Patient Vivian Bearing In The Film 'Wit'

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Recommended: Conclusion on ovarian cancer

The film Wit, directed by Mike Nichols, is the heart-breaking but triumphant story of patient Vivian Bearing, (Emma Thompson) who is diagnosed with stage 4 terminal ovarian cancer. Right from the beginning, Dr. Kelekian (Christopher Lloyd) informs Dr. Bearing of her condition, not with the compassion and consolation one would expect from a doctor when being told the news of a fatal illness, but rather a tone of objectiveness. Dr Kelekian presents her diagnosis as if it were just in a textbook to be taught to students, being certain to be in-depth first and then showing compassion but only briefly. She keeps her composure throughout this scene foreshadowing her prideful and emotionally strong scenes to come. As Dr. Bearing's illness advances, her attitude towards other people and herself begins to change for the better by opening up to the people around her. She lets the resident nurse Susie, (Audra McDonald), join her in a popsicle and chat. Dr. Bearing starts to ponder on her personal choices she has made in how she treated other people in her life such as her students and colleagues. Despite her vast knowledge that she had attained and used to safeguard herself, she ultimately begins to acknowledge the fundamental and basic needs of humanity. She seeks compassion and good-hearted people and it is in this …show more content…

The lack of a friend or a medical staff member to support her final emotional wishes starts to chip away her inner resolve because she has no one to comfort her. As she moves closer to her own death, Dr. Bearing grows increasingly concerned with finding personal and physical things to put her at ease. Towards the movie’s end Dr. Bearing becomes utterly on edge and unable to suppress her mind from never-ending

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