The M.D. by Thomas M. Disch
"The M.D." is a novel that delves into the complexities of power, responsibility, and the consequences of one's actions through the journey of William Michaels. The narrative explores Michaels' relationship with the god Mercury and how his mystical abilities shape his life and the lives of those around him. Initially depicted as a good Catholic boy, Michaels grapples with the duality of his powers, which can bring healing but also lead to tragic outcomes. The story unfolds through a series of personal losses, including the accidental death of his father and the subsequent turmoil within his adopted family, highlighting the weight of his choices.
As the plot progresses, Michaels grows into a prominent doctor, credited with the development of an AIDS vaccine while simultaneously being linked to a new plague known as ARVIDS. His experiences culminate in a catastrophic confrontation with his illegitimate son, Judge, ultimately leading to destruction and loss. The novel's conclusion hints at a continuation of this legacy, with Michaels’ legitimate son, Henry, poised to inherit the mystical caduceus, suggesting a cycle of power and consequence. "The M.D." maintains a rich narrative that invites readers to reflect on the intersections of good and evil, the burdens of family legacies, and the moral implications of wielding extraordinary abilities.
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The M.D.
First published: 1991
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Fantasy—mythological
Time of work: 1972-1999
Locale: Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Plot
The M.D. can be paired loosely with Thomas Disch’s earlier moral story The Businessman: A Tale of Terror (1984) and with his more recent critical play The Cardinal Detoxes (1990). Both explore questions of guilt and responsibility, and both place fantastic events firmly in the realm of the everyday. The M.D. concerns the use and abuse of mystical powers by William Michaels and his increasingly complex relationship with the god Mercury. Throughout the novel, the power of the good cure is balanced with the evil of disease and death. Michaels’ task is to learn this lesson for the benefit of himself and the world.
Michaels is a seemingly good Catholic boy. His earliest encounters with Mercury imbue him with a sense of his own powers and the importance of his magical caduceus. In the bosom of his family, he casts spells that end tragically for him and those around him, clearly illustrating the bounds of his power and the control he needs to learn. The collapse of his family is also hastened by the accidental death of his father, Henry.
The plot then shifts eight years to Michaels’ thirteenth birthday, when he is adopted by Sondra Winckelmeyer, his real mother. Here, in his new state of manhood, he excels at school and communes with Mercury regularly, learning the delicate nature of the magical caduceus. In a magnanimous gesture, Michaels bestows perfect health on his family and his mother’s expected baby, but the gift backfires. His mother gives birth to a monster and, in a fit of depression, tries to kill the baby. Failing this, she kills herself. In his grief, her husband, Ben, kills the child and is sent to jail. The section ends with Michaels and his stepsister, Judith, conceiving a child. The collapse of his second family makes clear that Michaels is now outside all social groups.
The final part of the novel is set in 1999. Michaels has become an illustrious doctor, responsible for the AIDS vaccine and equally responsible for a new plague, ARVIDS. At this point, Michaels’ illegitimate son, Judge, begins to communicate with Mercury in his own quest for the caduceus. The final clash between father and son ends in Michaels’ boyhood home, where all are destroyed in a fire. The epilogue makes clear that Michaels’ legitimate son, Henry, will be heir and apprentice to Mercury.