Summary:
The Doctor’s Dilemma is a play written by George Bernard Shaw in 1906. It explores themes of medical ethics, morality, class privilege, and the limitations of the healthcare system. The play centers around Dr. Colenso Ridgeon, a newly knighted doctor who has discovered a cure for tuberculosis but has limited resources and must decide which patients to save.
Dr. Ridgeon faces a moral dilemma when he must choose between saving Louis Dubedat, a talented but immoral artist, or an honest but less remarkable patient. His decision becomes even more complicated when he falls in love with Dubedat’s wife, Jennifer. The play critiques the commercialization of medicine and the subjectivity of moral judgments in life-and-death decisions.
Shaw uses satire to question whether doctors should play the role of “God” in choosing who deserves to live. The play highlights how wealth, influence, and personal bias affect medical treatment, making it a powerful commentary on the ethics of healthcare.
MCQs:
- Who wrote The Doctor’s Dilemma?
A) Henrik Ibsen
B) George Bernard Shaw
C) Oscar Wilde
D) Arthur Miller
Answer: B) George Bernard Shaw - In which year was The Doctor’s Dilemma written?
A) 1895
B) 1901
C) 1906
D) 1912
Answer: C) 1906 - What is Dr. Colenso Ridgeon’s profession?
A) A lawyer
B) A scientist
C) A doctor
D) A businessman
Answer: C) A doctor
The Doctor’s Dilemma - What discovery has Dr. Ridgeon made?
A) A cure for cancer
B) A cure for tuberculosis
C) A new surgical technique
D) A vaccine for smallpox
Answer: B) A cure for tuberculosis - What is Dr. Ridgeon’s dilemma?
A) Whether to marry Jennifer
B) Whether to treat Louis Dubedat or another patient
C) Whether to leave his profession
D) Whether to become a politician
Answer: B) Whether to treat Louis Dubedat or another patient - Who is Louis Dubedat?
A) A wealthy businessman
B) A famous writer
C) A talented but morally corrupt artist
D) A respected doctor
Answer: C) A talented but morally corrupt artist - Why does Dr. Ridgeon hesitate to treat Dubedat?
A) He dislikes artists
B) Dubedat is dishonest and immoral
C) Jennifer asks him not to
D) He has no cure for tuberculosis
Answer: B) Dubedat is dishonest and immoral - Who is Jennifer Dubedat?
A) Dr. Ridgeon’s assistant
B) Louis Dubedat’s wife
C) A medical student
D) A journalist
Answer: B) Louis Dubedat’s wife - What theme is most explored in the play?
A) The love between a doctor and a patient
B) The commercialization of medicine and ethical dilemmas in healthcare
C) The benefits of scientific discoveries
D) The history of tuberculosis treatment
Answer: B) The commercialization of medicine and ethical dilemmas in healthcare - What does Shaw criticize in the play?
A) The dishonesty of artists
B) The corruption in politics
C) The moral conflicts in the medical profession
D) The decline of the British Empire
Answer: C) The moral conflicts in the medical profession
| Question | Answer |
| Play Name | The Doctor’s Dilemma |
| Author | George Bernard Shaw |
| Year Written | 1906 |
| Main Themes | Medical ethics, morality, class privilege, commercialization of medicine |
| Literary Devices | Satire, irony, realism |
| Protagonist | Dr. Colenso Ridgeon |
| Dr. Ridgeon’s Discovery | A cure for tuberculosis |
| Dr. Ridgeon’s Dilemma | Choosing which patient to save |
| Message | Medicine should be based on need, not wealth or personal bias |