The Use of Force, A Story of Guilt Essay - 761 Words

The Use of Force, A Story of Guilt The Use of Force by William Carlos Williams is a window into one doctors guilt over the negligent loss of a child patient. This story focuses on the disillusionment caused by his self-pity and guilt. The doctors guilt triggers a fanciful illusion of The Use of Force that gives him giddy delight in his envisioned torture of the young, beautiful girl. His disgust for her uneducated, immigrant parents and their poor, humble surroundings only heighten this image. But his justification of these imagined actions empowers him all the more. He perceives himself above these less than human creatures, as a master lords over his good for nothing dog. In his self-empowered greatness he comes face to†¦show more content†¦His descriptions of the girl also add to the tone of this illusion when he describes her motions as catlike and instinctive as she clawed instinctively for my (Williams) eyes Williams describes his distaste for the immigrant family. I ground my teeth in disgust (referring to the mother) and the parents were contemptible to me, His feeling toward this poor, yet humble immigrant family only adds to his guilt of the brutality he inflicts in his mind. He abandons all compassion and inadequately handles the situation. He allows the girls stubbornness and stupidity to prevail. He allows his distaste for his meager surroundings to cloud his judgment, and he acts as a savage beast basking in the attack of its prey. I could have torn the child apart...and enjoyed it. It was a pleasure to attack her. Williams is able to convince himself and validate his animalistic actions. Others must be protected against her. It is a social necessity. His desire to ravage the defenseless girl plays on his bloated ego and inflates his perceived power over her. He envisions delight in ripping her to shreds, and in this delight he nearly does so. I overpowered the girls neck and jaws. I forced the heavy silver spoon back of her teeth and down her throat till she gagged. This is where Williams guilt over his actions comes to light. He states, a blind fury,Show MoreRelatedTheme Of Guilt In The Kite Runner986 Words   |  4 PagesGuilt has the incredible power to change an individual’s perspective and affect them for the rest of their life. The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini, is a world-renowned novel published in 2003 that tells the story of a young boy named Amir who grows up with the guilt of having failed to fight the group of boys who raped his closest friend. One of the main themes Hosseini emphasizes in the novel, is the powerful affect of guilt on one’s self. Different characters such as Amir, Sanubar andRead MoreCompare And Contrast Dark Romantic And Transcendentalism1272 Words   |  6 PagesThe Dark Romantics explored the conflict of good and evil and the effects of guilt on the human mind. 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