Compare and contrast the topic of ignorance in "The Use of Force" and "The Giraffe."

While ignorance is displayed by a whole community in "The Giraffe," only one individual exhibits this negative trait in "The Use Of Force."
In "The Use Of Force," a little girl displays her ignorance by flying into a temper when the doctor tries to examine her. Her fears are understandable, but her actions exasperate her parents. As for the doctor, he is visibly shaken by the little girl's uncharacteristic violence. On the other hand, it is the collective adult community in "The Giraffe" that exhibits ignorance. The adults become upset when the boys attempt to keep the giraffe in town.
Ignorance is certainly portrayed negatively in both stories. Yet, unlike in "The Use of Force," this negative trait in "The Giraffe" results in the death of an innocent animal.
In "The Use of Force," the little girl's prejudice against the doctor leads to a violent struggle. Although the doctor is ashamed of his part in the conflict, he reasons that he must fight to save her life.
In the end, the little girl's life is presumably preserved after the doctor's final, grim "assault" on her neck and jaws. For his part, the doctor rationalizes the use of force as a medical necessity. Certainly, diphtheria has claimed its share of victims, and the doctor does not wish to see his little patient succumb to the often fatal illness. In "The Use of Force," the doctor resorts to violence to save a life. On the other hand, threatened violence results in death in "The Giraffe."
After the giraffe eats the mayor's prized trees in the park, spies on people in their homes, and devours all the flowers and candles in the town church, the adults clamor for its death. They threaten to shoot the animal. The boys take the giraffe into the country. They try to feed it some hay, but the animal refuses to eat. In the end, it dies.
Ignorance is an important topic in "The Giraffe" and "The Use of Force." However, it is resolved differently in both stories. While ignorance is ostensibly overcome in "The Use of Force," it festers in "The Giraffe" and contributes to the death of a defenseless animal.