From the outset, the doctor displays patience as he tries to coax the young girl to open her mouth. “The use of Force” is somewhat different to “ The Girl with The Pimply Face.” “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams addresses the exertion of physical superiority over others, asking the fundamental question: is it ethical to hurt someone for his own good? While “The Girl with the Pimply Face” displays a straightforward kind of compassion, “The Use of Force” shows us that compassion is not always straightforward. I feel that this ending seeks to highlight the importance of compassion, especially in healthcare. And it was much better.” The story then ends with a sense of hope for the young girl as she returns to school. It is obvious that the narrator does not seek monatory reward but is instead content with the sense of satisfaction which comes from helping others”God it is I said. This is apparent in his unbridled admiration for the fifteen year-old “ A powerful little beast”. The narrator’s sense compassion is clearly unblemished by his wife’s and colleague’s advice. The story ends with a final visit to the immigrant family. The narrator even defends the mother’s actions by describing them as “Natural maternal instinct” to which his colleague replies “Whisky appetite, if you should ask me.” The narrator’s compassion is in complete contrast with his colleague’s caustic criticism as he describes the immigrant mother as a “bugger” and the daughter as a “pimply-faced bitch”. I feel the author sets up a parallel between the narrator and his more sceptical colleague in an attempt to highlight the narrator’s compassion. This sense of prejudice is later emphasized as a fellow doctor expresses outright disdain for these Russian immigrants. I feel that this character serves to reflect the discrimination inherent in society. She seems strongly opposed to such “charity work” and is immediately sceptical “Did they pay you.” She seems intent on demonizing the immigrant family as she retells Kate’s story.
The theme of discrimination is encapsulated in the wife’s reaction upon hearing the narrator’s story. He is also somewhat short regarding the mother and makes little attempt to comfort her or to even fully explain the situation. This is thrown into relief as he assumes that this baby has been somewhat neglected”No doubt it had been in a bad way before that, improper feeding etc,etc.”. Throughout the story, “The Girl with a Pimply Face” is extremely unhelpful as she seems “indifferent as though it had been no relative of hers instead of her sister” and yet the doctor expresses no frustration and his adulation shines through as he describes her as “A tough little nut finding her own way in the world.” He seems to perfectly encapsulate “the Art of Medicine” as not only does he wish to help the baby, but also expresses concern regarding the young girl’s leg.Īlthough the doctor seems compassionate and intent on helping his patients, he still harbours pre-conceived notions regarding the immigrant family. His sense of compassion is inherent in his ability to recognise her “excellence”- a complete contrast to his wife who later regards her as a “Pimply faced little bitch”. He does not look upon the fifteen year old girl with disgust or scepticism but instead retains a high degree of respect for her. Unlike the druggist who seemed rather dismissive, the narrator reserves all judgement regarding the foreign immigrants. What I found interesting about this narrator was his non-judgemental character. Although he was “just sitting down to lunch”, he still succeeds in reaching the patient’s house by two-thirty and expresses no anger on discovery that no one is home. The narrator of this story serves to refute this discrimination however as he personifies the theme of compassion. In my opinion, the main themes presented to us in this story are the themes of compassion and discrimination.įrom the very outset we are presented with the theme of discrimination through the druggist’s discriminatory remark ”But they’re foreigners and you know how they are.” This remark serves to marginalise the sick baby from the very outset. The Girl with the Pimply Face is a short story unlike any other extracts we have read this semester.
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