The Use of Force – By William Carlos Williams

Read Time:6 Minute, 46 Second

Summary

Characters

1) Mrs. Olson, the patient’s mother

2) Mr. Olson, the patient’s father

3) Mathilda, the child who is sick

4) The doctor

“The Use of Force” is a story written by William Carlos Williams. This story centers around the conflict that arises during the doctor’s visit to a sick child and presents a crucial problem whether use of force for benevolent (kind) purposes is justifiable or not.

The story shows the conflict between a doctor and his patient at one level and doctor and the parents at another level. The conflict between the doctor and the patient is physical. But the conflict between doctor and parents is psychological. This story tells that the use of force for the benevolent purpose is ethical and justifiable.

The narrator is a doctor who visits the house of the Olson family. Mrs. Olson and Mr. Olson had a small daughter Mithalda who had been suffering from high fever for three days. Since no medicine worked, her parents called the doctor spending three dollars. Mrs. Olson, took the doctor into the kitchen where the fully-dressed girl was sitting on her father’s lap. The doctor found that all of them were very nervous and looking at him doubtfully. They expected that the doctor would tell everything about the girl’s disease and health condition. Girl’s parents were fearful thinking that the girl might be suffering from diphtheria . The doctor asked her parents if she had a sore throat. The parents had not taken a look at her throat because they did not want to hurt her. The child stared at the doctor. Her face was red and was breathing rapidly. There were a number of cases diphtheria in the child’s school. So the doctor wanted to take a look at her throat first. He smiled and asked the child to open her mouth, but the child did not respond. He showed her his empty hands and said that he just wanted to take a look. The doctor hated the parents when they say that the doctor was a nice man and would not hurt her. He did not like the word ‘hurt’. When the doctor went near the child, she suddenly attacked his eyes with her nails. His glasses flew and fell on the floor, but they were unbroken. Both the parents felt sorry for that. Then the doctor decided to use force rather than let her die. When the doctor was about to look into her throat, her father suddenly released her. The parents were worried, restless and fearful thinking that the doctor might harm her child.

On next attempt, he grasped the child’s head and tried to get the wooden depressor into her mouth. The girl broke it with her molars. The child’s mouth started bleeding. If he stopped now and came back in an hour or more, it would be better, but such a neglect might cause her death. He thought that the child must be protected, although she was stupid. It was also his social responsibility. Later he forced the spoon back of her teeth and throat. He found that she had a sore throat and was suffering from diphtheria. Generally, force is unjustifiable, but if it is used with good motives in order to save somebody’s life, it becomes a necessity. Here the mental conflict was between the doctor and the parents of the patient. The doctor used force because of social responsibility while the parents did not want the use of force. Their love towards their child was about to cause the death of their child. The parents concentrated on immediate pain without thinking about the consequences of deadly diseases. So the doctor loved the innocent child but found her parents hateful.

It seems unkind to use force upon a little child. But the story may be trying to say that it is justifiable to use force for a right cause. Using force to upset or hurt someone is really bad. But using force for a right purpose can be justified. Although the doctor’s behavior upsets the child for a short time, her life is saved. The story tells that the use of force for benevolent purposes is justifiable.

Questions

1) What is the nature of the conflict in the story?

Ans: The nature of the conflict in the story is both physical and emotional. The conflict between the doctor and the patient is physical. Likewise, the conflict between doctor and parents is psychological. This story tells that the use of force for good purpose is ethical and justifiable.

2) Why does the doctor respect the child but find the parents “contemptible” (hateful) ?

Ans: The doctor has to struggle a lot to see if the girl has a sore throat. He wants to find if the girl is suffering from diphtheria. When the doctor went near the child, she suddenly attacked his eyes with her nails. But he doesn’t mind for the girl’s mischief because he thinks that it is natural to show such behaviour by the child. Naturally, children are afraid of disease, doctor and vaccination. He forgives for the child’s mischief. He also says that he has already fallen in love with the savage (violent) brat (an ill-mannered annoying child). He thought that the child must be protected, although she was stupid. So the doctor respects the child.

But he finds the girl’s parents “contemptible” (hateful) because he can’t accept the parents’ behaviour in natural way. Although child’s parents want her child to be cured, they are not helping the doctor properly. They are worried, restless and fearful thinking that the doctor may harm their child. Parents have not taken a look up to now at her throat because they did not want to hurt her. The parents also said that the doctor was a nice man and would not hurt her. Indirectly parents seem to say that doctor is the person to hurt the patients. So, the doctor finds the parents “contemptible”.

3) What does the story tell us about the use of force?

Ans: The story tells us that the use of force for the benevolent purpose is ethical and justifiable. In the story, the doctor has used the force to see the child’s throat sore in spite of her unwillingness. He just used the force to save her from dying. So the story tells us that sometimes we should use the force in spite of one’s unwillingness for better result.

4) What is power? Why is it important for the doctor as well as the child?

Ans: The story presents power as the ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way. In the story, the doctor has used power to the child’s throat sore in spite of her unwillingness. This power is important for both the doctor and for the child, Mathilda. If doctor had not used his force, child’s disease may not be identified and she may die. Using the power is also important for the doctor. The doctor’s duty is to save the patients. So he is trying to find the girl’s disease but she doesn’t allow to see her throat sore. So he uses the power, finds the disease, and saves her.

5) Is it justified or unjustified for a doctor to use violence on the patient? Why or why not?

Ans: It is justified for a doctor to use violence on the patient. The doctor’s duty is to save the patients at any cost. But sometime patients don’t allow the doctor to check them. They attack the doctor. The doctor has to bear patients’ mischief. In such condition, it is good for a doctor to use violence on the patients, find the disease, and save them. Naturally patients, especially children and old people get afraid of disease and vaccines. So that they hide their real problem like Mathilda in the story. In such a condition, the doctor has no choice and uses the force. If the doctor doesn’t saved the patients even using the force, he/she may be blamed for the cause of patients’ death.