Empathy in Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng Essay Example

Empathy is a noun that describes the ability to understand and share the feeling of another person. Some ways people have empathy for others is when a student is getting bullied, a coworker is under a lot of stress and pressure, someone dealing with a loss, a sick spouse. There is no certain way to show or deal with empathy. There are hundreds of ways to show empathy to someone by sharing how you feel, show gratitude to the person who opened up to you, be encouraging and show interest, or just by acknowledging them. Studies have shown that people are caring less for others and more about themselves everyday. For example, the ways of empathy I found in Little Fires Everywhere would be Moody helping Pearl move in, Mrs. Richardson giving Mia a job, McCullogh’s adopting Mirabelle, Mrs. Richardson vows to search for Izzy. In my opinion Little Fires everywhere gave us several ways to show empathy. 

One way of empathy I found in the book would be offering one's help to an individual struggling or in need. Doing this shows the individual that they sympathize and care for the situation they are in. In the book ``Little Fires Everywhere” Moody rides his bike over to Mia’s and Pearl's home and sees Pearl arranging the pieces of a bed on the front lawn. She lies down among the pieces, and Mia takes her picture from her second-floor window. Pearl then acknowledges that Moody has been watching and asks if he wants to help. Together they bring the pieces to her bedroom, where Pearl skillfully assembles the bed with tools. By Moody offering his help and him being there for Peral is a way of him showing empathy. She is new to Shaker Heights and doesn't know many people there. 

Another demonstration of being empathetic is when, Mrs. Richardson offers Mia a part-time job cleaning and cooking at the Richardson house. Mia sees that there is no way she can't refuse. During this Mrs.Richardson comes over and sees Mias and Pearl's home and she falls in love with Mias art but she also notices little furniture and feels “ uneasy and intrigued by Mia’s lifestyle”. Mrs. Richardson doesn't necessarily offer her a job because she feels bad but she cares. Mia sees this offering as a win-win situation, gets a real job and gets to spend time with Pearl. Mias feels bad about all the moving she made her daughter Pearl go through and she promised Pearl that moving to Shaker Heights would be the last move they did. 

Another act of one being empathetic and sympathizing was the weekend after Thanksgiving, the Richardsons attended a birthday party at the McCulloughs’ house for their baby, Mirabelle, a Chinese infant who was left at a fire station ten months earlier. The McCulloughs have tried having kids for quite some time but despite all odds they just can't seem to have any of their own. Until they were blessed with the opportunity given to them by baby Mirabelle. The McCulloughs are in the process of adopting Mirabelle. While in the process of adopting Mirabelle they began to look at her like it was their own child. They adored her and did whatever she needed and wanted. Unfortunately the McCulloughs ran into trouble though with adopting her because of Mia phoning Bebe Mirabelles birthmother, a woman that works at the chinese restaurant with Mia. 

While reading “Little Fires Everywhere” and seeing all the many different things take place like I talked about above. It shows so much empathy and allows a person to connect with the book in a way. They have individuals from what seems like every walk of life. This book truly was a very good demonstration of ways we in our everyday life prove to be and show how we are empathetic toward others. Along with helping a friend rearrange furniture, or giving a job to one in need, adopting a child and having them as yours, and finding your daughter to make things right are all ways we as people show we care and attempt to be on the same page together mentally and emotionally.