Professional versus Private Life
At the heart of Ferguson's quandary lies the tension between choosing to prioritize his professional aspirations or his personal commitments. From his earliest days, Ferguson has harbored an unwavering dream of donning the white coat of a doctor. This ambition burns brightly within him, even as the memory of his father's untimely passing—a fellow healer felled by the relentless demands of his vocation—lingers like a cautionary tale. The narrative unfolds, revealing the stark truths of the medical world through Hochberg's reflections, emphasizing that the path of a doctor is paved not with riches, but with the noble toil of saving lives.
Laura embodies a vivid challenge for Ferguson. She stands at odds with his all-consuming dedication to medicine, yearning instead for his presence and partnership in a shared life. Her pleas echo with the desire for a different existence, one that is not defined by the singular pursuit of a career, unlike the lives led by her father and Hochberg, who seem to have lost touch with any interests beyond their professional spheres.
Bound by deep affection for Laura and unable to envision a future devoid of her, Ferguson embarks on a self-deceptive journey, convinced that he can master the delicate dance of balancing his career with his love. With this newfound resolve, he gears up to accept an associateship and step into the realm of private practice, crafting a vision of tomorrow where he might embrace the dual roles of a physician and a spouse. Yet, as the curtain falls on the play, Ferguson confronts the vast, uncharted territories of medicine that await exploration. He comes to a profound realization, choosing to forgo personal fulfillment, devoting himself entirely to the noble calling of his profession and the advancement of the medical world.
Ethics
The play explores the murky waters of ethics, unearthing the bias that infiltrates even the esteemed realm of medicine. Ferguson receives an enticing offer for an associateship, not by merit but through his ties with Hudson, whom the board covets as a potential trustee. Blatantly, they confess to bartering this position for Hudson's much-needed wealth. Although Ferguson shines as a promising intern, he lacks the experience and requisite training to dive into practice. Still, the board is confident that his link to Hudson will secure his success in private practice.
In stark contrast, the board turns away a medical student who happens to be the nephew of a senator. Despite this student's dismal ranking of 297th out of 300 on the medical boards, a few doctors rally in his favor, swayed by his influential family ties and prestigious background.
Duty and Responsibility
Ferguson's Commitment
Ferguson is a man driven by an unwavering desire to meet his obligations and responsibilities toward others. To him, the practice of medicine is not merely a profession but a sacred vocation, with the well-being of his patients standing as his foremost duty. Despite his deep affection for his fiancée, she finds herself playing second fiddle to strangers in need of his care. Although Ferguson momentarily strays from this path by accepting an associateship and turning away from further studies, the play's conclusion sees him reclaiming his belief that a doctor's primary allegiance is to humanity and the relentless pursuit of medical knowledge.
Barbara's Predicament
Barbara stands alone as the individual for whom Ferguson feels a profound personal obligation. As she teeters on the brink of disgrace and faces the collapse of her career and reputation following a scandalous abortion, Ferguson commits to marrying her. While love does not anchor this decision, he feels bound by a sense of honor to shoulder responsibility for her...
(This entire section contains 184 words.)
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plight, compelled by an inner conviction to make amends for the situation he feels accountable for.
Law and Abortion
The climax of the play unfurls in a poignant crescendo as Barbara succumbs to an infection, the tragic aftermath of a failed abortion. This heart-rending event subtly underscores a crucial yet understated theme: the tension between the law's intent and the well-being of those it aims to shield. When the play was penned, abortion was shrouded in illegality, yet countless women found themselves undergoing the perilous procedure. Within the hospital walls, the medical practitioners stand united in their dissent against the criminalization of abortion. Hochberg, in a moment of indignation, brands the person responsible for Barbara's abortion a "butcher" and laments to a colleague about the "shame" that "some of our laws belong to the Dark Ages!"
A footnote in the 1933 edition of the play delves deeper into the prevailing perspectives on abortion. It recounts how a doctor, once at the helm of the American Medical Association, surmised that illegal abortions outnumbered childbirths in New York and Chicago. The footnote passionately advocates for a national shift towards promoting birth control education (itself outlawed at the time) and the establishment of legal abortion clinics, envisioning a future where such necessities are no longer subjects of clandestine risk.