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The Doctor
A doctor who first encounters a new and stubborn young patient in dire circumstances. The Olson parents refer to the doctor only as “the doctor” or “doctor,” never by name. The story is narrated from the doctor’s first-person point of view, from which he gives his subjective opinions on the parents and the sick child and reveals his conflicted feelings about the examination.
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Mathilda Olson
A sick child who refuses to let the doctor examine her. Mathilda, who is most often referred to in the story as “the child,” is old enough to go to school, sturdy, and strong-minded. The story’s primary conflict occurs when her strong will toward self-preservation clashes with the doctor’s need to examine her throat.
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The Father
A man afraid for his daughter’s health but unsure of the doctor’s methods. Mr. Olson is never called by that name in the story. Instead, the narrator always refers to him as “the father.” The father loves his child and wants to keep her safe but is compelled to participate, with the doctor, in actions that harm and frighten his daughter, in the interest of getting a correct diagnosis. The father struggles also because his daughter’s unwillingness to cooperate embarrasses him, even though he sees her genuine distress.
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The Mother
A woman who becomes fearful and hesitant about her uncooperative child’s illness. Mrs. Olson is never called by that name in the story. Instead, the narrator always refers to her as “the mother.” The doctor describes her as “startled looking,” but her house is clean and well-kept. Her concern for her daughter’s fearfulness is evident, yet her attitude toward the doctor is apologetic, and he is able to compel her to participate in the increasingly brutal examination that reveals the daughter’s illness.
