The Doctor's Dilemma by George Bernard Shaw
The Doctor's Dilemma is a play by George Bernard Shaw, first performed in 1906. It is a comedy about a doctor who must choose between two patients, one of whom is a friend and the other a genius. The doctor must decide which one to save, and in doing so, must confront the ethical dilemmas of modern medicine. The play is a satire of the medical profession and its ethical dilemmas, and is considered one of Shaw's most important works. The play follows the story of Dr. Colenso Ridgeon, a successful doctor who is faced with the difficult decision of choosing between two patients. The first is a friend of his, a talented but irresponsible artist, and the second is a genius scientist who has discovered a cure for tuberculosis. The doctor must decide which one to save, and in doing so, must confront the ethical dilemmas of modern medicine. The play is a commentary on the medical profession and its ethical dilemmas, and is considered one of Shaw's most important works.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1911 · Genre: Drama, Comedy, Satire · 5 chapters · 32,603 words
First lines
DEDICATION: I am grateful to Hesba Stretton, the authoress of "Jessica's First Prayer," for permission to use the title of one of her stories for this play.
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Genres
- Drama — The Doctor's Dilemma is a play written by George Bernard Shaw, which is a form of drama.
- Comedy — The Doctor's Dilemma is a comedic play, as it contains humorous dialogue and situations.
- Satire — The Doctor's Dilemma is a satirical play, as it uses humor to criticize society and its institutions.
- Romance — The Doctor's Dilemma contains a romantic subplot between two of the characters.
Tags
A Doctor Must Decide Who Will Receive Scarce Life-saving Treatment · Drama · Physicians · blenkinsop · chair · cure · day · doctor · door · dubedat · emmy · english literature
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The Doctor's Dilemma is listed on Textopian as a play by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1911 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Comedy, Satire, Romance
- Length: 32,603 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 1,283 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Doctor's Dilemma by George Bernard Shaw
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