The Use of Force by William Carlos Williams - Essay Example

The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams In one of the most interesting and emotional short stories, “The Use of Force”, William Carlos Williams narrates the story of events connected with a doctor trying to treat a young girl who refuses the treatment he offers. There are, of course, several important issues concerned with doctoring in the story such as the dilemma in dealing with the demands of a medical and social environment which is hostile, the doctor’s striking power of observation, the doctor’s insistence of doing the medically right thing etc.

However, the story tells much more than simple elements of doctoring and the narrator’s concern has been to keep the story interesting and emotional to appeal to every type of readers. The writer’s personal experience of being a doctor has had a prominent influence on the narrative strategy which helps him in attracting the interest of the readers all through this ‘short’ story. Therefore, the doctor in the story, the narrator, is the author himself and the story’s engaging portrayal of a life-like situation in a doctor’s life is due mainly to William Carlos Williams’ experiences as a doctor.

The most significant component contributing to the effective and charming narration of the story has been the emotional environment created by the narrator through subtle expressions, convincing diction, and entrancing narrative style. In “The Use of Force”, the narrator, who is a doctor by profession, offers treatment to a young girl suffering from fever who refuses the treatment. The story is basically about the doctor-patient relationship that exists between the narrator and the young girl.

The narrator is successful in creating an emotional and interesting environment all through the story. Therefore, the narrator describes the young girl in a very affecting manner and the portrayal of his first meeting with her eyes reflects the overall narrative strategy of the author. “The child was fairly eating me up with her cold, steady eyes, and no expression to her face whatever. She did not move and seemed, inwardly, quiet; an unusually attractive little thing, and as strong as a heifer in appearance.

” (Williams, 56) Therefore, the narrative strategy of the short story is effective in drawing the reader’s interest all through the story and the emotional environment of the narrative has a great role in convincing the readers. The doctor assumes that the illness of the young girl is caused by diphtheria and he needed to determine whether the child had a sore throat. The patient challenges every effort by the doctor too examine her and the attempts of treatment soon escalates into a physical ‘battle’ between the physician and the patient.

The doctor is ever more infuriated and vigorous to force the examination while the girl resists such efforts with all her strength. While the parents of the young girl are in anguish for her health and in mortification over her behavior to the doctor, the reader gets the feeling that it is more than a professional encounter between the two. As the physician has previously admitted that he “had already fallen in love with the savage brat…” (Williams, 56), there is a strong perception that the two are engaged in a physical encounter and the closing sequence of the story confirms as depicting a rape through a forced throat examination.

“In a final unreasoning assault I overpowered the childs neck and jaws. I forced the heavy silver spoon back of her teeth and down her throat till she gagged. She had fought valiantly to keep me from knowing her secret… Now truly she was furious. She had been on the defensive before but now she attacked. Tried to get off her fathers lap and fly at me while tears of defeat blinded her eyes.” (Williams, 60) In short, through his convincing narrative style, the author has been able to keep the interest of the readers and this credible narrative strategy is the main contributor to the success of the story.

Work Cited Williams, William Carlos. “The Use of Force.” The Doctor Stories. William Carlos Williams and Robert Coles. New Directions Publishing. 1984. Page 56