“Compassion is not a character trait like a sunny disposition. It must be learned…” (Ascher 195). On Compassion is a compelling essay by Barbara Lazear Ascher that makes one think not only about how they are treating others, but what they can do to make someone’s day a little brighter. We have read numerous essays over of past four months in College English, but On Compassion was the most powerfully written essay. Ascher use of great description paints pictures in the reader’s mind, it sparks emotion and it provokes deep thought that in turn changes how the reader views those who are less fortunate. Ascher uses great description. The words she chooses allows the reader to envision the scene and the characters in her story. “His buttoned shirt, with one sleeve missing, hangs outside the waist of his baggy trousers” (193). This quote, from the first paragraph of On Compassion, gives the reader a visual of homeless man in Ascher essay. Without this visual the reader would be unable to identify with idea of compassion in the story. Ascher’s description is not only allows you to picture the story in your mind, but it allows you to relate to the characters themselves. It is this description that gives to emotion and deep thought. …show more content…
On Compassion sparks one’s emotions.
When you begin to identify with the struggles of the characters, you see them not only as a homeless man on the street, but a real person just like yourself. In a world full of so much hatred and violence, reading an essay that solely focuses on the good nature of others motivates one of go out and do good for the world. The essay gives an example of a French shop owner offering a homeless man some of her businesses food. This act of kindness displayed by the shop owner gives us courage that there is good in this world. Acts of kindness are also catalysts so that others might follow and
imitate. This essay makes one deeply reflect on their own life. Am I doing my part? Is there someone that needs me? How can I do more? These are all questions that go through one’s mind as the embarq on the complex story that is On Compassion. In the second to last paragraph Ascher states, “We cannot deny the existence of the helpless as their presence grows”. (195) After reading this line some may ask “Is it even worth it? Why continue to help when there will never be an end to the helplessness?” This is where the reader is forced to step back and analyze the situation. Of course the world is never going to be perfect, but to see the smile of a starving man who you have just provided a meal to makes you realize that yes, it is worth it. On Compassion, written to paint a picture, spark emotion, and provoke deep thought, forces the reader to address their emotion of compassion. Of all the essays and stories we have read, On Compassion makes contemplate life the most. This essay affects the reader’s perspective. There are people in the world that need help. If not you, than who?
The definition of compassion: sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. As this definition shows compassion shows concern for other that every person would love to have. In The Chosen written by Chaim Potok, Mr. Potok really presents compassion in his book. Not only does he display compassion in one of his character but in every single one he gives them compassion that is expressed in different ways. He goes into detail example of compassion with each of his characters and really emphasizes the true meaning of compassion. Three main character that he shows compassion through in different ways are, Reuven, Mr. Malter and Reb Sanders.
Ascher speaks to her readers through the use of pathos. As she portrays the homeless – wretched, stained, and noxious – Ascher is permitting her audience to imagine them. Depicting the experiences between
“Compassion is always, at its most authentic, about a shift from the cramped world of self-preoccupation into a more expansive place of fellowship, of true kinship.” These words come from the book Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, written by Gregory Boyle, an American Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy Industries, an organization that provides employment training and support to former gang members. I was first introduced to Father Boyle’s work during my final semester at College of the Holy Cross in “Contemporary Christian Morality”, a favorite course of mine that examined the fundamental ethics of moral agency, human freedom, conscience, sin, suffering and virtue. It was a book that has continued to stay with me for
Today's world is filled with both great tragedy and abundant joy. In a densely populated metropolis like New York City, on a quick walk down a street you encounter homeless people walking among the most prosperous. Unfortunately, nine times out of ten the prosperous person will trudge straight past the one in need without a second thought. A serious problem arises when this happens continually. The problem worsens when you enter a different neighborhood and the well-to-do are far from sight. Many neighborhoods are inhabited only by the most hopeless of poverty - ridden people while others downtown or across the park do not care, or are glad to be separated from them. Such is the problem in New York City today and in Mott Haven in Jonathan Kozol's Amazing Grace. I have lived in New York City all my life and I had no idea that these problems were going on so close to home. If I live about three miles away from Mott Haven and I am not aware of the situation there, then who is?
She uses a string full of rhetorical questions throughout her article, as well, to make us contemplate whether people do deeds out of compassion, fear, or something else. She uses rhetorical questions such as “Was it fear or compassion that motivated that gift?”(6), “...what compels this woman to feed this man? Pity? Care? Compassion? Or does she simply want to rid her shop of his troublesome presence?”(9), and “Could it be that the homeless, like those ancients, are reminding us of our common humanity?”(14). These questions make the audience think and contemplate why these people did these acts of kindness. Ascher includes some of these rhetorical questions at the end of both of the narratives to force the readers to quickly analyze the situation and decide what the motivation was. As a result, I can conclude that one woman did it out of fear while the other did it out of compassion; therefore, this proves that people are not born compassionate, but they develop the quality later on in life. This is more effective instead of just expressing how she personally feels about each
When the man and boy meet people on the road, the boy has sympathy for them, but his father is more concerned with keeping them both alive. The boy is able to get his father to show kindness to the strangers (McCarthy), however reluctantly the kindness is given. The boy’s main concern is to be a good guy. Being the good guy is one of the major reasons the boy has for continuing down the road with his father. He does not see there is much of a point to life if he is not helping other people. The boy wants to be sure he and his father help people and continue to carry the fire. The boy is the man’s strength and therefore courage, but the man does not know how the boy worries about him how the boy’s will to live depends so much on his
Barbra Huttmann’s purpose in writing her story in A Crime of Compassion is to convince people that no matter their beliefs, it is sometimes more humane to let someone die if they are suffering. This was the case with a cancer patient of hers named Mac. She communicates this directly by saying, “Until there is legislation making it a criminal act to code a patient has requested the right to die, we will all of us risk of the same face as Mac” (Huttmann 422).
It reads, “one cannot have both compassion and innocence.” Collier uses compassion and innocence to symbolize a adult and a child. Lizabeth describes innocence as “an unseeing acceptance of things at face value, an ignorance of the area below the surface.”(371-372). Lizabeth later describes compassion as “look[ing] beyond [yourself] and into the depths of another person.”(373-374). Collier firmly believes that innocence and compassion cannot be present in the same person at the same time. She believes if you live a life of child-like innocence, you will not understand compassion, therefore not being able to feel it. Growing up is the only to look beyond the surface, to see past looks, and to look beyond yourself. Growing up is the only way to bring forth good in the world as compassionate adults. Therefore, the theme is every person must grow up in order to become compassionate and to do good in the world. Even today, compassion is necessary for any good to happen, so we individually need to grow up if we want to impact his world in a positive and loving
Anybody who reads “A Crime of Compassion” can easily find it very emotional. I believe the pathos plays a very important...
In today’s society, acts of compassion are rare as we get more and more focused on satisfying our desire for success and wealth. However, humans do sometimes show remarkable acts that melts the hearts of men and women and restore faith in humanity within those who are less optimistic. But it might not always be a kind return that you may get from such action. In the story “Sweat” by Barry Webster, a young girl named Sue allows Jimmy as an act of kindness to lick her “honey” on her body. As a result, Jimmy chokes from the honey and Sue gets more rejected from the other students at her school. By using characterization, dialogue and narration, Webster demonstrates the theme that compassion and kindness can bring more consequences than benefits when these actions are done by those who are different.
Compassion is a feeling that humans portray towards others, but you also have to act in some way to aid them and to decrease their suffering. Barbara Lazear Ascher's purpose “On Compassion” of her essay was to distinguish emotions that people feel towards homeless people. She posed the question of whether or not people feel compassion or pity towards homeless people. The thesis statement is the first sentence, which encompasses the main themes that compassions revolves around somebody’s circumstances, rather than a situation that one can dream about. In other words, it is one’s reality. Specifically, “the man’s grin is less the result of circumstance
Barbara Ascher’s, essay, “On Compassion,” compels the audience to interpret the compassion and empathy with their underlying definitions. Ascher states “I don’t believe that one is born compassionate. Compassion is not a character trait like a sunny disposition. It must be learned” (189). By depicting deeper meaning from three events which took place in Manhattan, New York, she helps her audience reanalyze the thought process when we believe that we have done something out of the “kindness of our hearts” without some kind of hidden agenda. Ascher requests that her audience takes a deeper look at the idea when she states “Could it be that the homeless, like those ancients, are reminding us of our common humanity? Of course, there is a difference. This play doesn’t end—and the players can’t go home” (189). After referring back to her everyday life examples of what anyone would all call acts of kindness she questions her audiences’ understanding. By analyze these story’s she informs the audience there is a thin line between compassion and pity or being empathetic and being annoyed.
In the story On Compassion, the author, Ascher, explains how no one is born with compassion and must be taught it. A homeless, black man was staring at a women’s baby in the stroller and she offered him a dollar. At first he was hesitant to take it, but eventually did. Later another man walks into an overpriced coffee shop in which the store owner handed him a bag with food. Ascher makes the readers question whether these were acts of fear, pity, or just simply out of the good of heart.
Radey, M., & Figley, C. R. (2007). The social psychology of compassion. Clinical Social Work Journal, 35(3), 207-214.
Compassion cannot be confided to just a feeling or emotion of empathy, or the antidote to pleasure of peace. Compassion is a vehicle to improve one’s being, physically, mentally and emotionally. Even without the desire to reach Buddhahood, everyone can benefit from employing and expressing compassion as it is one of the few things one can do that benefits oneself as much as others.