Doctors by Rudyard Kipling (1925)
The work presents a discourse on the relationship between doctors and patients, emphasizing the unique position of doctors as both healers and individuals burdened by societal expectations. The speaker, identifying as a patient, reflects on the duality of existence: doctors as the active combatants against death and patients as the passive recipients of care. The narrative outlines the relentless demands placed on medical professionals, who are expected to be available at all times, regardless of personal circumstances. The speaker highlights the privileges afforded to doctors, such as societal respect and the ability to bypass certain legal restrictions, contrasting these with the lack of self-care and personal time that doctors experience. The text critiques the public's perception of doctors, who are often seen as infallible and are expected to provide care without regard for their own well-being. The speaker acknowledges the historical challenges faced by the medical profession, including skepticism from the public and the interference of amateur opinions that undermine professional expertise. Despite these challenges, the speaker affirms the importance of the medical profession, noting that doctors are tasked with conveying uncomfortable truths about health and consequences, a role that is both a privilege and a burden. The work concludes with a wish for the future success of the doctors, emphasizing the desire for them to have sufficient work and the strength to fulfill their responsibilities. The overarching theme is the complex interplay between the nobility of the medical profession and the harsh realities that practitioners face, underscoring the vital role they play in society.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1925 · Genre: Non-fiction, Essay, Satire · 1,510 words
First lines
GENTLEMEN,
What this Textopian page supports
Doctors is listed on Textopian as a short story by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1925 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Rudyard Kipling
- Date: 1925 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Non-fiction, Essay, Satire, Philosophical, Medical Literature
- Length: 1,510 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Doctors by Rudyard Kipling
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Similar titles
- The Physicians Calling by Charles Kingsley
- A Medical Document by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- Duty And Superstition by Charles Kingsley
- Ye Of Little Faith by Robert Silverberg
- The Prophet And The Country by Rudyard Kipling
- The House Surgeon by Rudyard Kipling
Genres
- Non-fiction — The text discusses the realities and responsibilities of doctors, presenting factual observations about the medical profession.
- Essay — The work is structured as a reflective essay, exploring themes of duty, ethics, and the societal role of doctors.
- Satire — Kipling employs humor and irony to critique societal expectations of doctors and patients.
- Philosophical — The text delves into philosophical questions about life, death, and the moral obligations of medical professionals.
Tags
medicine · healthcare · profession · ethics · duty · sacrifice · humanity · narrative · short stories · colonialism · society · character study