Said doctor has been called to Mathilda’s home so that he can examine her, as she is very sick and her parents are worried because her condition has remained unchanged for three days. Upon arrival, he realizes quickly that Mathilda is not a pleasant child and, when he tries to use kindness in order to get her to open up to him, she responds very bluntly by slapping him across the face. Changing tactics and resorting to being firm with the child does not work either. With the aid of Mathilda’s father, the doctor manages to force a tongue depressor into her mouth, but then has to repeat the process with a metal spoon after she breaks the wooden one with her teeth. In spite of Mathilda’s bleeding mouth and hysterical shrieks, the doctor manages finally to examine the back of her throat and reveals that she has been hiding a severe sickness from her parents for days now, and could have died if she was left …show more content…
It is made clear that Mathilda feels fear towards the doctor, and yet he forces a wooden stick into her mouth. When she angrily splinters the object in clear rejection, he simply calls for another tool and repeats the intrusive act, cutting her mouth in the process. For some reason, her parents are completely complying with the doctor and not only let him, but also help him in his work. The fear for their child’s life overpowers the shame Mathilda must have been feeling. At the end of the short story, it is said that there are tears in her eyes as she jumps at the doctor to exact her revenge upon