Vivian finally agrees that she is suffering from a dangerous disease and gets afraid. Susie, who is among the attendants of Vivian feels that the patient has suffered a lot and suggests that death, would be better. The doctors are prepared to save her life and continue with their resuscitation efforts. She uses her situation to show that it can be used as a source of academic articles (Park 1).ĭespite her will to fight till the end, Vivian’s health is seriously affected by the drugs towards the end of the play. However, she still remains determined and comforts herself by saying that she is used to suffering. The condition of Vivian worsens after an overdose is administered to her. Jason is only interested in the experimental aspect of Vivian’s treatment while Susie is human. Her treatment introduces Susie and Jason who are supposed to take care of her though they have different characteristics. She openly states that she can confront problems instead of shying away from them. In the course of the treatment, it is clear that Vivian is a woman full of strength. To her, it requires the same attention she gives various areas of study in her field (Edson 9). 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. 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. The doctors intend to use her treatment for experimental purposes. She starts treatment with one of the doctors being her former student. 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. When she is first informed of her condition, she does not exhibit any emotions, a fact that is attributed to her high academic qualifications. The disease has taken a great toll on her causing her to lose a lot of weight. As the play opens, Vivian is presented as a patient fully dressed in hospital attire.

Margaret edson plays