Identity Of Children In Andrew Solomon's Far From A Tree

In Andrew Solomon’s, Far from a Tree, the author explains the identity of children and why it can be difficult for parents to understand their child. A child is passed on different physical traits because of genetics. When a parent looks at their child, Solomon states the parents, “often see themselves,” and will surround the child with the type of environment they prefer. However, even though the child is raised in an environment chosen by the parents, their emotional identity branches out and the child grows to be independent. Solomon describes how the relationship between the parent and the child may at times be difficult when the parent is unable to understand their child.
Leslie Jamison in the “Empathy Exams” describes why it can be

difficult to have empathy for someone very different from yourself. Jamison states, “I will listen to his sadness, even when I’m deep in my own,” which shows that empathy is understanding another’s emotional problems even when you have your own. From my personal experience, empathy can be hard to express because it can be extremely difficult to understand and accept another person’s identity. Jamison suggests that in order to have empathy, you must be selfless. When you think about “The Empathy Exams” and Far from the Tree together, you can understand the difficulties associated with a parent trying to show empathy towards a child with a very different identity. A parent should try to be selfless by putting their child’s needs before their own. The parent should also realize that because of genetics and environmental factors, the child has a different identity. Malala Yousafzai is an example of a person who shows that empathy towards people with different identities is possible. In I am Malala, Yousafzai shows empathy towards uneducated women children of many backgrounds. By experiencing life without education in her native Pakistan, Malala became selfless and began building schools all over the world. Although difficult, empathy can be shown to others as long as a person is selfless and acknowledges that people are different.