“Wit” by Margaret Edson: Play’s Ending Interpretation Critical Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

The play ‘Wit’ by Margaret Edson presents Vivian as the main character. Vivian is a highly educated woman but unfortunately she suffers from cancer of the ovary. She attempts to use her academic qualifications to conceal the truth that she has cancer but she finally decides to face the truth. The aim of this paper is to present a critical analysis and interpretation of the play’s ending. In addition, the effect of the end of the play will also be discussed.

As the play opens, Vivian is presented as a patient fully dressed in hospital attire. The disease has taken a great toll on her causing her to lose a lot of weight. When she is first informed of her condition, she does not exhibit any emotions, a fact that is attributed to her high academic qualifications.

To Vivian, the news that she has cancer are not in any way shocking since she compares the situation with what she deals with on a daily basis in her work. She starts treatment with one of the doctors being her former student. The doctors intend to use her treatment for experimental purposes.

Since Vivian is a professional, the idea of being used as an experimental tool does not present any difficult to her and she agrees to undergo the treatment without involving anybody else. She does not bother herself so much with the disease she is suffering from but decides to use much of her time in reading about it.

To her, it requires the same attention she gives various areas of study in her field (Edson 9). In the course of the treatment, it is clear that Vivian is a woman full of strength. She openly states that she can confront problems instead of shying away from them. Her treatment introduces Susie and Jason who are supposed to take care of her though they have different characteristics. Jason is only interested in the experimental aspect of Vivian’s treatment while Susie is human.

The condition of Vivian worsens after an overdose is administered to her. However, she still remains determined and comforts herself by saying that she is used to suffering. She uses her situation to show that it can be used as a source of academic articles (Park 1).

Despite her will to fight till the end, Vivian’s health is seriously affected by the drugs towards the end of the play. The doctors are prepared to save her life and continue with their resuscitation efforts.

Susie, who is among the attendants of Vivian feels that the patient has suffered a lot and suggests that death, would be better. Vivian finally agrees that she is suffering from a dangerous disease and gets afraid. She finally comes to a realization that wit and intellect are not enough to guarantee human beings life (Park 1).

As the play nears the end, the author brings out isolation as one of the major themes. Isolation is a condition in which an individual does not want to be in close association with others. Although this theme comes out clearly towards the end, it runs throughout the entire play.

Vivian is suffering from a medical condition but she constantly denies it and says it is a condition that requires academic research. When she goes to the hospital, she refuses to be accompanied by relatives or family friends. The interpretation is that isolation is harmful as Vivian learns at the end.

Wit is a play that tells the story of a professor who becomes a victim of cancer of the ovary. The professor is too concerned with her academic professionalism such that she denies her condition. She lives a life of isolation but as the play ends, she discovers that social relations are important in human life. The message in the play is that social relations are helpful in situations of need.

Works Cited

Edson, Margaret. Wit. New York, NY: Nick Hern Books, 2002. Print

Park, Brent. Wit. 2002. Web.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2018, June 12). "Wit" by Margaret Edson: Play's Ending Interpretation. https://ivypanda.com/essays/wit-by-margaret-edson/

Work Cited

""Wit" by Margaret Edson: Play's Ending Interpretation." IvyPanda, 12 June 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/wit-by-margaret-edson/.

References

IvyPanda. (2018) '"Wit" by Margaret Edson: Play's Ending Interpretation'. 12 June.

References

IvyPanda. 2018. ""Wit" by Margaret Edson: Play's Ending Interpretation." June 12, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/wit-by-margaret-edson/.

1. IvyPanda. ""Wit" by Margaret Edson: Play's Ending Interpretation." June 12, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/wit-by-margaret-edson/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. ""Wit" by Margaret Edson: Play's Ending Interpretation." June 12, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/wit-by-margaret-edson/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1