In The History of Tom Jones, Henry Fielding’s Bildungsroman, there is an encounter with a character called “the man of the hill” who observes, “Human nature is everywhere the same, everywhere the object of detestation and avoidance” (405). Tom Jones responds that the man should rather take a sampling from the best of humanity and not the worst to judge. Despite witnessing a brutal war, I agree that it’s more productive to hold Jones’ view.

At this moment here in Bosnia, many of us are still suffering the trauma of being bombarded by our former countrymen, of being hungry, of losing friends and family to violent death. There is no denying that human behavior can be despicable, so there is justification to feel contempt.

To recover, perhaps we must choose not to dwell on the evil, but rather seek what is humane and altruistic. Sometimes by doing generous deeds, we transcend our own personal pain.

I myself am struggling to find a way to heal. Might it also come by sharing the pain with others and listening to them in turn? I observe that many people are depressed. Are they isolating themselves emotionally? Perhaps they are afraid of others’ reactions or the despair it might unleash in themselves. This is true for me. We need each other’s empathy. Of course, we can only understand others if we understand ourselves.

I believe in talking, in trying to name, even if it is difficult, what is in our hearts. The internal conflicts just gather force if they are not expressed somehow. Being heard can be the greatest gift.

Jones’ advice seems valid to me. Let us be the ones to offer the best of our humanity and compassion to one another.

Work Cited

Fielding, Henry. The History of Tom Jones. London: Penguin Books, 1994.