Empathy is the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings. Jamison’s central argument in her collection is that empathy is a difficult but necessary connection. Each person experiences a unique type of suffering and therefore is deserving of attention and connectedness. One of the most important aspects Jamison emphasizes is that empathy is a choice; people must put forward the effort to be empathetic.

Historically, melodramas were a type of dramatic work in which the plot was highly sensationalized to create a strong emotional impact, though current melodramas are characterized by theatricality and an emphasis on plot and physical action. This term has been extended in its adjectival form “melodramatic,” which highlights a sensational appeal to the emotions. The movie Titanic is an example of melodrama because it hinges on the romance between two characters and their tragic ends. Jamison, at first, uses melodrama as a negative term but gradually embraces her love for the melodramatic and melodramas as she notes the importance and power of excessive emotion.

Jamison uses the word pain to describe physical, mental, and emotional feelings ranging from discomfort to extreme anguish. Pain exists at the center of Jamison’s argument because she is of the belief that people who experience pain deserve to be given empathy.