“This gives strength to their teeth, it gives length to their hair, and they live without doctors, with nary a care.”
The story opens up with the narrator speaking of a the far away land of Fotta-fa-Zee, where the residents reside in good health by feasting on the Tutt-a-Tutt Tree. This quote is highlighting how an ideal world would be, which is sharply contrasted with the experience of the old man in the hospital setting as the story goes on.
“And when that guy finds out what you like, you can bet it won’t be on your diet. From here on, forget it!”
When the old man is put through a machine to test for foods as he smells it, it is a fun children’s version of the actual machines used in a healthcare setting. However, despite the light-hearted nature of it, the reader still experiences the burden the old man’s health will have on hum, as he can no longer do as he pleases or eat what he wants.
“Fitzsimmons, Fitzgerald, and Fitzpatrick, too, all of whom will prescribe a prescription for you.”
Here you can see you the clinical nature of the treatment the old man receives in the hospital. The use of alliteration when naming the different doctors highlight how all of the doctor’s blur and become the same in the eyes of the reader. It is written in the format of a tongue twister to confuse the reader but also emphasise the repetitive nature of the man’s life.
“Through thin and through thick, I’ll be at your back side.”
This quote is ironic because instead of the porter stating that he will be at the old man side, instead he uses the phrase “back side.” Of course it is a play on the occupation of the porter as he pushes the old man along in his wheelchair, but it is also a sad moment for the reader as it gives a false impression of someone being there for the man throughout his hospital experience instead of simply the journey to the next hospital room.
