William Carlos Williams-The Use of Force

William Carlos Williams
The Use of Force

" The child's mouth was already bleeding. Her tongue was cut and she was screaming in wild hysterical shrieks. Perhaps I should have desisted and come back in an hour or more. No doubt it would have been better. But I have seen at least two children lying dead in bed of neglect in such cases, and feeling that I must get a diagnosis now or never I went at it again. But the worse of it was that I too had got beyond reason. I could have torn the child apart in my own fury and enjoyed it. It was a pleasure to attack her. My face was burning with it."(p.1171)


I believe that this quote was important to the short story because it points out the emotion that the doctor was feeling during his visit to the this particular house. His confrontation that he had with this girl can be seen in this one paragraph. The doctor overwhelmed with anger let his emotion and feeling over power his mind. He had become exhausted but at the same time determined to get a diagnosis.

In the beginning of the story believe the doctor was a “normal” doctor who just became so stressed out over the little girl who had became enraged. It was shocking to me how the doctor losses control and have thoughts of killing the father, or hurting the girl. I think that was a little strange. He seems to have some concern for the girl’s health and it shows in how much effort he put into trying to get her to open her mouth.

He had become so irritated with her that he started to use force. The force that he used resulted in him enjoying and taking pleasure in the way he acted toward the girl. I believe that in some way the doctor represented just a doctor who was just too controlling. His use of force on the little girl was not necessary, he disregarded he bleeding mouth and though he was trying to help the little girl he could have used another method to helping her. His stupidity, and anger got the job accomplished but what would have happen if he would have harmed the little girl.