Why It's Easier to Show Compassion to Fictional Characters but Judge Real People Harshly

Fictional characters are often designed to evoke a sense of empathy and compassion. This is because they are created in such a way that their struggles and emotions are intensified, making their stories more compelling and relatable. In contrast, real people’s problems can often feel mundane and uninteresting, leaving us feeling judgmental and dismissive. This article explores the reasons behind why we show more compassion to fictional characters while making harsh judgments about real people.

The Deliberate Design of Fictional Characters

Fictional characters are, by their very nature, constructs of our imagination. They are crafted to have profound, relatable emotional experiences that we can understand and relate to on a personal level. Authors often design characters with complex and often exaggerated traits to make their stories more engaging and emotive. These characters are designed to resonate with our own human struggles and vulnerabilities, which is why it's easier for us to empathize with them.

Why Fictional Characters Are More Compelling

The world of fiction is a place where stories are more dramatic and interesting than the real world. For instance, the protagonist in a novel or a TV show will face challenges and undergo transformations that are more intense and memorable than the typical dilemmas faced by real people. This heightened sense of drama makes the stories more engaging and relatable, fostering a deeper emotional connection with the characters.

The Complexity of Real Life vs. Fiction

Real life is filled with mundane and everyday struggles that might seem less compelling than those of fictional characters. For instance, real-life problems like relationship issues, financial struggles, and personal insecurities can sometimes be overlooked because they are so common and unremarkable. It is easier for a reader to feel disappointed or even judge the characters if the story doesn't align perfectly with the expectations set by the reader.

The Reader's Perspective and Empathy

The reader of a fictional story knows that the characters and situations are not real. This knowledge allows for a kind of detachment that is not present when encountering real-life situations. The reader is also free to step away from the story at any time, which means they do not have the same level of personal investment in the outcome of the narrative. This detachment can result in a more objective and empathetic view of the characters’ struggles.

Empathy Through Understanding

Writers strive to create characters that can be understood and sympathized with, making the job of the author more challenging but also more rewarding. They put effort into making characters relatable so that readers can see aspects of themselves in their stories. The empathy generated by these characters is not just emotional but also educational, helping us to understand different perspectives and life experiences.

Real People as Symbols

Contrastingly, in real life, the problems people face often feel more like a series of familiar, repetitive experiences rather than unique and complex narratives. When these problems are common and mundane, it can be harder for us to see them as debilitating or deserve sympathy. Instead, we may find ourselves judging or dismissing their struggles because they feel like part of a large, uniform group of issues.

Relatability in Fiction vs. Real Life

Fictional characters are designed to be relatable and to evoke empathy through their struggles and emotions. Their stories are crafted to be more dramatic and interesting, which makes them more engaging and relatable to readers. On the other hand, real-life struggles are often more mundane and common, making them harder to empathize with on a personal and emotional level.

Overcoming Judgment in Real Life

To counteract the tendency to judge real people harshly, it is important to remind ourselves that every person has a unique and complex set of circumstances. By stepping into someone else's shoes and trying to understand their perspective, we can develop a greater capacity for empathy and compassion. This shift in perspective not only helps us see others more kindly but also enriches our own understanding of the world.

Conclusion

The ease with which we show compassion to fictional characters and the tendency to judge real people harshly are rooted in the nature of fiction and the complexity of real life. While it is natural to draw distinctions between the two, fostering a deeper empathy for real people can lead to a more compassionate and understanding society. By recognizing the relatability of fictional characters and the unique circumstances of real people, we can work towards a more empathetic approach to interpersonal interactions.