The movie Wit deals with Vivian Bearing, a professor of 17th century poetry with stage IV ovarian cancer, and her journey through experimental chemotherapy which is accompanied by several flashbacks to significant moments in her life. Two of the main characters, Susie and Jason, play a role in shaping their patient, Vivian Bearing’s, outlook on her life, because both of them have a significant connection to her— they are two of her caretakers (Susie is one of her nurses and Jason is one of her doctors and a former student of Bearing). While both of them have a connection to Bearing, they see her in different lights— Susie sees Bearing as a suffering patient, whereas Jason sees her as chance for research. Though this differing view of Bearing
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Despite both Susie and Jason being members of the medical field, they approach their practices quite differently. The medicine that Susie is shown practicing appears as a more narrative medicine approach— one which focuses on the patient, and their whole story, rather than just ordering tests and ignoring the patient as a person. She listens Bearing, and attempts to get to know her as much as possible, placing emphasis on her comfort, rather than just the medical reasons that Bearing is at the hospital. This directly contrasts to Jason who is primarily interested in the medical and research potential of Susie's case. This focus towards the potential research benefits of Bearing’s cancer leads Jason to adopt a starkly different attitude than Susie. She becomes an advocate for Bearing, as she is the first to notice that Bearing has had no family or other visitors. This leads Susie to …show more content…
Before Bearing was diagnosed with cancer and began chemotherapy, she was straightforward and solely focused on her profession. This is exemplified in a flashback where one of her students asks for an extension on a paper because their grandmother died. Instead of being sympathetic, Bearing responds with a harsh no, showing her strict attitude towards schoolwork, and her belief that others should adhere to this attitude. Jason mentions her course in seventeenth century as one of the hardest classes at the college, something that speaks to Bearing’s character— she likes to challenge both others and herself. This is evident at the beginning of the movie, when Bearing is shown speaking to Dr. Kelekian, where they discuss her treatment. Kelekian describes this experimental treatment as “an aggressive treatment for an aggressive tumor”, and despite knowing many of the side effects, Bearing agrees to go ahead with the rounds of chemotherapy. However, as the rounds of chemotherapy go by, Bearing steadily grows weaker. The weaker Bearing is, the more her attitude begins to change. Rather than just being the scholarly-focused professor, she begins to see the importance of compassion and going to extra mile. She is able to see this through Susie’s actions towards her, as Susie goes above and beyond what is expected of a nurse. One moment that demonstrates
Despite both Susie and Jason being members of the medical field, they approach their practices quite differently. The medicine that Susie is shown practicing appears as a more narrative medicine approach— one which focuses on the patient, and their whole story, rather than just ordering tests and ignoring the patient as a person. She listens Bearing, and attempts to get to know her as much as possible, placing emphasis on her comfort, rather than just the medical reasons that Bearing is at the hospital. This directly contrasts to Jason who is primarily interested in the medical and research potential of Susie's case. This focus towards the potential research benefits of Bearing’s cancer leads Jason to adopt a starkly different attitude than Susie. She becomes an advocate for Bearing, as she is the first to notice that Bearing has had no family or other visitors. This leads Susie to …show more content…
Before Bearing was diagnosed with cancer and began chemotherapy, she was straightforward and solely focused on her profession. This is exemplified in a flashback where one of her students asks for an extension on a paper because their grandmother died. Instead of being sympathetic, Bearing responds with a harsh no, showing her strict attitude towards schoolwork, and her belief that others should adhere to this attitude. Jason mentions her course in seventeenth century as one of the hardest classes at the college, something that speaks to Bearing’s character— she likes to challenge both others and herself. This is evident at the beginning of the movie, when Bearing is shown speaking to Dr. Kelekian, where they discuss her treatment. Kelekian describes this experimental treatment as “an aggressive treatment for an aggressive tumor”, and despite knowing many of the side effects, Bearing agrees to go ahead with the rounds of chemotherapy. However, as the rounds of chemotherapy go by, Bearing steadily grows weaker. The weaker Bearing is, the more her attitude begins to change. Rather than just being the scholarly-focused professor, she begins to see the importance of compassion and going to extra mile. She is able to see this through Susie’s actions towards her, as Susie goes above and beyond what is expected of a nurse. One moment that demonstrates