Emotional Intelligence

Throughout the past few classes, we have been discussing the importance of emotional intelligence, particularly focusing in on the question "How can literature develop empathy and emotional intelligence?".  David Foster Wallace's speech provides an interesting link to the point of view Alice Munro's presents in her series of short stories. 

David Foster Wallace's commencement speech "This is Water" effectively discusses the importance of emotional intelligence in relationships and the world around us. He suggests that true freedom acquired through education is the ability to be adjusted, conscious and sympathetic. By having an awareness of other's emotions, one can become less self-absorbed and proceed to becoming more conscious and accepting of the world around them. Essentially, emotional intelligence is essential for becoming a well rounded, functioning member of society. 

Alice Munro's short stories follow the daily-life of the protagonist and allows us to see a second perspective at the complexities of life that may not have been considered. Her stories allow us to understand all the quirks and hardships. Her texts often leave out a lot of elements that allow the readers to develop their own assumptions. A connection to Wallace's theory is exemplified in the Family Furnishings short, through Alfreda's character and her role as a black sheep. 

Alfreda is considered an outcast in her family. Her sisters, brothers and cousins never invite her to their houses or gatherings. Her "business woman" attitude and lack of a partner presents her as an untraditional character, contrasting the conservative attitudes of the rest of her family. Towards the end of the story, however, the readers come to learn a crucial element of Alfreda's story, she had had a child with her cousins as a teenager, and her family never looked at her the same way since. By acknowledging the hardships she has experienced throughout her life, the readers are able to develop sympathy towards and use their emotional intelligence to rationalise her actions and decisions. 

The awareness of Alfreda's internal and external conflicts forces the reader to sympathise with this character. If a reader already has an emotional awareness of their surrounding environment, they would be able to immediately consider potential reasons for Alfreda's uniqueness, without having to wait until the end to understand the reason for her role as a black sheep in the short story.