In Wit, Vivian is concerned with mortality—both the mortality of her physical body and of her body of scholarly work. Even as her health is failing her, she thinks of how her work will survive her, since she will be remembered for her contributions to the field of seventeenth-century poetry.

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What is the meaning of Wit by Margaret Edson?

Margaret Edson’s ‘Wit’ is a dramatic work that explores terminal illness, the power of language, and the things that make life worth living. Review a summary of the play and then analyze its characters and significant themes.

Is Wit based on a true story?

Edson was inspired to write “Wit” after working as a clerk in the oncology and AIDS department of a Washington hospital in 1985. … Currently, Edson teaches kindergarten in Atlanta. “Wit” is, at the surface, the story of a woman dying of stage-4 ovarian cancer. Vivian, played by Jan Radcliff, is a true scholar.

What is the conflict in the play Wit?

Vivian Bearing is diagnosed with stage four metastatic ovarian cancer. She goes through eight cycles of an aggressive experimental chemotherapy. This treatment is not intended to help Vivian recover; her cancer is too far gone. Instead her treatment will provide much needed research information.

Which character in the play Wit portrays the concept of kindness to Vivian?

Vivian’s nurse, Susie Monahan, is the only person who treats her with dignity and kindness.

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How long is Wit by Margaret Edson?

Review. “Wit is exquisite . . . an exhilarating and harrowing 90-minute revelation.

Did Emma Thompson shave head for Wit?

Production. In preparation for the role of Vivian Bearing, Emma Thompson shaved her head, following in the footsteps of actresses such as Kathleen Chalfant and Judith Light, who had performed the role on stage.

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Who is the protagonist in Wit?

Vivian Bearing, Ph. Vivian is a fifty-year-old professor of English who specializes in the metaphysical poetry of John Donne. She has stage-four ovarian cancer, and she is the play’s narrator and protagonist.

What does Vivian learn in wit?

Early on in the play (also known as “W;t” with a semicolon), the audience learns that Dr. Bearing dedicated her life to these Holy Sonnets, spending decades exploring the mystery and poetic wit of each line. Her academic pursuits and her knack for explicating poetry have shaped her personality.

What key themes regarding patient care were addressed throughout the movie wit?

Kindness and Mortality. In Wit, Vivian is concerned with mortality—both the mortality of her physical body and of her body of scholarly work. Even as her health is failing her, she thinks of how her work will survive her, since she will be remembered for her contributions to the field of seventeenth-century poetry.

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Who is Professor Ashford?

An eighty-year-old, now-retired professor of English literature who was Vivian’s mentor in graduate school. E. M. inspired Vivian to pursue the study of John Donne’s poetry and fostered her unrelenting work ethic.

Who is kelekian in wit?

Jason Posner, M.D. A fifty-year-old chief of medical oncology at the University Hospital. He oversees Vivian’s care as well as Jason’s medical fellowship.

Who is Jason in the play Wit?

RoleOff-Broadway Premiere Cast, September 17, 1998 New York City, MCC Theater, ChelseaDr. Jason PosnerAlec PhoenixSusie MonahanPaula Pizzi

Who is Susie Monahan wit?

The twenty-eight-year-old primary nurse in the Dr. Kelekian’s oncology unit who administers much of Vivian’s care. Unlike her peers, she is not academically minded, though she is an excellent nurse.

What archetype is Mr Bearing in Wit?

In the play, Mr. Bearing’s archetype is that of sage. In a flashback, he explains the word “soporific” to Vivian when she is five years old. The word comes from a story The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies by Beatrix Potter.

What are Vivian and Susie eating when they discuss her code status?

Susie returns with a two-stick orange popsicle, and Vivian breaks it in half and offers Susie the other part. Susie sits by the bed and tells Vivian about how she used to eat popsicles as a kid. “Pretty profound, huh?” she asks, and Vivian responds, “It sounds nice.”

Is Vivian Bearing a real person?

Vivian Bearing, as her names suggests, has lived life with drive and nobility, perhaps even a life that has been excessively bearing. Over bearing. She is a formidable, distinguished professor of English Metaphysical poetry renowned for her steely, intimidating rigor.

How do you reference the movie wit?

APA (6th ed.) HBO Video (Firm). (2001). Wit. New York, NY: HBO Home Video.