consolation

Consolation, consolement, and solace are terms referring to psychological comfort given to someone who has suffered severe, upsetting loss, such as the death of a loved one. It is typically provided by expressing shared regret for that loss and highlighting the hope for positive events in the future. Consolation is an important topic arising in history, the arts, philosophy, and psychology.

In the field of medicine, consolation has been broadly described as follows:

In some contexts, particularly in religious terminology, consolation is described as the opposite or counterpart to the experience of "desolation", or complete loss.

History

The desire to console others is an expression of empathy, and appears to be instinctual in primates. Dutch primatologist Frans de Waal has observed acts of consolation occurring among non-human primates such as chimpanzees. The formal concept of consolation as a social practice has existed since ancient times. For example, as an examination of letters from ancient Rome indicates of that culture:

Although "the most frequent occasion for consolation was death", ancient consolation literature addressed other causes for consolation, including "exile, poverty, political failure, illness, shipwreck, and old age".Michael Gagarin, ''The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome'', Volume 1 (2010), p. 281. Papyrus letters from that era "often employ standard consolations, such as 'death is common to all' and frequently mention the dispatch of food stuffs". It is noted that food may have been offered as a further consolation to the bereaved, or may have had a religious purpose. It is reported that in the Fifth Century BCE, the Sophist, Antiphon, set up a booth in a public agora where he offered consolation to the bereaved. Furthermore, " sits of consolation in antiquity extended to popular levels as well", including visits by philosophers intended to hearten villages that were facing invasion.

In both ancient Greece and Rome, the '' Consolatio'' or consolatory oration was a type of ceremonial oration, typically used rhetorically to comfort mourners at funerals. It became one of the most popular classical rhetoric topics. Ernst Robert Curtius, ''European Literature and the Latin Middle Ages'', trans. W.R. Trask (Princeton: 1953) section 5.1 ''Topics of Consolatory Oratory'' pp.80-2. Petrie, Graham (1970)
A Rhetorical Topic in 'Tristram Shandy' "
''Modern Language Review'', Vol. 65, No. 2, April 1970, p. 262. The Platonist philosopher Crantor of Soli (c. 325–c. 275 BC), a member of Plato's Academy, pioneered the writing of essays in this distinct tradition. Although only fragments of his essays have survived, his influence is noted in the works of later writers, particularly Cicero's '' Tusculan Disputations'' and Plutarch's ''Consolation to Apollonius''.Baltussen, Han. "Personal grief and public mourning in Plutarch's consolation to his wife", '' American Journal of Philology'' 130 (2009): 67-67. July-Aug. 2009. :" Introduction: Beginnings of consolation." Seneca the Younger (4 BC–65 AD) produced the most recognizable examples of ''Consolatio'' in his three Consolations, ''Ad Marciam'', ''Ad Polybium'', and ''Ad Helviam Matrem''. The most recognizable example of ''Consolatio'' in verse form is the pseudo-Ovidian '' Consolatio ad Liviam''.Scourfield, J. H. D
Consoling Heliodorus: a commentary on Jerome
Letter 60. N.p.:Oxford UP, 1993. Google Books. Web. 19 July 2009. pp. 15–22. Plutarch's works include three works constructed in the ''Consolatio'' tradition: ''De exilio'', ''Consolatio ad uxorem'', ''Consolatio ad Apollonium''.

Historically and philosophically, consolation plays an important symbolic role in the sixth century work, '' On the Consolation of Philosophy''. The author, Boethius, describes himself as being consoled by "Lady Philosophy" (a personification of philosophy) after having been sentenced to death for alleged crimes against the state. Taken literally, Boethius consoles himself for the anguish of knowing that his death has been decreed by philosophizing.

In the arts

Consolation is also a classical theme in the arts.Karen E. Smythe, ''Figuring Grief: Gallant, Munro, and the Poetics of Elegy'' (1992). The poetic form of elegy, for example, has been described as "a verbal presentation or staging of emotion, wherein the detached speaker engages the audience with the intent of achieving some form of cathartic consolation". Examples of literary devices which may be used to provide consolation include prosopopoeia, wherein an author or speaker may provide a representation of the ongoing thoughts or opinions of a deceased person.

In religion

Religious figures are often depicted as offering consolation to their followers during times of grief. For example, in the ''Mahabharata'', the Hindu avatar Krishna consoles his brother Balarama and the princess Sathya Bama after they have been humiliated for their prideful ways. More famously, in the ''Bhagavad Gita'', when Arjuna learned that Krishna was dying of an injury, Krishna consoled him with touching philosophy. In Christianity, one of the iconic Stations of the Cross recalls that "Jesus console the daughters of Jerusalem". A substantial body of Christian literature exists exhorting followers to take consolation in their faith for the various ills that befall them in life. One branch of Christianity, Catharism, practiced a sacrament called '' consolamentum'', which required consolation for the inevitable regret of living in order to move nearer to God or to approach heaven.

There is a tradition within the Catholic church whereby believers, in their mystical union with Jesus Christ, seek to provide consolation to Jesus in recognition of his sufferings endured on their behalf. This tradition is referenced in the writings of Pope Pius XI and Pope Francis. Francis invokes and supports this tradition, asking "If we truly love the Lord, how could we not desire to console him?".

In competition

In some kinds of competitions, losing competitors receive some form of award or recognition as a consolation for their loss. This may come in the form of a consolation prize given to a runner-up