Essay Questions

Why does Ridgeon allow Bonington to treat Louis?

Ridgeon is known to be the foremost expert on treating tuberculosis, yet he sends Louis to Bonington for care. The reason is that Ridgeon desires to marry Louis' wife, and the only way to do so is to have Louis completely out of the picture. Thus, he sends him to Dr. Bonington knowing that Bonington doesn't know exactly how to cure tuberculosis and thus increases his chances of killing the young artist and giving himself the opportunity to marry Jennifer.

Why does Shaw write in the stage directions that Emmy is dusting Dr. Ridgeon's consultation room?

Emmy is the house-maid for Dr. Ridgeon. She is a woman not of the upper class and is only called by her first name in the play. She is a woman who sees through the chattering of Ridgeon and Sir Patrick. Thus, Shaw having her dust the consultation room relates to the fact that she is a woman who represents far more than a maid, but instead someone who understands that the thinking of these doctors who have become rulers of life and death must continuously be kept clean as they are prone to hold on to their own ways of thinking which leads to their own sense of morality.

What is the irony of Dr. Ridgeon saying that the most tragic thing in the world is genius without honor?

Ridgeon says that the greatest tragedy is genius without honor. He is referring to Louis when he says this just after the young artist has died. The irony of his statement is that Ridgeon is considered a genius himself in that he has developed a treatment for tuberculosis that nearly always cures his patients. Ridgeon sees Louis as a man without honor because he's married to two women at the same time and also swindles money from people. Ironically, Ridgeon's genius has no honor either as he allows Louis to die knowing that Bonington does not have the skill to cure him, only he does.