This paper will be dealing with the process of making sense of suffering. On the basis of Richard Selzer’s short story “Witness”, an analysis will be given with the focus on the experience of the doctor as a witness of suffering. It will show that suffering is an interpersonal process and that, in order to understand and to make sense of it, it is important to share the experiences we make. To deal with the pain rather than to repress it is vital so one is able to learn from suffering.
First, I want to try to give a definition of suffering, considering and comparing different perspectives on the topic. A short passage on the story and its author will follow. The main part of this paper will be the analysis of the process of making sense, which can be observed in the narrator of the story. Lastly, I also want to take a look at the situation of the parents, who already have found the meaning behind suffering and accepted the “gifts” it can bring.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Towards a definition of suffering
3. About "Witness"
4. The Process of Making Sense: Doctors as Witnesses of Suffering
5. The Parents’ Situation: Accepting the “Gifts of Suffering”
6. Conclusion
7. List of Works Cited
Objectives & Core Themes
This paper examines the interpersonal nature of suffering through an analysis of Richard Selzer’s short story "Witness." The primary research focus is the experience of the doctor as a witness to patient suffering, exploring how the act of "making sense" of pain is essential for both the sufferer and the observer, and how shifting from repression to acceptance can lead to personal development and deeper understanding.
- The role of the doctor as a witness to suffering.
- The distinction between suffering and physical pain.
- The interpersonal process of sharing experiences to give "voice" to suffering.
- The transformation of suffering into personal meaning or "gifts."
- The analysis of unconditional parental love as a form of "deep, black joy."
Excerpt from the Book
The Process of Making Sense: Doctors as Witnesses of Suffering
Due to their occupation, doctors and nurses become witnesses of suffering on a daily basis. They are confronted with the pain of the patients as well as with their families and friends, who suffer with them. Although they do not know their patients very well, they have to be able to deal with the tragic cases they are confronted with. As Eric J. Cassell puts it, “[s]uffering is personal and medicine is a personal profession” (62). Therefore, it is important for all members of the healthcare sector to learn how to strike the balance between empathy and professionalism. For their own mental stability, it is fundamental that they do not get involved too much on an emotional level, but when it comes to the relationship to their patients, it is also important that they do not appear too matter-of-factly.
In “Witness”, we observe this balancing act in the attending doctor of the little boy. He constantly tries to find explanations for the boy’s suffering as he cannot understand why this little child must suffer so much, although he has not even yet had the chance to live his life. Despite his scientific profession, he even starts to think irrationally on his desperate search for reasons. Like many people confronted with suffering, he also starts questioning the existence of God. He cannot really get away from the feeling that suffering is some kind of punishment. Although he must be confronted with a lot of suffering day by day, the doctor seems to be very touched by this boy’s fate. What adds to this and impresses him the most is the love of the parents, especially of the father, for the boy. In the course of the story, he tries to make sense of the whole situation and finally begins to understand.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter outlines the paper's focus on suffering as an interpersonal process and introduces Richard Selzer's "Witness" as the basis for analyzing how we make sense of pain.
Towards a definition of suffering: This chapter establishes a general definition of suffering by distinguishing it from physical pain and discussing the social and existential aspects of traumatic experiences.
About "Witness": This chapter provides biographical context on author Richard Selzer and introduces the plot and characters of the short story "Witness."
The Process of Making Sense: Doctors as Witnesses of Suffering: This chapter analyzes the doctor's internal conflict and his evolving perspective on the child's illness and the parents' deep, unconditional love.
The Parents’ Situation: Accepting the “Gifts of Suffering”: This chapter explores how the parents have come to terms with their child's condition and have managed to find strength and purpose in their circumstances.
Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the main findings, emphasizing that suffering is an integral part of human identity and that admitting it into one's life is the first step toward discovery and meaning.
List of Works Cited: This section provides a comprehensive list of the academic sources and texts referenced throughout the paper.
Keywords
Suffering, Witness, Richard Selzer, Interpersonal Process, Pain, Medical Humanities, Parental Love, Coping Mechanism, Narrative Analysis, Identity, Empathy, Meaning, Trauma, Doctor-Patient Relationship, Resilience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the interpersonal nature of suffering, specifically analyzing the experience of a physician acting as a witness to a young patient's profound pain in Richard Selzer's story "Witness."
What are the central themes discussed in the analysis?
Key themes include the necessity of "giving voice" to pain, the distinction between objective pain and subjective suffering, the role of the witness, and the transformative power of unconditional love.
What is the primary research question regarding the doctor's role?
The paper explores how a medical professional, traditionally trained to be objective, struggles to "make sense" of a child's suffering and how his professional identity is challenged by the emotional reality of witnessing.
Which theoretical approaches or methodologies are used?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach combined with insights from medical humanities and psychological research on suffering, citing scholars like Eric J. Cassell and Robert N. Fisher.
What specific aspects of "Witness" are analyzed in the main body?
The analysis covers the narrator's struggle to find meaning in the boy's medical condition, his initial judgment of the parents, and his eventual realization regarding the depth of their unconditional devotion.
What is the significance of the keywords selected for this work?
The keywords highlight the intersection of medical ethics, literature, and psychology, characterizing the paper as a study in how humans (both doctors and parents) construct meaning from disaster.
How do the parents in the story deal with their son's illness?
Unlike the doctor, who remains trapped in a search for rational explanations, the parents have already accepted the "gifts of suffering," converting their pain into hope, purpose, and unconditional passion for their child.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the "process of making sense"?
The author concludes that suffering is not a riddle to be solved, but a lived experience; the act of admitting it into one's life rather than repressing it is essential for personal growth and discovering truth.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Theresa Rass (Autor:in), 2012, Suffering as an Interpersonal Process. Making Sense in Richard Selzer’s “Witness”, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/263324
