MovieChat Forums > Wit (2001) Discussion > Studying 'Wit'

Studying 'Wit'

posted 17 years ago by firevswater69
3 replies | jump to latest

'Wit' is a play I have wanted to study for some time; now, in my final year of A Levels, I can study it as a comparison with another text.
I was wondering if anyone here had studied the play (either as a comparison, or on its own) and if so, what were the essay titles? I am just looking for ideas at this stage of what I could compare 'Wit' to and along what lines, as regard to theme that will do both works justice.
Thanks. :)

Something was dead in each of us; and what was dead was Hope.

[–] stuyfan 17 years ago

I just finished writing a paper on wit- I titled it "How are you feeling today"
I juxtaposed vivian and jason as characters as well as tracked vivian's growth in multiple regards throughout the play's progression.
I dont know if this response comes way too late, but, yeah...

[–] firevswater69 17 years ago

Ah, interesting... I'm now assessing the importance of the theme of mortality in Memento Mori (Jonathan Nolan) and this play. Not by choice though. MM is a great short story, but the essay title my teacher forced me to work to is utterly pants. I still better get an A, damnit.

Thanks very much for your response though. If nothing else, it's something else to consider. :)

Something was dead in each of us; and what was dead was Hope.

[–] sheasse 16 years ago

I too am very very late in replying to this...but when I studied "Wit" in college, it was alongside a deep deep study of the poetry of John Donne. We as scholars came to the table reading "Wit" already armed with our own Donne expertise...and were absolutely floored by Vivian's character and the way she related Donne to her death experience. I would urge anyone interested in "Wit" to read Donne if you haven't already, and then attempt some severe close reading of his work. It will open up many many levels for you.