“The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams

Introduction: “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams

Written by William Carlos Williams, “The Use of Force” is a short story that was published in 1938 and has gained significant popularity since then. The story revolves around a doctor who is called to examine a sick child and ends up using force to examine her throat. Through the doctor’s internal monologue, the reader gains insight into his thought process and the tension that arises between the doctor and the child’s parents. The story’s popularity can be attributed to Williams’ unique writing style and his ability to capture the complexities of human nature, particularly the struggle for power and control. Overall, “The Use of Force” is a thought-provoking story that forces the reader to question the morality of using force, even in situations where it may seem necessary.

Main Events in “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams

1. The Call: A doctor is summoned to examine a young girl named Mathilda who is suspected of having diphtheria.
2. Initial Resistance: The child’s parents are hesitant and provide minimal information, hindering the doctor’s assessment.
3. The Examination Attempt: The doctor tries to gently examine Mathilda’s throat, but she fiercely resists.
4. Escalation: The tension escalates as the child scratches at the doctor, knocking off his glasses and refusing to cooperate.
5. Parental Ineffectiveness: Despite the parents’ pleas for Mathilda to comply, she remains defiant, and their words prove useless.
6. The Doctor’s Frustration: Growing impatient, the doctor warns the parents about the severity of diphtheria and the danger to their daughter.
7. Forced Examination: The parents agree to let the doctor proceed, and a violent struggle ensues as he forcibly examines the girl’s throat.
8. The Struggle: Mathilda fights ferociously, biting the tongue depressor, while her parents become anguished and overwhelmed.
9. Fury and Force: In the heat of the moment, the doctor loses his composure, his actions driven by rage and a warped sense of duty. He violently forces a spoon into Mathilda’s throat.
10. Discovery and Aftermath: The doctor confirms diphtheria but feels shaken by his own brutality. Matilda, defeated but furious, attempts to attack him.

Literary Devices in “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams

1. Imagery: Vivid sensory details evoke the tension and physical struggle.
   • “catlike movement” of the child’s hands
   • “She had magnificent blonde hair, in profusion”
2. Point of View: First-person narration from the doctor’s perspective, highlighting his escalating frustration and the ethical conflict.
3. Dialogue: Reveals the power dynamics among the doctor, the child, and her parents.
   • The parents’ ineffectual pleas contrasted with the doctor’s increasingly forceful commands.
4. Symbolism:
   • The tongue depressor and spoon represent tools of medical power but also the oppressive force the doctor uses.
   • Diphtheria symbolizes the hidden danger lurking beneath the situation’s surface.
5. Contrast:
   • The child’s outward beauty vs. her inner strength and defiance.
   • The stark language of the struggle vs. the clinical opening of the story.
6. Diction: Word choices reveal shifts in the doctor’s tone.
   • Moves from professional (“sore throat?”) to dismissive (“the savage brat”)
7. Metaphor:
   • The child is compared to a “heifer,” emphasizing her animalistic resistance.
   • The doctor’s battle with the child becomes a metaphor for the struggle between reason and primal emotion.
8. Juxtaposition: The parents’ apologetic demeanor is juxtaposed sharply with the violence of the examination scene.
9. Foreshadowing: Early hints, like the “picture children” reference and the mention of diphtheria cases, subtly build suspense.
10. Internal Conflict: The doctor battles with his own conflicting impulses – the desire to help vs. the brutality he unleashes.
11. Tone Shift: The story moves from a somewhat detached medical tone to a raw, emotionally charged one.
12. Irony:
    • The doctor, meant to be a healer, acts with damaging force.
    • The parents’ desire to protect their child inadvertently leads to her being hurt.
13. Allusion: The subtle reference to children dying of neglect hints at the broader social context and consequences of inaction.
14. Repetition: Of phrases like “open your mouth” emphasizes the relentless pressure on the child.
15. Sentence Structure: Short, fragmented sentences during the struggle mirror the chaos and the doctor’s unhinged state of mind.

Characterization in “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams

Character	Description	Key Actions/Dialogue	Analysis
The Doctor	Initially professional and detached.	* “Has she had a sore throat?” (clinical assessment) * “I’m here to look at her throat…possibly die of it” (direct warning) * “I ground my teeth in disgust” (shows frustration) * “It was a pleasure to attack her” (violent outburst)	The story’s central figure, embodies the conflict between duty and brutality. His initial composure erodes, revealing anger and a warped desire for control.
Mathilda	A young girl, outwardly beautiful but fiercely resistant.	* Silent defiance, scratches at the doctor, fights examination * “Stop it! Stop it! You’re killing me!” (resists violently) * Attempts to attack the doctor after the diagnosis	Represents a force of will and fear, defying the doctor’s expectations. Her silence makes her both inscrutable and a catalyst for the doctor’s internal struggle.
The Parents	Anxious and apologetic, yet ultimately passive.	* “Is this the doctor?” (timid greeting) * “We tho’t you’d better look her over” (defer to authority) * “You bad girl…” (ineffectual scolding) * “You get out…Do you want her to die of diphtheria?” (torn between protection and fear)	Highlight the power imbalance between doctor and family. Their weakness, while frustrating, contrasts the child’s unexpected strength and fuels the story’s central conflict.

Major Themes in “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams

• The Corrupting Influence of Power:
  • The doctor initially represents a position of authority and knowledge.
  • His frustration leads to a misuse of power, revealing its potential to transform even a healer into an aggressor (“It was a pleasure to attack her”).
• The Struggle Between Reason and Emotion:
  • The doctor attempts a rational, clinical approach but succumbs to primal rage.
  • This is illustrated by his internal conflict and the shift in his language, from professional to overtly violent.
• Limits of Parental Authority:
  • The parents desire to protect Mathilda but lack the power to control her or the situation.
  • Their pleas are ineffective, highlighting their helplessness against both the disease and the doctor’s actions (“You bad girl…”).
• Ethical Dilemmas in Medicine:
  • The doctor grapples with the line between necessary medical intervention and brutal force.
  • The story questions whether the ends (a correct diagnosis) justify the violent means.
• The Nature of Defiance and Resistance:
  • Mathilda, though small, displays fierce resistance to authority and the threat of pain.
  • Her fight symbolizes the struggle of an individual against a system, even if ultimately unsuccessful.
• Hidden Dangers:
  • Diphtheria lurks beneath the surface, as does the potential for violence in the doctor.
  • This theme suggests the existence of unseen threats and complexities beneath seemingly ordinary situations.

Writing Style in “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams

• Direct & Sparse: Williams favors short, unadorned sentences and simple vocabulary. This creates an immediacy and matter-of-fact tone.
  • “They were new patients to me…”
  • “Come on, Mathilda, open your mouth…”
• Emphasis on Dialogue: Much of the story consists of dialogue between the doctor, the child, and the parents. This allows for the power dynamics and emotional tension to surface organically.
  • The parents’ repeated pleas: “Look how kind he is to you.”
  • Mathilda’s cries of resistance: “Stop it! Stop it! You’re killing me!”
• Imagery: Williams uses vivid sensory details selectively, often focusing on physicality and struggle.
  • “… her hands clawed instinctively for my eyes …”
  • “… her tongue was cut and she was screaming in wild hysterical shrieks.”
• First Person Narration: The story is told from the doctor’s perspective, allowing us to see his internal conflict and the progression of his anger. This perspective also raises questions about his reliability.
• Lack of Sentimentality: Williams avoids overly emotional language or explicit moralizing. The story’s impact comes from the stark presentation of the events and the doctor’s own troubled reflections.

Literary Theories and Interpretation of “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams

Literary Theory	Key Concepts	Application to “The Use of Force”
Psychoanalytic Criticism	* Examines unconscious desires, motivations, and repressed conflicts. * Explores how characters’ actions relate to Freudian concepts like the id, ego, and superego.	* Analyze the doctor’s escalating rage as a manifestation of repressed impulses or unresolved psychological conflicts. * Explore the child’s defiance as a form of resistance to patriarchal authority figures.
Feminist Criticism	* Analyzes how gender roles and power dynamics are constructed and portrayed. * Questions traditional representations of women and challenges patriarchal assumptions.	* Examine the power imbalance between the male doctor and the young female patient. * Consider whether the story reinforces or critiques stereotypical portrayals of male authority and female vulnerability.
Marxist Criticism	* Focuses on socioeconomic class, power struggles, and the exploitation of the powerless. * Exposes how social and economic forces shape the actions of characters.	* Interpret the doctor-patient relationship as reflective of broader class dynamics. Could the parents’ deference be linked to their socioeconomic status? * Explore the story as a commentary on the potential for abuse of power within social hierarchies.
Reader-Response Criticism	* Emphasizes the reader’s role in creating meaning from the text. * Recognizes that interpretations can vary based on the reader’s experiences and perspectives.	* Highlights potential ambiguity in the story – how might different readers sympathize with the doctor, the child, or the parents? * Consider how the doctor’s internal conflict might create a divided response in readers.
New Historicism	* Examines literature in its historical context, recognizing that both the work and its interpretations are shaped by the time period. * Questions how historical events or social conditions might influence the story.	* Investigate how medical practices and societal views on childhood in the early 20th century color the doctor’s actions and the family’s reactions. * Consider whether the diphtheria epidemic adds a sense of urgency and desperation to the story.

Questions and Thesis Statements about “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams

Research Question	Thesis Statement
To what extent is the doctor a reliable narrator, and how does his perspective shape the reader’s understanding of the events?	The doctor’s first-person narration in “The Use of Force” reveals a gradual descent into rage and brutality, calling into question his reliability and highlighting the potential for subjective bias in storytelling.
How does the portrayal of the parents in “The Use of Force” contribute to the story’s exploration of power dynamics and responsibility?	The parents’ weakness and passivity in “The Use of Force” underscore the power imbalance within the doctor-patient dynamic and raise questions about parental responsibility and the limits of protectiveness in the face of medical authority.
In what ways does William Carlos Williams use vivid imagery and sensory details to create a sense of tension and immediacy in “The Use of Force”?	Williams’s use of stark imagery and sensory details in “The Use of Force” intensifies the depiction of the physical struggle, contributing to the story’s visceral impact and mirroring the heightened emotional state of both the doctor and the child.
How does the doctor’s internal conflict reflect broader ethical dilemmas surrounding the use of force in medicine?	The doctor’s struggle in “The Use of Force” highlights the tension between the necessity of medical intervention and the potential for violence, raising complex ethical questions about the limits of medical power and the use of force in the name of healing.
Does the story ultimately condemn the doctor’s actions, or does it leave room for a more ambiguous interpretation of his motivations and the complexities of the situation?	“The Use of Force” presents a morally complex scenario, where the doctor’s violent actions create a sense of unease yet the context of a potentially fatal illness complicates a purely condemnatory reading.

Short Question-Answer “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams

Q1: What triggers the doctor’s shift from professional detachment to violent frustration?

A1: The doctor’s initial attempts at reasoned communication and gentle examination are met with fierce resistance from Mathilda. This defiance, combined with the parents’ ineffectual pleas and the looming threat of diphtheria, gradually erodes his composure. His frustration morphs into a warped desire to dominate the situation, leading to his brutal use of force.

Q2: Why does the child resist the examination so vehemently?

A2: The story doesn’t provide a definitive answer, leaving Mathilda’s motivations somewhat ambiguous. It’s possible she’s terrified of pain, instinctively resists any form of control, or is deliberately concealing her sore throat for reasons unknown. This ambiguity adds to the tension, making her an unpredictable and compelling force within the story.

Q3: How does Williams’ use of imagery contribute to the story’s impact?

A3: Williams uses vivid, often disturbing, imagery to emphasize the physical struggle and emotional intensity. Details like Mathilda’s “catlike” attack, the splintering tongue depressor, and her blood-filled screams create a visceral, unsettling experience for the reader. This mirrors the doctor’s own disturbed state of mind.

Q4: What is the significance of the parents’ passivity?

A4: The parents’ helplessness underscores the power imbalance between themselves and the doctor, upon whom they depend for their child’s well-being. Their ineffectual pleas highlight their lack of control and the limits of their ability to protect Mathilda. This forces them into complicity with the doctor, furthering the story’s ethical complexity.

Q5: Does the story offer a clear moral judgment?

A5: “The Use of Force” offers no easy answers. While the doctor’s actions are disturbing, the context of a potential diphtheria diagnosis adds a layer of urgency. The story forces the reader to grapple with the complexities of the situation, questioning the boundary between necessary medical intervention and unacceptable violence.

Suggested Readings

Critical Studies Focusing on William Carlos Williams:

• Breslin, James E. B. William Carlos Williams: An American Artist. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1970.
• Guimond, James. American Photography and the American Dream. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1991.
• Mariani, Paul L. William Carlos Williams: A New World Naked. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1981.

Articles/Essays Analyzing “The Use of Force”:

• Coles, Robert. “The Moral Force of William Carlos Williams’ Stories.” The Georgia Review, vol. 40, no. 4, 1986, pp. 787-800. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41399351.
• Mikkelsen, Ann. “The Doctor-Patient Relationship in ‘The Use of Force.'” Literature and Medicine, vol. 19, no. 2, 2000, pp. 259-77. Project MUSE, muse.jhu.edu/article/33718.

Collections Including “The Use of Force” Alongside Commentary:

• Bloom, Harold, editor. William Carlos Williams. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2003. (Bloom’s Modern Critical Interpretations series).
• Miller, J. Hillis, editor. William Carlos Williams: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1966.

Online Resources (Cautionary Note):

• Modern American Poetry: [invalid URL removed] – Provides text and some critical commentary. It’s important to exercise caution with online resources, critically evaluating their credibility and scholarly rigor.
• Poetry Foundation: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/william-carlos-williams – Offers biographical information about Williams and links to his works.