Wit Play Character Analysis

The play Wit, written by Margaret Edson, is full of intriguing characters that develop in their own ways throughout the play. Despite the many characters, there is one that really caught my attention. Susie, the nurse, is a character unlike any of the others. Edson gave her characteristics to separate her from the others and make her a standout character. Susie is the mother character of the play, meaning she is kind-hearted and caring, unlike the other characters. Throughout the play, Susie works to overcome unemotional relationships with doctors, patients, and also learns that the coldest person will still have emotions deep down inside. Many of the doctors in Wit are unemotional and don't care about the patients. Due to this trait of the doctors, Susie finds it in herself to make up for the doctors carelessness. This is first displayed when Vivian is getting examined by Jason, and Jason leaves the room to go find Susie. When Susie arrives in the examination room, she sees that Jason …show more content…
Eventually Susie sees that she finally got through to her. At one point, Vivian was having a meltdown and Susie went to get her a Popsicle, and once returning Vivian gave Susie half of the Popsicle (Edson 2217). Susie saw that even the most unemotional person still holds deep roots connected to emotions and gratitude for kind actions. Vivian was still a person, no matter how unaccepting to kind actions she was, and Susie saw this. Susie still displayed kindness and compassion to Vivian although she was not conscious at some points in the hospital, saying "it's not going to hurt, don't you worry" (Edson 2221). Jason thinks this is an unnecessary act, but Susie disagrees because "it's just nice to do" Edson 2221). Again, Susie wasn't giving up on the heart of Vivian, making every effort to change her and show her that emotion is not