Would You Let Someone Carry Your Pain?
I have a book I added to my TBR — the Carrier — that is about a society where you can get someone else to carry your emotional pain. “Why should you suffer when she can do it for you? Welcome to Eudaimonia, a revolutionary company that can free you from your unwanted emotions.”
I liked the writing, but I really liked the question at the heart of the book. Is it ethical to have someone else carry your emotional pain? What if it’s voluntary? Can it ever truly be voluntary? Who would choose to absorb someone else’s pain if they had another choice? What if it shortens the other person’s life? Would it be okay to use the service if the person knew the risks and still opted for the position?
Heady questions.
I found the book during the heat wave, when I wanted to hire someone to work on our lawn because I didn’t want Josh working outside. But isn’t it sort of the same thing? To hire someone to be physically uncomfortable for you? Maybe not totally the same thing because there are perks to working outside, whereas there are no perks (that I can imagine) to feeling someone else’s emotional pain. But the book topic gave me pause.
2 comments
It seems like a horrible idea. Then you talked about your lawn issue. And I thought of the privilege of getting someone to clean for me (not that I do that now) because I hated doing it. Hmmmm. My first thought was the whole “hurt people hurt people” idea, when people lash out, say or do hurtful things, transfer their own hurt or guilt or whatever onto others. It happens now, though not in a structured or even considered way. This concept sounds interesting. Might have to add it to my list too.
But different people have different tolerances. Give me your separation-from-your-children pain, and I will easily ignore it. But don’t ask me to hold your sciatica pain because I can’t stand that.
Someone who mows lawns for a living probably enjoys being outside, even in the heat. So the heat might wipe Josh out, but they may barely notice.