Mr. William

Mr. William is the dental assistant to Dr. Grove, the dentist who molests Agnes Jemima during her checkup. He appears in two key scenes: first as the silent, knowing witness to the assault, and later as the key witness who testifies against Dr. Grove at his trial, helping to bring about the dentist's execution. His role is that of a quiet enabler who later becomes an instrument of justice, though his motives remain ambiguous.

Identity and Role

Mr. William is the dental assistant at Dr. Grove's office in the Blessings of Health Building. He is described as an "unobtrusive thirty-year-old face" with an impassive demeanor. He brings Agnes's chart to Dr. Grove and then leaves the room, closing the door behind him, before the assault begins. After the assault, he is in the waiting room, holding out a bowl of new pink and blue toothbrushes. When Agnes takes a pink one, he asks if she has any cavities, and she says no. He then says, "Keep away from the sweet things and maybe you'll never have any. Any decay. Are you all right?" When Agnes says she is pale, he suggests that some people have a fear of dentists, and Agnes wonders if he is smirking and if he knows what just happened.

Witness and Testimony

Years later, when Aunt Elizabeth stages a false rape accusation against Dr. Grove, Mr. William testifies against him at the trial. He describes Grove's rage at the moment of discovery, claiming that Grove called Aunt Elizabeth a "fucking bitch." He also reluctantly admits that he had reason to suspect his employer of irregularities in the past, saying that "anaesthetics could be such a temptation in the wrong hands." This testimony is effective at the trial, contributing to Grove's conviction and subsequent execution by Particicution.

Narrative Significance

Mr. William's role is that of a quiet enabler who later becomes an instrument of justice, though his motives remain ambiguous. His initial silence during the assault on Agnes makes him complicit, but his later testimony against Grove suggests either a change of heart or a pragmatic decision to save himself. His character highlights the systemic complicity of those who witness abuse but do nothing, as well as the power of testimony to bring about justice, even in a corrupt system.