The Use Of Force

The Use Of Force Essay

Doctors are over-educated and may take their knowledge too far. "The Use of Force" by William Carlos Williams features a Doctor by the name of Olson who makes a house call to a patient who quite possibly is deathly sick. His job is to do what it takes to figure out what is ailing this minor (per her parents request). The force he uses is absolutely above and beyond what must be done.

Much of what he does is not ethical or moral. After reading the story I am convinced that Doctor Olson had other intentions while "treating" Mathilda.

From the first moment he was in plain view of the patient, Mathilda and the Doctor shared a "love-hate" relationship. "The child was fairly eating me up with her cold, steady eyes, and no expression to her face whatever." (4) She clearly hated the doctor and knew something what about to happen. However on the flip side the doctor thought she's "Ð'...an unusually attractive little thing Ð'... she had magnificent blonde hair Ð'... one of those picture children often reproduced in advertising leafletsÐ'..." (4) he seemed to have the love side of the relationship.

Doctor Olson had thought what he was doing is proper. From his first attempt at getting her mouth open Mathilda rejected him, had infuriated him. "Aw, come on Ð'... Just open your mouth wide and let me take a look. Look I said Ð'... I haven't anything in my hands. Just open up and let me see." (14) He tried to trick her by playing nice to get access to the perverted things he wanted.

The thoughts the doctor had were not the least bit appropriate. "If only they wouldn't use the world "hurt" I might be able to get somewhere. But I did not allow myself to be hurried or disturbed but speaking quietly and slowly I approached the child again." (16) This