“Was Vivian A Likable / Sympathetic Character By The End Of The Play?
In the play “Wit,” the main character, Dr. Bearing Vivian, is described as a cold-hearted uncompromising but brilliant teacher (Edson 6). Dr. Vivian, an English teacher, had that personality that comes with some of the English teachers who have tough-love for their students. Although she was a tough one but looking at her teaching strategies, it clear that she wanted her students to become better thinkers and writers.
At the beginning of the play, she displayed a tough personality where she did not care about her students or even the struggles that they were going through. All she wanted to be perfection, and her main love and interest, was the complex sonnets of John Donne poetry of the 17th century (Edson 6). But it is evident that by the end of the play, Vivian changed and became more likable and sympathetic then she was before.
The previous events of her life, like her fighting cancer, made her realize the importance of having people around that cared, which makes her accept kindness and become a more likable person. Vivian’s change of character can be witnessed when she shares a Popsicle with the nurse that befriends her (Edson 42). It is also unlike Vivian when she calls the nurse sweetheart, which she could not have done in the past.
The events of life made Vivian realize that after being a cold-hearted, strict, and uncompromising person in her past, it was time to give out and accept kindness. She realizes that there are times in life when someone has to accommodate kindness and warmth in one’s life (Edson 45). Realizing that her intense interest in the complex sonnets and poetry changed her character and how she related with other people, she stops the 80-year-old lady who offers to read her a john Donne and instead prof. Ashford reads her a children’s book. The change of her character makes her more likable and sympathetic towards the end of the play.
Work cited
Edson, Margaret. Wit: A Play. , 1999. Internet resour