Empathy in fiction: portrayals in literature and comics

Most humans possess an innate sensitivity to feelings and emotions, comprehending their own as well as others. This innate empathy is distinct from psychic empathy, a unique ability to sense, recognize, perceive, and directly feel and influence the emotions and feelings of other beings. Here are some examples of how empathy is used in literature and comics.

Joanne K. Rowling: Harry Potter

The Horcrux embedded within Harry Potter's scar establishes a powerful empathetic link to Tom Marvolo Riddle, famously known as Voldemort. This mystical connection inflicts pain upon Harry whenever Voldemort is near, but it also forces him to share “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’s” heightened emotions. The intensity peaks, particularly during moments when rage consumes the Dark Lord.

As the series progresses, this empathetic link becomes a double-edged sword. While it grants Harry occasional insights into the twisted psyche of his nemesis, his plans, and intentions, it also burdens him with the emotional weight of his adversary's malevolence. The struggle to navigate these involuntary emotions and their toll on the “Boy-who-lives’” psyche forms a narrative thread throughout the saga.

Stephenie Meyer: Twilight Series

Jasper Hale can both sense and manipulate the emotions of sentient beings. His ability allows him to influence the emotional atmosphere around him, subtly steering the feelings of those in his proximity.

Marcus, one of the Volturi leaders, can feel and discern the nature of relationships between individuals and gauge the strength of their emotional connections. This enables him to perceive alliances, loyalties, and even hidden dynamics within a group.

In the novels, Chelsea’s (originally named Charmion) gift allows her to influence the emotional ties between individuals, either by weakening or strengthening them at will. Her skill in manipulating emotional connections gives her a crucial role in shaping relationships within the vampire community.

Jane, a member of the Volturi guard, possesses a tele-empathetic skill. By tapping into her power, she can inflict excruciating, albeit illusory, pain in the minds of others. This serves as a potent tool for intimidation and control within the Volturi coven.

Robert Jordan: The Wheel of Time

The unique bond between an Aes Sedai and her Warder is not only one of loyalty and protection, but also manifests as an empathetic link between them that extends to a sense of physical location as well. The Warder can intuitively sense where his Aes Sedai is, which adds a layer of protection and awareness.

SK Alexander: The Empath Series

Nathaniel Colt can sense, recognize, perceive, and feel the emotions and feelings of other beings. He can detect the energy fields or auras that surround beings, each unique and pulsating with the essence of their emotional and psychological makeup. He also possesses psychometry or psychoscopy, the ability to “read” the residual energy or “see” the history of an object.

Comic Books

In the New Teen Titans comics, tele-empath Rachel Roth, also known as Raven, can sense, read, absorb, and manipulate emotions. Another aspect of her abilities is Emotion Negation, which gives her the power to remove specific emotions from individuals, and Empathic Healing, which allows her to take on the pain of those who are injured. Her Force Emotion enables her to influence and induce emotions into the subconscious of others.

In the X-Men universe, the telepathic and empathic abilities of characters often take center stage. In Generation X, Emma Frost (from X-Men) states that her sister, Cordelia, is the “Professor X of the empaths” and might be the most powerful empath on the planet. One of Cordelia's outstanding abilities lies in her capacity to implant emotional states into the minds of others. She can instill emotions, whether intense or subtle, into the psyche of individuals, thus affecting their mood and influencing their behavior.

Buy "The Empath Series"

“The Empath Series” is a paranormal suspense series about a reclusive empath rejoining the world and the people he left behind. All three books are available on Amazon:

If you enjoy stories with a psychic investigator, serial killers, and an insolent dog, then you will love “The Empath Series”.