In-Home Treatment In Tennessee Williams The Use Of Force

Williams's "The Use of Force" depicts the in-home treatment of an ill child from the doctor's perspective. Despite asking the child questions to find the source of the disease, she gave no response. The mother continuously tries to convince her daughter to allow the physician to do his job, but she still refuses. As fatal diphtheria has spread throughout their school, more stress is induced on the doctor and the parents, which leads to them forcing this diagnosis. Frustrated with the lack of obedience, the doctor loses composure, ignores the lack of informed consent, and orders the father to hold Matilda's wrists down to restrain her. The physician fostered so much anger that they proceeded, notwithstanding the child shrieking in pain and fear.

However, if patients refuse help and allow their condition to worsen, they lose their purpose because, without permission for care, healthcare workers can do nothing to help the suffering patient. Many refuse to watch their patients suffer more than necessary, like the physician in the story; this is why the physician acts with impropriety. Moreover, as they try to pry Matilda's mouth open, the narrator claims, "I had to have a throat culture for her own protection" (Williams 1938). The doctor is so committed to the diagnosis that they are blinded by the extenuating circumstances of Matilda's perturbation. By saying "had," this excerpt implies that this was not a matter to be discussed and negotiated between Matilda and the doctor but a mandatory procedure that does not care for Matilda's distress. The physician is trying to justify their actions by convincing themselves that it is okay to forcefully perform a diagnosis as it is for Matilda's best interest, not their satisfaction. Additionally, after using her molars to destroy the wooden spatula used to pry open her mouth, the narrator reveals that "The child's mouth was already bleeding…I have seen at least two children lying dead in bed of neglect in such cases, and feeling that I must get a diagnosis now or never I went at it again" (Williams 1938). Despite the bleeding due to Matilda's retaliation, the physician's resolve compelled them to proceed with their care. The mouth bleeding represents how there has been more harm to her condition than aid. Overall, healthcare professionals strongly desire to help patients, depriving them of their sense of reason and leading to