Chekhov’s “The Butterfly”
2006; Elsevier BV; Volume: 119; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.10.037
ISSN1555-7162
Autores Tópico(s)History of Medical Practice
ResumoI read with great interest “The two cultures in Chekhov’s ‘The Butterfly’.”1Mathiasen H. The two cultures in Chekhov’s “The Butterfly.”.Am J Med. 2005; 118: 1179Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2) Google Scholar The article emphasizes the polarization of science and art, literature in particular. Although such opposition may have seemed appropriate when science and medicine became exact and not just intuitive, it is overly simplistic to imply that science and art are not linked. The authors cite Chekhov’s ambivalence about his dual identity as a physician and writer and conclude that one had to overshadow the other because Chekhov was a gifted writer whose fame has survived through his nonmedical literature. Chekhov worked as a physician for years in harsh conditions in Russia, cared for thousands of patients, and did some public health work as well.2Schwartz R.S. ”Medicine is my lawful wife”—Anton Chekhov, 1860-1904.N Engl J Med. 2004; 351: 213-214Crossref PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar He might not have invented the bypass machine or have Sir Osler’s fame as a physician, but to say that touching the lives of thousands of patients is less worthy than leaving an awesome piece of literature is degrading. I am blessed to be both a physician and a classical music singer, and I find these two aspects of my intense life to be complementary rather than exclusive. In fact, having both a cartesian and emotional approach to science and art widens the scope of understanding in both. Chekhov’s writings would certainly have been quite different had he not had the breadth of experience and understanding of human nature he had acquired as a physician. Surely there is an element of ambivalence when you have more than one dominant axis in your life, but who hasn’t at times questioned whether they should be doing something else, especially when a career is as demanding as being a doctor or as unpredictable as being an artist? As Chekhov himself wrote: “Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress. When I get fed up with one, I spend the night with the other. Though it is irregular, it is less boring this way, and besides, neither of them loses anything through my infidelity.” For those of us who embrace both art and medicine, we love and need both. I read with great interest “The two cultures in Chekhov’s ‘The Butterfly’.”1Mathiasen H. The two cultures in Chekhov’s “The Butterfly.”.Am J Med. 2005; 118: 1179Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2) Google Scholar The article emphasizes the polarization of science and art, literature in particular. Although such opposition may have seemed appropriate when science and medicine became exact and not just intuitive, it is overly simplistic to imply that science and art are not linked. The authors cite Chekhov’s ambivalence about his dual identity as a physician and writer and conclude that one had to overshadow the other because Chekhov was a gifted writer whose fame has survived through his nonmedical literature. Chekhov worked as a physician for years in harsh conditions in Russia, cared for thousands of patients, and did some public health work as well.2Schwartz R.S. ”Medicine is my lawful wife”—Anton Chekhov, 1860-1904.N Engl J Med. 2004; 351: 213-214Crossref PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar He might not have invented the bypass machine or have Sir Osler’s fame as a physician, but to say that touching the lives of thousands of patients is less worthy than leaving an awesome piece of literature is degrading. I am blessed to be both a physician and a classical music singer, and I find these two aspects of my intense life to be complementary rather than exclusive. In fact, having both a cartesian and emotional approach to science and art widens the scope of understanding in both. Chekhov’s writings would certainly have been quite different had he not had the breadth of experience and understanding of human nature he had acquired as a physician. Surely there is an element of ambivalence when you have more than one dominant axis in your life, but who hasn’t at times questioned whether they should be doing something else, especially when a career is as demanding as being a doctor or as unpredictable as being an artist? As Chekhov himself wrote: “Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress. When I get fed up with one, I spend the night with the other. Though it is irregular, it is less boring this way, and besides, neither of them loses anything through my infidelity.” For those of us who embrace both art and medicine, we love and need both. The ReplyThe American Journal of MedicineVol. 119Issue 4PreviewLike Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), Dr. Michele Halpern embodies two cultures, in her case medicine and music, in his case medicine and literature. Doubtless many physicians link their medical careers to other interests of a nonmedical nature, but few, if any, become world famous playwrights as did Chekhov. Chekhov’s reputation in the West rests on his plays, in particular Uncle Vanya, The Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard. These have been staged and turned into screen versions multiple times. In terms of the theater of naturalism, Chekhov’s name is usually linked with those of Ibsen and Strindberg, indicating his important contribution to the modern stage. Full-Text PDF
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