William Carlos Williams The Use Of Force

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The Use of Force Criticism William Carlos Williams wrote the short story “The Use of Force”. He wrote this story in the middle of the Great Depression, which attributed to the family’s social status. Williams uses multiple elements that contribute to the story. In “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams, he uses writing style to convey the story’s themes. There are multiple themes used in the story like how violence will only breed more violence and force can sometimes be used for good. The doctor wants to be able to help Mathilda but to do so he needs to use force: If he [the doctor] were to allow his fondness for the girl to stop him, the result might be much, much worse for her [Mathilda] than the short-term discomfort she would undergo …show more content…

Williams decided to leave out quotation marks to confuse the reader but still prefaces spoken lines with the word said (“Use” 6). Williams makes the reader wonder whether or not these were the words they spoke, making the reader unclear which fits the story’s tone (“Use” 7). Williams uses a tone that attempts to use very little emotion to help the relationships seem clearer (“Use” 7). Williams also doesn’t use any quotation marks to show urgency it the story (Wilson 606). Williams uses commas instead of periods multiple times in the story to keep it flowing (Wilson 606). The story seems urgent because the author doesn’t explain everything (Wilson 606). The first couple sentences are rushing and make the reader think it’s a rescued-from-death tale, but it’s mostly about the doctor trying to see the girl’s throat (Wilson 606). The “Use of Force” uses some symbolism in its writing style to further express its overall tone. The wooden tongue depressor is a symbol for Mathilda’s rage and how she breaks it showing her ferocity (“Use” 7). When the doctor switches tools to a spoon, it symbolizes the change from empathy to force (“Use” 7). In “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams, he uses writing style to convey the story’s themes. The writing style in the story helped the story’s tone and adds to the themes while the themes are shown in the doctor’s and Mathilda’s relationship. The “Use

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