The The Doctor in Drama

Literary Works and Their Reception in Nineteenth­ Century Polish Theatre

Abstract

The article presents several dramas with a leading a doctor as a central character that were performed in Polish theatre in the nineteenth century and preserved in the form of printed editions or manuscripts. These works served as an important source of knowledge for audiences about medicine and emerging medical trends. They addressed not only issues related to health, disease, and treatment, but above all, the changes taking place in the social perception of the medical profession, including the gradual expansion of the group of medical practitioners to include women. In nineteenth-century drama – even in its first half, when a sarcastic treatment of certain aspects of the medical profession prevailed under the strong influence of the Molière tradition – doctors as participants in dramatic action were generally positive characters. They chose their profession out of a sense of vocation and selflessly assisted other heroes in difficult life situations. Nevertheless, they often encountered social prejudice, including accusations that they were driven by excessive financial motives, while also struggling with their personal problems resulting from their dedication to their work. By the end of the nineteenth century, stereotypical portrayals in dramas concerned primarily female doctors, who were often depicted not so much as practitioners of a demaning profession, but rather as feminists who, out of excessive ambition and for inappropriate reasons, forced their way into the field traditionally reserved for men.