Through this she began to focus solely on the academics of teaching and not on life. Vivian realizes this issue when she is treated as a cancer patient with the full dose of chemotherapy.
An Analysis of Nursing Theory In the Film: Wit Daniel Foytlin Kean University Abstract The Pulitzer Prize winning play Wit, by Margaret Edson, was artfully converted to film in 2001. The story details the life and reflections of a brilliant, uncompromising, yet cold-hearted English professor, as she endures an experimental treatment for cancer. The film also provides a stark view of the medical community and its various approaches toward end of life care. The analysis of the film discusses the contrast between various Nursing Models, as viewed through the eyes of the patient and her reactions toward each model. Wit is the story of Vivian Bearing (Emma Thompson), a doctor of English literature, who has recently been diagnosed with stage four, metastatic ovarian cancer.
The goal is to keep her pain under control if not completely relieved. Other medications (stool softeners) may be added to her drug regiment to counter act some of the side effects of Vicodin. Controlling pain will enable her to remain mobile for as long as possible, therefore promoting independence. Social isolation secondary to lack of personal involvement of sons, friends and few female family members is another concern. The nurse and the patient working in unison will develop a care plan to slowly increase the involvement of others.
Nursing in the Film Wit Synopsis The film Wit portrayed the progression of Stage IV ovarian cancer and the deep reflection of Vivian Bearing (Emma Thompson), the English literature professor, who endured the life-altering diagnosis. Vivian was a well-known, highly intellectual educator in her field of philosophical poetry. After meeting with her colleague, oncologist Harvey Kelekian, she was prescribed countless experimental chemotherapy treatments. Vivian frequently commentated the experiences of the side-effects, the violent episodes of nausea and vomiting, and her reactions to the way she was treated by the medical personnel. She often referred to the poet, John Donne, throughout the film to relate her illness to what she loved and studied all of her life.
W;t is a play written by Margaret Edson. Edson’s play depicts Vivian Bearing, a 50-year-old English college professor, who was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic ovarian cancer. Edson had a brilliant way of describing Vivian’s experience with her battle through cancer. Edson’s work took place mostly in Vivian’s hospital room with her nurse, Susie Monahan. Susie played a vital role in taking care of Vivian throughout the play.
It is seen when Lewis is introduced, his views on love are very similar to that of his girlfriend Lucy and best friend Nick. He does not hold much value on fidelity due to the importance of the Vietnam War in his life. Lewis expresses to the patients that “love is not so important nowadays.” It is through the play itself, “Cosi Fan Tutte: Women are like that”, a play about “test[ing]..girls fidelity”, that Lewis reevaluates his opinions and values and learns to form his own. Lewis changes to having a more traditional view on romance and is able to accept that it is important in relationships. This change in Lewis is apparent when he describes the opera as being about “important things, like love and fidelity” and when he reacts genuinely hurt to when he discovers that his girlfriend Lucy has been having sex with Nick.
She wants to prove to George, and possibly reaffirm to herself, that his jilting did not ruin her nor did it stop her from pursuing familial happiness. He did, however, affect her life and produce a change in her—she became adamant with life management and order. This change explains why Granny tries to control her time of death (for the second time). Becker contends that “despite the fact that her external life is so carefully ordered, her internal life is not redeemed” (1168). In “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” Granny’s journey towards death grants the reader an understanding of two archetypes: the unhealable wound—George jilting Granny which induces her overwhelming independent nature—and journeying towards death/rebirth—which is Granny’s time spent on her death bed, reflecting on George jilting her.
I Think I will die at the end”, - a sentence in an opening statement of Margaret Edson’s play called ‘The Wit’. Even though it may seem like Vivian, the protagonist is ruining the play by informing the audience that and calls herself an unwittingly accomplice shows us that while Death is a major theme of the play it’s not the main focus. Margaret’s play shows us the life of a Professor of 17th century poetry now a patient battling death under the treatment of doctors who doesn’t understand that practicing medicine is much more than hinging decisions on scientific and empirical fact. The play starts with the protagonist Vivian remembering how she found out that she has stage4 metastatic ovarian cancer. Her doctor breaks the news to her without the least humane consideration of her emotions just like she used to treat her students.
An example would be an individual who over thought to much about feeling worthless and counselling thought it would help them. The councillor will continuously compliment the patient and uplift them with the things they say slowly giving them back their self-esteem and self-image. The approach can be used within a care home to ensure that a service user feels appreciated. A service user called Samantha lives in a care home and likes the staff to meet her needs. Her primary carer knows not to call her Sam and she prefers to be called Samantha, she is quite a quiet person and doesn’t like doing new things until her carer made her observe a knitting class, Samantha enjoyed it so much she decided to part-take, she won’t a certificate for the best knit blanket and she felt accomplished, this was her reward.
And It is through the dead paper, her writing and self expression that the readers can sympathize with her plight as she says “I don't know why I should write this. I don't want to. I don't feel able. And I know John would think it absurd. But I must say what I feel and think in some way - it is such a relief!”