On this note, I’m not sure what to make of the role of sensitivity in “Cerriere’s Answer.” Martha tells Robert: “Your problem, Robert, is that you’re too sensitive.” At the same time, though, she’s far too sensitive to the smell of cleaning chemicals from the “Mop Boy.” Robert points to her excessive emotional reaction to the Mop Boy is evidence of her hyper-sensitivity, which adds an extra piece to this.

Is the idea here that she sympathizes with a romanticized, tragic version of the laborer (Mop Boy), but can’t handle the practical reality? I can’t tell if the point is to make Martha look like a hypocrite, or if the point is to make Cerriere look callous.

Most importantly: what does all this say about the role sensitivity plays in being a lawyer?

-- AlisonMoe - 20 Apr 2010