Stanley Elkin and William Carlos Williams Stories Comparison

This paper aims at comparing the two short stories to show the similarities that the two writers have portrayed inadvertently through their characters, themes of dominion and use of force as well as their use of language. The story of “A Poetics for Bullies” opens with a conflict for dominance in which the main character, Push, expresses his hatred for other kids. Push explain the type of people he hates. He goes ahead to narrate how he hates himself and he recalls how he pushed a red-haired kid only to be confronted by the kid’s mother. Push here characterizes himself as the incarnation of envy, jealous and need. Eventually the physician wrecks her mouth and upon examination, he ascertains truly the girl was infected with diphtheria.

On the other hand, Push in the story of “A Poetics for Bullies” is a very irrepressible and unlovable young boy who imposes his stubborn will and vision to others. Push claims that he can use the magic he is taught by his teacher in school to change the whole world but because that in reality is impossible, he spends keeps on affirming himself and disenchanting others. The stories presents a similarity of the theme of dominion. Push in the Stanley Elkin’s “A Poetics for Bullies” crowns “Push the Bully”, but when a new student, John Williams, is admitted into the school, Push is perplexed by the fact that John Williams has attracted more of his peers. After the girl is overpowered, she tries to retaliate in fury by attempting to fly from her father’s arms to attack the doctor.

The theme of dominion is also portrayed through the discontentment of the characters in both stories. In the story of “A Poetics for Bullies”, Push has not been contented with the absorption of John Williams in the same school he was, and even John Williams is able to note that when Push visits him at his home. Since his arrival at the school, John Williams’s generously touched many, and this has made his popularity to increase. This generosity is also extended to Push when he visits John at their home. ” This is symbolism as he presents himself as God to let people understand his power. In the story of “The Use of Force” the girl is used as a symbol of what it means to be a girl and the doctor’s application of physical force symbolically denotes an assault depicted by the conquest of an older man over a young girl.