Overview of Denis Johnson’s “Emergency”
Denis Johnson’s “Emergency,” a critically acclaimed story from Jesus’ Son, portrays a hospital clerk and an orderly navigating their overnight shift. The narrative blends humor and profound moments, exploring themes of drug use and altered perception.
Publication and Background
“Emergency” initially appeared in The New Yorker in 1991. Denis Johnson, who passed away in 2017, received the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction posthumously. The story is known for its unique narrative style.
Originally Published in The New Yorker
Denis Johnson’s short story, “Emergency,” first graced the pages of The New Yorker in 1991, marking a significant moment in the author’s career and solidifying its place in contemporary literature. The story’s publication in such a prestigious magazine brought it to a wide audience. This initial exposure helped to launch the story into the realm of critical acclaim and popular recognition. The original publication in The New Yorker also benefited from the magazine’s reputation for high-quality fiction and its discerning readership. Its appearance there signals the story’s literary merit and its alignment with the magazine’s editorial standards. The story remains accessible through The New Yorker archives and continues to be discovered by new readers. The podcast read by Tobias Wolff is also available through the New Yorker.
Plot Summary
“Emergency” follows the narrator, Fuckhead, and his friend Georgie working in an emergency room in 1973. Their experiences are colored by drug use, bizarre encounters, and moments of unexpected humanity.
Working in the Emergency Room in 1973
The story is set in 1973, where the narrator, known as Fuckhead, works the night shift in a Midwest hospital emergency room. The setting is crucial, as the atmosphere of a busy, often chaotic, ER provides a backdrop for the characters’ drug-fueled experiences and encounters with unusual patients. During this time, Fuckhead begins his work. The overnight shift offers little to do, as the days’ insurance reports are batched. As a result, Fuckhead wanders around the coronary-care unit.
The narrative captures the ennui and detached observation of the narrator as he witnesses the everyday dramas and absurdities. The period is marked by the accessibility of drugs, which become a coping mechanism and a catalyst for hallucinations, further blurring the lines between reality and altered states within the ER environment.
Drugs and Hallucinations
Drugs play a central role in “Emergency,” serving as a catalyst for the characters’ altered perceptions and experiences. Fuckhead and Georgie, the orderly, frequently use stolen medications, leading to vivid hallucinations. Georgie, for instance, hallucinates a pool of blood in the O.R., which he obsessively mops. The drug use blurs the line between reality and fantasy, creating a surreal atmosphere.
These hallucinations enhance the story’s sense of detachment and absurdity, reflecting the characters’ attempts to cope with the harsh realities of their environment. The drugs also serve to heighten their sensory experiences, amplifying the already heightened drama of the emergency room. This is a constant theme of Emergency. The story’s impact is derived from the drug use.
The Patient with a Knife in His Eye
A pivotal moment in “Emergency” involves a patient arriving at the emergency room with a knife lodged in his eye. This shocking image underscores the story’s themes of violence and the fragility of life. The narrator and Georgie, despite their drug-induced haze, are confronted with the stark reality of human suffering.
The patient with the knife in his eye embodies the unpredictable nature of emergencies and the randomness of misfortune. The incident forces the characters to confront the consequences of their actions, even if only momentarily. The scene is surreal, a stark reminder of the story’s darker undertones. The knife in the eye is one of the most shocking moments in the story.
Themes and Analysis
“Emergency” explores themes of addiction, perception, and the human condition. Johnson employs a fragmented narrative and dark humor to depict the characters’ struggles and the surreal atmosphere of the emergency room setting.
Pacing and Structure
The pacing of “Emergency” is distinctive, characterized by its fragmented structure and frequent shifts in focus. The story unfolds through a series of vignettes, some remarkably brief, creating a sense of disjointedness and immediacy. This unconventional structure mirrors the characters’ altered states and the chaotic environment of the emergency room. These abrupt transitions contribute to the story’s overall feeling of disorientation and heightened sensory experience.
Johnson’s masterful control over pacing allows him to seamlessly blend moments of dark humor with profound observations about life, death, and the search for meaning. The fragmented narrative invites readers to piece together the story’s meaning, mirroring the characters’ own attempts to make sense of their experiences within the story.
Humor and Heart
“Emergency” masterfully balances dark humor with genuine moments of pathos. The story’s humor often arises from the characters’ drug-induced antics and their detached observations of the absurdities of life in the emergency room. This levity serves as a coping mechanism, shielding them from the harsh realities they face.
Beneath the surface of the humor, however, lies a deep well of empathy. Johnson portrays his characters with compassion, revealing their vulnerabilities and their longing for connection. The story explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and the search for meaning in a world often devoid of it. The juxtaposition of humor and heart creates a powerful and moving reading experience, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
Character Analysis
The story’s strength lies in its characters, especially Fuckhead and Georgie. Their flaws and vulnerabilities are shown, creating a bond with readers. They navigate their experiences with a unique outlook.
Fuckhead (The Narrator)
The narrator, often referred to as “Fuckhead,” is the central consciousness through which the story unfolds. His detached and observant perspective shapes our understanding of the events in the emergency room. He is a drug user, working the night shift, and is easily influenced by his friend Georgie. He is passive, often going along with Georgie’s antics without much resistance, suggesting a certain lack of direction or purpose in his life.
His interactions and internal monologues reveal a character grappling with the absurdity and sometimes harsh reality of his surroundings. Despite his drug use and questionable decisions, there’s a sense of underlying empathy and a search for meaning amidst the chaos. He is an observer, chronicling the strange happenings around him with a blend of detachment and dark humor, inviting readers to reflect on the nature of perception and the human condition.
Georgie (The Orderly)
Georgie, the orderly, is a key figure in “Emergency,” acting as a catalyst for many of the story’s bizarre events. He is characterized by his impulsive nature and his propensity for stealing drugs, which he shares with the narrator, “Fuckhead.” Georgie’s drug use leads to hallucinations, such as the infamous vision of a pool of blood in the O.R., showcasing his detachment from reality.
He is presented as a somewhat unreliable and chaotic influence on the narrator. Despite his flaws, Georgie brings an element of unpredictable energy and humor to the narrative, acting as a counterpoint to the narrator’s more passive demeanor. He is an unpredictable force who drives much of the action.
Critical Reception
“Emergency” has received widespread critical acclaim, celebrated for its unique voice, dark humor, and poignant exploration of human connection amidst chaos. Many consider it a standout story in Johnson’s collection.
Critically Acclaimed Story
“Emergency” stands out as one of the most critically acclaimed stories within Denis Johnson’s collection, Jesus’ Son. It’s celebrated for its distinctive narrative voice, which blends dark humor with moments of profound insight. Critics have lauded Johnson’s ability to capture the disorienting effects of drug use and the surreal atmosphere of the emergency room setting. The story’s exploration of human connection, even in the midst of chaos and absurdity, has also been widely praised.
The story’s impact is further amplified by its memorable characters, particularly Fuckhead and Georgie, whose interactions resonate with both humor and a poignant sense of shared experience. “Emergency” continues to be studied and admired for its innovative structure, compelling themes, and lasting emotional resonance, solidifying its place as a significant work of contemporary American fiction.
Resources and Further Study
Explore SuperSummary for detailed analysis, or listen to The New Yorker‘s Fiction Podcast featuring Tobias Wolff reading “Emergency.” These resources offer valuable insights for deeper understanding and appreciation of the story.
SuperSummary Study Guide
Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “Emergency” by Denis Johnson. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. Get ready to explore “Emergency” and its meaning.
Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book. SuperSummary study guides offer valuable insights for deeper understanding and appreciation of the story. These resources offer valuable insights for deeper understanding and appreciation of the story.
The New Yorker Fiction Podcast
It’s highly recommended to listen to the fiction podcast, featuring Tobias Wolff reading Denis Johnson’s story, “Emergency,” which appeared in the magazine in 1991. Wolff expertly delivers the heart and humor of this tale, providing a brilliant narration of Johnson’s work. Following the reading, Wolff is expertly interrogated by Deborah Treisman, the fiction editor, offering further insights into the story’s nuances.
“Emergency” was the introduction to Denis Johnson for some listeners. The podcast beautifully captures Johnson’s signature blend of dark humor and profound observations, making it an essential listen for fans and newcomers alike. The podcast really delivers the heart and humor.