Possible purpose of Lauren's hyperempathy

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We've talked a bit in class about the purpose of Lauren's hyperempathy, and I wanted to share some of my ideas. I see hyperempathy as creating a conflict for Lauren: either stay in her sheltered community where she rarely has to share other people's pain, or live her desired life on the streets but be forced to feel others' suffering much more often. As it stands, Lauren's condition is preventing her from acting in accordance with Earthseed by escaping her stagnating neighborhood. This issue could lead Lauren to try and suppress her hyperempathy, but I think doing this would also contradict Earthseed's core principle of change. By making Lauren feel the pain of the poor and starving people outside of her community's walls every time she sees them, her hyperempathy forces her to confront the reality of the changing world and encourages her to adapt to these changes instead of denying them. If Lauren tried to repress her hyperempathy, she would essentially be opposing her own religious beliefs. Therefore, I think Lauren will have to find a way to handle her hyperempathy while also living outside of her sheltered, walled-off community. This struggle could end up being a central conflict in the story.

Comments

  1. L. MoffittMay 20, 2021 at 10:56 AM

    Hmm, I like this take. I hadn't thought of it that way -- that her hyperempathy forces her to choose between being with people and being away from them. And ultimately, as you say, she has to confront reality; she can't escape the human condition.

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