The Use of force, by William Carlos Williams
... frustration when his patient refuses to cooperate. The author describes the man’s disgust once he is reminded that there will be no pain involved, this suggests that the doctor would rather enjoy using force. In a proper medical environment, doctors are supposed to understand and show patience with the ill; the protagonist has an uneasiness to follow this principle. Another emotion is the anger felt towards the girl’s parents. Since they can’t restrain her, the doctor feels a need to take matters into his owns hands. This moment shows how the man has trouble cooperating with both parents and his patient. His main social role is as a doctor, although as a civilian, he performs poorly. The development and building of negative emotions clearly depict the doctor’s struggle to concentrate on the sick girl. A stronger aspect is the effect of the young child on the doctor, which disrupts his Power 2 neutral balance in the situation. For a professional duty, emotions shouldn’t take any part, though the man rejoices when the child’s parent says she might have to go to the hospital. This location would only encourage a mix of personal feelings and medical care. Williams uses the girl’s rebellious character to tempt the doctor and create back and forth fury between them. Because the child is so uneasy to deal with, it sparks a sense of utter hate in the man. The contrast brought by these clashing personalities incites the doctor to gain motivation by forcing the child’s mouth open. The fact that the man follows this childish game reveals a lack of mature responsibility as a professional ...