 Dr. Francia 's fear of the pasquinade , his abuse of Policarpo Patiño ... , [ and ] his constant worry about writing all stem from the fact that he has found and used the power implicit in language itself . The Supremo defines power as being able to do through others what we are unable to do ourselves : language , being separate from what it designates , is the very embodiment of power , for things act and mean through it without ceasing to be themselves . Dr. Francia has also realized that he cannot control language , particularly written language , that it has a life of its own that threatens him . 
