Ann Bradstreet's The Use Of Force

In the short story, “The Use of Force,” there is an ongoing conflict between the doctor and Mathilda the young girl with a sore throat. The doctor is called in by Mathilda’s parents to see if she has a potentially deadly disease known as diphtheria. The young girl Mathilda refuses to let the doctor take a throat culture and the doctor refuses to be manipulated by the young girl. “Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge, fitter to bruise than polish,” (Bradstreet). I feel this quote by Ann Bradstreet relates to the doctor in this story. Im not saying the doctor is a stupid guy, but simply a man who made some unwise decisions which led to a constant struggle making his whole visit at the Olson home and messy visit. This story is surrounded around “Force and Manipulation.” To what extant of force is to much? Was Mathilda’s fight a sign of disobedience or pure fear? Was the doctors unwillingness to walk away from the situation a professional decision or a personal one? Throughout the story the readers are face with many questions and many different emotions. In any circumstance when force is needed for a job to get done, …show more content…
Although the doctor wins the battle he does it in unprofessional way. The force the doctor used throughout the story is to much force for a professional, even his intent is to save her life. The act Mathilda’s put’s on when the doctor is trying to examine her, is a sign of pure fear. The doctors unprofessional decision to not walk away and come back when things had clam down was a personal decision. He had grown fond of Mathilda and did indeed care about her well being, but he also didn’t want to be defeated. The doctor and Mathilda’s relationship was an odd one to say the least, but in the end the doctor did what he thought he needed to do to save her