Empathy (novel)

Empathy is a 1992 allegorical novel by Sarah Schulman.

Plot

Anna O., a Jewish lesbian living in New York City, struggles with feelings of isolation and low-self worth after being alienated by homophobic relatives and having her heart broken by a mysterious woman in white. She befriends an impoverished psychologist known as "Doc" and they begin a journey of self discovery together.

Themes

The premise of the novel is a deconstruction of Freudian psychoanalysis.[1] The novel deals with themes of Jewish otherness and assimilation,[2] and the concept of queer diasporas in heteronormative societies.[3]

Reception

PW called it "a plain-spoken, often funny narrative, [where] Schulman makes provocative statements about gender roles, sexual orientation, AIDS, homelessness, drugs and the therapeutic value of an attentive ear."[4] Kirkus wrote that "the hyper-observant, gritty-honest voice that characterizes all of Schulman's lesbian protagonists (People in Trouble, 1989; After Delores, 1988) is now cooler, steadier, and more refined."[5]

References

  1. ↑ J, Joseph K.; Amalaveenus, J. (2022-03-03). "THE INFLUENCE OF FREUDIAN PSYCHOANALYSIS ON SARAH SCHULMAN'S NOVEL EMPATHY". Journal of Positive School Psychology: 3554–3559. ISSN 2717-7564.
  2. ↑ Karp, Amy Tziporah (2017-09-28). "Sarah Schulman's Empathy, Ties that Bind, and the Possibilities of the Stranger". Open Library of Humanities. 3 (2). doi:10.16995/olh.192. ISSN 2056-6700.
  3. ↑ Andermahr, Sonya (26 August 2011). "Sarah Schulman's queer diasporas: People in Trouble and Empathy". Textual Practice. 25 (4): 711–729. doi:10.1080/0950236X.2011.586777. ISSN 0950-236X.
  4. ↑ "Empathy by Sarah Schulman". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  5. ↑ "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
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