On Compassion-Barbara Ascher

707 Words3 Pages
In the story "On Compassion" by Barbara Lazear Ascher we see a woman who encounters a couple of homeless people in New York who reflect and show what compassion she has. This essay will summarize the story; identify the theme and its definition on compassion. I chose this story because in this city I notice a homeless problem on the rise. Every day I come to school I see them standing outside carrying all their belongings with them, whether it be in bags, carts, or boxes. The main subject is about compassion. Ascher tells her readers that she encounters with a possible threat and she tries to return the threat with some kindness and compassion. Throughout the story Ascher questions the reader if she gave out of fright or compassion. The whole story is revealing around having this compassion or fear of the homeless people. The beginning of the story starts out with her encounter with the homeless. You know she feels fear because she grips the stroller almost like she's ready to run. The people around her and across the streets act like they don't see the homeless guy. We don't know if she gives the money out of compassion or fear but she gives him money. Then up the avenue is a small French bread shop where she goes to solve her hunger and get warm. Once and again she sees the old man come in with a stained blanket and a stale sent of cigarettes and urine. The owner of the shop gives him a bag of something. She never said what was in it. It could have been yesterday’s bread or stale bagels. She also gave him a steaming cup full of coffee. She questions if the owner gave it to him out of pure pity, care, compassion, or to rid him of her shop. Then the story shifts into how the major resolved the homeless situation. The major's decision was also question as to whether it was humane. If he did it to help them out and move them somewhere whet they won't be

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