M*A*S*H 4077

B.J. being such a nonconformist with his mustache, suspenders, pink shirt, and motorcycle makes me wonder if the seed of it was planted long before he got drafted, and how he'll settle back into this structured suburban upper/middle class life. I think he mentions planning to open his own practice early on, but considering all his research and creativity in the O.R. I wouldn't be surprised if he wants a fast paced hospital position, or to get a second certification.

B.J.: we could see each other at conferences.

And Hawkeye immediately shooting this down saying neither of them are the type to attend. B.J. agrees, but I think B.J. IS actually the type to attend. B.J. from the very beginning has been shown to be ambitious and competitive. He's the one always reading journals and bringing it into the O.R. Even in the middle of Korea he wants to stay at the top of his game. Hawkeye has blown off confences because he believes what is being taught will not be actively useful to the type of surgery he's doing in a MASH unit until he's proven wrong. He keeps up with his reading, but he isn't looking at these experimental techniques and seeing ways to apply them like B.J. is, or when he does it's because B.J. has spoken about the technique he read about and Hawkeye will have B.J. preform it as he has the most understanding of it.

I think for B.J. being a doctor was an expectation and a career goal. He wanted to be the best at it because there's legacy behind him and he's a naturally competitive person. The war put his life off it's trajectory, but it might have set him up for a more fulfilling career in the future where he'll be able to pursue what he's interested in rather than what's expected as the optimum career option, and with his drive and ambition he'll probably succeed. He'll always resent the war for what it took from him though.

Hawkeye has an ego about his own skills, but it comes from often being the smartest, quickest guy in the room. He's not ambitious and he's not as competitive about being a doctor as B.J. and Charles accuse him of being (both of whom are often putting themselves in competiton with with Hawkeye). He doesn't chase fame, but he resents those he views as less talented getting accolades (or in Charles case early on, caring more about ego/accolades than about patient care). Being a doctor is a vocation. He'd do it rich or poor. He hates being in the army doing surgery in such bad conditions, but he'll work with an injured finger, he'll force himself to go in a cave, he'll turn down a general offering him a position in Tokyo because he wants to be in the place he'll do the most good. Radar accuses him of being a hypocrite when he gets angry that Radar wants to stay thinking the 4077 can't survive without him. He says if their positions were reversed Hawkeye would stay too.

This isn't to say Hawkeye is particularly brave or noble (he has his moments as every character in the show does), he's simply unable to ignore the part of him that is a doctor. A part so intrinsic to him his girlfriend left him because she didn't want to be second to it.

In the end Hawkeye, who is the hot shot chest cutter at the beginning of the war will probably settle in his little hometown with no desire for a big career which he may have pictured when he first went to the city. He wants to know his patients and form bonds and connections with them because it's impossible for him to be impartial and removed after his experience and traumas as an army surgeon.