Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The word ‘Pity’ is quite a powerful word. It is charged with the evocation of that emotion which surfaces when one witnesses human suffering in any form; an emotion which leads to feeling of compassion and sympathy. So to feel pity over someone’s misfortune or suffering is essentially human. But what does the feeling of pity really employs? Is it only a positive emotion which paves the way for better understanding of humans and their sufferings? Or can it be an emotion which arises solely from the awareness of one’s good fortune when compared with the misfortunes of many others? Can it be an emotion which may let us sympathize with those suffering but may make us indifferent when presented with uncomfortable situations while dealing with them? Can someone, who acts only out of ‘pity’ for someone, be held responsible if he fails to meet unseen expectations arising from his acts of pity? Can there be a limit as to what extent a person may engage due to pity? Can a person really only act out of pity for someone over a longer period?

Alternatively, does a person who has suffered much over a long period of time take kindly to such acts of pity? Can such acts invoke anger on the part of sufferer? Who is to judge then when a person, in the heat of much compassion, engages in actions which may prove further fatal for the sufferer.

These are the questions that this work raises in mind. For me, it is a hugely loaded word and which I really view with some skepticism. A genuine concern and empathy are held much higher in regard than merely pity.

As always, Zweig’s writing is brilliant and captivating. There is never a dull moment in the work. You are constantly engaged and on the edge. I didn’t find a single character in the work likable, for each of them lived in their own worlds, intoxicated with ideas that best suited them. It was like a ride through a kindergarten where all the kids were engaged in their own make belief world and resorted to whining when disagreed with or brought to reality. But Zweig’s masterful hand has rendered their portrayal a lifelike quality which lets you marvel at the complexity of human nature and compels you to look within and question your ideas.


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