Theoretical Representation Of Pain In Wit

Paige Hamilton

Professor Singer

ENGL*1500

2023-03-30

Metaphorical Representation of Pain in the Play W;t

In the 1995 play W;t by Margaret Edson, the audience is taken on an emotional journey alongside the strong-willed protagonist Professor Vivian Bearing while she navigates life in hospital while suffering from stage-four metastatic ovarian cancer. Throughout the play she employs her intellect developed from her lifelong studying of John Donne’s Holy Sonnets, and uses them to interpret her current situations. Vivian displays unwavering determination and courage as she faces the painful challenges caused by her illness. She is not ready to give up even in the face of a death-sentence of her medical diagnosis. Vivian is surrounded by metaphors

Instead, he remained self-centered and determined to predominantly see Vivian as one of his clinical research participants. Vivian reciprocated the strong-mindedness through her interactions with the hospital staff. When Vivian questions Jason’s motives stating, “the part with the human beings [?]” (Edson 60). To which he replies, “everybody’s got to go through it. All the great researchers. They want us to be able to converse intelligently with the clinicians” (Edson 60). Vivian and Jason share a relationship that displays power dynamics by both being strong-minded and dedicated to pursuing their goals. Jason is determined to get his own lab and to devote his life to research, while Vivian, a life-long scholar, continues to dedicate her life to pursuing her knowledge of poetry. Jason must relieve his strong-mindedness and work to develop himself through human connection before he can get his own lab. Vivian on the other hand is able to use her strong-mindedness to her advantage even while faced with such intense physical pain and lack of empathy. She upholds her ideals, stays strong and is able to think critically about situations as she did when she was teaching. During her talks with Jason, who was also a former student of hers, she reminds the audience of her strong-minded character. Jason states, “A minus. It was a very tough course” (Edson 29). Professionally, Vivian had high standards and expectations. The audience is opened to a better perspective of how she is able to implement her understanding of her disease and how her strong-mindedness was channeled in every aspect of her life. Vivian is able to use this to deal with her physical and emotional pain caused by cancer, all while continuing to maintain mental fortitude and working hard daily to withstand the suffering of her