triteness, I think that's definitely true. But when we see someone in a wheelchair, I think the tendency is to assume it is permanent. But ifI see someone with a cane who looks physically fit, I'm more likely to think "knee surgery" or "sprain." It's House's perception of himself that makes him think that people look at him and think "cripple" rather than "temporary leg injury."
In fact, it's the people who know him well enough to know it's permanent are the ones who know he's an ass and treat him like an ass.
Certainly. I think it was mentioned, thought, that he's in a hospital, a place in which you are usually more aware of disabilities. And as he acted politely and apologized, she didn't even risk an argument. The part I found strange was she leaving, embarrassed. She had no reason to be.
You made another nice point. House's behavior, to some extent, apparently exists to protect himself from pity. I don't recall having an episode that deals with his view on pity, but I'd bet he'd much rather be viewed as a bastard than a poor bastard.
You made another nice point. House's behavior, to some extent, apparently exists to protect himself from pity. I don't recall having an episode that deals with his view on pity, but I'd bet he'd much rather be viewed as a bastard than a poor bastard.
It's not a full episode, but they certainly made that point -- or at least strongly implied it -- in the very beginning of the pilot when House says "patients don't want a sick doctor." So from the very start, he doesn't want to be seen, especially not when the automatic assumption is "sick."
There's also the whole "circle queen" speech from Lines in the Sand:
Spoken like a true circle queen. See, skinny, socially privileged white people get to draw this neat little circle, and everyone inside the circle is normal. And anyone outside the circle should be beaten, broken and reset so they can be brought into the circle. Failing that, they should be institutionalized or worse, pitied.
