Campbell - W;t

Campbell – W;t

Vivian and Fellow, Dr. Jason Posner have a strange interaction during the play in which Jason, a former student of Vivian, is now an oncology researcher.  The Irony here is that Jason is now studying Vivian as she did when studying Donne.  Jason was well aware of the type of person Vivian was in the class room, an all or nothing type of teacher.  Jason acknowledged this when he stated “I made a bet with myself that I could get an A in the three hardest courses on campus.”  Another Irony that was apparent in the play and observed as well in Kathy Smith’s essay, was the protocol that the doctors and nurse mindlessly followed when asking patient how they were doing. The thing is that the patients would more than likely be in a terminal state and the question would almost seem patronizing or appear to be a trick question.  In the play this was addressed by Jason when he was explaining in simple terms, about compromised kidney functions.  Vivian asks if this is his attempt of bedside manner at which time Jason affirms. Jason explains that med students are required to take a whole course on bedside manner and how he thought it was a “colossal waste of time for researchers”.  Here Vivian seems to agree; however, up until this point she had been using her intellect as a defense mechanism. As Vivian progresses further into treatment and the cancer continues to advance, she become more vulnerable and less sure of herself. As Vivian becomes less sure of herself and her intellect no longer provides her with the defense she had come to rely on, she now need to relay on the simple and genuine kindness of humanity as displayed by Susie. Vivian, much like Donne used intellect and wit to explain away or understand death, but in the end death has no meaning. It is simply the end.  This was what Vivian came to realize as she new she was fading away. Additionally, in the end she appreciated that Susie was a true and compassionate person.  Towards the end when the hospital staff were in the process of placing a catheter in Vivian, Susie leaned down and told her “ that this will not hurt a bit.” While there was really no need to do this, Susie felt that this was showing respect to Vivian and all patients passing on.