Reading ruptures: empathy, gender, and the literature of bodily permeability

When we talk about empathy, we might be referring to any of a number of different experiences. Empathy can be an emotional or mental process of “feeling with” another person, a physical experience of picking up the vibe of a room or unconsciously mirroring what we see, or a sense of being immersed in a work of art. In science fiction, it can also be a kind of communication that sends and receives emotions without the need for words. Empathy is usually assumed to be a good thing, and even a prerequisite for ethical action. It is also assumed to be strengthened by reading literature. But which kind of empathy do we mean when we make such statements? How is it produced by reading? And how does it make us better people?

This dissertation considers these questions by separately examining three meanings of empathy. Whether it is a connection with a work of art, a sense of “feeling with” another person, or a science fictional kind of communication, empathy has strong—and sometimes unexpected—ties to literature. It also has a complicated relationship with bodies, sometimes seeming to require them and sometimes seeking to transcend them. This project focuses on one bodily experience per chapter (sexual violence, pregnancy, and virality), using them to explore the political implications of the types of empathy discussed. This dissertation ultimately argues that science fictional empathy, an often neglected use of the term, is crucial to fully understanding empathy’s continuing importance.