Characterization is one of the most important tools in a writers repertoire of literary devices. Life along the passaic river by william carlos williams, 1938. From beginning there distrust of the doctor by the family this was expressed in the book as i could see that they were all very nervous, eyeing. Williams s short story though details how the intentions of these well meaning souls often ends up awry. William carlos williams wrote the use of force in 1933 as one of the stories he had promised the editors of the proletarian magazine blast. The use of force is a brilliant short story by william carlos williams. Summary and analysis the story the use of force by william carlos williams shows a conflict between the doctor and a determined child patient who has been suffering from fever for three days. The use of force by william carlos williams goodreads.
I bought it for my 10yearold grandson, and he is impressed with it. Pep web the use of force and the dilemma of violence. According to the article the use of force by william carlos williams. Free the use of force by william carlos williams essay. If you have a minute, check out this story as its a quick read and worth every second spent. William carlos williams the use of force is a compact insightful story that does not spend time on frivolous descriptions instead focusing on its message. He understands what the family is going through because in the story it says, but ive seen two children lying dead the week of diphtheria because of neglect, i was not about to let that happen so it. William carlos williams was an acclaimed modernist poet, and this quizworksheet combo will help you test your understanding of the man. As the doctor becomes more and more certain that diphtheria is to blame, the use of force is needed more and more, hence the title of the story, the use of force. My subject is a very short story by william carlos williams called the use of force, about a doctor who forces a spoon into a little girls mouth to reveal diphtherial membranes that she has been hiding for three days. A brief analysis of william carlos williams short story the use of force, which describes a doctors thoughts and emotions as he tries to diagnose the ailment of an uncooperative child. They finally got her mouth open and saw she had diphtheria because her tonsils where covered with membrane. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Analysis of the use of force by william carlos williams owlcation.
Aug 22, 2012 the use of force, a short story by william carlos williams published in 1938 depicts the story of two characters in confrontation. Its used as a means of relating theme, mood, tone, and bringing the reader closer to the characters by showing humanity, or the lack there of. He began writing poetry while a student at horace mann high school, at which time he made the decision to become both a writer and a doctor. Williamss short story though details how the intentions of these well meaning souls often ends. The husband and the doctor had to fight the child to get her mouth open. William carlos williams was an american author, screenwriter, and poet who was one of the great forces in. The use of force by william carlos williams short story.
William carlos williams september 17, 1883 march 4, 1963 was a puerto rican american poet and physician closely associated with modernism and imagism. The use of force by william carlos williams, analysis and. Plot theme the plot of the story is mathilda not opening her mouth for the doctor. In terms of technical and narrative structure, the use of force by william carlos williams is a short, imagedriven story told from the perspective of a firstperson narrator. A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. He was a medical doctor, poet, novelist, essayist, and playwright. Despite the fact that her parents and the doctor make and attempt to reason with the girl, she continues to defy them in their efforts to help her. T hey were new patients to me, all i had was the name, olson. The use of force by william carlos williams analysis writework. It was first published in his short story collection life along the passaic river 1938. Please come down as soon as you can, my daughter is very sick.
In this story, elements such as theme, background, symbolism, and image are utilized in a way to communicate the idea that there are two sides to every situation. The use of force by william carlos williams summary. The use of force is a short story by william carlos williams that is very powerful and leaves the readers with an ethical dilemma. The idea that the patients parents are antagonists is very much bias. Dive deep into william carlos williams the use of force with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. A literary analysis of use of force by william carlos williams. The use of force by william carlos williams 734 words 3 pages. In addition to his writing, williams had a long career as a physician practicing both pediatrics and general medicine. Analysis of the use of force by william carlos williams. Essay on the use of force, by william carlos williams bartleby. They were new patients to me, all i had was the name, olson. William carlos williams no ideas but in things is the very american slogan of william carlos williams, a poet and medical doctor from new jersey.
Bremens chapter 3, modern medicine, in his book, william carlos williams and the diagnostics of culture new york. He was affiliated with passaic general hospital, where he served as. A great example of a short story that includes such elements is william carlos williams the use of force. The narrator of this story is a doctor who is called to check a new patient mathilda by her mother mrs. When i arrived i was met by the mother, a big startled looking woman, very clean and apologetic who merely said, is this the doctor. Its the average story of a doctor trying to see if a little girl has a deadly illness. She scratches him and bites into pieces the tongue depressor he finally forces into her mouth. In reading use of force, by william carlos williams. The use of force is a brilliant short story by william carlos williams unfortunately, the story was first published in 1938 and is not currently in the public domain and cannot be displayed.
The short story titled the use of force by william carlos williams, a doctor tries to treat a young girl who refuses the treatment he offers. Although the interpretations are few this story does pose a question to which man has still not answered. The use of force, a short story by william carlos williams published in 1938 depicts the story of two characters in confrontation. Oct 09, 2015 the use of force by william carlos williams, 1938.
Mar 10, 2015 so today, lets take a look one of the best short stories, the use of force by william carlos williams. The story of william carlos williams is an incredibly engaging book. On september 17, 1883, william carlos williams was born in rutherford, new jersey. Unfortunately, the story was first published in 1938 and is not currently in the public domain. The use of force the use of force william carlos williams. The story ends with the doctors use of force seemingly vindicated by his positive diagnosis. William carlos williams was born the first of two sons of an english father and a puerto rican mother of french, dutch, spanish, and jewish ancestry, and he grew up in rutherford, new jersey. The use of force by william carlos williams free essay example.
The story is narrated in first person by a doctor, who is answering a house visit to see a sick girl. The use of force william carlos williams the use of force by william carlos williams is told in the first person by a doctor, who finds himself against a local outbreak of diphtheria and a young child named mathilda, who is reluctant to cooperate with him. Olson very much with what he says to his wife and his daughter. Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts. William carlos williams by presenting an annual award in his name for the best book of poetry published by a small, nonprofit or university press. So today, lets take a look one of the best short stories, the use of force by william carlos williams. William carlos williams was an american author, screenwriter, and poet who was one of the great forces in the twentiethcentury verse rosenthal 1. A study guide for william carlos williamss the use of force. Antonio conejos rational, caring individuals often have good intentions for everyone. Youll be assessed on your understanding of both the life. In the short story the use of force, writer and physician william carlos williams describes a doctors house call to a rural home to examine a sick girl named matilda olsen. The use of force by carlos williams essay examples bartleby.
The use of force by william carlos williams by alex. William carlos williams s story the use of force is an anecdote about a doctor summoned to make a house call on a family with whom he has had no prior contact. Buy a study guide for william carlos williamss the use of force short stories for students. He was then at the height of his period of social consciousness, and he felt pain over the fact that many of his patients were living in poverty.
In the story the use of force by william carlos, the doctors decision to force the examination of the child was the right decision and it was justified. Example research essay topic the theme of william carlos. About william carlos williams academy of american poets. Short story the use of force by william carlos williams reaction slippery slope by. This was a very interesting and emotional short story.
J clark english 1 honors 2nd block 10 april 20 analysis of the use of force by william carlos williams in the book there is a doctor who wants to do well for others. The story is narrated in the first person by a physician, who is making a house call to tend to a sick. Williams house in rutherford is now on the national register of historic places. The use of force is a story that employs the use of connotative language to convey its socially relevant theme within a brief conflict. He received his md from the university of pennsylvania, where he met and befriended ezra pound. He holds her head and forces a wooden spatula into her mouth. My subject is a very short story by william carlos williams called the use of force, about a doctor who forces a spoon into a little girls mouth to reveal diphtherial membranes that.
Concerned that diphtheria may be the cause of illness, he uses his customary professional manner. Essay on the use of force, by william carlos williams. Olson the patients parents, according to the narrator, dr. 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. The narrative implies the severity of a situation when social roles and personal impulses intertwine. The use of force is a short story by the american author william carlos williams first published 1938. The use of force is a short story by the american author william carlos williams. William carlos williamss story the use of force is an anecdote about a doctor summoned to make a house call on a family with whom he has had no prior contact. Jan 23, 2017 ilmkidunya has brought to you lecture of usama ahmed awan on 11th class english book 1 topic 7 the use of force. The use of force william carlos williams free essays. Ethics, a dash of philosophy, and the use of force by. The use of force is a short story by the american author william carlos williams first published.
Its maybe not quite as dependent on its firstperson narration to creep out the reader as poes the telltale heart, but the use of force is pretty close. The use of force summary the use of force is a short story by william carlos williams in which a doctor is called to examine mathilda olson, who resists his efforts to obtain a throat culture. Buy a study guide for william carlos williams s the use of force short stories for students. An analysis can be done by determining the correlation amongst characters and this theme. Hearing him read his poems on the many audio files littering the internet this one, for example helps us to realize just how american williams really is.
337 1184 114 188 354 286 289 116 133 1399 744 634 582 1259 1326 1520 645 829 378 1463 607 665 813 898 1399 995 440 512