After reading “Devil’s Bait” by Leslie Jamison, which explained Morgellons disease and how it affects those who have it, our group responded by creating these questions: In the context of mental or physical illness, is it possible for an outsider free of the illness to fully empathize with the victim, or just sympathize with them? If not, what factors limit an outsider’s ability to empathize? In order to answer these questions, we found two sources that focused on empathy of doctors for their patients. In the first source, “The Challenge of Morgellons Disease,” written by Caroline S. Koblenzer, empathy for a patient is discussed from the perspective of a medical professional, and in the second source, “Empathic Foundation of Critical Knowledge,” by Nancy Nyquist Potter, the same subject is discussed from a physiological perspective. In both sources, the conclusion is reached that a doctor treating a patient, whether that be a patient with Morgellons or any other mental illness, needs to be able to empathize in order to fully understand how to go about helping the patient.

In “The Challenge of Morgellons Disease,” Koblenzer first explains what Morgellons disease is, and what the patients go through when they have this disease. From here, she explains that although what the patients feel or believe may not have any physical symptoms, it is first and foremost important for a dermatologist to assure the patient that what they feel is in fact what they are experiencing (Koblenzer 921). By recognizing that what a patient feels is valid, even if others have told them it is not, a doctor is able to establish a connection with a patient, which may in turn allow them to understand what would best help them. Dermatologists are then able to explain that what they are feeling is a different issue other than a skin issue, and can refer them to other sources that may benefit them. Even though these doctors cannot give a specific reason or diagnosis for their problem, by empathizing with the patient and affirming that that what they feel is actually happening for them, it is easier to help out this patient in a way that they may have never been helped before. This is helpful as it links the original article, “Devil’s Bait,” to our question, as it does specifically address Morgellons disease. However, this can be used to understand how to address and show empathy to people who have other mental illnesses.

In “Empathic Foundation of Critical Knowledge,” Potter first explains that it is extremely important for a clinician to have empathy, even if it may be difficult to do so since they cannot fully see or understand a patient’s condition. She explains that although it may be difficult to have empathy for a patient, doing so allows the clinician to truly grasp what others may be feeling and why they may be feeling this way, and then find a way to potentially go about solving this issue. She goes on to explain how one should go about feeling empathy for a patient, and describes “world-traveling,” which is a process thought up by Maia Lugones. When “world-traveling,” a clinician is able disconnect from the way they view the world to instead process the world the way the patient views and understands it, and thus is able to understand what it is to be the patient (Potter 13). This is a methodology that can lead a clinician to have empathy. This source helps to answer our question as it explains how one could potentially empathize with a mentally ill patient, and it explains that empathy is necessary so that a treatment can be found for the patient.

Works Cited

Jamison, Leslie. “Devil’s Bait.” The Empathy Exams, pp. 27-56.

Koblenzer, Caroline S. “The Challenge of Morgellons Disease.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 55, no. 5, Mosby Inc, Nov 2006, pp. 920-922.

Potter, Nancy Nyquist. “Empathic Foundation of Critical Knowledge.” Oxford Handbook Online, May 2013.

In Leslie Jamison’s “Devil’s Bait,” the reader follows the narrator’s experiences at a conference for those suffering from Morgellons disease. Morgellons disease, as the reader discovers, is the feeling that something is under a victim’s skin that will not come out. This is then accompanied by the disbelief of doctors and friends, as well as the constant devotion to finding a cure or looking to prove that this is not their imagination, that there is something under their skin and the doctors are wrong. Although doctor’s see nothing wrong with the victims, Morgellons takes a physical toll on the victim, as their itching leads to scabs and scars and red raw skin.  However, Morgellons is not a disease where a worm, thread, or other bothersome thing is actually lodged under the skin. Instead, the victim believes so strongly that something is there that it causes an almost endless loop of finding “evidence” and searching for more.

While the source of their suffering is not real, it is clear that they are still suffering. They feel unable to connect and fit in with the rest of the world, a place where people do not believe them or worry that they will contract the illness as well. Victims spend hours upon hours analyzing themselves, searching for proof of their condition, which then leads to physical deterioration and decreased mental stability. They begin to worry that people think they are crazy, even though they truly believe that something is physically located under their skin, causing them to itch. Only at this convention do those with Morgellons feel accepted and are willing to share their experiences. It is in this positive, inviting environment that the narrator hears the stories of the people there, each with the same thread of suffering from a problem that isn’t actually there.

This raises the question, can one empathize with someone when they know that what the other is suffering from does not have a real source? Here, the people with Morgellons believe they are suffering from something under their skin that does not exist, but does that mean we cannot empathize with their suffering? This can be applied to a much broader population of people who are clearly suffering, but the source cannot be found, or is deemed not real, causing one to find out how, and to what extent empathy can be felt for them.

Works Cited

Jamison, Leslie. “Devil’s Bait.” The Empathy Exams, pp. 27-56.

In the movie A Time to Kill, directed by Joel Schumacher, the viewer finds oneself immersed in the town of Canton, Mississippi, and immediately witnesses the beating and rape of 10 year old Tonya Hailey. Her father, understandably upset and outraged at the men who committed the crime, goes and kills them as revenge. From there, it is Jake Brigance’s job to convince an all white jury that his black client is innocent. Although it is not his plan, Jake invokes empathy in the jury that allows Carl Lee to walk out of the courthouse a free man.

Jake Brigance knew when he took Carl Lee’s case that he wanted it because he knew he would have done the same thing to those men if they had gone after his daughter. He felt terrible for Carl Lee and recognized the position he was in, thus feeling bad and taking action to help. Carl Lee was able to recognize that if Jake was helping him because he felt bad for what had happened to his daughter, the same feelings needed to be felt by the jury so that they would help him and decide he was innocent. Jake was not aware of this, but ultimately was able to do this with his closing speech as he described the brutal acts that Tonya endured.

He begins by telling the story of “a little girl, walking home from the grocery store one sunny afternoon” (TK 2:16:17- 2:16:26). He does not state that the girl is Tonya or that she is black, but due to the conditions at the time of the story- there had been much talk about her rape throughout the case- they know that he is telling them the story of her rape. He continues to describe in vivid detail what occurred, including how “[the men] tie her up, rip her clothes off her body… shattering everything innocent and pure” (TK 2:16:52- 2:17:13). As Jake describes more and more of the horrors that the girl went through, it becomes clear that members of the jury are truly feeling upset and sorry for the girl in the story, and even begin to cry because they feel so badly for the girl (TK 2:18:02). He finishes describing all that had happened and forces the jury to reflect on the state of the girl, which is what Tonya’s family saw when she was found after being beaten and raped.

From there, Jake forces the jury to recognize what Carl Lee went through. He had to see his daughter beaten, raped, covered in blood and broken to the point where she was barely alive, and he is able to get the jury to see Carl Lee’s perspective simply by saying “do you see her?” (TK 2:19:22). This was how Carl Lee saw his daughter, so by allowing the jury to stand in the same position, they could potentially understand the emotions that Carl Lee had felt.

At this point however, this empathy is not real, as it is just a hypothetical situation in their mind. Yes, they knew he is ultimately talking about Tonya, but they do not feel bad because it happened to her, a black girl, but rather because of the atrocity of what had happened. This empathy becomes real when Jake says “now imagine she’s white” (TK 2:20:21- 2:20:24). The jury knew he was talking about a black girl, but when they imagine the same thing happening to a white girl, they are able to connect to her much more and feel awful for her, not just disgusted at the actions that took place. By connecting Tonya’s story to the white jury, they were able to understand why Carl Lee felt and acted the way he did. They were able to truly empathize with him and Tonya, and felt moved to find him innocent.

Works Cited:

A Time to Kill. Dir. Joel Schumacher. Warner Bros. Pictures, 1996. Digital Campus. Web. 20 September 2017.

Gentlemen of the jury, you have heard the story of what occurred on the evening of August 21st last year from multiple perspectives. You have heard from Sheriff Tate, who described that Mayella Ewell was “pretty well beat up” (TKAM 1:09:42-1:09:45). He goes on to describe the degree of her injuries, including that “she had a black eye startin’” and “beaten up on that [right] side of her face” (TKAM 1:10:35-1:11:06). Bob Ewell has also agreed to Sheriff Tate’s statement that those were in fact her injuries. However, both Sheriff Tate and Bob Ewell failed to get a doctor to check on the severity of the beating. Because of this, “the state has not produced one iota of medical evidence” (TKAM 1:32:08-1:32:13) to demonstrate that this crime even occurred. Now, assuming that Mayella was beaten in the way that both Sheriff Tate and Bob Ewell describe, there is substantial evidence that Tom Robinson was not the person to beat her. How can a man who cannot use his left arm choke a woman with both hands? You see him right in front of you, his left arm is useless, and he would be unable to beat anyone on the right side of her face. Purely based on physical evidence, it is clear he was physically unable to commit the crime of beating and raping Mayella Ewell. Even if he was, what would move Tom Robinson to harm Miss Mayella Ewell? Now, Tom Robinson has a family that he loves and supports, and is trying to get through these tough times just as the rest of us are. In fact, Tom Robinson is similar to each and every one of us, whether or not you wish to admit it. He may be a black man, but he is human. While you may see him as inferior due to his race, he is still human. Any man raised with manners and kindness would help a woman who asked for a favor. After helping the woman, this man would not require payment, for he is doing a favor. Tom Robinson is this type of man. He saw a woman who was in need of assistance and helped her in the way that he could. He did not expect payment or anything else from Miss Mayella. Just as any other good man would feel pity on her, so did Tom Robinson, causing him to be moved to help her. Now some of you may think that he had no reason to be sorry for her, as she is a white woman, and he is a black man. Whether it was right or wrong for him to feel this way, you can see that he had no reason to beat Mayella Ewell. A man does not beat a woman if he is sorry for her, which is the case with Tom Robinson. Now, it may be difficult to see that Tom Robinson is innocent although the evidence is clear. He is a black man up against two white witnesses. The case was unfair from the start, as he is inferior in many of the minds of the people of this courtroom. They believe that Bob and Mayella Ewell’s testimonies must be correct simply because they are white and Tom Robinson is black. But I ask of you gentleman, remember this man is human just like you and me and every other body in this courtroom. He wishes to go home to his family, so he can continue to provide for them and love them, just as you and I do everyday. I ask of you, think not about this man’s race. Look at the clear evidence that he did not harm Mayella Ewell. Allow Tom Robinson to do something that each of you will do at the end of the day today: go home to a loving family and care for them. Tom Robinson did not beat or rape Mayella Ewell. I hope you all remember this, and are able to use this truth to make the right decision.

To Kill a Mockingbird. Dir. Robert Mulligan. Universal International, 1962. Digital Campus. Web. 13 September 2017.