Celestine-Wit the film

Seeing the film of the play Wit enhances my enjoyment of the play because I was confused while reading and did not understand the just of what the author was trying to say. When watching the film, scenes and characters appeared much differently than I imagined them to be. The film allowed me to appreciate the play for its substance and meaning. Being able to see Vivian Bearing going through the physical pain of her cancer and the emotional change she was starting to feel was heightened and given life. It made me develop a connection with her character unlike the detachment and confusion I felt while reading.

In the film of the play the scene that was most surprising to me or shall I say not the way I interpreted it was the scene when Vivian first learned the word “ soporific”. While reading the play I thought that Mr. Bearing did not want to have the conversation with his daughter, which is why he told her to read. This conclusion came from his response to what makes him soporific. Mr. Bearing response was “Boring conversation after dinner”. As a reader I envisioned Mr. Bearing to be a ruthless father who wanted his daughter to stop bothering him. Once I saw the scene in the film a whole new understanding surfaced. The film presented Mr. Bearing as a caring father who wanted to educate his daughter. He did not make Vivian sound out the word and use it in a sentence to be mean his goal was to teach his daughter not to give up and encourage her to learn new words though they may seem challenging. The love and admiration they had for each other was evident in this scene.

Vivian Bearing constantly had play on words through out the entire play but in the film when she discussed the word “fine” and how people are asking her that after multiple test the impact is noticed. Vivian constantly says she is fine because she wants to avoid making conversation and developing relationships with others. She does not want to be close with Dr. Posner because he was her student and she never was the teacher who was understanding and cared about how she interacted with her students. I think that when she says “ I should have given him an A,” Vivian thinks Dr. Posner would not have viewed her as just research. The way Vivian is being treated is karma for her actions towards her students. In the film the impact Vivian feels from how Susie treats her is noticed because Vivian emotionally changes and realizes that she needed to be more humble and motherly towards her students. Susie was the woman that Vivian needed to be at certain times, which is why she developed a friendship with her. Lastly, after watching the final scene when Dr. Posner calls a Code Blue and Vivian is actually DNR was disappointing because he actually had no remorse on his face for his actions. Dr. Posner was more frustrated that his research could not be complete. It was saddening to see a Doctor care more about research than his patient.

Baker - Wit (movie)

The act of reading literature can often take away from the reader’s perception of how a scene might look visually, or it can get in the way of noticing the physical reactions of a character. Usually, a person is so absorbed in trying to understand what they are reading that they do not take the time to let the scene actually play out in their mind before moving on to the next. In the film version of “Wit”, the viewer is presented with a visual depiction of how Vivian’s story unfolds, and in my opinion, this allows the viewer to have a heightened enjoyment of the play.

Certain scenes in the film allow the audience to witness the discomfort and embarrassment that is felt by Vivian throughout the play. One scene in particular is Vivian’s endurance of a gynecological exam. While the written version of “Wit” provides the information that the exam performed on Vivian is thoroughly degrading, that particular scene in the play is no match for the actual visualization of Vivian’s shame in the film. The fact that Vivian continues to fidget and cross her arms clearly shows her need to protect herself from the uncomfortable situation she is currently in. Also, the way Jason leaves Vivian with her feet in the stirrups is important because this is when the audience really sees his lack of consideration. Again, while the play described this scene in a very uncomfortable light, I did not get the full effect until I actually saw it in the film.

Another scene similar in nature to Vivian’s gynecological exam shows Jason once again lacking in compassion as he lifts up Vivian’s nightgown and begins to prod her stomach as he explains her case to Dr. Kelekian. I think this scene is important because, reading the book, there is a clear notion that while Jason might have all the intelligence to be a great doctor, he lacks the compassion or “bedside manner”. One thing that I picked up on was that in the book, the focus of this scene is on Jason outshining his colleagues as he displays his knowledge to Dr Kelekian. However, I think the screenwriter for the film included shots of Vivian looking uncomfortable, yet again, in order to reinforce Vivian’s shame and Jason’s apathy even as he displays his medical knowledge.

Vitanza - Wit (the play)

A fine, touching play, which goes over the treatment for ovarian cancer of an English literature professor, Vivian, who succumbs to this intense treatment for the sake of knowledge.

A very saddening story, the life of Vivian, and even though we do not get the details of her life, the briefness of what she narrates tells us how alone she really was, yet she was not sad about this lifestyle. A devoted professor, who is in the constant search of knowledge, decides to undergo an intense eight-month treatment for ovarian cancer, to provide knowledge on the illness. What surprised me the most was how strong this character really was, Vivian. Since she arrived at the hospital and started dialoguing with Dr. Kelekian, we are able to tell what type of woman Vivian is. A fifty-year-old woman, rather young if you ask me, all by herself, submitting herself to an arduous procedure which outcome is uncertain requires a lot of gut. Especially when you don’t even bother to call a cousin, or any relative, like Vivian did to support you. I did enjoy reading Vivian’s conversations with the nurse, Jason or her monologues even. Since she is an English professor she studies every word thrown at her by the doctors, and this seemed particularly funny to me. For example when Kelekian is explaining her condition and she suddenly seems to drift in thoughts about what the word “insidious” means, or “antineoplastic” while Kelekian just blabbers away.

The sense of humor of the play is really appealing to the reader, and the story as sad as it may be is approached in an optimistic sort of way. That is, imagining there is absolutely nothing anyone can do about an illness you possess and suddenly surrender to depression would only kill you faster, so the moral of the story I believe is live everyday as if it was your last.

Baker - Wit (play)

In Margaret Edson’s play Wit, the main character, Dr. Vivian Bearing, Ph.D., is a cunning, feisty professor of seventeenth-century poetry who happens to be diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic ovarian cancer. She is approached by her doctor with an opportunity undertake an aggressive, eight-month-long chemotherapy regiment, and in return, she would gain the hope for recovery and the honor of making “a significant contribution to our knowledge” (Edson) – as so eloquently put by her primary physician, Dr. Kelekian.

Throughout her tenure at the hospital during her treatment, her feelings and emotions are regularly pushed aside in the name of scientific progress, and the notion of extreme apathy toward her emotional wellbeing and desires is displayed when she dies and one of her doctors (who is also a former student), Jason, ignores her wish to reject resuscitation in the event that she dies:

“SUSIE: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
JASON: A GODDAMN CODE. GET OVER HERE!
SUSIE: She’s DNR! (she grabs him.)
JASON: (He pushes her away.) She’s Research!

SUSIE: She's NO CODE!” (Edson).

In one review of Wit, writer Richard Hornby acknowledges the play’s portrayal of Vivian Bearing’s doctors as “concerned but detached, viewing their patient more as a scientific case study than as a person” (Hornby). The reader is left with a feeling of sympathy towards Dr. Bearing because she does not have a family of her own that can offer her love and comfort during her battle with cancer (compared to the medical approach that her doctors take).

Bearing’s initial relationship with the doctors is one where she frequently challenges them while exhibiting wit and intellect – “She narrates her experiences as she is dying, including the clinical details, with insight and wit worthy of Donne himself” (Hornby). As she grows sicker, her wit begins to die down, and she reverts to a childlike state of dependency and fear of the future. In her deterioration of body and mind, she allows herself to grow abnormally close to her primary nurse, Susie. During a scene where Bearing has a breakdown, Susie attempts to comfort her as a mother would a child:

“SUSIE: Vivian. It’s all right. I know. It hurts. I know. It’s all right. Do you want a tissue? It’s all right. (Silence) Vivian, would you like a popsicle?
VIVIAN: (Like a child) Yes, please” (Edson).

With Susie, Bearing is secure enough to let her guard down, and as a result, she is finally able to die in peace and on her own terms.

Hubbard: Wit

This by far is the most touching play I have ever read. "Wit" by Margaret Edson has a way of really reaching out to its readers and allowing them to feel for its characters. The main character Vivian Bearing was very stern and passionate about about her work. She was very positive and strong for someone who was terminally ill with stage IV Metastatic Ovarian cancer. Yet ill, I admired the fact she was willing to accept her fate, especially at such a young age. To be 50 years old, terminally ill, and know that your days are numbered takes a lot of faith in God to accept his plans for your life.

One of the issues that stood out most to me was how Vivian was treated as just a test subject. Her doctor would propose different treatments to her, hoping that they hit it big instead of genuinely making Vivian comfortable as possible in her last hours of life. Dr. Kelekian offers her a treatment called chemotherapeutic treatment and many terminally ill patients would, she accept to go through with it. At this point in her life she could only hope for a change or accept her fate. Richard Hornby also pen pointed an issue in his review of "Wit". Hornby wrote, "There is also deft satire of doctors, who are depicted as concerned but detached, viewing their patient more as a scientific case study than as a person." Despite the doctors lack of sincerity, Vivian's students truly respected her as a human being and as the great professor she was. She was know for her rigorous teachings that gave her students a challenge like no other.

Another thing I noticed while reading the play, was how Patients' rights and final wishes are not always respected and sometimes over looked. Vivian's nurse asked her what she wanted them to do if her state of health became worse than what it was. She decided for them not to resuscitate if that was to be the case. Sometimes terminally ill patients choose not resuscitate because they know there are going to die eventually and they rather die in rest instead of being revived to only suffer more. Dr. Jason tried to perform CPR once she flat lined but was made aware of her decision to not resuscitate. Vivian Bearing died a well respected person for her love and drive for her students to succeed and for her teachings of literature.

Castellon: Wit Film

The film did not enhance nor diminish the play that I read. Although, watching Doc from the "Back to the Future" movies play Doctor Kelekian, specialist in oncology, was a bit comical. I literally could not take his character seriously after watching Christopher Lloyd star in the aforementioned movie. Despite the actors, I thought the film almost followed the play to the letter.

A couple of parts from the play were clearly edited but I did not think that those scenarios were relevant in the film. For instance, Vivian's explanation of i-o-n usage in word endings in the play were mocked by students as they were exiting the class, yet, the film left the mocking part out.

I reasoned that the film did not want to make light of English literature or Vivian's doctorate in English literature. Further evidence of the importance of Vivian's teachings come from her scolding of a student who had shown up to class unprepared. Although Jason stated that it was not important for a medical student, he did emphasize that it was a good tool for critical thinking in the film and in the play.

In the play, Vivian would often pause and explain a scenario to the audience. Often, she would recite seventeenth century poetry to herself. The film depicted Vivian doing the same thing. Both, the film and the play, emphasized the importance of Donne's works to Vivian. You can see and feel her frustration when Susie interrupts one of her recitals to take another test requested by doctor Kelekian.

In the film you see the toll cancer treatment takes on Vivian's body. In the play, Vivian explains that her stomach cells are adversely affected by the treatment which causes her to vomit along with other symptoms. I thought it was important for the film to show her experiencing these effects because it gives viewers a visual of her suffering.

I think that visuals are important because it is harder to sympathize with another person when you have not had their experiences. Often, films and pictures inspire to educate and create. For this reason, Hollywood should invest in telling more stories instead of retelling stories.

Corkern, Wit

In the play, Wit, by Margaret Edison, we are introduced to Vivian Bearing as she addresses the audience. She says, “How are you feeling today?” and explains that is not her standard greeting, rather what she has been hearing lately, since she has been hospitalized and treated for advanced ovarian cancer. She has caught on to the absurdity of the question, given her state, but those around her do not get it. According to the dictionary, one of the definitions of wit is as follows: Wit: a. The ability to perceive and express in an ingeniously humorous manner the relationship between seemingly incongruous or disparate things. That sums up the main character of the play, Vivian Bearing, quite nicely. As she, a 50 year old professor turned cancer patient, is whisked from one test to another, all greeted by the same, expressionless question “name?”; she responds to one of them “Lucy, Countess of Bedford.” He doesn’t get her wit there, as most people don’t. Throughout the play, she exhibits her wittiness, and I believe it helps her get through the terrible side affects of chemotherapy. She is undergoing extensive experimental treatment for advanced ovarian cancer. The play is a series of interactions between she and her doctors and nurse, along with flashbacks to her teaching career and childhood, and it is, dare I say, one of the wittiest productions I have come across.

According to Richard Hornby’s review of the play Wit, “The weakness of the play is that Bearing is shown in isolation. We see no family (aside from a flashback with her father), no friends, no lovers, and certainly no colleagues.” He missed the mark. The fact that she is shown in isolation shows her character and well, the result of a life lived without marriage, children, and with deceased parents. It portrays the life of someone so dedicated to her work that she did not have a social/personal life. Only one person, her former teacher, visits her at the hospital. It is not a weakness, rather a sad fact of her life.

What stuck out to me as the real tragedy is that her body, her living body became nothing more than cancer research. She suffered through extensive, full dose chemotherapy, eight rounds to be exact, not to save her life, but to give the researchers more to research. From the beginning, she was not fully informed as to their goal. Their goal was never to save her life, though she was given a glimmer of hope. Their goal was to learn from her. As evidenced toward the end, when she knowingly asked her nurse, “My cancer’s not being cured, is it”, Vivian was treated poorly as a patient and a person. Her saving grace was her sweet nurse Susie. She cared about Vivian and did all she could to help her stay comfortable. She talked to her, got her popsicles, and even informed her in advance of her options regarding life support. Her doctors were far from caring. Jason Posner, the clinical fellow who begrudgingly was doing his residency before going on to his goal of full time research, had to remind himself simply to ask Vivian how she was feeling. Even in the end, when Vivian began to die, Jason called a code, not realizing she had requested to be DNR (do not resuscitate). As Susan exclaimed, “She’s DNR, no code!” over and over, Jason shot back with “She’s RESEARCH.” That’s all she had been to him. She was not a person, she was a project. While I understand cancer is a major problem for many, as my own nephew is a cancer survivor, people are still people. They should always be given respect, and in a case like this full disclosure, before being offered the consent to treat form. To see Vivian suffer, and end up the same way as had she not endured all that physical torture, is truly the weakness of not only the play, but of many medical professionals.