Praise

Through exploring the theme of praise, Kay illustrates to readers the complex nature of the medical profession, showing the difficulties with being a doctor along with the rewards. Throughout the book, Kay has a complicated relationship with the theme of praise. He appears to have a tougher time accepting the lack of appreciation when he is straight out of medical school and gradually spends less time talking about the subject. Although it is a prominent theme throughout the book, Kay seems to get more accustomed to the lack of praise in the profession as the moves up the ranks. By the end of the novel, it is not the lack of praise that forces him out of medicine, but rather the fear that he does not deserve it and that he is a bad doctor.

Kay argues this theme most prominently in the opening of Chapter 4, when he...