To understand the true meaning of a word it is worth going back to its original meaning, that is, its etymology. The term pathetic comes from the Greek word pathetikos, which is formed by the concept of pathos which is equivalent to emotion, feeling or illness and, on the other hand, by the suffix iko, which means related to something. In this way, the pathetic is that which provokes emotion, which makes an intense impression or which moves. In other words, anything that arouses intense emotion is pathetic.
Examples in relation to their daily use
Certain images convey pain and suffering and, in this sense, one can speak of a pathetic face. On the other hand, when something is grotesque for some reason (for example, an extravagant dress) it is said to be pathetic. It can also be used as a synonym for ridiculous (if someone makes a fool of themselves it is said to be pathetic). It is sometimes used as a form of insult or contempt ("don't be pathetic!").
Pathos
Some artistic manifestations try to provoke deep and intense feelings and, ultimately, to move the viewer or the reader. This is what happens with the romantic tradition in painting or literature or with some artistic approaches that emphasize sadness, melancholy or torn pain. When this happens, they speak of pathos. The chiaroscuro technique in painting would be a clear example of pathos, because through it an atmosphere is created that arouses a deep feeling (of pain, ecstasy or fear).
The pathetic nerve
Also called the trochlear nerve, this nerve is located in the skull and its function is to activate a muscle in the eye. If this nerve becomes paralyzed it can lead to hypertropia, which is commonly known as strabismus or lazy eye.
In literary creation there are so-called literary figures, that is, non-conventional language resources that allow the creation of suggestive ideas or images.
One of the most original figures is the so-called pathetic fallacy, also known as the anthropomoric fallacy. It consists of describing objects as if they were people, that is, with feelings and with exclusively human characteristics. In this sense, the term pathetic is used because the inanimate object that is described awakens a certain emotion.
If I say that "the desperate cry of the coffee maker reminded him that breakfast was already prepared" or that "the lonely sad shoes clearly told him he was alone in life" I am using a pathetic fallacy. Although it is an unusual literary figure, in some genres it is widely used, as is the case with the greguería, a literary genre in which everything that is told is outside common sense and conventionality.
Photos: Fotolia - DDRockstar / Picture-Factory
