In the play 'Whose life is it anyway?', Ken Harrison has made the decision to die, due to a recent accident that left him a quadriplegic.
However during the play many people have confronted Ken's decision due to their medical profession, and their profound abilities to be able to save/preserve life.The play was first published in 1978 when the issue of power, and who it belonged to, was in constant debate. However the arguments that occurred back in 1978, are still in the hearts of many arguments that occur in the world today. Many of these arguments are presented to the political party that is in power at the current time. However, nearly all the time when these cases are presented, there is opposition from another party that has very different views.
Because of this, for this argument, their will always be two sides.A current example of someone fighting for the right to die is Debbie Purdy, aged 45. She currently has Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, and wishes to be taken to Switzerland by her husband, to the Euthanasia clinic. The only drawback is that, she is worried that if her partner was to take her to the clinic, if he would be prosecuted when he returned from Switzerland.
This is a clear example of someone who is fighting for the right to be able to die, with a clear opposition of people who are fighting against her decision.In the play prior to Act 2, we learn a lot about Ken Harrison's personality and his determination to die. The following example is of Ken making a dirty joke towards a nurse at the hospital.Sister: "..
.We don't want to have him on the floor."Ken: "Have me on the floor sister please. Have me on the floor."This shows that Ken is attempting to make dirty jokes as he can no longer experience sexual relationships due to his current position.
Another reason for him making dirty jokes towards members of staff, is that if he didn't humour himself then he would most likely start to suffer from depression.Because of Ken making these frequent jokes throughout the play, the audience sympathises for him more as his pain is emphasised largely through his quotes. Another quote that Ken makes towards the female staff in the play is:"Because in an hours time, you'll be bringing round a little white pill that is designed to insert rose-coloured filters behind my eyes. It will calm me and soothe me and make me forget for a while that you have a lovely body...
"In this quote, Ken is yet again making dirty jokes as he can no longer experience sexual relationships.I believe that the character Ken Harrison is not based upon a particular person, however I do believe that he is based upon a certain group of people. These people are most probably in a position where the balance of power has recently shifted in their lives. In nearly all of these cases, the patients have lost the power to be able to decide weather they can live or die, due to medical reasons. However overall I think this character is the right person to e used in the play.I think that Ken Harrison is the right person to represent the argument between life and death, as he is fully aware of what he can do in the future because of his situation, and he also knows that he does not want any of this, because it is not his passion.
Also the representive of the medical profession is very good because he also has many views, and will not give up Mr. Harrison easily to Euthanasia. He has quite a lot of power over ken at the time of the play, due to him having complete control over everything that happens to him. However because of this, he slightly misuses his power, and sometimes inserts drugs into Ken against his will. On the other hand there are some medical professionals that also think Ken should be able to die.
An example of this is Dr. Scott, who in her medical profession is doing everything possible to keep Ken alive and happy. However in her personal opinion she feels that Ken should be aloud to be discharged form the hospital, as he can longer do what he wants, and has nobody left for him out side of the hospital. Eve though Dr. Scott is strongly influenced by Dr.
Emerson's views, by the time we reach the court hearing, her sympathy has got the better of her and she has decided to side with Ken.In the court hearing there are many things that influence the judge, and many things that help the audience predict what the outcome will be. The fact that the court hearing is being presented in Mr. Harrison's room, makes the judge able to see what Ken has to put up with everyday of his life, since 4 months ago.
This will make the judge lean towards Ken's side, because when the judge puts himself into Ken's shoes, he can see how repetitive and boring Ken's life would be, and why he wouldn't want to live any longer.When Dr. Emerson talks about Ken Harrison in the court hearing, he depersonalizes him completely and strictly talks about medical statements. A quote that shows this is:"Mr Harrison was admitted here on the afternoon of October 9th, as an emergency following a road accident. He was suffering from a fractured left tibia, and right tibia and fibia, a fractured pelvis, for fractured ribs, one of which had punctured the lung, and a dislocated fourth vertebra, which ruptured the spinal cord.
"In this quote Dr Emerson is summing up everything that happened to Mr. Harrison, and nearly all of which they repaired. This quote will sway the judge's opinion towards Dr. Emerson, as the money and effort gone into saving Ken's life is a great amount, and would not want for it all to go to waste.
However, on the other hand this may help reinforce Ken's view, as now the judge knows the full extent of the damage inflicted, and now knows what Ken has had to live with. Finally, this quote may also show that Mr. Harrison may have suffered great deal of mental trauma because of this, and may now be mentally unstable.When Ken states his points and views in the court hearing, he attempts to prove to the judge that he has a stable mind, and no longer has any reason to continue living.
However in his position, this is very hard to prove as any mentally unstable person could attempt to prove them selves as sane, and no one would know the difference. However, as the audience is not in the play, and we can tell what Mr. Harrison is thinking , it is reasonably easy for us to make the assumption that he is in fact sane.When the judge has an internal monologue on page 74, the audience can hear what the judge is thinking, however the characters in the play can't. This may help some of the audience make an assumption of what is going to happen, as we can tell what the judge is thinking, and whose side he leans towards. In the play, the characters are only listening to a long pause, this will create a sense of tension throughout the characters, as no one has any idea of what the judge is thinking, and any idea of what he is going to do about Mr.
Harrison's case.When the judge says "I shall therefore make an order for him to be set free", it sounds as if there is a certain aspect in Mr. Harrison's case that has finalised the judge's decision. Also when he says that ".
..an order for him to be set free", he doesn't mention in any way that him being set free will lead to his death, but he only gives the impression that this is a completely ordinary case with no significant difference to any other.Finally, when the judge says "looks like you got your hanging judge", to Ken, he is referring himself to a judge in the Victorian era, which has the authority to be able to send someone to death, and most of the time this is what happens.Overall I think that the final part of the play creates a final piece of dramatic amount of tension, which has been suspended throughout the play, and I have also summarised that the people who have the power through the majority part of the play, tend to misuse it for their own purposes, and do not tend to think about the people it is affecting. Finally I think that the points and views put across during the play have a significant importance today, as the case of euthanasia is always around, and will always be in the heart of many discussions.
