The Use of Force is a recounting of a house visit by a physician. We see themes of battle for dominance, a breakdown from professionalism to a more basic emotional state, the idea of suffering for progress of the society, and strong sexual imagery and undertones in the conflict between the physician and the girl. The idea of authority is established early on, with the physician being paid, the parents who are the legal guardians of the girl are deferring their authority to the doctor. This would be seen as the norm until the girl challenges him and refuses to open her mouth. Throughout their interaction she strikes away his glasses and tongue depressor, both symbols of professionalism and tools of science, noting that his glasses going unbroken symbolizes that his position of power as a profession is unbroken. Force is met with force at every point, to the point that the parents try and subdue the girl, showing that they, out of fear for the girls life, are ...