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I Could Never Quite Get It Together: Lessons for End-of –Life Care in Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker

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Abstract

Pinter’s play The Caretaker explores interpersonal tensions relating to terminal illness. This paper interrogates notions of care, suffering, ownership, dignity and the consequences of active intervention and inaction in two key sections of the play: Aston’s monologue concerning his own brutal treatment (active intervention) and Davies’s final rejection by the brothers who fail to provide accommodation and care (inaction). This interprofessional analysis combines theatrical and clinical perspectives to create insights which can enhance empathy improve decision-making in end of life care and can inform the education of healthcare professionals.

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Notes

  1. Pinter, The Caretaker, London: Faber & Faber 1991. Subsequent references to this work appear in the text.

  2. “For better, for worse,” National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy, accessed April 25, 2010. http://www.ncepod.org.uk/2008report3/Downloads/SACT_summary.pdf.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Languages, Literatures and Performing Arts, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK

    Ewan Jeffrey

  2. Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, University of Dundee Medical School, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK

    David Jeffrey

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  1. Ewan Jeffrey
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  2. David Jeffrey
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Correspondence to David Jeffrey.

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Jeffrey, E., Jeffrey, D. I Could Never Quite Get It Together: Lessons for End-of –Life Care in Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker . J Med Humanit 33, 117–126 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-012-9173-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-012-9173-9

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