In the opening moments of the play, the visual impact on the audience arouses pity towards Ken. The audience feel sorry for him because the nurses have to roll him over and he thinks he is being massaged on his back, where he is actually having his heels rubbed, Ken says, “…having my back caressed.” Nurse replies, “I’m rubbing your heels.”
The medical staff give him an enema, and he needs a catheter. This shows his helplessness and lack of dignity, which also makes the audience feel sorry for him.
There are key moments in the first act that are very dramatic and powerful scenes: one is the injection scene, when Dr Emerson injects Ken with a drug that Ken earlier refused, “Please let me make myself clear. I specifically refused permission to stick that needle in my arm and you didn’t listen!” This makes the audience turn against Dr Emerson, because he ignored Ken and invaded Ken’s rights. Another dramatic scene is the conversation between Ken and Mrs Boyle, which occurs towards the end of Act 1. Mrs Boyle tries to help Ken by pointing out that his condition isn’t as bad as he thinks. Ken earlier refers to the hospital staff as the ‘optimism industry’. He is saying that they treat him as though there is something they can do, when there obviously isn’t, and that the accident affected his brain. This is exactly how Mrs Boyle acts, and though she tries her best she still ends up upsetting Ken, “Christ almighty, you’re doing it again. Listen to yourself woman!” Ken gets so angry that he finds it hard to breathe and needs oxygen. This happens twice in the play, showing he is extremely vulnerable and reliant on others.
The personalities of the main characters prejudice the audience in Kens favour. For example, Dr Emerson is very insensitive at times, and the audience sympathises with Ken because of the way Dr Emerson treats him, like in the injection scene, “Don’t stick that thing in me!” Though his intensions are good, the audience still get the impression he is arrogant and disrespectful. Dr Emerson believes strongly in saving lives and it seems that anything different to that is wrong, “Just because our patient is conscious, that does not absolve us from our complete responsibility. We have to maximise whatever powers he retains.”
Ken has many characteristics, witty, sarcastic, intelligent and rude are just a few; “Have me on the floor Sister please. Have me on the floor!” and, “You’re all the bloody same!” The way he always makes jokes about himself makes you think he is coping well, “We went midnight skateboarding, and I was the skateboard!” However the states he gets into say different.
He seems to have a very short temper, if someone annoys him, he won’t hesitate in telling them so, “When I say something awkward you pretend I haven’t said anything at all. You’re all the bloody same!” Though it is understandable why Ken feels rejected and disrespected.
Dr Scott seems to represent the audience, when she gets to know Ken as a person and not as a patient, she begins to understand and question her first decision about Kens case, “Isn’t this a case where a subjective decision may be more valid? Only he knows more about how he feels.”
The inclusion of the family and fiancée in the second act, shows how complicated the issue is and the fact that there are others involved in Kens decision.
John introduces the controversial issues, which are important factors, like the cost to keep people like Ken alive, and the issue of quality of life, “In Africa children die of measles. It would cost only a few pounds to keep them alive. There’s something crazy somewhere.”
Humorous language and scenes provide the play with light relief. This play is about a very serious matter and must be very emotional to the audience, “This is why I have decided that life isn’t worth living. The very exercise of your so-called professionalism makes me want to die.” So a bit of comedy helps the play easier to watch, “I’m an expert on anatomy. Have a few drinks and then back to my pad for an anatomy lesson!”
The hospital staff’s language is very patronising; they always look on the bright side when really we know there isn’t one, “you’ll be surprised how many things you will be able to do.” Comments like this get Ken upset and cause the audience to pity him more.
Throughout the play there has been a clever use of metaphors, “You only grow the vegetables here – the vegetable store is somewhere else.” Metaphors like this have a big impact because it makes the audience think and understand better how Ken really feels.
In the last scene of the play, the language is very powerful and persuasive, “If I cannot be a man, I don’t wish to be a medical achievement.” Ken, when pleading his case in front of the judge, says this and I think he makes a really good case for himself, by pointing out that by the staff thinking they’re being kind, they are actually being cruel, “I find the hospital’s persistent effort to maintain this shadow of life an indignity and it’s inhumane.” The question of his dignity is one of his strongest arguments; the facts that he cannot even do the basic functions of a normal human.
In conclusion, I think that though the writer presents arguments for and against euthanasia, he does sway the audience towards Kens favour. The characterisation makes the audience feel anger towards Dr Emerson and pity towards Ken, and the fact that Ken decides to continue his fight even, though his parents and fiancée love him, shows that he is going through a lot of emotional pain.
The dramatic devices, such as, the stage directions and the injection scene also make the audience sympathise with Ken, along with the powerful language. So in the end, the audience understands Ken and wants him to win his case.
I personally believe that euthanasia should be allowed under certain circumstances. This play, partly, reflects my opinion. I thought the play was very clever – the audience can never predict the outcome of the case. I couldn’t help but be involved, whenever a point was made, for or against Ken, I asked myself, “What if it was me?” It was very thought provoking, and I enjoyed reading it.
Polly Clark
