People don't like being around despair. Our tolerance for the truly hopeless, for those who are irredeemably broken by life is strictly limited. The sob stories we like are the ones that end before we're bored.
In Salman Rushdie's "The Ground Beneath Her Feet," he highlights a common human tendency: the discomfort with feelings of despair and hopelessness. People generally prefer to distance themselves from those who are deeply troubled or have experienced significant suffering. This reaction stems from an innate desire to avoid the weight of despair, which can be emotionally draining. As a result, narratives that linger in hopelessness often don't hold our attention for long.
Rushdie suggests that while we may empathize with sorrowful tales, we prefer those that resolve before they become overwhelming. This reflects a broader cultural inclination to focus on stories that inspire, uplift, or entertain, rather than dwell on endless grief. Ultimately, the interaction between despair and storytelling reveals a complex relationship where people desire resolution and hope over prolonged suffering.
