Literary Fiction and Empathy

I quickly skimmed the article because it is one in the morning, but what the researchers found out was pretty cool. It is especially encouraging to keep reading literary fiction, which I am assuming Hamlet is a part of, because I am really enjoying it so far. It is hard for me to pick meanings out of thin air, but when I listen to the class's and Dr. Preston's interpretations and we watch a movie clip, it really ties it together for me. I think reading about someone else allows you to understand a different perspective other than your own, therefore when interpreting another person's perspective, you not only can use your life as a reference but also Hamlet's or Elizabeth Bennet's or anyone else's. It is similar to reading your friends blogs. When they post their thoughts, you get to see them, know them on a level deeper than others, and can better understand why they make certain decisions, what type of a person they are or what interests them. The similarities between Hamlet and I are striking. We are bother very careful about perceptions that are being put out for onlookers to judge. He and I "bottle", meaning, instead of letting a little emotion out now and then at appropriate times, such as when a scummy step dad is being mean to you (Hamlet, not me), then you have a right it yell and scream and show how upset you are. As opposed to that, there is the option to show nothing but indifference, when you are feeling everything but. Hamlet's cool, I am cool, and I will enjoy learning more about him and lengthening my list of our shared characteristics.