Comparative Study - Despite the differences in context, a comparative study of the poetry of John Donne and Margaret Edsons play, W;t, is essential for a more complete understanding of the values and ideas presented in W;t.

Vivian’s condescending nature is a characteristic that becomes amplified in her own flashbacks. This is shown through the quote, “So far so good, but they can only think for themselves only so long before the being to self-destruct… Lost it” this shows how Vivian hides behind her wit which is a parallel drawn from herself and Donne. It shows the audience how they both try to hide from death by using wit.

        At the start of the drama, Edson alienates the main character through the use of a double meaning; “I’ve got less than two hours. Then: curtain”. ‘Curtain’ is symbolic of death and the use of this double meaning engages the audience, not through emotions, but objectives. The main theme explored in ‘W;t’ is life and death, and the connection between them. Vivian has dedicated her life to being a scholar of Donne’s holy sonnets and is therefore an expert on human morality, however whilst in hospital, her view on life changes. On pages seven and eight, Vivian’s professor, Professor E.M. Ashford is explaining to Vivian how a semi-colon in place of a comma can alter the true meaning of the holy sonnet, ‘Death Be Not Proud’. Ashford shows Vivian how “Nothing but a breath – a comma – separates life from life everlasting”. This is symbolic of how Vivian misinterprets death, reflected back in the title where there is a semi-colon in place of the letter ‘I’. Later on in the drama, Vivian’s view on life changes through Susie’s kindness. Throughout her whole life, Vivian has been in total control and is now placed in a situation where she has no control. Throughout the whole time Vivian is in hospital, Vivian is learning about herself and accepting the emptiness of human contact within her life, which is highlighted through Vivian's realisation, "now is a time for...kindness." The lack of control is a new experience for Vivian thus making Vivian retreat into simplicity. Through the use of the symbolism of the Popsicle as simplicity and Susie’s kindness paired with the quote, “Now is a time for simplicity. Now is a time for, dare I say it, kindness”; shows the audience how Vivian’s approach to life has changed and how she has started to break down barriers between herself and Susie on a personal level. The quote “Now is not the time for verbal swordplay, for unlikely flights of imagination and wildly shifting perspectives, for metaphysical conceit, for wit” further emphasises how Vivian has deconstructed her life to become simpler. However, when conducting a comparative study of Edson’s drama and Donne’s poetry, the responder will become aware that this is not Vivian forcing herself into simplicity, but her rejecting Donne and longing for human comfort which Donne could not provide. This is highlighted through asking Susie, ‘You're still going to take care of me, aren't you?’. Vivian's reference to metaphysical conceit also refers to Donne's overall conceit, which suggests that humanity complicates and dramatises issues, when life, in fact, is simple and should not be over-complicated. Donne's overall conceit is reinforced through Vivian’s wishes for simplicity, suggesting both an acceptance of the circumstances and rejection of the complexity of Donne.

        Vivian Bearing is a scholar of the 17th century’s poet’s work. Vivian critically analyses Donne’s work to bring out the higher and truer meaning of the texts. This is done through Vivian deconstructing Donne’s work. In the same way, Vivian ‘breaks down’ her life and is always reading between the lines. This is shown through the quote “I read between the lines”. This draws out the parallel between Vivian and Donne and a comparative study would show how Donne hides behind wit. Through the realisation and acceptance of death through “reading between the lines”, Vivian is no longer hiding behind wit and is accepting of what lies ahead. Through studying Donne’s poetry, Vivian has centred her life and her ideas surrounding with what she has come to learn from Donne’s poetry. This can be indirectly linked with A Valediction: forbidding mourning through the metaphor of the "stiff twin compasses", which is reshaped from Donne’s context to the current context through the idea that Vivian's "compass point" has been Donne. Donne’s poetry is all Vivian has had throughout her life and all flashbacks related to the poetry of Donne. Starting from the initial rejection by Professor Ashford; "Go out and enjoy yourself with friends. Hmm?"; and continuing until the last flashback of teaching Donne’s poetry; “How would you characterise the animating force of this sonnet?”  However, metaphysical conceit exists in the idea that the points of a compass never meet. This connecting to the idea that Vivian is unable to achieve true happiness through Donne, thus Vivian yearns for human engagement and connection therefore longing for kindness and human comfort which she couldn’t achieve through Donne.

        When conducting a study of Margaret Edson’s drama, ‘W;t’, the central themes and values of ideas explored are limited to the understanding of the one text, being ‘W;t’. However, to achieve a greater conceptual understanding of the values and ideas represented in the drama, and the effect they take on the main character, Vivian Bearing, a comparative study of the poetry of John Donne in alliance with the drama ‘W;t’ is essential. This allows the reader to better understand the use of the literary device wit and the intertextualisation of Donne’s poetry in the drama and leaves the responder viewing the whole picture. I believe studying only the drama is similar to covering half the television screen, you are only getting half of the bigger picture.