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Bud's Empathy and Its Impact

In 'Bud, Not Buddy,' Bud's empathetic nature allows him to connect deeply with others, enhancing his relationships throughout the story. He demonstrates this empathy by understanding Todd's behavior, comforting Jerry during a difficult transition, and supporting Herman E. Calloway in a moment of vulnerability. These actions highlight Bud's kindness and maturity, showing how his ability to empathize positively influences his interactions with those around him.

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10 views4 pages

Bud's Empathy and Its Impact

In 'Bud, Not Buddy,' Bud's empathetic nature allows him to connect deeply with others, enhancing his relationships throughout the story. He demonstrates this empathy by understanding Todd's behavior, comforting Jerry during a difficult transition, and supporting Herman E. Calloway in a moment of vulnerability. These actions highlight Bud's kindness and maturity, showing how his ability to empathize positively influences his interactions with those around him.

Uploaded by

김혜미
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

What do we learn about Bud’s character in Bud,

Not Buddy, and what impact does this


characteristic have on his relationships in the
story?

In ‘Bud, not Buddy,’ we learn that Bud is


empathetic. This allows him to connect with
other characters and build relationships.

In chapter two, Bud expresses empathy when he


reflects on Todd’s behavior. Bud is involved in a
desperate situation in which he has to defend
himself from Todd’s attacks, and Todd later lies
to his mother about how the fight started.

Bud says that he couldn’t “blame Todd for lying


like that. Having someone that likes you so much
they think that everything you say is the truth has
got to be a liar’s paradise” (p. 8).

This shows Bud’s ability to put himself in


someone else’s shoes, which is an essential
aspect of empathy. By being able to understand
Todd, Bud does not have to feel resentment
towards him.
Paragraph 2

Another example of Bud's empathy is when he


comforts Jerry, who is upset about moving to a
new foster home. Bud notices that Jerry is about
to cry and tries to make him feel better by using
humor.

He reassures Jerry by saying, "I know being in a


house with three girls sounds terrible, Jerry, but
it’s a lot better than being with a boy who’s a
couple of years older than you. I’m the one who’s
going to have problems”(p.2).

This shows that Bud puts Jerry’s feelings first,


even though he is also sad about leaving. By
making Jerry laugh and feel less scared, Bud
shows his ability to understand and care about
how others feel, even when he is facing a difficult
time himself.
Paragraph 3

We can find a final example of Bud's empathy in


Chapter 19 when he rubs Herman E. Calloway's
back as he breaks down in tears. Bud narrates, “I
put my hand back on Mr. C.'s shoulder and patted
him and rubbed him a couple of times, then left
the room” (p.165).

Despite the way Herman has treated him


throughout the story, Bud chooses to comfort
him in his moment of weakness.

By staying and offering this silent support, Bud


shows his ability to empathize with someone who
is clearly struggling. This small gesture
demonstrates Bud’s kindness and maturity, as he
puts Herman’s emotional needs over
remembering how dismissive he was previously.

These three examples express Bud’s empathy,


and how this empathy impacts his connections to
others.

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