I Can See Orion’s Belt from a Hospital

Against the usual afternoon fashion of a IB1 student-who should be preparing for the academic storm that will ensue- I decided to dedicate my time to watching one episode of my all time favorite medical program. The ER, which is actually a pretty massive show numbering with 15 seasons since 1994 while unparalleled in medical accuracy. Thanks to my summer, and tremendous procrastination, I completed the onerous task of reaching season 8 episode 18 named “Orion’s belt”. Hmmm does that name not ring a bell, if so you nailed it. It’s a reference to the constellation “Orion the Hunter” whom has a belt comprised of three stars, hence fitting the name “Orions belt”. For those more experienced in mythology- which I lack complete knowledge in- can tell you all about the fascinating history, however. I wanted to delve into how a medical drama such as the ER could perfectly allude to a constellation while grasping the meaning behind it. 

“Mark Greene” from the ER

For some context one of the leading doctors, Mark Green, was diagnosed with a inoperable brain tumor. As any a typical person facing the realities of unescapable death he plunges himself back into the never-ending work of medicine. He did accept treatment by engaging in chemotherapy, but was physically and mentally limited. While not being apprehensive he was definitely in fear, not from the condition but from ending up as a patient that he once treated. Once he realized that in almost abrupt defiance excuses the nurse as he removes the IV stuck in his arm and leaves. Now to the viewers at home it’s blatant that he has come to condone his eventual fate of death, by yearning to spend the last months of his lives rid of bedridden. Although the last patient he treats is a scared little girl with a splinter whom Dr. Green instructs to close her eyes to reminisce happy thoughts in distraction. Actual she recites the mythological story of Orion’s belt in a poetic fashion which ends with Dr Green treating her as his final patient uneventfully. 

Now this got me thinking is there any symbolic meaning behind such a title; why such a pivotal episode was named after the Astros. Well after three seconds of typing into my search engine, Orion’s belt emulates the bridge between life and death across the cosmos. Now typically a bridge symbolizes a consensus or peace which I believe shows that Dr. Green has come to peace with his fate by enjoying his last months. In the end he does eventually die in the arms of his family, but away from the turmoils of work and detrimental effects of chemo. I thought it was interesting how a constellation could holster such authentic meaning while used tasteful in a medical drama which created  a slice of life moment.