Whose Life is it Anyway?

CHARACTERS:
KEN HARRISON:
-Spinal Injury- will be hospitalised for the rest of his life
-Speaks with lots of sexual jokes and innuendo (twisting words to imply
something different)
-Sense of humour- We went midnight skateboarding I was the skateboard.
-Realistic about his injury
-Describes himself in dehumanising terms - Compost heap, Scrap
-Obviously low self esteem
-Dislikes Professionalism, wants a normal conversation
-Uses analogy of buying a sculpture to explain why an experts opinion doesnt
overrule a persons right to decide for themselves- Youd reserve the right to choose for
yourselves -Shows Ken is intelligent and strongly opinionated.
NURSE KAY SADLER
-Fresh out of nursing school, young, inexperienced
-Keen to learn and to do well
-Innocent, clean-minded
-Positive and Friendly: she gives her first name-it would be professional to only
give her last name.
JOHN
-good bloke - friendly
-Just working at the hospital until his band goes professional
KEN EMERSON
-Ken thinks he doesnt care- uses metaphor Zeus from Olympus implying
Emerson is powerful and god-like
-Blunt in his speech
-In charge - gives instructions to Dr Scott, she says Yes, Sir
-Advises Ken to not think about it, just accept it
-Has administrative priorities - freeing up a bed, getting a heart monitoring unit
-Makes emphatic statements eg Itm sure, absolutely sure, Thats
Impossible.
DR SCOTT
-Thoughtful, questioning

-Irony - We give him back his consciousness, then he says But how do I use it?
So what do we do? We put him back to sleep
-Shows she has empathy for Ken, and critical of the hospital she worries that
their policies arent appropriate
-Her sympathy for Ken is seen in the previous dialogue with him and stage
directions Scott smiles and goes out. She is very upset
-She disagrees with Ken, tries to reason- note the se of the word But,
repeatedly trying to contradict him- But if we acted on your decision

THEME OF POWER
-Ken is powerless - Why are your morals better than mine? Theyre better
because youre more powerful.
-He doesnt believe the hospital is right, just more powerful.
THEME OF HUMAN DIGNITY
-For the first time in six months I feel like a human being again Ken on page 59Dr Scott calls him Ken instead of Mr Harrison, it is more personal
-John makes Ken laugh by joking about the ;uses; Ken could be put to-tennis
umpire...pendulum...radar scanner and he doesnt act guilty. Hes sorry for me but he
knows bloody well that it wasnt his fault. Ken feels better when treated normally.
Part of Kens journey is recovering his dignity, feeling ok about himself. IN contrast to his
bitter comments about being a vegetable at the start, and his anger at Dr Emerson and
Mrs Boyle, now he seems calm and happy.
LANGUAGE IN THE PLAY
-Jargon: Specific, technical language for a particular subject or profession eg
manic depression cycle
-Effect is to highlight who is in the know and exclude those who arent.
-Reinforces the power of professionals over Ken.
JUXTAPOSITION OF SCENES: eg Mr Hill and Dr Scotts dinner where they discuss
suicide, followed by Kens dinner, joking to Kay about emergency taste resuscitation
unit. The effect is:
-to relieve tension after a heavy scene
-for us to connect with Ken after Hill and Scott have been talking
about him.
KEY SCENES
DIALOGUE BETWEEN MR HILL AND DR EMERSON PAGE 71

-Emerson's View: -doctors know best My power isnt arbitrary, Ive earned it
with knowledge
-Law shouldnt meddle in doctors decisions, they should take full account of
professional opinion
-HILLS VIEW: - an individual needs to be free- Hills uses phrases like arbitrary
power or powerless at the hands of a doctor to say Kens freedom is threatened.
-Structured like a debate- alternating viewpoints. This allows the audience to
think about both sides of the argument, and their own opinions.

JOURNEYS
What

Features of the
journey

Quotes

Technique/Meani
ng

Kens physical
journey

Initially
powerless- no
ability

Hell sweep in
like Zeus from
Olympus

-Simile shows
Emerson has
godlike powers
over Kens life

People treat him

differently

Youre very
upset

-Mrs Boyles
detached tone

Gains more
power over life
through legal
process

I wont change
my mind, but Id
like to stay

Ken gains
freedom from
medical
treatment- judge
lets him have his
way
Kens inner
journey

Self-pitying,
frustrated and
angry because of
inability to do
anything

You only grow

the vegetables
here
I was the
skateboard

Metaphor
dehumanises Ken
- he feels
worthless and not
even human

Change of
perception of
what he wants in
life

Improves his
feeling about
himself
-because people
relate to him as a
person
-because he
has gained more
power on his
physical journeylegal case is
progressing
Medical
professionals eg
Emerson, Scott,
John, Nurse

For the first time

in six months I
feel like a human
again
You called me
Ken

Dr Scott initially
It is prescribed
wants to
Not according to
persuade Ken to
live, and to accept my morals
Dr Emersons
point of view

Dr Scott and Dr
Emerson argue
about Kens right
to decide

Sister tries to
keep a detached
perspective

Ours was an
objective
decision, his is a
subjective
decision

Im always telling
my nurses not to
get involved

Contrast to
previous feelings
show he has
regained his
dignity
Use of personal
name shows Dr
Scott treats him
like a person, not
a patient

Authoritative
statement shows
she enforces Dr
Emersons
decisions on Ken
Contradiction to
Ken shows she
disagrees with his
viewpoint
Contrast of
subjective/objectiv
e shows
Emersons belief
in facts and
professionalism
vs Scotts belief in
patients rights

The phrase get

involved suggest
personal
connection -

Sister avoids this

-Irony is used to
show Dr Scott
thinks the policy is
silly

Ken changes the

minds of Dr Scott,
Nurse and othersthey support his
point of view

John sympathises
with Ken but also
treats him like a
person, has fun
with him

Dr Emerson
softens in his
attitude to Ken

We give him
back his
consciousness,
thes he says but
how do I use it So
waht do we do?
We put him back
to sleep

Poor bastard

Colloquial
(casual) language
shows Johns
personal feelings
about Kenempathy

Only with your

express
permission
Emphatic tone
show he has
definitely
accepted that Ken
can have his
rights

Spiritual journey
of the play exploring moral
questions

What is the duty

of a doctor?

No Clare, a
doctor cannot
accept the choice
for death.

Strong tone
cannot accept
shows he
believes theres
no question

Kens frustration
That sounds like
at being under the catch-22. If youre
hospitals power
clever and sane
enough to put up
an invincible case
for suicide, it
proves you
shouldnt die.
Who owns your
life?

Title Whose Life

is it Anyway?

Allusion to catch22 suggests Ken

feels trapped

Rhetorical
Question and use
of anyway
implies it is Kens
life and no one
elses
Characterisation
of Ken makes us
sympathise with
him and positions
us to accept his
choice.

The need for

individuals to
make their own
choices

What makes life

worthwhile?

Kens example of
buying a sculpture
youd reserve the
right to choose for
yourself
Johns joking
examples tennis
umpire...radar...dr
ums
I do not want to
be the object of
scientific
virtuosity
I feel human
again

Analogy shows
Kens belief that
even an expert
cant decide for
you
Humour illustrates
how much Ken
has lost
Phrase object
suggests he feels
better about
himself - because
people are
treating him well,
and because he
has the dignity to
make his own
choice