The Interpretation of Empathy
Empathy is not the ability to ask what is wanted, it is the chance of understanding what may be needed. In Margaret Edson’s “Wit,” Vivian Bearing is faced with the life-threatening illness of ovarian cancer. Throughout her battle, she encounters Jason Posner and Susie Monahan, characters tasked with caring for her during her illness. Undeniably as Vivian’s health deteriorates, Jason and Susie are affected. Through various scenes and interactions, these characters reveal how they empathize with one another. Empathy requires them to not only step outside of their comfort zone, but also view the world in a different light thanks to Vivian. Early in the play, Susie and Vivian share a memorable moment in which both begin to realize that Vivian’s life is coming to a close. By staging an accident, Vivian gains the attention of Susie who is concerned, asking her: “What’s the trouble, sweetheart?” (Edson 64). Vivian seems taken aback, but accepts the name. Although “sweetheart” is a simple term of endearment, it is
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Jason strides towards Vivian doing his daily routine of checking on his patients. It is not until a few moments pass that he realizes her unresponsiveness. He stops, realizing the horror of what might, and already is happening. He begins calling for a code, something that we know she does not want. Throughout the chaos, it is Susie who must take charge. These two lines highlight how Susie and Jason empathize towards Vivian. Susie states: “She’s DNR!” (Edson 83). While Jason states: “She’s Research!” (Edson 83). Susie respects Vivian’s choice and the hardships that she has been through. Although Jason cares about her cancer and the treatment itself, Vivian is much more than research. He pounds and yells “frantically … giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation” (Edson 81). Jason is not only afraid, he is terrified of losing
In “The Baby in the Well: The Case Against Empathy” by Paul Bloom, Paul want’s his readers to understand that empathy is not very helpful unless it is fused with values and reason.
He uses the same cold, impersonal approach that Vivian uses to teach her students, to take care of Vivian. While supposably caring for her, he forgets to do his clinical various times, and then, when he remembers or is reminded by Kelekian to do it, he shows no real interest in how she’s feeling. In one instance, after doing an impersonal clinical, Kelekian, Jason, and the rest of the fellows “leave [Vivian] with her stomach uncovered” (40), showing their apathy for her feelings. This insensitivity also shows that to Jason and Kelekian, Vivian is merely a tool for research. In a later scene, Jason actually discusses his fascination with cancer with Vivian, saying that “Cancer’s the only thing I ever wanted” followed by “[cancer] is awesome” (56). Cancer is killing Vivian, but he talks about it as though it were a miracle; like Vivian, he does not care about how he treats the people under his control because he truly believes that knowledge trumps
...s a moment when she starts to see the true meaning but doesn’t want to accept it at first, which is evident from the groaning and “hiding.” However, at the end of the play and the end of her life, Vivian is ready to accept this truth that she herself is living out the same life as the speakers in Donne’s poems and begins “reaching for the light –“ (Edson 66).
Empathy is one of the greatest powers that a human being can ever hope to achieve; one person being able to understand the inner-workings of another is something truly amazing. However, empathy isn’t something that one is always naturally able to accomplish; in fact, it usually takes a long time for one to develop any empathy at all. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, the reader follows Scout Finch as she experiences her youth in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. In this story, we experience her empathy for others as it increases or decreases. Though there are many examples of these alterations in Scout’s relationships, there is one that is both prominent and more complex than a few others; her relationship with her aunt, Alexandra. There are three specific instances in which we can track the progression of Scout’s empathy towards her aunt; meeting Aunt Alexandra, Scout wanting to invite Walter Cunningham over, and the assault by Bob Ewell of Scout and Jem.
Empathy is used to create change in the world by reaching out to the emotions of people and attending to them. It is used to help others learn and decide on matters that would not be reasonable without feelings attached to them. Empathy helps bring together communities that would have long ago drifted apart, but instead welcomed all who were different. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. This attribute of human-beings really allows us to not only attend to situations as if they were our own, but it allows us to feel most of what others feel because humans are very much alike in some ways. In many of the articles and novels that we have read this quarter, characters from different pieces of context have portrayed empathy whether it was toward
Compassion and empathy are two different feelings that humans can have for others. Sometimes one does not always recognize the difference between the two. Ascher and Quindlen convey the importance of having a place to call “home,” and to illustrate how homeless people are individual’s who need compassion shown towards them by the human race.
Burton defines empathy as the ability to not only recognize but also to share another person’s or a fictional character’s or a sentient beings’ emotions. It involves seeing a person’s situation from his or her own perspective and then sharing his or her emotions and distress (1). Chismar posits that to empathize is basically to respond to another person’ perceived state of emotion by experiencing similar feelings. Empathy, therefore, implies sharing another person’s feeling without necessary showing any affection or desire to help. For one to empathize, he or she must at least care for, be interested in or concerned about
Margaret Edson explores an unpopular theme (redemption) using the changes in the character of the protagonist, Dr. Bearing. After her ovarian cancer diagnoses, she realizes that she lives an incomplete life with excess devotion to her career and academics and less regard for humanity. She faces heart breaking loneliness that makes her regret the fact that she listened to and followed her English professor’s advice that scholars are unsentimental. Margaret Edson’s “W; t”, therefore, has a thematic bias on the redemption of Dr. Bearing as she tries to emerge from her arrogant self and shed her unsociable character. Dr. Bearing interacts with two contrasting characters in the play that leads her to a state of self realization making her change for the best.
Empathy is imperative to teach kids from a young age in order to help them recognize mental states, such as thoughts and emotions, in themselves and others. Vital lessons, such as walking in another’s shoes or looking at a situation in their perspective, apprehends the significance of the feelings of another. Our point of view must continuously be altered, recognizing the emotions and background of the individual. We must not focus all of our attention on our self-interest. In the excerpt, Empathy, written by Stephen Dunn, we analyze the process of determining the sentiment of someone.
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Compassion and empathy inspire change in a society whether it be changing individual’s usual way of thinking, uniting, or accepting those who are different. Individuals can use their compassion for something to cause a change in someone else’s thought of that thing. Several people have used empathy to bring others feelings together. People can also use empathy to show others to have acceptance towards ones who may not be like themselves.
A person you barely know, suddenly, bursts into uncontrollable tears, shocked, you turn to her and ask, “what’s wrong?” You may not know this person, or even like her, but empathy is a powerful thing. Empathy drives people to do things they don't necessarily have to do, these empathetic decisions define our character. The choice to say something and not just let another human cry, is driven by your character and how much empathy you have for others. John Steinbeck uses empathy all throughout his novel, Of Mice and Men mainly through characterization. Lennie and George, two buddies who travel together, are the main characters in Of Mice and Men. George is small, smart and fast, whereas, Lennie is large, slow and quite dumb. This combo may seem
Innocence, happiness, success, and optimism, are all characteristics of human kind. A cure for cancer is superior to the elimination of physical abuse and suicidal death’s. A result to have all people treated equally appreciated and loved. Is it a possible gesture? It may not happen in our lifetime, but if powerful and caring individuals join forces, it is possible to draw conclusions. To live the dreams and allusions each identity performs and has a reality to people and society. Within the three novels, Ellen Foster, A Virtuous Woman, and A Cure for Dreams, all written by the author Kaye Gibbons, each character from different novels struggles to face reality and find the correct path that will lead them to the right direction in life. While coping with the endless pain, Ellen, Jack, and Betty have only hope to lead them into the direction they encounter to approach. A fate in their lives can change forever. In addition, keep their “depressing days” only a memory so that they will become successful. All characters are determined to overcome their obstacles and misery through hope, courage, and inspiration.
In The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga our protagonist struggles in his journey to adulthood. Born to a rickshaw puller who ends up dying of tuberculosis due to government corruption, Balram sets his sights to become somebody better than his father–– someone who wears the uniform–– as he’s a smart person and an entrepreneur. On his journey, he is confronted with many difficult decisions which help him discover the kind of person that he is; while also learning how corrupt the upper class is and how that has to do with the government. In the end he succeeds and goes from a rooster in the Rooster Coop, to somebody who 's broken out and made it–– out of the darkness, into the light. However, this doesn
Empathy is a fundamental human connection, it allows us to strengthen relationships and build a stronger character. In Tennessee Williams play Streetcar Named Desire Blanche is weakened by the lack of a basic human trait. The lack of empathy that Blanche gives and receives greatly affects her poor resilience to Hardships in her life. Thus, causing her to be an emotional train wreck and a highly flawed character. Blanche often receives no empathy through her character because of her inability to empathize with others; this is demonstrated by her relationship with her husband, her sister, brother in law Stanley, and the death of her family. Through these Devastating events she searches for empathy in all the wrong places. Her struggle without
Empathy is the ‘capacity’ to share and understand another person’s ‘state of mind’ or their emotion. It is an experience of the outlook on emotions of another person being within themselves (Ioannides & Konstantikaki, 2008). There are two different types of empathy: affective empathy and cognitive empathy. Affective empathy is the capacity in which a person can respond to another person’s emotional state using the right type of emotion. On the other hand, cognitive empathy is a person’s capacity to understand what someone else is feeling. (Rogers, Dziobek, Hassenstab, Wolf & Convit, 2006). This essay will look at explaining how biology and individual differences help us to understand empathy as a complex, multi-dimensional trait.