Summary
INTRODUCTION:
The Doctor’s Word, is a short story from the collection of “Malgudi Days” by R K Narayan published in 1943. In “The Doctor’s Word” R.K.Narayan tells the story how a doctor’s word save the life of a patient, that’s very reason his opinion was valued; he was not a mere doctor expressing an opinion , but a judge pronouncing a verdict.”
CONTENT:
Dr. Raman was an experienced doctor. He spoke plainly and always spoke the truth. So, his pronouncement held in high esteem. Gopal was the dearest friend of Dr. Raman. They had been friends for 40 years. They spent their time in dinning, seeing pictures and talking. Their friendship was not at all affected by chang of time.
One day Dr.Raman was informed that Gopal was ill. He went to Gopal’s house. Gopal was lying on the bed as if asleep. Dr.Raman examined him and gave necessary treatment. He is exceptionally fond of him and scolds Gopal’s family for not notifying him earlier about Gopal’s illness. He was worried about his friend’s life and he had no hope of saving his life.
The patient asked the doctor about his condition He wanted to sign the will and settled the property before he dies to avoid the “endless misery for his wife and children”. If Dr. Raman reveals his pessimistic opinion, that Gopal will not survive the night, then it would “virtually mean a death sentence and destroy the thousandth part of a chance that the patient had of survival.” So, Dr. Raman decided to tell a lie. For the first time in life, he told his patient a lie. He informed Gopal that he would live for long time. Gopal was relieved to hear this information. The next morning the doctor was surprised to find Gopal alive with study pulse. How the patient survives would be a puzzle to him all his life.
CONCLUSION:
Throughout the story Dr. Raman’s genuine concern for Gopal was seen. The concern was not only with professional ethics but also with the tension that often arrives when personal ethics and professional ethics intersect. It is clear that Dr. Raman violates his usual practice of truth-telling so as to save the life of his friend ‘Gopal’. Dr. Raman still remained a man of his word though he does remain puzzled as how Gopal has survived.
“Human life is more important than the Science.”
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION:
The Doctor’s Word, is a short story from the collection of “Malgudi Days” by R K Narayan published in 1943. In “The Doctor’s Word” R.K.Narayan tells the story how a doctor’s word save the life of a patient, that’s very reason his opinion was valued; he was not a mere doctor expressing an opinion , but a judge pronouncing a verdict.”
CONTENT:
Dr. Raman was an experienced doctor. He spoke plainly and always spoke the truth. So, his pronouncement held in high esteem. Gopal was the dearest friend of Dr. Raman. They had been friends for 40 years. They spent their time in dinning, seeing pictures and talking. Their friendship was not at all affected by chang of time.
One day Dr.Raman was informed that Gopal was ill. He went to Gopal’s house. Gopal was lying on the bed as if asleep. Dr.Raman examined him and gave necessary treatment. He is exceptionally fond of him and scolds Gopal’s family for not notifying him earlier about Gopal’s illness. He was worried about his friend’s life and he had no hope of saving his life.
The patient asked the doctor about his condition He wanted to sign the will and settled the property before he dies to avoid the “endless misery for his wife and children”. If Dr. Raman reveals his pessimistic opinion, that Gopal will not survive the night, then it would “virtually mean a death sentence and destroy the thousandth part of a chance that the patient had of survival.” So, Dr. Raman decided to tell a lie. For the first time in life, he told his patient a lie. He informed Gopal that he would live for long time. Gopal was relieved to hear this information. The next morning the doctor was surprised to find Gopal alive with study pulse. How the patient survives would be a puzzle to him all his life.
CONCLUSION:
Throughout the story Dr. Raman’s genuine concern for Gopal was seen. The concern was not only with professional ethics but also with the tension that often arrives when personal ethics and professional ethics intersect. It is clear that Dr. Raman violates his usual practice of truth-telling so as to save the life of his friend ‘Gopal’. Dr. Raman still remained a man of his word though he does remain puzzled as how Gopal has survived.
“Human life is more important than the Science.”
The Doctor’s Word Story Long Question Answer and Summary
The Doctor’s Word by R.K. Narayan
Introduction to «The Doctor’s Word» At present a doctor is treated as God, and his yes or no has a lot of meaning to the patient as well as his relatives. Since common people have no knowledge about disease and diagnosis,they fully surrender themselves to the knowledge of the doctors. They treat them as Gods and wait for their hopeful decision. There are some doctors who have accepted medicine not as a business but as a sacred profession. Through this service they get great satisfaction and consolation. They offer straightforward remarks on the patient’s conditions. They without hiding, say whether there is hope on it is a hopeless case. They don’t lie to the patient’s relatives for the sake of money. The patients and relatives who have close relations with the doctor know for certainty that it is a real doctor and his words are God’s. If he says, the patient will survive, the latter believes it. It affects his psychology and he shows signs of development. At times diseases are psychological. When the mind gets cured, the body automatically gets cured. Here is a story «The Doctor’s Word» in which a patient who was at the verge of death has survived because the doctor gave word that he would survive. Let’s read the story and enjoy it.
Summary of «The Doctor’s word» story
Dr. Raman was a famous doctor in his locality. He never lied to the patients about their possibility of cure. He did not care what people would say getting his hopeless or hopeful remark. He told the naked truth only. However, if there was a slight possibility of cure, he would compel Yamaraj to give back life. One day Dr. Raman was busy in the hospital. There came Gopal’s son and informed that his father was ill. Gopal was Dr. Raman’s childhood friend. Hearing this he ran to Gopal’s house. Gopal lay in bed as if in sleep. He examined him and looked cross. He gave an injection and said that he needed an operation. He would go back and would return with equipment, nurse and assistant. He advised Gopal’s wife not to disturb Gopal in his sleep. He didn’t say what Gopal’s problem was. Dr. Raman returned after some time with a nurse, an assistant, drove out others from the room except Gopal’s son and then began operation. Then he kept a vigil over him. The patient opened his eyes after some time. The assistant was overjoyed. But Dr. Raman looked worried. He said that it was a false flash. If the pulse went on till next morning, he would be out of danger, otherwise anything might happen at night.
Gopal opened eyes, smiled at Dr. Raman. The family looked delighted. The doctor said to Gopal’s wife to give him glucose. When she asked him about his condition he said that nothing could be said till next morning. Hearing this his wife wept bitterly. Gopal asked- Doctor ! Why is she crying ? Am I going to die ? If so please arrange my will paper, otherwise after my death Subas and his gant would take all the property and my family would be ruined.
The doctor was in great problem. If he said that the will would be signed, it would mean that the patient would die. If he did not sign the will and the patient died, his family would be ruined. In a great dilemma, he, however, said that there was no need for ‘will’. Then he returned to the hospital, sent the assistant with an injection to give it to the patient in case his pain increased.
The next morning, Dr. Raman went to Gopal’s house and saw that Gopal had cured completely. He was astonished. It was a rare success and it was possible because of the doctor’s word.
Analytical Outlines of the story The Doctor’s Word
- 1. Dr. Raman was a renowned doctor.
- 2. He made the perfect diagnosis.
- 3. He demanded a high price.
- 4. Few patients come to his clinic at the eleventh hour.
- 5. He talked about the patient’s condition straightly.
- 6. His callous remark often displeased the relatives of the patients.
- 7. He never told a lie about the patient’s condition.
- 8. He fought with Yamaraj to bring back the patient’s life.
- 9. One day Dr. Raman was busy in his hospital.
- 10. His friend Gopal’s son came there.
- 11. He reported that Gopal was ill for several days.
- 12. Gopal was the childhood friend of Dr. Raman.
- 13. They were good friends till now.
- 14. The doctor immediately rushed to Gopal’s house.
- 15. Gopal’s condition was serious.
- 16. A local doctor was attending him.
- 17. Dr. Raman examined him.
- 18. He looked horrified.
- 19. Gopal had reached the final stage.
- 20. Only an operation could save his life.
- 21. There was a little hope of success.
- 22. He gave an injection.
- 23. He advised Gopal’s family not to disturb Gopal.
- 24. He went back to the hospital.
- 25. He returned to Gopal’s house with an assistant and a nurse.
- 26. The operation started.
- 27. Gopal opened his eyes after a few hours.
- 28. His pulse rate improved.
- 29. The assistant looked happy.
- 30. Dr. Raman said that it was a false sign. 31. If he crossed midnight, then he would survive.
- 32. Gopal’s wife wept loudly hearing this.
- 33. Gopal heard the cry.
- 34. He suspected that he was dying.
- 35. He asked the doctor if he would die.
- 36. He said, if his death was certain he would sign the will of his property.
- 37. If he died without signing, Subbiah and his gang would grab his property.
- 38. The doctor looked puzzled.
- 39. If he signed the will, Gopal would think that his death was certain.
- 40. It would affect his psychology and he would die.
- 41. If he did not sign the will, and he died as it is predicted, his family would be pauper.
- 42. He could not decide what to do.
- 43. Finally he told Gopal that he did not need to sign the will.
- 44. He would survive long.
- 45. Gopal looked elated and said- Doctor ? You said this means I am assured.
- 46. The doctor advised him to sleep.
- 47. He returned to his hospital.alis
- 48. He gave a special injection to his assistant.
- 49. He sent him to Gopal’s house with the injection.
- 50. He advised him to give the injection when the pain was unbearable.
- 51. The next day the doctor went to Gopal’s house.
- 52. Gopal was sitting and smiled at him.
- 53. The doctor examined him.
- 54. He told Gopal’s wife- now your husband would live up to 90 years.
- 55. On the way, the doctor told his assistant that Gopal’s case was a miracle.
The Doctor’s Word Story Long Question Answer and Summary
Long Question Answer of the story The Doctor’s Word
Answer of the questions to be answered carrying 5 marks each
Question.1. Why did the patients visit Dr. Raman only when they were hopeless ?
Answer. The patients and their relatives know well that Dr. Raman was an expert doctor, yet they visit him at the eleventh hour because Dr. Raman demands twenty five rupees per patient as his visiting fees. The poor patients were not able to pay such a high amount. Secondly, Dr. Raman made straightforward remarks on the patient’s condition without hiding anything which frightened patients and relatives.
Question.2. What impression of Dr. Raman do you get from the passage ?
Answer. The passage shows that Dr. Raman wasa gifted doctor. He was straightforward in declaring the condition of the patients. It was not his nature to hide the real stage of the patient. He does not care what others think or say about him. He could make a perfect diagnosis. If he noticed faint signs of his cure, he would fight with Yama to return the life of the patient.
Question.3. How does the writer describe the friendship between Dr. Raman and Gopal ?
Answer. Dr. Raman and Gopal were known to each other since Kindergarten days. In later life, being attached to family and profession, they could not meet each other frequently. Dr. Raman was over busy. Gopal came to meet him on Sundays. When the doctor became free they would come out, dine together, watch cinema and talk of each other’s life and activities. It was a classic friendship standing over untouched by changing times, circumstances and activities.
Question.4. How did Dr. Raman come to know about Gopal’s illness ?
Answer. Dr. Raman and Gopal were close friends. Gopal paid a visit to Dr. Raman in his clinic every Sunday. He had not visited him for three months. Being busy, Dr. Raman had not noticed it. When Gopal’s son came and reported to him that his father was ill, mother sent for him, then he realised about Gopal’s long absence and immediately moved to his house to attend to him.
Question.5. Why didn’t Gopal’s wife call for Dr. Raman earlier ?
Answer. Gopal’s wife knew that Dr. Raman was very busy. He had no time for visiting patients’ houses. So when Gopal fell ill, she did not want to disturb him in his busy schedule.But when the situation became worse, the local doctor failed, being undone, she called for Dr. Raman.
Question.6. What steps did the doctor take to save his friend from death ?
Answer. Gopal was a friend of Dr. Raman. So the doctor rushed to Gopal’s house hearing about his sickness. Seeing his condition, tears came to his eyes. He prepared: injection and shot the drug. He watched his symptoms closely. When no change came over the patient he arranged an operation to save his life.
Question.7. What was Dr. Raman’s reaction when his assist and said- «Sir, he will pull through» ?
Answer. The doctor performed an operation on Gopal. Towards eleven at night, Gopal stirred a bit. The assistant looked delighted and said- Sir, he will pull through. But the doctor said coldly- Don’t trust it. It is only a will to keep up till eight in the morning, it will go on for the next forty years, but I doubt it.
Question.8. What was Dr. Raman’s response when Gopal’s wife asked about his condition?
Answer. Gopal, after a few hours of operation, opened his eyes, smiled at the doctor, and ate some food. The family members thought the danger was over. But the doctor looked grave. It puzzled Gopal’s wife. She asked, Doctor ! What about him now ? How is he ? Two doctors said- don’t get excited. I would rather not talk to you now.
Question.9. Why did Gopal ask Dr. Raman- «Am I going ?» What was he anxious about ?
Answer. Gopal’s wife and Dr. Raman were talking. The latter said that Gopal’s condition was critical. Hearing this Gopal’s wife wept bitterly. Gopal heard her cry and imagined that he was going to die. To be confirmed he asked the doctor- Doctor! Am I going to die ? He was anxious about his death.
Question.10. Was Dr. Raman upset at this question ? Give your reasons.
Answer. Gopal asked Dr. Raman- «Doctor! Am I going to die ? Don’t hide it from me.» Gopal’s question upset the doctor because Gopal was his best friend. He knew that he was never whitewashed. People attached great value to his words. How would he say to his best friend that he was going to die after a few minutes.
Question.11. Why did Dr. Raman decide to tell a lie ?
Answer. Gopal asked Dr. Raman- «Am I going to die ?» If so please give me a paper. I will make a will of my property in favour of my children. Dr. Raman thought, if he gave the will, that he declared that he would die. In this case his possibility of death would be quickened. If he did not give the will, Subbiah and his gang would occupy his property. He went against his nature and told a lie to keep Gopal happy so that he might be cured psychologically.
Question.12. How did he answer Gopal’s question ?
Answer. Gopal asked- «Am I going to die ?» The doctor after much thought, to save the life of Gopal, said-Gopal, listen ! Don’t worry about the will now. You are going to live, your heart is absolutely sound. His words actually saved Gopal’s life, for he paid much value to the doctor’s word.
Question.13. How did Gopal accept Dr. Raman’s words ?
Answer. Gopal knew Dr. Raman since childhood. He knew that he would never whitewash the condition of the patient. When he said- Gopal ! you are going to live. Your heart is absolutely sound, Gopal looked delighted. A glow suffused on the patient’s face and he said- Do you say so ? If it comes from your lips, it must be true. He fell asleep happily.
Question.14. Did Dr. Raman believe that his patient would recover that night ? Why do you think so ?
Answer. Dr. Raman did not believe that his patient would recover that night, because he told the assistant that his life might collapse at any moment. If he feels much pain, he will give a tube of poison to him for a peaceful death. Besides he had told Gopal’s wife that nothing could be told about him till next morning.
Question.15. «Don’t look so unhappy, lady.» Why does Dr. Raman say so ?
Answer. The lady or Gopal’s wife asked Dr. Raman about the condition of her husband. He said that nothing could be said for certain till next morning. So she was restless. The next morning, the patient’s condition improved and then Dr. Raman told his wife- «Don’t look so unhappy, lady. Your husband will live to be ninety.
Question.16. Does human life hang on a doctor’s word ? Give a reasoned answer.
Answer. People treat doctors as Gods, and they value their words seriously. If they say the patient would recover, they look happy. If they give negative remarks, they weep. Gopal was Dr. Raman’s friend. He knew that Dr. Raman never told a lie to the patients. When he said that he would survive, Gopal believed it and he got psychological strength. He survived.
Narayan, if dubbed as a successful writer is due to his fruitful and imaginary invention. Malgudi Narayan without Malgudi seems half understood, least recognised. It is like Shakespeare’s forest Aden in which most of his plays have been enacted. Narayan invented this imaginary town placed in all his stories and novels immortalised it by giving brilliant colour, naturality, glorious manifestation, life forging objects. All his characters are Malgúdians and uniquely engar has rightly said Malgudi although they may have their recognizable local trappings are essentially human and hence have their kinship with all humanity. With each new novel, we advance in time and Malgudi grows in importance and gains in definition.
Let’s discuss Malgudi in different novels by R.K. Narayan. In Swami and Friend Malgudi is neither village nor city but a town. of modest size. Novel after novel Malgudi grows in importance and gains in definition. The major landmarks, however remain. The river Saryu flows by its side. Town Malgudi or just beyond it are Nallappa’s mango grove and the Mempi forest reached by the grove street and the,forest road respectively. There is a Trunk road to Trichinopoly. One can board the train for Madras at the Malgudi station. It is the station where Raju in The. Guide was working. There are various streets and lanes- Kabir street, Kabir lane, Anderson lane, Saraya street, Kalam street, Smith street, Vinayaka Muduli street, Abu lane, Ellamman street, Keelacheri country. The name in the Tamil
Malgudi has a municipality, a town hall, a club and two schools the Albert Mission school and the Board High School. It looks at though Narayan in his recent novels. Can neither be content with familiar. Malgudi nor quite do without it. His experience of life, his clarifying triple vision of man in relation to himself his environment and his gods his widening and deepening sense of comedy, all give a new dimensions to his art as a novelist, But once he moves out of Malgudi, he is a little uncertain in his movement and the old sourness of touch, the sense of utter exactitude in observation and description, is seen to falter ever so slightly.
Narayan’s Malgudi is a much smaller place, a mere town really, compared to the vague vastness of Hardy’s Wessex moving from Wessex to Malgudi. We moved from a tropical jungle to a municipal park. Thus it would appear that there is an insufficient correspondence between the action in Narayan’s recent novel and the restricted Malgudi background Narayan is no doubt a novelist of international repute. His former novels lack depth understanding, appeal, message and are childish unpleasant built upon silly sally, dilly dally plots which can please an average reader but a man of intellectual pursuits, a pedant a man of literary taste and temperament will be harassed none of his novels bear the status of Mayor of Casterbridge. But the Guide is somehow a mature novel which has brilliant plot construction message cost west philosophy, realistic expoundíng of human predicaments, psychological study into Raju’s two phased life one as Rosie’s lover and one as a Sadhu, endeavouring to bring rain.
Narayan’s titles are apt, persuasive and suggestive for they bear the whole theme, even the central idea that the novel contains. From the title one can jump into conclusion as to what is presented inside. The theme is short,imaginary, hardly interesting. But befitting to the 20th century readers and social background. His characters are not remarkable because they are not ideals not exemplifying rather unwholesome and wicked devils Raju, Ramani, Krishna, Marayya, Swami, Mani Chandran are all wicked in someway or others.
The Doctor’s Word Story Long Question Answer and Summary pdf
The Doctor’s Word Story pdf
The Doctor’s Word Story question answer
The Doctor’s Word Story summary
The Doctor’s Word Story by RK NARAYAN
In The Doctor’s Word by R.K. Narayan we have the theme of honesty, friendship, uncertainty, letting go, fear, connection, trust, compassion and conflict. Taken from his Malgudi Days collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Narayan may be exploring the theme of uncertainty. Ramu is uncertain as to how Gopal has survived when the reality was he truly expected Gopal to die. It is also interesting that Gopal trusts Ramu’s word and believes everything that he tells him. However it is noticeable that Ramu lies to Gopal prior to leaving him for the night. This lie is interesting as Ramu appears to be in conflict with himself. Professionally he doesn’t hold out much hope that Gopal will survive. However personally he longs for Gopal to survive. So attached is Ramu to his friend. It might also be important that Gopal’s wife is full of fear that Gopal might die as it suggests that she loves Gopal very much. That they have a happy marriage. There is also a sense that Ramu’s patients appreciate his honesty. It is as though they are sure of where they stand with Ramu. It is also noticeable that Ramu doesn’t see any point in lying to his patients however as mentioned when it comes to Gopal, Ramu is torn between telling him the truth and lying.
There is also a sense that Ramu does not wish to let go of Gopal. He is exceptionally fond of him and scolds Gopal’s family for not notifying him earlier about Gopal’s illness. It is for this reason and possibly to comfort Gopal that Ramu might have decided to lie to Gopal about how serious his condition was. Though honesty would be considered to be a prerequisite when it comes to friendship. Ramu cannot bring himself to tell Gopal just how bad his condition is. Even though matters are so serious that Gopal wishes to sign his will before he dies Ramu does not allow him to do so. If anything Ramu has become emotionally involved with his patient (Gopal). Something that a doctor must strive to never do as it can and does affect their professionalism. If anything Ramu really does find himself in a difficult position. As though his professionalism is being challenged by his friendship with Gopal.
It is also interesting that Gopal does not fear dying. However he does fear what Subbiah and his gang might do should he not sign his will. This may be important as it suggests that Gopal is prepared to make sure that his family are looked after. Though he is near dying his number one priority is his family. Something that is also noticeable with Gopal’s wife. Throughout the story she shows genuine concern for Gopal. In fact she is afraid of him dying which suggests a strong connection between both Gopal and his wife. It might also be important that Ramu instructs Gopal’s wife to stay in a neighbour’s house as it is possible that Ramu suspects that if Gopal does die the grief will be too strong for Gopal’s wife. Though some critics might suggest that Ramu considers Gopal’s wife to be weak and unable to bear what is happening, hence telling her to go to a neighbour’s. The reality may be very different. Ramu could be showing Gopal’s wife compassion and allowing her the opportunity, to the best of her ability, to take some rest.
The end of the story is also interesting as Ramu fully expects Gopal to be dead when he visits the house in the morning. However when he discovers that Gopal is still alive and getting better he can’t figure things out. Ramu had lied to his friend to ease Gopal’s mind and now the reader finds that it is Ramu’s mind that is at ease. His word has not been broken even though he knows he has lied. The trust he has with not only Gopal but all his patients remains intact. Ramu is still a man of his word though he does remain puzzled as to how Gopal has survived through the night. It is also noticeable that Ramu was willing to show Gopal compassion. Something that the reader becomes aware of when Ramu tells his assistant to bring a tube of medicine with them should Gopal’s pain become too much. This level of compassion is interesting as Ramu most likely does not want any of his patient’s (friends or not) to suffer when their time comes. Throughout the story Ramu’s number one concern has been his patients. He has shown a dedication and professionalism that is unmatched by the other doctor who had been caring for Gopal. Though Ramu may have lied his lie was an act of compassion for not only a friend but for one of his patients. The reader is also left assured at the end of the story by the fact that though Ramu does not know how Gopal survived he is still nonetheless relieved and happy.
McManus, Dermot. «The Doctor’s Word by R.K. Narayan.» The Sitting Bee. The Sitting Bee, 3 Sep. 2017. Web.
Malgudi Days — The Doctor’s Word, Gateman’s Gift Summary & Analysis
This Study Guide consists of approximately 46 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more —
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This section contains 630 words |
The Doctor’s Word, Gateman’s Gift Summary
The Doctor’s Word
Dr. Raman is known as a straight-forward and to the point Doctor. He reasons that he might as well tell the truth about his prognosis for his patients, since nature will take its course one way or the other. Dr. Raman is suddenly told that his good friend from boyhood, Gopal is seriously ill. Dr. Raman goes to his friend, and gives Gopal an injection, and he and his two assistants perform some type of operation on Gopal. Gopal becomes conscious and asks his friend Dr. Raman if he can expect to live. If not, Gopal must immediately sign his prepared last will and testament. Dr. Raman takes a break, then comes back and lies that Gopal is in good shape and must rest. The doctor realizes that the man could die…
(read more from the The Doctor’s Word, Gateman’s Gift Summary)
This section contains 630 words |
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The Doctor Stories Summary
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“Witness”
The short story “Witness” opens with a brief of the agony that children endure due to indispositions. The speaker is a doctor, which is consistent with the Book’s title, who attends to a six year old boy with multiple maladies. The boy neither sees nor speaks, he cannot walk, and his right cheek is besmirched. The boy transposes by rolling and he converses to his parents by grating teeth.
The doctor carries out a physical investigation, and notices a walnut-sized lump in the boy’s groin. The doctor notices that the boy’s optic nerves are infantile. The doctor notifies the boys’ parents that he could be suffering from “incarcerated hernia” after which he plans for an emergency operation.
The boy’s father accompanies him to the operating room and implores the doctor to care for the boy as he is not permissible for the father to be in the operating room. The doctor determines that the father adulates his incapacitated son. The boy is put under anaesthesia after which the surgeon starts operating on him.
During the operation the doctor recognizes that it was inaccurate to conclude that the boy was suffering from incarcerated hernia. The boy’s ailment is due to “a testicle that had failed to descend into the scrotum” occasioning the twisting of the cut which blocks blood from getting into the testicle. The surgery is efficacious and the doctor delivers the news to the boy’s parents.
“Whither Thou Goest”
After Hannah’s Sam turn out to be brain-dead the doctor proposes that they turn off his life support machine. The doctor sends Hannah a letter to let her know that the procedure of gathering and bequeathing the organs crystalized. Sam’s residual body parts are interred.
Through a flashback, Richard Selzer updates the reader that Sam had passed away three years before. He lost his life after being shot by a robber who wanted to steal from lady, whom Sam had stopped to help in fixing a car tier, who was deserted at the road as her car tire had burst. Hannah become conscious that the process of ‘cleaning a chicken’ is analogous to the process of harvesting organs after visiting a butchery and this recognition prompts her to interrogate her standpoint on the status of her husband’s body.
Religion, specifically the teaching on resurrection , does not comfort Hannah. One night, after a storm, Hannah reveries Sam bestowing his heart to another man. She embarks on an undertaking to find the man who benefited from Sam’s heart by masquerading as librarian at the university hospital ,and with the help of Ivy Lou, they locate Pope Henry’s, the benefactor, contact details.
Hannah dispatches a letter to Henry Pope and his wife responds to it. After setting a rapport and reassuring the Henry that she is not a freak, she sends one more letter requesting that she visits them so that she can get one hour to listen to the pace of Pope’s heart. Mrs. Pope avers, in all her correspondences to Hannah Owen, that they cannot permit her bidding. Eventually, Hannah resigns herself, but appeals to Pope Henry sends him a photograph of him to help her deal with her sentimentalities. Eventually, when Hannah least anticipates Pope Henry summons her to his house on 20th October after determining that his wife will not be at the house. In the story’s falling action Hannah lounges on Pope Henry’s upper body and pin her ears back attentively as the heart is pulsating. Pay attention to the heart makes Hannah reminiscent of the heart beats that she had heard on Sam’s chest. Listening to the heart soothes her and makes her exultant.
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Doctor Faustus, a well-respected german scholar, grows dissatisfied with the bounds of traditional sorts of knowledge—logic, medicine, law, and religion—and decides that he wants to find out to practice magic. His friends Valdes and Cornelius instruct him within the black arts, and he begins his new career as a magician by summoning up Mephastophilis, a devil. Despite Mephastophilis’s warnings about the horrors of hell, Faustus tells the devil to return to his master, Lucifer, with a suggestion of Faustus’s soul in exchange for 24 years of service from Mephastophilis. Meanwhile, Wagner, Faustus’s servant, has picked up some magical power and uses it to press a clown named Robin into his service.
Mephastophilis returns to Faustus with word that Lucifer has accepted Faustus’s offer. Faustus experiences some misgivings and wonders if he should repent and save his soul; within the end, though, he agrees to the deal, signing it together with his blood. As soon as he does so, the words “Homo fuge,” Latin for “O man, fly,” appear branded on his arm. Faustus again has second thoughts, but Mephastophilis bestows rich gifts on him and provides him a book of spells to find out. Later, Mephastophilis answers all of his questions on the character of the planet, refusing to answer only Faustus asks him who made the universe. This refusal prompts yet one more bout of misgivings in Faustus, but Mephastophilis and Lucifer usher in personifications of the Seven Deadly Sins to prance about ahead of Faustus, and he’s impressed enough to quiet his doubts.
Armed together with his new powers and attended by Mephastophilis, Faustus begins to travel. He goes to the pope’s court in Rome, makes himself invisible, and plays a series of tricks. He disrupts the pope’s banquet by stealing food and boxing the pope’s ears. Following this incident, he travels through the courts of Europe, together with his fame spreading as he goes. Eventually, he’s invited to the court of the German emperor, Charles V (the enemy of the pope), who asks Faustus to permit him to ascertain Alexander the good, the famed fourth-century b.c. Macedonian king and conqueror. Faustus conjures up a picture of Alexander, and Charles is suitably impressed. A knight scoffs at Faustus’s powers, and Faustus chastises him by making antlers sprout from his head. Furious, the knight vows revenge.
Meanwhile, Robin, Wagner’s clown, has picked up some magic on his own, and together with his fellow stablehand, Rafe, he undergoes a variety of comic misadventures. At one point, he manages to summon Mephastophilis, who threatens to show Robin and Rafe into animals (or maybe even does transform them; the text isn’t clear) to punish them for his or her foolishness.
Faustus then goes on together with his travels, playing a trick on a horse-courser along the way. Faustus sells him a horse that turns into a heap of straw when ridden into a river. Eventually, Faustus is invited to the court of the Duke of Vanholt, where he performs various feats. The horse-courser shows up there, along with side Robin, a person named Dick (Rafe within the A text), and various others who have fallen victim to Faustus’s trickery. But Faustus casts spells on them and sends them on their way, to the amusement of the duke and duchess.
As the twenty-four years of his effect Lucifer come to an in-depth, Faustus begins to dread his impending death. He has Mephastophilis call up Helen of Troy, the famous beauty from the traditional world and uses her presence to impress a gaggle of students. An old man urges Faustus to repent, but Faustus drives him away. Faustus summons Helen again and exclaims rapturously about her beauty. But time is growing short. Faustus tells the students about his pact, and that they are horror-stricken and resolve to wish for him. On the ultimate night before the expiration of the twenty-four years, Faustus is overcome by fear and remorse. He begs for mercy, but it’s too late. in the dark, a number of devils appear and carry his soul off to hell. within the morning, the students find Faustus’s limbs and choose to carry a funeral for him.
Doctor Faustus Analysis
Doctor Faustus, a scholar famed the planet over, thinks that he has reached the bounds of data in philosophy, medicine, law, and theology, and he hungers for power. Magic lures him with the offer of data without work or study, and Faustus sells his soul to the devil reciprocally for twenty-four years during which he will have everything he wants.
Faustus begins with grand plans: to free his country, to assist the poor, and to form himself master of the planet. within the scenes that follow, the reader never sees him even attempt to reach these goals.
Instead, he performs parlor tricks for the Emperor and plays practical jokes on the Pope. When he asks his servant devil Mephostopilis, the secrets of the universe, he gets what he calls “freshman” answers. Only at the top of the play does Faustus realize that he has tried to urge something for nothing: knowledge without work and power without responsibility.
Marlowe’s gorgeous language tends to cover the meanness of his character’s desires. Time and again, Faustus begins to repent, only to be distracted by spectacle or frightened by threats.
Marlowe’s play first staged in 1592 or 1593, presents a figure who may be a mirror: Each age sees Faustus in its terms. Readers during the Romantic period, often more curious about the struggle than the goal, saw Faustus as an “overreacher,” someone who pushes the limit of what humans can do. The fact that he was doomed to failure only made him more interesting.
Contemporary readers are more likely to ascertain Faustus as an example of “burn-out,” a person whose life has become stale because he has no interests beyond himself.
Bibliography:
Brooke, Nicholas. “The Moral Tragedy of Dr. Faustus.” Cambridge Journal 5 (1952): 663-687. Focuses on the moral choices presented to Faustus. Attempts to include the comic subplots during a unified reading of Renaissance dualism, which might render the play an aesthetic whole and dramatic success.
Kirschbaum, Leo. “Marlowe’s Faustus: A Reconsideration.” Review of English Studies 19 (1943): 225-241. Examines the language of the foremost memorable poetry of the play, the praise of Helen of Troy, to get when the audience needs to be seduced by the language and when it must judge and resist beautiful verse.
Kocher, Paul H. “Marlowe’s Atheist Lecture.” Journal of English and Germanic Philology 39 (1940): 98-106. Reprints the blasphemous comments allegedly made by Marlowe, attested by one Richard Baines before the council in 1593. Judging the veracity of those comments and, if they’re truly Marlowe’s, how typical they’re of his beliefs helps readers decide their sympathies in Doctor Faustus.
Levin, Harry. The Overreacher: A Study of Marlowe. 1952. Boston: Beacon Press, 1964. Examines the sources of the Faust legend and places them within the context of the autumn of Lucifer from heaven. Examines the comic scenes to seek out in them a burlesque of the most plot.
Mizener, Arthur. “The Tragedy of Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus.” College English 5 (1943): 70-75. Treats the ambivalence toward knowledge within the Renaissance evidenced in Faustus’s tragic progress within the play. Examines reason versus faith and allies’ necromancy with the dark side of the latter.
Faustus’s study (FOWS-this). Lodgings at Germany’s University of Wittenberg of Dr. Faustus, a learned scholar, and theologian who seeks boundless knowledge. Most of the play takes place here. Characters enter and exit the study frequently, and on many occasions, other characters converse in Faustus’s rooms while he’s away.
The study is faintly described—it contains books of varied sorts, and presumably the paraphernalia of scholarly and clerical work. it’s an outsized area, sufficient to entertain as many as nine characters at a time. the very fact that the precise university in Wittenberg could also be correlated to the very fact that it had been during this city that Luther posted his ninety-five theses, heralding the Protestant separation.
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