Whose Life Is It Anyway
The reader is often shaped by the verbal aspects of a text, but the non-verbal aspects of a text can be just as important in influencing the reader. The text Whose Life is it Anyway? Written by Brian Clark brings forward a powerful example on how the non-verbal aspects of a text are just as significant as the verbal aspects. The argument on passive euthanasia is brought forward in Whose Life is it Anyway?, where we see a quadriplegic, Ken, arguing his case about the right to die against Dr Emerson, who sees Ken as merely another patient who he must save his life.. Ken’s position is further backed through the use of setting, properties, dialogue and body language. The uses of the non-verbal aspects are important in reinforcing the meaning of the text, shaping the reader to become more sympathetic towards ken, further supporting his case.The setting plays an important role, in establishing Ken’s situation in Whose life is it anyway?. The reader is able to conform with the ideas built within the setting, and can further understand Ken’s situation of helplessness “It’s surprising what pastel colours will do, isn’t it” Ken’s wardroom is positioned centre stage as a dull and boring pastel
Body language is the gestures, postures, and facial expressions by which a person communicates nonverbally with others. Body language is important for good communications, and is often used to express feelings. John, a West Indian ward orderly who manages Ken’s grooming, is viewed as an a dynamic, sexual person who unlike Ken is able to move about “Nurse Sadler, when your eyes flash, you send shivers up and down my spine” Ken, being a quadriplegic is only able to use his brain. Ken has no body language, being completely inactive, and he is thereby unable to be sexual. The reader is positioned from this to feel compassionate towards ken through his lack of body language, and together with Ken’s dialogue, the reader builds up a perspective similar to that of ken, where the reader is then able to feel more sympathetic towards Ken. Properties are just as important as dialogue because they can be used to represent ideas symbolically. The phone in Dr Emerson’s office represents how distant Dr Emerson has become from other patients, how Dr Emerson is not personal with other people. “I know the capital cost is high, but it would save on nursing costs.” The syringe used to give Ken the valium, is a representation of what Ken hates, to the reader, it is further evidence of Ken’s helplessness in his situation. Ken is forced to have the needle “Doctor, I didn’t give you permission to stick that needle in me.”, the
Some topics in this essay:
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Dr Emerson,
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Brian Clark,
Ken Body,
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Approximate Word count = 966
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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